Balanced Engineering & Construction (BEC) is approaching the final phase of controlled demolition of a 155-metre-high industrial stack at Tuas Power Station in Singapore. Work has progressed down to the 36-metre level, with both internal steel flues and all five intermediate floor levels completely removed.
The remaining work focuses on progressively dismantling the reinforced concrete windshield.
Dismantling a Complex Industrial Structure
The original stack comprised two steel flues, each 155 metres high with an internal diameter of 6 metres, enclosed within a 150-metre-high reinforced concrete windshield. The windshield’s external diameter ranged from 20.4 metres at its base to 17.8 metres at the tapered upper section.
Removing these interconnected components requires careful sequencing, with access arrangements and lifting operations coordinated as the structure is reduced in height.
Controlled Concrete Removal, Section by Section
The concrete windshield is being dismantled in sections, using cutting and crane lifting to control the removal process. Individual sections are secured and separated from the remaining wall before being lifted away.
This approach requires close coordination between the demolition crew and lifting team. Planning must account for both the section being removed and the stability of the structure that remains.
Safety is paramount throughout the work, with particular attention to work at height, lifting operations and access as demolition progresses.
Progress Towards the Final Phase
With the two steel flues and five intermediate floor levels removed, the team is continuing demolition of the concrete windshield from the 36-metre level.
The project demonstrates BEC’s specialist capability in industrial stack demolition, combining structural understanding, controlled dismantling and coordinated lifting operations.
