When a property developer purchased an older commercial building in Darwin’s CBD, they had no idea they’d inherited a 6,500 m² asbestos-contaminated façade.
The danger wasn’t visible.
The blockwork walls had been coated with a finish layer, but beneath it — unseen — was a primer loaded with friable asbestos.
This wasn’t a standard strip-out or demolition job. The coating had to be safely removed and the structure cleared before any demolition could begin.
That’s where Perfect Contracting came in.
Mobilisation to Darwin: Technology, Strategy, and Scale
Our team mobilised over 3,000 km from Sydney, transporting a full fleet of specialist decontamination and demolition equipment — including wet abrasive blasting systems from Quantum Blast Technologies.
Brought to Site:
- RapidBlast™ SD series shot blasting machines
- Industrial-grade negative pressure HEPA filtration units
- Full scaffold system wrapped in UV-stable heat-shrink
- Air-conditioned break rooms, decon units, and PPE stations
- Real-time air quality monitoring by independent hygienists
- This wasn’t just asbestos removal — it was a technically engineered operation.
Containment First: Building a Full Negative Pressure Bubble
To safely remove the hazardous primer, we engineered a full containment structure around the building:
- Custom scaffold was erected around all elevations
- Wrapped entirely in heat-shrink plastic sheeting
- Negative air systems maintained constant inward airflow
- Blast zones were sealed, monitored, and accessed through decon tunnels
- Inside the bubble, we began a 7-month systematic operation to wet-blast the hazardous coatings off the blockwork — without releasing a single fibre into the community.
- Hygienists monitored air inside and outside the bubble every day.
Fatigue Management & Human Safety
Darwin’s tropical climate is extreme — and working inside a sealed bubble intensified the conditions.
We implemented a comprehensive heat and fatigue management protocol:
- Mandatory hydration and cold drink stations
- Air-conditioned rest areas inside the scaffold bubble
- Strict work-rest rotation every few hours
- On-site WHS team conducting daily worker wellness checks
- All PPE modified for airflow and comfort under high humidity
There were zero safety incidents across the entire project duration — even under maximum exposure conditions.
Methodical Removal: Abrasive Blasting with Precision
Using Quantum Blast’s dustless blasting systems, our team:
- Wet-blasted over 6,500 m² of asbestos primer from blockwork
- Captured all water run-off for safe disposal
- Decontaminated all surfaces, tools, and gear daily
- Cleaned and validated zones section-by-section
- Maintained hygiene logs and air clearance reports
- The system proved safer, faster, and more precise than traditional grinding or peeling methods.
Hazards Identified & Controlled
This wasn’t a textbook removal. It was high-risk and high-stakes.
Here’s how we systematically controlled site hazards:
- Risk Control Strategy
- Airborne asbestos fibres Full scaffold containment bubble with negative pressure, wet blasting, 24/7 air monitoring
- Heat and fatigue Cold hydration, A/C rest zones, work-rest rotation
- Slips & trips from blasting Non-slip platforms, water control, scaffold inspections
- Compressed air risk Daily equipment checks, licenced operators only
- Remote access Redundant equipment, local supplier network
- Cross-contamination 3-stage decon units, controlled exits, full PPE protocol
- Visibility & communications High-lumen lighting, hands-free comms, buddy system
- Public interface External signage, noise/dust suppression, community liaison
Final Outcome: Clearance Achieved. Demolition Delivered.
After 7 months:
- The entire building exterior was cleared of hazardous coatings
- Air hygiene passed across all monitored locations
- Full clearance certificate issued by an independent hygienist
- We transitioned into top-down demolition, completed without incident
- What This Project Teaches the Industry
- Hazards aren’t always visible. Paint, primer, adhesives can carry serious risk.
- Containment must be engineered. Not just erected — engineered.
- Specialist capability matters. Not every contractor can deliver remote, high-risk work.
- Technology delivers safety. Wet blasting systems changed the game.
- Worker welfare is everything. People first, always.
Why Perfect Contracting?
We are not just a demolition contractor.
We are engineered deconstruction specialists, trained and certified in:
- Asbestos and lead paint removal
- Friable coating decontamination
- Remote access project delivery
- High-risk demolition and hazardous remediation
- We deliver safe, ISO-certified outcomes — on time, every time.
We’d like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone involved in delivering this project. From the dedicated site teams to the engineers and project managers, your hard work and expertise were critical to its success. Your commitment to safety, precision, and collaboration made all the difference. We’re proud to have worked alongside such a professional and skilled team.
Perfect Contracting acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isander people as Traditional Custodians of the country on which we live and work. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians and Elders past, present and future, and honour their connection to the land and ongoing contribution to society.