Search Jim Beam Rickhouse
SSRG completed controlled demolition and repair on the facade of a fire-damaged Jim Beam rickhouse. A rickhouse is a tall rectangular structure designed solely for storing and aging distilled spirits.
Jim Beam is an American brand of bourbon whiskey with two distilleries in Kentucky. The Clermont distillery has approximately 72 rick houses storing more than 1.5 million barrels.
The problem
In July of 2019, a fire destroyed one rick house and severely damaged an identical structure located about 50 yards away. The fire was so intense that it heated the rebar inside the concrete, causing it to expand and delaminate the outer part of the façade. The concrete essentially popped like popcorn, while damaging the structural integrity of the building.
The fix
SSRG crews worked for nine months using mast-climbing scaffolds. The process involved:
- Demolish damaged sections
- Custom form the repairs
- Pour more than 3,000 SF of concrete
The crews also removed and replaced 3,500 SF of damaged brick panels. The crew completed a total of approximately 148,000 lbs of demolished concrete and 37 cubic yards of new concrete on the face of the building.
They did the specified work in a very timely and quality-minded manner. I never had to push to get something completed within the specs. It was simply done to a high standard.
