Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:
Committee reference B/513
Draft for comment 11/30153572 DC

Publication history

First published as CP 94 in 1971
First published as BS 6187 in 1982
Second edition published September 2000
Third (present) edition, December 2011

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI and came into effect on 31 December 2011. It was prepared by BSI Panel B/513/-/9, under the authority of Technical Committee B/513, Construction equipment and plant and site safety. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

BS 6187:2011 supersedes BS 6187:2000, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This standard has been revised to reflect advances in technology and equipment in the demolition industry, and to give recommendations on the following principal areas.

Project development and management, site assessments, risk assessments, decommissioning procedures, environmental provisions and facade retention.
Deconstruction techniques, including activities for reuse and recycling.
Exclusion zones and safe working spaces, including their design and application.

Recommendations for methods of, and techniques for, demolition and partial demolition, including for structural refurbishment, have been retained, with consideration of specific types of structure, but the text has been significantly updated to reflect current and developing good practices. By being less prescriptive, this edition also allows for innovative techniques and methods to be employed.

Use of this document

As a code of practice, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

Any user claiming compliance with this British Standard is expected to be able to justify any course of action that deviates from its recommendations.

It has been assumed in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

Presentational conventions

The provisions in this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Introduction

This code of practice concerns the process of demolition, including demolition as part of structural refurbishment, from initial considerations, through planning and design to the execution stages (see Figure 1).

The word “demolition” is often misconstrued to mean “large scale” or to involve the complete removal of a structure or building. However, the removal of a single element or the part removal of a structure or building also constitutes demolition. This standard is therefore intended to be applicable to those involved with all demolition activities, however large or small, including those undertaking partial demolition, which might be for structural refurbishment projects. Trade contractors unfamiliar with the vagaries of demolition activities required for structural refurbishment are advised to seek the advice of a competent practitioner. It is important to note that this standard does not cover all aspects of structural refurbishment; rather it is applicable only to those activities involving partial demolition.

Route maps have been included at the beginning of most clauses. These are not intended to be process flowcharts, but to guide the user through the information in the text. This is particularly in respect of the hierarchy and interdependence of use of the clauses and subclauses, which might not always be obvious because of the complexity of the demolition processes and the wide coverage of this document. Such projects, from inception to completion, include numerous activities, many of which are iterative and which require revisiting. For example, as the project moves through the tender process to contract acceptance and on to site operations, planned methods of work will be developed and augmented further at each stage.

This code of practice has been written on the understanding that the execution of its provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent people and organizations. Competence is about being able to do the work safely, without endangering others, and meeting the legal health and safety requirements. Clients and procurers of demolition works have a key role and have to take reasonable steps to ensure that those appointed or engaged by them are competent for what they are expected to do. Similarly, those accepting such appointments ought only to do so if they are competent to undertake the demolition or partial demolition activity.

1 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:

the proper and effective management of demolition processes, including those forming part of structural refurbishment;
maintaining structural stability, including through the provision of temporary structural support, where necessary;
managing deliberate structural collapse;
identifying and establishing responsibilities during all phases of the demolition processes;
acquiring a knowledge of the site, including its former uses;
managing environmental issues;
managing health and safety hazards;
carrying out risk assessments and planning the work accordingly;
establishing and managing procedures effectively;
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. Annex A gives guidance on the training and competence required for the activities covered by this standard.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Approaches to demolition

4.1 Options assessment

4.2 Assessment of approaches

4.3 Intervention principles

4.4 Selection of the approach

4.5 Choosing the methodology

4.6 Demolition activities in structural refurbishment

5 Planning and managing projects (see Figure 3)

5.1 Key planning considerations

5.2 Planning and managing for site work

5.3 Competencies and training

5.4 Management and planning tools

5.5 Work on site

6 Procurement

6.1 Professional advice

6.2 Scheme for demolition and contract documents

6.3 Tender procedure and administration

7 Knowledge of the site (see Figure 5)

7.1 Desk study and site survey

7.2 Responsibilities for acquiring and providing information

7.3 Desk study

7.4 On-site survey

7.5 Condition surveys of adjoining premises and for delapidation

7.6 Reports and dissemination of knowledge

8 Decommissioning procedures (see Figure 6)

8.1 Management and supervision

8.2 Decommissioning activities

8.3 Mothballing

8.4 Time lag effects

9 Identifying structural hazards (see Figure 7)

9.1 General

9.2 Identification of structural form and features

9.3 Structural condition

10 Health hazards (see Figure 8)

10.1 General

10.2 Locations of health hazards

10.3 Identification and assessment of health hazards

11 Health and safety of people on or off site (see Figure 9)

11.1 General

11.2 Risk-based approach

11.3 Consultation

11.4 Site security

11.5 Personal protective equipment (PPE) on site

11.6 Emergency procedures

11.7 Permit to work procedures

11.8 Hazards from services and combustible materials

11.9 Flooding

11.10 Confined spaces, including hazardous atmospheres

11.11 Handling materials

11.12 Lone-working

11.13 Welfare and first aid

11.14 Noise and vibration

11.15 Work over, or next to, public areas

11.16 Falling and projected materials

11.17 Safe access and work places

12 Protection of people and the environment (see Figure 10)

12.1 General

12.2 Legislation

12.3 Identification and management of sources of pollution

12.4 Flora and fauna

12.5 Protection of property

13 Safe working spaces and exclusion zones (see Figure 11)

13.1 General

13.2 Safe working spaces and exclusion zones as part of the safety regime

13.3 Exclusion zones around site vehicles and plant

13.4 Application of safe working spaces and exclusion zones

13.5 Design of safe working spaces and exclusion zones

14 Structural demolition: Principles, mechanisms and hazards (see Figure 20)

14.1 General

14.2 Structural demolition

14.3 Addressing inherent hazards of load-bearing structural members and elements

14.4 Inherent hazards of structural materials

15 Avoidance of unplanned structural collapses (see Figure 21)

15.1 General

15.2 Achieving residual structural stability as demolition progresses

15.3 Designing safe deliberate collapse mechanisms, including pre-weakening

15.4 Temporary structural support for stability

15.5 Planned partial demolition ensuring stability of the remaining structure

15.6 Weather

16 Temporary structures for stability, support and access (see Figure 22)

16.1 Auxiliary and temporary structures for stability or support

16.2 Facade retention

16.3 Access scaffolding

17 Demolition techniques (see Figure 23)

17.1 General

17.2 Demolition by hand

17.3 Demolition by machine

17.4 Remotely-controlled machines and robotic devices

17.5 Compact machines

17.6 High-reach machines

17.7 Tower and other high-reach cranes

17.8 Demolition by rope pulling

17.9 Cutting by drilling and sawing

17.10 Demolition by chemical agents

17.11 Demolition by explosives (see Figure 24)

17.12 Hot cutting

17.13 High-pressure water jetting

17.14 Metal powder cutting

18 Materials handling and processing

18.1 General

18.2 Transport arrangements

18.3 Safe use of cranes

18.4 Lifting and lowering

18.5 Free fall of demolition materials

18.6 Mobile plant for reprocessing materials

19 Typical demolition methods for various types of structure (see Figure 25)

19.1 General

19.2 Buildings

19.3 Bridges

19.4 Masonry and brick arches

19.5 Independent chimneys

19.6 Lattice towers and masts

19.7 Vessels potentially containing flammable materials

19.8 Basements and retaining walls

19.9 Spires

20 Completion of the works

20.1 Safety and health

20.2 Health and safety file

Bibliography

BS 6187:2011

Code of practice for full and partial demolition

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Dec 2011