DEM/General/TBT-DEM-018

Demolition Method Statement

Demolition › General › Demolition Method Statement

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A demolition method statement is a detailed document describing how a structure will be safely demolished.
BS 6187 requires a method statement for all demolition work, specifying sequence, plant, and safety measures.
The method statement must be prepared by a competent person with demolition engineering experience.
It covers the full sequence from soft strip through structural demolition to site clearance and reinstatement.
Pre-demolition surveys for asbestos, services, structural condition, and adjacent properties feed into the method statement.
The statement must identify exclusion zones, dust and noise controls, and traffic management arrangements.
All workers must be briefed on the method statement content relevant to their tasks before work begins.
Changes to the demolition sequence must be formally reviewed and the method statement updated before proceeding.
The method statement forms part of the Construction Phase Plan required under CDM 2015.
Failure to follow the method statement has been a direct cause of demolition collapses in the UK.

Prevent collapse	An incorrect demolition sequence can cause unplanned structural collapse, killing workers and the public.
Legal requirement	CDM 2015 and BS 6187 require a written method statement before any demolition work commences.
Coordination tool	The method statement ensures all trades, plant operators, and supervisors understand the planned sequence.

Don't

Ensure a demolition method statement is prepared by a competent person before work starts
Read and understand the method statement sections relevant to your role on the project
Follow the demolition sequence exactly as described in the approved method statement
Brief all workers on the method statement requirements before each phase of demolition
Update the method statement formally if conditions change or the sequence must be altered
Include results from pre-demolition surveys for asbestos, services, and structural condition
Define exclusion zones, dust suppression, noise controls, and traffic management clearly
Review the method statement with the client, principal contractor, and relevant authorities
Keep a copy of the method statement available on site for reference at all times
Record any deviations from the method statement and the reasons they were authorised

DON'T start demolition without a written and approved demolition method statement
DON'T deviate from the approved sequence without formal review and written authorisation
DON'T assume workers know the plan — brief everyone on the method statement content
DON'T allow unqualified persons to prepare the demolition method statement
DON'T proceed if site conditions differ from those assumed in the method statement
DON'T skip the pre-demolition survey — the method statement relies on accurate data
DON'T treat the method statement as paperwork — it is the plan that keeps people safe
DON'T remove structural elements out of sequence even if they appear easier to access
DON'T file the method statement away — it must be available at the work face
DON'T ignore changes in weather or ground conditions that affect the demolition sequence

See also: Demolition Safety Awareness | Pre-Demolition Survey Requirements

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