My Greek Experience
May 30, 2023
By Eric J. Kelly, Advanced Explosives Inc.
This article was originally published in the May/June 2003 issue of DEMOLITION magazine.
Editor’s note: This article was written when the National Demolition Association (NDA) was the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC).
We all have our stories to tell; from the people who have made us laugh, to owners and contractors who took us for our word and placed a heavy burden on us to perform when we said we could. I’ve met people who helped me mature by telling me of their mistakes and reminding me not to repeat the same. Guys like Harold Hudgins, who could make you cringe waiting for the end of a story, but when you reminisced about the story, you knew there was wisdom imparted.
How many members can tell the story of how they engineered some project with the intent for Einstein but it came out looking like Abbott and Costello! How we all have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Especially when we wanted a specific project so much that we priced it at cost, even below cost, and missed the mark by some huge percentage to the next bidder. Even the time when you offered to do a job for free … and find that somebody else offered to pay a dollar!
I thought about all my demolition experiences on a recent flight to Thessaloniki, Greece, to a country where I was to implode a seven-story building for a contractor I had met only once. I had only seen the project from pictures and from a hand-sketched drawing by someone possessing no implosion experience. When I received a call from my dear friend Nikos Pappassavas in Greece (almost every man in Greece is named Nikos), it was with avid enthusiasm he orated about a job he was looking at. I quoted him a meager fee, based on his description of the job, thinking it would be great to visit Greece with my wife.
As many explosives users can attest, it is only by the grace of God that you can get through the security systems implemented by the new TSA. I had to load the batteries from my blasting machine into my check-in baggage in order to get on the plane. When we landed in Greece some 27 hours after leaving Spokane, Washington, I met Nikos and an engineer by the name of Pascale and was whisked away to our hotel in downtown Thessaloniki.
On the ride, I explained the slight, one-hour delay getting on the plane in Spokane because of the blasting machine. I then found out that getting a permit to possess a blasting machine in Greece is a little like getting a permit to carry a gun in the United States.
I then spent about two hours in our hotel lounge being briefed about the protocol to get a permit to use explosives in Greece and was informed our team was actively pursuing the acquisition of said permit. At the time, I was more concerned about the types of explosives available, as the technical data sheet that was sent to me was in Greek.
It was then off to Kozani, about 180 kilometers away. I had an opportunity for the first time to see the Kozani Wheat factory. It certainly looked different than the drawings and pictures. It must have been all the extra silos contained in the building that was not otherwise identified. An impressive structure nonetheless.
This gave me an opportunity to “revise” the original work plan submitted just seven days prior. I was told the work plan was essential to the acquisition of the permit as the government has never been approached about this type of work before. We were going to educate them. After some 18 hours of discussions with the engineer, the work plan was submitted to the proper official.
The next day, it was time to get down to the nitty-gritty of building preparation. We only had about six days before the shot to finalize all the prep work. I was deeply concerned about how to get three different banks of silos to fall, let alone fall inward, to the only target available.
I then met with Nikos, Nikos, Netz and two other laborers whose names I couldn’t pronounce. The second Nikos was an impressive fellow from Bulgaria who had been a four-time boxing champion in that country. I knew why he was the foreman. The other boys had immigrated to Greece from Albania. The crew worked like mules, and I would use them anywhere to do work for me.
I think I would probably do some more safety training, though. This is something that is being taken very seriously by the first Nikos, who I took to calling Nickpap. Nicpap, after learning about the importance of safety here in the U.S. and Canada and wanting to become an NADC member, drilled me on how to get information about joining the association and its safety program. He has since joined the NADC. He is really learning how safety separates the men from the boys, even in Greece. I believe, with the help of the NADC and EDA, he will begin to set new standards in Greece. He is getting tired of his less-than-safety-conscious competitor getting some of his work.
The Greek drilling machines took only two days to drill approximately 600 holes. It was not time for the protective measures. I examined some chain link fence that was to inhabit the initial fly of debris. It seems they don’t make chain link fence that light here in the U.S. I thought 9-gauge was 9-gauge! I found out it was different in Greece, but Nickpap was willing the spend the extra euros for the additional wraps. Their geotextile, secondary cover resembled military toilet paper. Again, Nickpap was willing to shell out the extra euros for additional wrapping.
The next day, my wife and Nickpap went to check on the progress of the permit. The man in charge of permitting told Nickpap and my wife he would get to it as soon as possible, end of story, get out!
At this time, Nickpap expressed some serious concerns about the timing of the permit with the arrival of the explosives. I was more concerned about the shot than the timing of the permit. We fiddled around for the rest of the day applying protective measures. The next day we were scheduled to meet with the explosives supplier and review the material I had ordered.
I reviewed the technical data sheets (TDS) provided and inquired about the timing of the detonators. Much to my dismay, the nomenclature and timing of the detonators in Greece were very different from that which had been previously discussed. I had been referring to some of the Greek TDS and some of what I assumed was a common TDS of the manufacturer. We even had detonators specially shipped from Sweden that were supposed to meet the criteria discussed. I then found out that a number 16 in Greece is not the number 16 everywhere else.
I carefully considered any alternatives. I had no choice but to use the detonators I ordered. I now had to implement a plan that was designed to last about nine seconds for movement and devise a condensed plan that would last about four seconds. I had to figure out how not to have cut off from early delays and allow the west bank of silos to act out of the way of the central bank first. Three seconds is a lot of time in an implosion, but essentially, it’s just a few blinks of an eye.
It was time to look at the detonating cord that I was to use. My options were 40 grain, 12 grain and 8 grain, or so I thought. I thought to be on the safe side, I’ll use 40 grain. It has a little more oomph than the 12 grain and propagates well from cord to cord. I then inquired about electric detonators. I had a choice between A, B or F. I was told each had more or less different strengths. So much for a blasting cap being a blasting cap. I thought about ordering the F cap, the “weaker” of the three, and remembered how many blasters inadvertently ordered the F and had a dud! Better get the A. I chose an explosives product that detonates at about 6,000 meters per second. It was called Donorit.
Back to the job to check on the progress of the permit. Nickpap and my wife went to the permitting officer and were told he had about 1,000 Albanian visas to work on before he could even consider our permit. Nickpap kept his cool and asked what he could do to expedite the process. He was told nothing. An elderly man must have overheard the conversation and offered, for 100 euros, to help the process along. Nickpap gave him money and hoped for the best.
By this time, hoopla about an implosion was everywhere. The owner of the property, who owns the largest supermarket chain in Greece, stopped by the job to check on the progress. He was told about the delay in the permit and the less-than-cooperative permitting officer. A funny thing then happened after he took about 10 minutes for phone calls. The permitting officer called and stated the permit would be ready that afternoon about 1 p.m. My wife stated that when they went to pick up the permit, the officer was being reamed by the mayor and seemed very willing to help from that point on. Nickpap never saw his 100 euros though.
The next day, two days before the shot, the explosives arrived. They arrived in the back of an open pickup truck with no placards. They must not have wanted to advertise their presence to any terrorists. I found out that 40 grain detonating cord was 40 gram detonating cord. It looked like the material used to sever heads in the oilfields. I knew from my gut feeling that I would rock the neighborhood if I used this material as designed. Time to re-evaluate. I didn’t have much connecting wire to initiate the shot but had to stretch what I had for about 900 feet.
Loading went very well with our crew and it took true dedication for the workers not to smoke, especially in Europe, during this phase of the operation. I was amazed at the motivational fortitude people will show to have a cigarette. The hook-up time went well, and we were fully ready for an implosion the next day.
We then sat down at the site to discuss any remaining safety concerns. Concerned about the intrusion of people, I asked Nickpap about tort laws in Greece and he stated that “if you get hit by a car you better pray that someone will help you get to the hospital.”
NADC member Protec Documentation Services from Rancocas, New Jersey, arrived the evening before to execute the standard pre-blast surveys.
That evening, I sat down with Nickpap and Pascale to discuss the particulars of the shot. You know, concrete strength, etc. Pascale stated that his firm had demolished a lot of concrete structures. The methods used are to pour acid on the concrete and dissolve it! My curiosity stirred up, and I asked why. He stated that the asbestos dissolves very easily with acid. They use a lot of asbestos in their concrete. I gathered from that, and the transite siding contained in some of the demo’d structures, that asbestos is not a major concern there! I will make the drillers wear respirators next time when drilling the columns, though!
The big day had come. We were about to perform the first building implosion in Greece. One hundred twenty-five kilograms of Donorit sequenced over four seconds was the final determination from dropping three banks of silos contained in the 5-9 story structures. I ran out the final detonating cord and hooked up the initiators. Things were going smoothly so far.
The team had the opportunity to set aside some time to discuss final details. Protec had two representatives who were ready to monitor at four different locations as well as perform all the necessary photographic and video documentation. All pre-blast surveys were conducted with no substantial concerns with the existing conditions. I felt relaxed because all buildings, including the nearby residences, were constructed of reinforced concrete.
Vehicular traffic was ordered to stop at 11:45 a.m., and it was right on schedule. The siren sequence went very well. The local mayor was very excited about pushing the button, and our interpreter communicated his basic responsibilities … “Push the fire button when he hears the word fire!” Pretty straightforward.
The countdown began and all the thoughts of every implosion I’ve ever done passed through my mind. Fire! The detonating cord had more “pop” than I expected. What last four seconds seemed like an eternity. Nickpap was yelping so loud I could barely hear the delays going off. I watched as the central portion collapsed gently into designated “no-mans-land” while the remaining structure fell as well. I watched the small cloud of “dust” dissipate to the west and all were content with the results.
Demolition in Greece is still somewhat backward. They cherish keeping people busy more than doing a lot of volume. That’s why they continue to tear most buildings down by hand.
I saw the visions of the future that Nickpap had through his new affiliation with the NADC. He was very proud to be a member of both the NADC and EDA, factors that will play a significant role in adding credibility to his company and the acquisition of work in Greece.
For my 20-plus years of being an NADC member, I never truly thought about my NADC affiliation simply because most criteria for doing work in the U.S. gives zero consideration to such affiliations. Doctors have to be board certified; lawyers need credentials and licenses; etc. Wouldn’t it be great if being a member of the NADC would give us consideration for our bid on a job? Food for thought.