XN000022-1977-08-07 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1977 "

REVOLUTIONARY EXPLOSIVES INCREASINGLY POPULAR WITH HK DEVELOPERS *****

HONG KONG CONTRACTORS ARE TURNING TO A NEW TYPE OF EXPLOSIVES AS AN AID IN MAJOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

KNOWN AS WATER GEL OR 'SLURRY', THE NEW BLASTING AGENT IS A PRODUCT OF AN IMPORTANT RECENT BREAKTHROUGH IN HIGH EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY WHICH HAS REVOLUTIONISED THE INDUSTRY WITH ITS HIGH QUALITY AND SUPERIOR SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS.

IT IS NOW EXTENSIVELY USED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN MAJOR BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS, AND IS FAST BECOMING A VITAL TOOL IN HONG KONG'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

ALREADY WATER GEL IS BEING SUCCESSFULLY USED IN DIFFICULT EXCAVATIONS AND TUNNELLING WORK FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, IN QUARRYING AND MINING OPERATIONS, ROADWORKS AND IN PRIVATE BUILDING WORKS.

LAST YEAR, 140 TONNES OF WATER GEL WERE USED IN VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, AND THIS YEAR THE FIGURE IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO 200 TONNES.

AND ACCORDING TO MR. GEORGE RANSON, CHIEF EXPLOSIVES OFFICER OF THE MINES DIVISION, WATER GELS WILL PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FURTHER LARGE SCALE PROJECTS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

+AT THE MOMENT, WATER GELS ARE BY FAR THE SAFEST TYPE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES AVAILABLE AND ARE IDEALLY SUITED FOR LOCAL CONDITIONS, SAID MR. RANSON, AN ACKNOWLEDGED EXPLOSIVES EXPERT WITH MORE THAN 17 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN ALL TYPES OF COMMERCIAL EXPLOSIVES.

+THEY ARE PARTICULARLY SUITED FOR BLASTING OPERATIONS IN URBAN AREAS AS THEY ARE SAFER TO HANDLE AND CONTROL, AND THERE IS MUCH LESS RISK OF ACCIDENTAL DETONATION FROM IMPACT, FIRE, HEAT OR FRICTION,+ HE SAID.

MR. RANSON NOTED THAT WORKERS WERE MUCH MORE AT EASE WITH WATER GEL THAN WITH OTHER EXPLOSIVES, BUT EMPHASISED THAT ONE STILL NEEDED TO BE CAREFUL WITH IT AS IT WAS A HIGH EXPLOSIVES WHICH REQUIRED PROPER HANDLING.

HE SAID ITS HIGH QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS HAD MADE WATER GEL READILY ACCEPTABLE TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS WITH A KEEN APPRECIATION FOR HIGHER SAFETY STANDARDS AND NEW BLASTING TECHNIQUES.

AMONG THEM IS OVE ARUP AND PARTNERS, CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE GIANT HOPEWELL CENTRE PROJECT IN WAN CHAI WHICH WILL BE THE TALLEST BUILDING COMPLEX IN ASIA WHEN COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.

/+BECAUSE OF