Demolition Works Inspection

Per EN 17748 and BS 6187 Clause 5, a comprehensive pre-demolition survey must be carried out before any demolition work begins. The survey must identify the structural form and condition of the building, the presence of hazardous materials, the location of live services (gas, electricity, water, telecommunications), and any constraints from adjacent structures or public areas. A demolition method statement must be prepared based on the survey findings. The survey must be carried out by a competent person with relevant structural engineering knowledge.

1. Verify that a pre-demolition structural survey has been completed by a competent engineer, identifying the structural system, load paths, and any elements under pre-stress or tension

2. Confirm that a hazardous materials survey (including asbestos per Directive 2009/148/EC) has been carried out and a register of all identified hazardous materials has been compiled

3. Check that all live services have been identified, traced, and confirmed as disconnected and capped by the relevant utility provider, with written confirmation obtained

4. Review the demolition method statement for completeness — it must address the sequence of operations, temporary stability measures, exclusion zones, and emergency procedures

5. Verify that adjacent structures have been surveyed for condition and that monitoring arrangements (crack gauges, movement markers) are in place where required

- Structural survey failing to identify pre-stressed or post-tensioned elements, creating an uncontrolled energy release risk during demolition

- Live services not fully disconnected before demolition commences, particularly buried services not shown on utility records

- Hazardous materials survey incomplete or not covering all areas of the building, leading to unplanned exposure during demolition

- Method statement not updated to reflect actual site conditions discovered after the initial survey

Per Directive 2009/148/EC and EN 17748, all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) must be identified, assessed, and removed by licensed contractors before general demolition begins. Removal must follow the applicable national regulations implementing Directive 2009/148/EC, including notification to the competent authority, enclosure or containment, air monitoring, and controlled waste disposal. Other hazardous materials (lead paint, PCBs, refrigerants, fuel oils) must be identified and removed per their respective regulations before demolition. Waste containing hazardous materials must be classified and disposed of per Directive 2008/98/EC.

1. Verify that a Type 3 asbestos survey (demolition and refurbishment survey) has been completed per the national standard, covering all areas including hidden and difficult-to-access locations

2. Confirm that licensed asbestos removal contractors are engaged and have submitted a plan of work to the competent authority with the required notification period

3. Inspect the asbestos removal enclosure or containment for integrity — check sheeting, negative pressure unit operation, and air monitoring results at the enclosure boundary

4. Verify that clearance certificates have been issued by an independent analyst for all areas where ACMs have been removed, with four-stage clearance per the applicable national standard

5. Check that all other identified hazardous materials (lead paint, PCBs in transformers, ozone-depleting refrigerants) have been safely removed and disposed of per their respective regulations

- Asbestos survey not covering concealed areas (within ducts, behind cladding, in floor voids), leading to unplanned fibre release during demolition

- Asbestos removal enclosure poorly maintained with breaches in containment, exposing workers and adjacent areas to fibre release

- Clearance not obtained from an independent analyst before general demolition resumes in areas where ACMs were removed

- Hazardous materials other than asbestos (lead paint, PCBs) overlooked and mixed with general demolition waste

Per EN 17748 and BS 6187 Clause 7, structural stability must be maintained throughout the demolition process. Temporary propping, shoring, or bracing must be provided where the removal of elements would compromise the stability of the remaining structure. The demolition sequence must be planned by a competent structural engineer to ensure loads are managed and progressive collapse is prevented. Exclusion zones must be established based on the height of the structure and the demolition method per BS 6187 Table 1. Structural monitoring must continue throughout the demolition.

1. Verify that the demolition sequence follows the approved method statement — elements must be removed in the correct order to maintain stability of the remaining structure at all stages

2. Confirm that temporary propping and shoring is installed per the structural engineer's design before any load-bearing elements are removed

3. Check exclusion zones are correctly established and maintained — the minimum exclusion distance must be the greater of the structure height or the distance calculated per BS 6187

4. Inspect structural monitoring instruments (crack gauges, tiltmeters, survey prisms) on adjacent structures and the remaining building for any movement exceeding the trigger levels

5. Verify that the demolition contractor holds daily briefings to communicate the planned sequence, confirm stability assessments, and review any changes to the method statement

- Demolition sequence deviating from the method statement, removing stabilising elements before the structure is adequately propped

- Temporary propping inadequate for the loads or not designed by a competent structural engineer, leading to partial collapse

- Exclusion zones not maintained or reduced without engineering justification, exposing workers and the public to falling debris risk

- Adjacent structure movement not detected due to monitoring not being read at the required frequency

Per EN 17748 and BS 6187 Clause 6, the demolition method must be appropriate for the structure type, site constraints, and proximity to occupied buildings and the public. Permitted methods include top-down demolition, deliberate controlled collapse, mechanical demolition with long-reach excavators, and the use of explosives (requiring specialist design per EN 17748). The method must be selected based on a risk assessment considering noise, vibration, dust, and the structural form. The working sequence must be documented in the method statement and approved before work commences.

1. Verify the selected demolition method is appropriate for the structural type — confirm the method statement addresses the specific risks of the structure (e.g., pre-stressed concrete, steel frame, masonry bearing wall)

2. Check that the demolition plant is suitable for the height and reach required — long-reach excavators must have adequate reach to the highest working level without overloading

3. Confirm the working sequence proceeds from the top down (unless deliberate collapse is the approved method) and that no operatives work below unsupported or partially demolished elements

4. Inspect that soft-strip and internal removal of non-structural elements is complete before structural demolition begins, to reduce dust and enable material segregation

5. Review the risk assessment for the demolition method against the site-specific constraints including proximity to live roads, railways, occupied buildings, and overhead services

- Demolition method not updated when unexpected structural conditions are encountered (e.g., hidden steel framing within concrete)

- Mechanical plant operating beyond its safe reach envelope, creating an overturning risk

- Structural demolition commenced before soft-strip is complete, preventing material segregation and increasing hazardous dust generation

- Working sequence not communicated to all operatives, leading to unsafe simultaneous operations on the structure

Per EN 17748 and the Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC, demolition works must control dust, noise, and vibration to protect workers, the public, and adjacent structures. Dust suppression must be provided per the site-specific dust management plan. Noise levels must comply with the limits set by the local authority, typically assessed per EN ISO 3744 or EN ISO 3746. Vibration from demolition must be monitored per EN ISO 4866 and kept within the limits specified in EN 1998-1 (or DIN 4150-3, widely referenced in the EU) to prevent damage to adjacent structures. Worker exposure to noise must comply with Directive 2003/10/EC.

1. Verify dust suppression measures are active during all demolition operations — check water sprays, misting systems, and dust screens are operational and effective

2. Confirm noise monitoring is in place at the nearest noise-sensitive receptors and that measured levels comply with the permitted limits in the local authority consent

3. Inspect vibration monitors on adjacent structures and verify they are recording continuously, with alarm levels set per DIN 4150-3 or the project-specific vibration limits

4. Check that workers are provided with appropriate hearing protection per Directive 2003/10/EC where noise exposure exceeds the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A)

5. Review dust monitoring records (PM10 and PM2.5) at the site boundary and verify levels are within the limits specified in the air quality management plan

- Dust suppression water sprays insufficient during high-output demolition activities such as crushing or high-level mechanical breaking

- Vibration limits exceeded due to the demolition method being too aggressive for the proximity to adjacent occupied structures

- Noise monitoring not carried out during out-of-hours or weekend working when background levels are lower and complaints more likely

- Asbestos fibres released due to inadequate dust control when demolishing areas not fully cleared of ACMs

Per Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive) and EN 17748, demolition waste must be managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal. A site waste management plan must be prepared before demolition begins. The EU target requires a minimum of 70% (by weight) of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to be prepared for reuse, recycling, or other recovery. Hazardous waste must be segregated, classified per the European Waste Catalogue (Commission Decision 2014/955/EU), and transferred to licensed facilities with appropriate waste transfer documentation.

1. Verify that a site waste management plan has been prepared, identifying the estimated waste types and quantities, target recovery rates, and the licensed waste facilities to be used

2. Confirm that demolition waste is being segregated on site into the required streams — concrete, brick, timber, metal, plaster, mixed waste, and hazardous waste in separate clearly labelled skips or stockpiles

3. Inspect waste transfer notes and consignment notes (for hazardous waste) to verify waste is being transferred to licensed facilities by registered waste carriers

4. Check that hazardous waste (asbestos, lead paint, treated timber, contaminated soils) is stored in appropriate sealed containers, clearly labelled, and segregated from non-hazardous waste

5. Review the waste records against the site waste management plan to verify the project is on track to achieve the 70% recovery target per Directive 2008/98/EC

- Waste not segregated on site, with mixed skips preventing effective recycling and increasing disposal costs

- Hazardous waste mixed with general demolition waste, contaminating otherwise recoverable material and creating disposal liability

- Waste transfer documentation incomplete or not retained, making it impossible to demonstrate compliance with duty of care requirements

- Recovery target not being tracked, with the project falling short of the 70% requirement due to poor segregation practices