Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard gives good practice recommendations for the demolition (both full and partial) of facilities, including buildings and structures. This standard is therefore applicable to demolition activities undertaken as part of structural refurbishment. It also covers decommissioning. In particular, the standard gives recommendations for:

a) the proper and effective management of demolition processes, including those forming part of structural refurbishment;

b) maintaining structural stability, including through the provision of temporary structural support, where necessary;

c) managing deliberate structural collapse;

 
d) identifying and establishing responsibilities during all phases of the demolition processes;

e) acquiring a knowledge of the site, including its former uses;

f) managing environmental issues;

g) managing health and safety hazards;

h) carrying out risk assessments and planning the work accordingly;

i) establishing and managing procedures effectively;

j) determining and managing safe exclusion zones.

The standard takes into account safety, health and issues that affect the protection of the environment. For the purposes of this standard, demolition activities include, for example, activities that might be known as dismantling, disassembling, demounting, partial demolition, removal, decommissioning, deconstruction and soft stripping, and structural refurbishment, including renovation, rehabilitation, rebuilding, remodelling, reconstruction, redevelopment, restoration, renewal, replanting, development, enlargement, extending, augmenting, conservation, modifications, alterations, structural alterations, upgrading and reroofing. This standard is not applicable to all structural refurbishment activities; only those involving partial demolition. It is essential that those carrying out demolition activities possess the necessary levels of competence. Clients or procurers of demolition works need to ensure that all contractors, designers and other team members that they propose to engage or appoint are competent to comply with the health and safety requirements necessary to undertake demolition activities.

Purpose

The purpose of the proposed revision is to modernize the standard, ensure it considers best modern safety practices, and re-examine key aspects of the standard including an approach to risk assessment when planning demolition exclusion zones in urban areas, broader engineering involvement, and improved clarity regarding roles in relation to managing decommissioning activities prior to demolition. The revision panel is currently being brought together, and any interested individuals can contact robert.adamson@bsigroup.com in addition to submitting any comments here.