512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

17-8. General Requirements.

Demolition and Renovation Activities

Conduct all demolition and renovation activities in compliance with ANSI/ASSP A10.6.

Surveys

Perform Lead, Asbestos, and Other Regulated Material (ORM) Surveys by trained, licensed inspectors as per OSHA and EPA standards, and integrate results into the Demolition Plan.
A Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) must conduct an Engineering Survey to assess structural integrity, identify demolition hazards, and detect hazardous substances, ensuring control or elimination before commencement.

Demolition Preparatory Actions

Remove all Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) and ORMs in accordance with federal and state laws before starting renovation or demolition.
Shore or brace walls and floors as per the Engineering Survey and Demolition Plan if the structure is damaged, and manage service lines (electric, gas, water, etc.) properly by shutting off or controlling them inside and outside the building line.
Implement protective measures for employees, such as installing sidewalk sheds or canopies at entrances and establishing clear access and no-entry points with appropriate signage.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

17-4. Who must conduct a survey to assess structural integrity, identify demolition hazards, and detect hazardous substances before commencement work?

A Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)

A Competent Person (CP)

The KO or COR

A Qualified Person (QP)

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EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 17-8 (a.–c.).

17-8. General Requirements. (a.–c.).

a.  Perform demolition and renovation activities according to ANSI/ASSP A10.6. (17-8.a)

b.  Surveys.  Prepare the following surveys prior to initiating demolition or renovation activities and include them in the Demolition Plan.  (17-8.b)

(1)  Lead, Asbestos, and Other Regulated Material (ORM) Surveys. Surveys must be performed by trained and licensed inspectors according to chapter 6.  Ensure applicable OSHA and EPA requirements for surveys are followed (see para 17-3).  See also the additional lead and asbestos requirements in chapter 6.

(2)  Engineering Survey.  A RPE must perform an engineering survey of the structure to be demolished and any adjacent structures where employees or property may be exposed to determine the following:

(a)  Structure layout.

(b)  The condition of the framing, floors, and walls.

(d)  The existence of other demolition hazards.

(e)  If any hazardous building materials, hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable materials, or dangerous substances have been used in any building construction, pipes, tanks, or other equipment on the property.

(e-1)  When such hazards are identified, conduct testing to determine the type and concentration of the hazardous substance. Provide the test results to the USACE supervisor/KO or COR and the contractor’s designated authority.

(e-2)  Control or eliminate such hazards before demolition is started.

(e-3)  If HAZMAT are found on the project site or location after demolition started, immediately cease work and notify the USACE supervisor/KO or COR.  Do not abate or remove the HAZMAT without USACE supervisor approval or KO or COR acceptance.

Note. An engineering survey is not required for soft demolition activities as long as no load-bearing structure will be removed or demolished.

c.  Demolition Preparatory Actions.  (17-8.c)

(1)  All ACM and ORMs must be removed from structures according to all federal and state laws before renovation/demolition begins.

Note.  For the context of this chapter, ORM refers to any other regulated HAZMAT not otherwise specifically called out by name within the text of this chapter.

(2)  When employees work within a structure to be demolished that has been damaged by fire, flood, explosion, or other cause, the walls and/or floor must be shored or braced according to the engineering survey and Demolition Plan (see paras 17-7 and 17-8.a).

(3) Electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines affected as a result of project work must be shut off, capped, or otherwise controlled inside and outside the building line before demolition is started.

(a)  In each case, notify the responsible utility companies in advance of the termination.

(b)  If it is necessary to maintain any power, water, or other utilities during renovation, temporarily relocate and protect such lines.

(4)  If the project includes the abandonment or demolition of existing gas lines, ensure that the existing lines are accurately located and the procedures for removal, installation, or relocation of lines are accomplished according to the applicable requirements of 29 CFR 1926.850.

(5)  Evaluate and control potential hazards from fragmentation of glass inside and outside of the demolition site.

(6)  Protect employee entrances to multistory structures with sidewalk sheds, canopies, or both.

(a)  Provide protection for a minimum distance of 8 feet (2.4 m) from the face of the building.

(b)  All canopies must be at least 2 feet (0.6 m) wider than the building entrances or openings (1 foot (0.3 m) wider on each side) and must support a load of 150 psi (1,034.2 kPa).

(7)  Identify the designated means of access and the no-entry access points in the
Demolition Plan. Close, barricade, and install appropriate signage at all no-entry access points. Install appropriate signage at all access points.

(a)  Only use the stairways, passageways, and ladders that are specifically designated as means of access to the structure.

(b)  Cover stairwells to protect workers from falling debris at a point no less than two floors below the floor on which work is being performed.

(8)  Dust Control.  Take protective measures to control the accumulation and migration of dust and dirt during demolition activities.  This includes preventative steps to limit the spread of dust and debris to occupied portions of a building and to avoid the creation of a nuisance or hazardous dust in the surrounding area.

512 EM385-1-1 Chapters 16-22