Guide to demolition surveys and the benefits of project management

Demolition projects and refurbishment works can be incredibly complicated and take a lot of planning, and refurbishment and demolition surveys are even a requirement before certain work can be undertaken.

With these types of projects, one of the major challenges is the dangers of hazardous materials, such as asbestos and lead. As a naturally occurring fibre, asbestos was widely used in construction until the late 1990s. 

It was frequently used in buildings for flooring, roofing, insulation and was sprayed on walls and ceilings before its dangers were known. It can also be found in soil where asbestos waste has previously been disposed of. 

The use of asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999. However, buildings developed before 2000 may still have this material in them, so if you’re planning a refurbishment and demolition of a property built before then, a demolition survey could identify the presence of asbestos, which will need to be removed before a demolition or refurbishment starts.

What is a demolition survey?

A demolition survey aims to locate and identify all asbestos-containing materials across an entire building so that it can be safely removed before any structural work begins. It’s required when a premises, or part of it, is being demolished or refurbished, and a qualified surveyor needs to undertake this.

For refurbishment and demolition surveys, the surveyor will look at the development plans to inspect areas and identify any materials containing asbestos that may be disturbed throughout the refurbishment or demolition work.

During the demolition survey, the surveyor will need to access all areas of the building set for demolition or refurbishment. The surveyor won’t disturb any areas suspected of asbestos besides securely taking a small sample for analysis.

The report should state the location, presence and extent of materials and debris with asbestos contained in them. While a demolition survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos, the surveyor should mention any that’s in a dangerous state.

If the demolition survey reveals asbestos, the recommended actions will need to be completed, and the asbestos found will need to be removed in a safe and legally compliant manner. The type found will impact whether the material is licensable and requires a Licensed Removal Contractor. Then, once all licenced and non-licenced asbestos has been safely removed, the demolition of the building can finally start.

The challenges of refurbishment and demolition works

There are a number of challenges that come with refurbishment and demolition works. This includes the safety risks posed by the presence of hazardous materials like asbestos. 

Keep in mind that when asbestos remains intact in a building it poses little risk. However, when it’s disturbed or damaged, tiny fibres can be released in the air and enter people’s lungs when breathing, which can damage their lungs and its lining. To ensure the risk from asbestos is minimised, the recommendations from a demolition survey must be undertaken before any work commences. 

Additionally, UK law is strict about managing asbestos-containing materials, so it’s a heavily regulated part of the construction industry. It’s important to follow best practice when dealing with asbestos and ensure safety for anyone who may come in contact with it. 

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set out legal duties and give practical advice and guidance on how to comply with the relevant legal requirements. There’s also legislation to abide by when it comes to building regulations and planning permission.

The benefits of investing in project management

Demolition is an intricate process requiring thorough planning, and if asbestos is found, this can make it even more complex. As it’s such complicated and highly hazardous work, investing in specialist project management can help with your entire demolition, including:

• Ensuring risks are properly assessed and managed from the outset
• Following all regulations and legal requirements to ensure your development is compliant
• Providing support in other areas of the demolition and refurbishment project
• Saving you time and minimising stress and hassle throughout the whole process
• Making the entire project runs as smoothly as possible

Demolition services

At Eddisons, we can oversee demolition projects of any size from initial planning to project management. Our primary concern is safety, so we ensure all of the risks are properly assessed. 

We can even take care of the whole process and provide guidance and support on other areas related to demolition, such as reinstatement costs and architectural design. As a full-service consultancy, Eddisons can also offer a range of other solutions for commercial properties. 

Get in touch for more information about our demolition services and project management.