Wall Saws & Wire Saws
Wall saws and wire saws cut big openings in concrete walls, floors and thick structures. They are powerful, work from a distance and are safe only when the setup, anchoring and cut-out plan are right.
- Concrete Cutting
- Demolition
- Renovation
How they work
- A wall saw rides on a track fixed to the wall. A circular diamond blade, driven by a hydraulic or electric motor, cuts as the saw moves along the track.
- A wire saw pulls a loop of wire with diamond beads through the material. It can cut thick or odd-shaped sections that other saws cannot reach.
- Both are normally cooled with water.
Hazards
- The cut-out falling or sliding as the cut finishes, crushing people, equipment or utilities.
- Blade or wire breakage, which can whip or throw pieces.
- Silica dust and wet slurry. See Silica.
- Shock hazards from water near electric equipment and hidden utilities in the wall.
- Noise, vibration and heavy lifting of saw parts.
Before cutting
- Scan the wall for rebar, conduit and pipes (see Concrete Cutting) and shut off or lock out any live utilities
- Make a plan for the cut-out: where it will go, how it will be supported, lifted or chained, and who is below
- Fix the track to solid concrete with the right anchors, and check that it cannot shift
- Check the blade guard, blade condition and water supply, and that the blade is rated for the saw's speed
- Keep hoses, cables and slurry from creating slip or shock hazards; use a GFCI for electrical equipment
- Set up barriers and warning signs on both sides of the wall
While cutting
- Stand to the side of the blade, not in line with it. Use remote controls where available.
- Cut the slab so it is supported and cannot pinch the blade. Make the final cuts last in a pattern the plan allows.
- Keep water flowing and control slurry with a vacuum or containment. Wear a respirator if dust is not fully controlled.
- Wear hearing protection, eye protection, gloves and steel-toe boots.
- Do not adjust or clear the blade while the saw is powered.
- Do not let anyone stand below a section as it is cut free.
- Do not exceed the blade's rated speed.
Standards & references
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