Demolition refers to breaking up of buildings, structures either fully or partially.

Utmost consideration is
to be given to demolition or dismantling of structures than to erection, construction and maintenance.
The structure to be demolish should be adequately fenced and cordoned off.

Before dismantling work is started, glazed sash, glazed doors and windows, etc, shall be removed. All
fragile and loose fixtures shall be removed. The lath and all loose plaster shall be stripped off throughout
the entire building. This is advantageous because it reduces glass breakage and also eliminates a large
amount of dust producing material before more substantial parts of the buildings are removed.

Precautions during demolition has three goals:-

(A) Specifically aimed at safeguarding the personnel on the site.

(B) Safeguarding of persons not connected with demolition including the public.

(C) The protection of the property likely to be effected by demolition operation. There are two
techniques for demolition firstly Non Engineering Demolition (manual demolition) and secondly
Engineering Demolition (Mechanical Method).

Manual methods are carried out top down from Roof to ground. The sequence of demolition depends
on site conditions and structural elements to demolish.

Followings points shall be studied before demolition of existing building: -

1. Workers should not be deployed at different levels unless adequate precautions are taken to
ensure safety of them
2. Demolition work should begin at the top of the structure and proceed downwards. .
3. Masonry concrete and other dismantled materials should not be allowed to accumulate in
quantities, which may endanger the stability of any floor or structural support.
4. Part of the structures, where necessary should be adequately shored, braced or otherwise
supported.
5. Foundation walls serving as retaining walls to support of adjoining structures should not be
demolish until the adjoining structure have been under pinned.
6. Scaffolds used for demolition operations should be independent of the structure to be
demolished.
7. If the demolition is carried out by machines such as power shovels, bulldozers etc. the safety
measures relevant to operation and use of such machines should be adhered to.
8. Before demolition of any civil work temporary supporting system (Vertical Jacks/Props) shall be
erected under Slab and Beams before demolition.
9. Parapet wall shall be removed initially.
10. Brick Bat Cobba shall be removed thereafter.
11. Reinforced concrete slabs should be demolished by cutting with Compressor Guns/Hammer
parallel to the line of main reinforcement thus reducing the slab to small sections.
The cutting work must be carried out from an independent platform.
12. Strip cut away should be no more than 300mm wide at one time.
13. Roofs or floors should generally, be dismantled first before dismantling the supporting
walls/structural elements. After removal of Slab and Beam then Masonry Walls shall be
demolished.
14. While walls or sections of masonry are being demolished, it shall be ensured that they are not
allowed to fall as single mass upon the floors of the building that are being demolished so as to
exceed the safe carrying capacity of the floors. Overloading of floors shall be prevented by
removing the accumulating debris through chutes or by other means immediately. The floor
shall be inspected by the engineer-in-charge before undertaking dismantling work and if the
same is found to be incapable to carry the load of the debris; necessary additional precautions
shall be taken so as to prevent any possible unexpected collapse of the floor.
15. Walls shall be removed part by part. Stages shall be provided for the men to work on, if the
walls are very thin and dangerous to work by standing over them.
16. No section of wall whose height is more than 15 times of thickness, shall be permitted to stand
without lateral bracing unless such wall is in good condition and was originally designed to stand
without such lateral bracing or support.
17. Structural or load supporting members on any floor shall not be cut or removed until all the
stories above that floor have been demolished and removed.
18. In framed structures, the steel frame may be left in place during dismantling of masonry work.
Where this is done, all steel beams, girders, etc, shall be cleared of all loose materials as the
dismantling of masonry work progress downward provided it is still strong enough to stand as
an independent structure.
19. The dismantling of floor shall be started only after the floor in question and the surround ding
floor area for a distance of 6.0 m have been entirely cleared of persons, and the debris and
other unnecessary material removed.
20. Planks used for temporary protection shall be sound and at least 50 mm thick. They shall be laid
close together with the ends having at least 100 mm bearing over solid support to prevent
tipping under load. If corrugated GI Sheets are used for temporary protection, it shall be secured
to the solid support with suitable framework.

Before beginning the actual work of dismantling, a careful study shall be made of the structure
which is to be pulled down and also of all its surroundings. This shall, in particular, include study
of the manner in which the various parts of the building to be demolished are supported and
how far the stage-by-stage dismantling will affect the safety of the adjoining structure. A
definite plan of procedure for the dismantling work, depending upon the manner in which the
loads of the various structural parts are supported, shall be prepared and approved by the
engineer-in-charge and this shall be followed as closely as possible, in actual execution of the
dismantling work. Before the commencement of each stage of dismantling, the site supervisor in
charge shall brief the work-men in detail regarding the safety aspects to be kept in view. It has
to be ensured that the dismantling works do not endanger, at any stage, the safety of the
adjacent building and minimum nuisance affect should be kept.