The Detonators

- Season 1

(2009)

Demolition teams must ensure that top-heavy structures fall as intended.

Three buildings in two cities require precision demolition. Twin tall towers in Birmingham need to be dropped simultaneously but they are surround by other building that are as close as 28 feet. A tower in Glasgow is also surrounded. It was built of concrete slabs that can behave unpredictably as the building collapses.

Demolition teams turn to explosives after traditional methods prove too dangerous. A large hotel was built with post stressed concrete. But it's built on a hillside so special precautions are required to prevent a landslide. A smokestack was constructed with reinforced concrete and lined with bricks.

Ponce de Leon Towers was a steel structure with a reinforced concrete core. That posed a challenge for the demolition team since since different techniques are normally employed for these two different types of structures. The attempt attracts national attention when a second try is needed.

Pennsylvania's youngest licensed blaster has to bring down an extremely strong steel freight train bridge. The bridge's replacement has already been built just 4 feet away and he also has to contend with Pennsylvania noise regulations. Demolition of two massive 20 story apartment buildings in Glasgow requires special preparation to avoid damage to assets as close 25 feet away and to avoid the tragedy that occurred when a similar building was demolished in the city. Exploding watermelons demonstrate the innovative timing requiring the use of the "Hot Shot" demolition ...

Two central city demolitions pose unique challenges. In Louisville the challenge is post-stressed concrete floors and a hidden surprise. In Birmingham a building with especially strong columns is close to a major natural gas line. Advantages of shock tube versus electrical detonation are demonstrated on party pinatas.

Explosives experts Dr. Braden Lusk and Dr. Paul Worsey examine two steel paper mills that are about to get blasted, but with two totally different methods.

The Newcastle Bottling Plant is just a five story low rise but it was built to industrial standards with over 600 columns. Their demolition will require over 250 kilos of explosive. In Midland, Texas columns are the challenge again. In this case they are extra strong spiral wrapped columns.

Demolition teams drop a half mile long bridge and a stadium roof. Paul and Braden demonstrate the physics of air blast.

Two smokestacks, one brick and one 600 feet of concrete, don't fall according to plan.

Dycon clears a cluttered industrial site of four structures; a coal tipper, smokestack, water tower and cluster of silos. Each has an unusual or unexpected structural element. Braden and Paul demonstrate how to modify a shaped charge to cut the round legs on the water tower. Braden lends a hand to help the team meet their deadline.

It's too dangerous to pre-weaken a partially collapsed building in Nigeria that presents an ongoing hazard to the local residents. Instead, extra explosives are used which, hopefully, will not damage nearby buildings in city center. In Charlotte, Dykon tackles a huge stadium with a unique roof support structure.