Brown & Mason sets controlled explosives world record

A picture of the site before the blowdown.

The company completed the record by bringing down eight 114m towers at Cottam Power Station in Nottinghamshire in a single precise blowdown.

The record-breaking event formed part of the ongoing decommissioning of the former coal-fired facility and followed months of meticulous planning, detailed modelling, and a strict focus on safety, the company said.

To qualify, Brown & Mason was required to complete the demolition within 40 seconds – a target it achieved in just 10 seconds.

The operation used around 16,700 explosive charges across the eight towers, with a combined weight of just under 0.5 tonnes.

Brown & Mason said the achievement reflects the innovation, precision, and leadership in the global demolition industry.

“Controlled explosive demolition is all about precision, not power,” said Rikki Isgar, Explosive Demolition Manager at Brown & Mason.

“Bringing down eight towers together meant modelling every movement, understanding every force, and executing flawlessly. There’s no second chance in this kind of work, and this achievement is a testament to the skill and dedication of the whole team.”

Following the blowdown, work will now focus on crushing and processing the materials. Isgar told D&RI that 98% of the material will be recycled, with remaining works on the site due for completion by early 2026.

Brown & Mason has been active at Cottam since 2021 and recently carried out the explosive demolition of the nearby West Burton power station in July.