Dittmar Company (Owner), The Berg Corporation (Main Demolition Contractor) and Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI)- Implosion Subcontractor) would like you to be aware, that the building will be demolished to an elevation where the Main Demolition Contractor can safely access the debris for secondary demolition, processing and removal form the site. The implosion is currently scheduled to take place as soon after 8 AM as safety, crowd control and weather conditions permit.
Implosion is a process where a small amount of explosives is used to disrupt selected supports in a building, allowing gravity to pull the structure down in a controlled manner. CDI has used this implosion method thousands of times around the world during the past 70 years to assist Property Owners and Contractors in the removal of unwanted structures.
There are four (4) points we would like to make you aware of:
- Dust is an unpreventable byproduct of all types of demolition. With a wrecking ball or high-reach excavator, the building is slowly broken up releasing dust over weeks or even months. With implosion, the same overall quantity and type of dust is released in a matter of seconds and may linger in the general area as crews began cleanup of same from streets and sidewalks. Depending on wind speed and direction on the day of the implosion, the dust may not even reach your property. As a precautionary measure, we recommend you see that all windows, doors and air intakes are closed, and cover any other openings that might allow dust to enter your apartment, house or building. We also recommend you turn off all exhaust fans before or at the time of the implosion as these might draw air into your building through openings around doors or windows. Representatives with the Dittmar Company, The Berg Corporation and CDI will be meeting with Representatives of the commercial/residential properties immediately surrounding the 1900 Ft. Meyer Drive structure to discuss their specific needs.
- Early Sunday morning, the Arlington County Police Department will set up an Exclusion Zone around the building to be imploded. This is to prevent people from getting too close. Your property is INSIDE this Exclusion Zone. We need your cooperation with the Police and contractors to ensure this is a successful project. Everything they say to you or ask of you is to minimize inconvenience or to promote safety.
- After the implosion, which will take approximately 20 seconds, there will be significant dust in the block immediately surrounding the demolition site. Dust may also drift outside and downwind of the Exclusion Zone, depending on weather conditions. Please stay indoors during the demolition and afterwards until the dust has settled. If you need to leave your home, for any reason, the morning of the implosion it would be prudent to schedule your departure before 6:30 am or after 10:00 am, to avoid any street closures that will be implemented as a result of this project.
- More than 100 years of vibration/noise monitoring data assembled by the US Bureau of Mines and other agencies established guidelines for safe vibration and noise levels around explosives demolition sites.
For several days prior to the implosion, a pre-demolition photographic survey will be made to document the pre-existing condition of the closest adjacent structures and properties in accordance with State Law. While noise and vibration is expected to be well below recommended levels, monitoring instruments will be set up around the demolition site to document actual noise and vibration levels generated by the implosion of the structure.
A follow-up post-implosion survey will be made the morning of the implosion to determine whether or not any changes have taken place in the structures previously inspected, as a result of the implosion.
Should you have any questions, please email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
