Workers dismantle Savonlinna hospital’s 64-metre brick chimney by hand

Yle reports that workers are dismantling a 64-metre brick chimney at Savonlinna Hospital by hand after larger-than-expected structural damage was found. At least half of the chimney must be removed.

Employees of TPH-yhtiöt climb the chimney using ladders, ropes and fall-protection systems, removing the bricks one by one. The company specialises in maintaining, repairing and demolishing chimneys at industrial facilities.

The most demanding stage is now under way at the top of the chimney, according to Timo Härkönen, the company’s entrepreneur and chimney specialist. Workers must manage the damaged structure, work at height and dismantle it safely at the same time.

The chimney was built for the hospital’s heating plant and contains steel, brick, concrete and electrical structures that must be removed in stages. Hand demolition is necessary because the chimney stands among hospital buildings and heavy demolition equipment cannot be used on the tall, damaged structure.

Wind and heavy rain can halt the work. The nearby expanse of Lake Saimaa intensifies gusts, while the early hours of the morning are often the calmest time for work. One employee monitors the weather using both weather maps and visual observations.

Demolition materials must not fall uncontrolled, as wind could carry them a long distance. Roofs and other structures around the hospital have been covered with plywood, and movement in parts of the hospital grounds has been restricted.

Preparations began after Midsummer, and the demolition is expected to take two to three months. The work’s progress will determine in the coming weeks whether half of the chimney can remain or whether its poor condition will require it to be demolished completely.