Site Prep January-February 2012

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | WWW.SITEPREPMAG.COM

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 1

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The Connected Contractors Resource JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 | WWW.SITEPREPMAG.COM

FEATURES 8 Plan for a Successful Demo Project National Demolition Association’s tool can help contractors prepare for the unexpected. by Michael R. Taylor, CAE

12 Seeing Beneath the Surface A 3D GPS system takes the guesswork out of underwater excavation on Ohio River project. by Daniel C. Brown

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16 Coming Clean N.Y. firm turns to skid steers, telehandlers to get down and dirty when restoring contaminated sites. by Jessica Simpson

20 Equipment Focus: Excavators Take a look at 15 of the industry’s latest excavators.

22 Attachment Focus: Bucket/Thumb Attachments Go the extra mile with eight new bucket/thumb attachments.

30 Case Study: Seeking an Underground View A Pennsylvania contractor invests in radar to push productivity to another level.

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COLUMN 26 Virtual Stringline Exploring Subsurface Utility Mapping by Harry O. Ward, PE

THE DIRT TALK BLOG @ WWW.SITEPREPMAG.COM

DEPARTMENTS 4 Editor’s View 6 Industry Dirt 24 You Dig This

32 Product Roundup 34 Classified Ads 35 Alternate Routes

Winter can be a drag, but don’t forget – it’s also the most wonderful time of the year! Check out our funny winter construction videos in our Dirt Talk blog. It might help you realize there’s fun to be had regardless of the weather!

On the Cover: Using the National Demolition Association’s Demolition Planning Document can help contractors minimize problems on their projects from the outset. Photo courtesy of Liebherr.

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SITE PREP (ISSN 1932-6122) is published 8 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar, Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov/Dec, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2012, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SITE PREP, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to SITE PREP, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or [email protected].

Join Editor Karen Scally as she counts down this month’s five top products in Episode 4 of Site Prep’s Top 5. Smartphone users, scan the tag to watch it now!

SITEPREP | JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2012

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Editor’s View

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BY KAREN M. SCALLY 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084 Phone: 248/362-3700X Fax: 248/362-5103

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EDITORIAL EDITOR Karen M. Scally 248/244-6465X [email protected]

elieve it or not, I often find myself wishing I had more time to read. Yes, I realize that as an editor, I spend the majority of my day devoted to reading. Despite that fact, there’s still an abundance of interesting information out there that I want to absorb, and frankly, not enough hours in the day to do so. Because I don’t have enough time to read everything I would like to, I try to find ways to focus in on the things that interest me most. I’ve personalized my Google News page so it shows the latest items on the topics that are most important to me. I’ve bookmarked my favorite websites and begin my day by scanning the headlines on those pages. I’ve downloaded apps that allow me to quickly digest what I need to know. I’ve set alerts for certain keywords and subscribe to email newsletters that aggregate content. Since I don’t have time to waste, I don’t want to spend my precious moments wading through pages of nonessential information. Just get me to the good stuff. In 2012, we’re using that philosophy as the basis for introducing a new feature in Site Prep. We wanted to find a way to bring you more information on the things you’re already most interested in. So, starting in this issue, we’re excited to debut a new section, called “You Dig This.” This section will provide key details and images about one new product that’s getting the most clicks on our website. In it, you’ll learn why this product is important to your job, what makes this product different from others and what benefits you could expect from using this product as a customer. Our first “You Dig This” highlights Komatsu’s PC390LC-10 Hydraulic Excavator. Check it out on page 24 and look for it in every issue under the “Departments” section in the Table of Contents in the front of the magazine. We hope you find this information useful to your business. Please let me know what you think about this new addition to Site Prep—or about other new products or topics that you’d like to see more coverage on in the future. After all, as editor, it’s my job to help get you straight to the good stuff.

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SITE PREP MISSION STATEMENT SITE PREP FOCUSES ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF SITE PREPARATION, INCLUDING SITE CLEARING, EARTHMOVING, UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES. WE COVER EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR AND THE EVOLVING INTERACTION AMONG CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS AND RELATED PROFESSIONS. THROUGH IN-DEPTH COVER AGE, WE PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENTAL TRENDS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, BUSINESS PROCESSES AND SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDIES.

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Doosan and the Doosan logo are registered trademarks of Doosan Corp. in the United States and various other countries around the world. ©2012 Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment America. All rights reserved. | 118C-0

Industry Dirt Go to siteprepmag.com for daily news updates. Studies show polymer product used on jobsites safe for aquatic life New tests have revealed that a polymer product used to manage effluent on construction sites is not toxic to aquatic life. The polymer product, known as polyacrylamide (PAM), reduces the detachment and transport of sediments in runoff by increasing the cohesion of soil particles. PAM also flocculates particles in runoff, forming clumps that drop to the bottom. These clumps can slow the rate of runoff, reducing erosion capacity. Fort Collins, Colo.-based EarthChem uses PAM in its EarthBound gel logs and tablets. Contractors can use these products in a ditch or near active earthmoving operations. In February and March 2011, Smithers Viscient of Wareham, Mass., tested both EarthBound gel logs and tablets for toxicity to daphnids and rainbow trout. Under the tests, the EarthBound products were deemed to be nontoxic to both aquatic species. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking data to develop a new rule for construction sites of 10 acres or more that would establish effluent limitation guidelines and

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W W W.SITEPREPMAG.COM | JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2012

standards. This rule would set a national technolog y-ba sed turbidity limit. The EarthBound products ca n help contractors decrease the turTests show the Earthbound gel log is not bidity of effluent harmful to aquatic life. exiting construction sites in the future. —By Don Talend. Talend, of Write Results Inc., West Dundee, Ill., specializes in covering innovation, technology and sustainability.

BUSINESS NEWS The Associated Equipment Distributors ( www.aednet.org ), the Associated Builders and Contractors (www.abc.org ), and the Associated General Contractors of America (www.agc.org ) all praised the U.S. Congress for passing legislation to repeal the imposition of the 3 percent withholding tax on contractors. The tax would have required state and local government entities whose annual expenditures exceed $100 million to withhold 3 percent of all payments made to any individual or company that provides goods or services to the government. Caterpillar (www.caterpillar.com) announced that it plans to open a new manufacturing facility in North America for small track-type tractors and mini-hydraulic excavators. When fully operational, the facility is expected to employ more than 1,000 people. Volvo Construction Equipment’s ( www.volvoce.com ) Bang a lore, Ind ia f ac tor y opened a new excavator assembly line. Plans are in place to ramp up excavator production significantly next year, and this new development will see factory total capacity tripled in 2012. Autodesk (www. Volvo Construction Equipment workers autodesk.com ) acquired build excavators on the new line. Horizontal Systems, a provider of innovative cloud-based BIM collaboration solutions. Autodesk intends to integrate Horizontal Systems solutions into its Autodesk 360 for BIM solution for collaboration, data and lifecycle management.

Plan for a

Successful Demo Project

BY MICHAEL R. TAYLOR

National Demolition Association’s tool can help contractors prepare for the unexpected.

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s a contractor, you know that a successful demolition project can be a huge undertaking and that it requires a great deal of planning in order to coordinate all the facets of the project. Site clearing, earthmoving, utilities and environmental professionals are often directly or indirectly tied to the demolition process, and on almost every project, some detours and changes will inevitably occur. The National Demolition Association (NDA) has set out to help every stakeholder in the process—real estate developers, architects, and those in related trades—anticipate unforeseen situations and minimize any problems that might occur along the way.

The National Demolition Association’s Demolition Planning Document offers a checklist of activities that must be completed on typical demolition projects. INSET: The NDA recommends that demolition contractors should be prequalified on the quality and types of work they have done in the past, the recommendations of previous clients, their knowledge of environmental regulations, and whether they have the financial backing to bond and insure the job adequately.

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The NDA has issued a Demolition Planning Document that gives stakeholders a checklist of stages or activities that must be completed on typical demolition projects, ranging in scale from small to large. It’s designed to help avoid the negative impact of unanticipated changes on project schedules, costs and liabilities. In addition, the NDA is making specific contract language available to buyers of demolition services so that they can consider including it in their own contracts to make sure they manage all parties’ expectations concerning things like permitting, insurance, health and safety reports, and waste disposal. Copies of the Demolition Planning Document and the Model Demolition Specification language are posted on the NDA website (www. demolitionassociation.com) under “Our Industry.” While it may be impossible to foresee every possible contingency on a project—who will supply the water for dust suppression on site, for example—an experienced demolition contractor should have the skills, equipment and years of experience to make a demolition project proceed smoothly, almost invisibly. It’s no accident that the industry considers a “lengthy” demolition project to be one that lasts only three or four weeks.

demolition project starts or during the bid process. These include: • NESHAP Notifications: This federal regulation, part of the Clean Air Act, requires that written notification of demolition or renovation operations be filed 10 working days prior to commencement of work. Commonly referred to as the “10-day notice,” this requirement is in place to determine if asbestos is present on the site.

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Start with the Contract Since the level of understanding of the demolition process can range from “very little” among many architects and developers to “very knowledgeable” among some general contractors, it might be a good idea to take a look at some of the realities of demolition today. Once a developer or site owner decides to proceed with a partial or complete demolition, he first must decide how he wants to manage the entire process. Does he want to manage everything himself or does he want to outsource it to a general contractor, construction management firm or architect? If the redevelopment will proceed in stages, with the demolition preceding the new construction by a long period of time, the owner may decide to deal directly with a demolition contractor. The NDA recommends that demolition contractors should be prequalified in advance on the quality and types of work they have done in the past, the recommendations of previous clients, their knowledge of environmental regulations, and whether they have the financial backing to bond and insure the job adequately. Once a fully qualified demolition contractor has been selected, contract discussions and development begin. There are some common sources of misunderstanding that should be addressed before a

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PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL DEMO PROJECT

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Before the start of every demolition job, the demolition contractor is required by law to take a number of steps to safeguard the health and safety of workers on the jobsite.

• Engineering Survey: Before the start of every demolition job, the demolition contractor is required by law to take a number of steps to safeguard the health and safety of workers on the jobsite. These preparations involve the overall planning of the demolition job, including the methods to be used to bring the structure down, the equipment necessary to do the job, and the measures taken to perform the work safely. • Proposed Use: If the intended user of the site is known, it is helpful if the contractor is aware. The contractor’s expertise and input at this stage of the project can help the project be more successful. • Utility Disconnects: The owner/operator should determine if the demolition contractor will carry the cost and responsibility of the utility disconnects. If not, they should be prepared to provide all disconnect documentation to the contractor. • Reuse of Materials: If materials from the project are to be reused, the contractor should find out this information as early as possible. A schedule of items to be reused should be furnished so that the information can be used when putting together a bid. • Salvage of Materials: Bid and contract documents should be clear as to ownership of scrap/salvage materials. It is usu10

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ally in the owner’s best interest to let the contractor take ownership of these items, but make sure this is clarified. Extent of Underground Demolition: Options that should be clearly defined include removing all underground structures on site, removing underground structures to a certain depth, removing underground structures to a certain extent, leaving slabs and all underground structures, or a combination of all. Responsibility of Temporary Facilities: It should be made clear who has the responsibilities for temporary facilities such as portable restrooms, temporary power and water, site fencing, site security, etc. Hazardous Materials: The owner/operator must determine if they will have environmental remediation completed by the demolition contractor or by a separate entity. Federal and state laws mandate removal and disposal of certain hazardous materials prior to razing a structure. However, most typical landfills will not accept hazardous materials. Permits: It should be made clear which party will secure permits. With an aggressive schedule, it is best if the owners begin the process as early as possible. It’s important to note that multiple permits may be required for activities such as demolition, sidewalk closure, road closure, specific structure heights, dust mitigation plan, airborne release plan, truck route plan, etc. Expected Condition of Site at Completion: The demolition contractor should understand the owner’s expectations of the site condition after demolition. It can be left as is, with a full excavation with existing materials “bowled” to best eliminate any drastic cuts, for example. Alternatively, the contractor can backfill the void left by the structure. Site drainage issues should be addressed. Special Requirements: Prevailing wages, LEED requirements and reporting for Recovery Act work are examples of special requirements that should be addressed. Also included are requirements imposed by regulatory entities such as Coastal Area Management plans, Inland Wetland Commission requirements, storm water management plans, municipal requirements and work near a well head or reservoir that are applicable to the work. Existing Programs: Certain federal, state, private or quasigovernment-sponsored programs require specific reporting. These can include Armstrong ceiling tile recycling, Brownfields, community block grants and others. It is essential that the contractor be made aware of those, since they may have extensive reporting requirements.

Educating the Customer Experienced contractors know that while the issues listed above are the most common areas of potential misunderstanding, they can represent just the tip of the iceberg. That’s why it’s in their

best interest to encourage the buyers of their services to educate themselves about the entire demolition process. As one retail clothing chain likes to say, “An educated consumer is our best customer.” The more buyers know in advance, the less chance there is that problems will arise down the road. That is the very reason the NDA has made the Demolition Planning Document and the Model Demolition Specification contract language available to all.

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The demolition contractor should understand the owner’s expectations of the site condition after demolition.

During the bidding and planning process, demolition contractors need to take buyers through it point by point, making sure they are fully aware of every task and responsibility before work begins. All buyers of demolition services want one thing when it’s all said and done: peace of mind now and into the future, because they know they partnered with a true professional. One way demolition contractors can deliver that sense of security is by making a strong statement to clients that their membership in the NDA attests to their professional competency. With its focus on environmental stewardship, safe work practices, industry education and information sharing, the NDA enables it members to stay on the cutting-edge of what’s happening in the demolition industry. By making that dedication to professionalism clear, contractors can make that work to their advantage in their business development efforts. Michael R. Taylor, CAE , is executive director of the National Demolition Association. He can be reached at info @ demolitiona ssociation .com .

SITEPREP | JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2012

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Beneath the A 3D GPS system takes the guesswork out of underwater excavation on Ohio River project. ny job is easier when you can see what you’re doing, but that can be tricky when it comes to excavating underwater. This past summer, contractor M. Bowling, of Henderson, Ky., found a way to successfully “see” underwater on a project that required the firm to widen and deepen the upstream approach to the John T. Myers Locks and Dam on the Ohio River near Mt. Vernon, Ind. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing the river for a possible extension of one lock chamber from 600 feet to 1,200 feet long to accommodate the long barge tows that ply the river. Working under a $3-plus-million subcontract to Semper TekIntersteel Joint Venture, of Lexington, Ky., the Bowling firm started their portion of the job in June 2011. The project called for excavating 130,000 cubic yards of mud from the river. Two

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W W W.SITEPREPMAG.COM | JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2012

BY DANIEL C. BROWN

large excavating machines—an American 9270 crane and a Caterpillar 385B long-boom excavator, both fitted with 4-cubicyard clamshells—handled the heavy-duty digging work in the river. But the key machine on the project for fine-grading and checking grade on the river bottom was a Case CX240 excavator with a 60-foot boom, rented from JOB Rentals and Sales, of Jeffersonville, Ind.

The Proper Fit Knowing that they needed to be able to “see” underwater, Bowling decided to have the Case excavator fitted with a PowerDigger 3D GPS machine control system from Leica Geosystems, which ABOVE: A Caterpillar excavator with a 4-cubic-yard clamshell performs some of the heavy-duty digging on the river bottom.

Surface JOB Rentals installed on the machine. They also purchased a Leica base station and rover from JOB Rentals. Cory Page, service manager with JOB Rentals and Sales, says the PowerDigger 3D allows the operator to use a full-color, touch screen display in the cab to see where the bucket is digging relative to the design grade of the river bottom. The contractor can configure multiple bucket types and store them in the cradle, which is permanently mounted to the machine. The XC16 display fits into the cradle, giving the contractor the flexibility to move the display from machine to machine without worrying about losing the machine configuration—it all stays in the cradle. This allows the contractor to wire up one, two or 10 machines relatively inexpensively and purchase only a couple of the display panels, which account for most of the investment, Page says. To pinpoint the bucket location, Page says the PowerDigger relies on four sensors and a GPS receiver mounted on the Case excavator. One sensor is located on the bucket itself, one on the dipper stick, another on the boom, and the fourth is on the counterweight.

TOP: Muck is towed ashore in a material barge and off-loaded into articulated dump trucks by a Komatsu PC300 LC excavator. BOTTOM: A Case excavator fitted with a Leica Geosystems PowerDigger 3D GPS system fine-grades and checks grades along the Ohio River bottom.

Signals from the GPS satellites are received by the Leica PowerBox receiver on the excavator and by a Leica PowerBox base station. By using radio signals, the base station sends location corrections to the excavator. A Leica service representative loaded a digital terrain model—the design grades—into the computer on the excavator. Software in the PowerDigger then compares the excavator bucket’s actual position to the digital terrain files in the computer and displays the results on the screen. SITEPREP | JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2012

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SEEING BENEATH THE SURFACE

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