DEM/General/TBT-DEM-006

Pre-Demolition Survey Requirements

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A pre-demolition survey must be completed before any demolition work can safely begin.
The survey identifies structural form, materials, hazardous substances, and services present.
Asbestos must be surveyed and removed by a licensed contractor before demolition commences.
The survey identifies how the structure gains stability and how demolition affects adjacent buildings.
Buried and overhead services must be identified, disconnected, and confirmed dead.
BS 6187 and CDM 2015 both require pre-demolition surveys as part of the planning process.
The survey findings inform the demolition method statement and sequence of work.
Pre-stressed or post-tensioned concrete presents specific hazards if cut unsafely.
Party walls, shared structures, and adjoining occupied buildings require special assessment.
The survey must be carried out by a competent person with demolition experience.

Prevent collapse	Without understanding the structure, demolition can cause uncontrolled collapse.
Asbestos protection	Demolishing without removing asbestos first exposes workers and public to fibres.
Service safety	Live services in a building under demolition cause fatal incidents.
Legal compliance	BS 6187 and CDM require documented surveys before demolition begins.

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See also: Demolition Safety Awareness | Asbestos Awareness

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