Site Clearance & Demolition

The process in pictures, step by step - Step 1 of 8 - slide through the snapshots.

STEP 1

Pre-demolition surveys

Commission the asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey to HSG264 before anything is touched - it is an intrusive survey, a legal requirement on…

STEP 2

Service disconnections and diversions

Gas, electric, water and telecoms are disconnected and certified dead by the utility companies - in writing, never assumed.

STEP 3

Soft strip the structures

Remove internal fittings, floor coverings, ceilings, mechanical and electrical kit, and non-structural partitions by hand.

STEP 4

Erect protection and exclusion zones

Scaffold fans, debris netting and protected routes shield neighbours and retained structures.

STEP 5

Mechanical demolition, top down

The high-reach machine works bay by bay from the top, pulling material toward itself, never undermining its own platform.

STEP 6

Crush and screen the arisings

A mobile crusher and screener convert concrete and masonry into graded material - typically a 6F2 or Type 1 substitute for haul roads and fill.

STEP 7

Remove foundations, slabs and below-ground obstructions

Old foundations, basements, tanks and drainage runs are grubbed out and either crushed on site or removed to licensed disposal.

STEP 8

Final clearance, segregation and sign-off

Remaining waste streams - hazardous, non-hazardous, inert - leave site under duty-of-care waste transfer notes (Environmental Protection Act 1990) with…

Explore each method in depth - benefits, limitations, plant and quality control on its own page.

Site Clearance & Demolition: step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Pre-demolition surveys

   Commission the asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey to HSG264 before anything is touched - it is an intrusive survey, a legal requirement on pre-2000 UK buildings, and suspect materials are removed by licensed contractors first. Structural appraisal confirms how the building stands and how it will come down. Ecological surveys identify bats, nesting birds and protected species that can stop work outright.

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Service disconnections and diversions

   Gas, electric, water and telecoms are disconnected and certified dead by the utility companies - in writing, never assumed. Live services that must stay are located, marked and protected. A permit-to-dig regime controls any excavation near them from this point on.

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Soft strip the structures

   Remove internal fittings, floor coverings, ceilings, mechanical and electrical kit, and non-structural partitions by hand. Segregate timber, metals and recyclables at source. The stripped shell lets the demolition engineer verify the actual construction against the drawings before machines commit.

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Erect protection and exclusion zones

   Scaffold fans, debris netting and protected routes shield neighbours and retained structures. The exclusion zone is calculated from the structure height and the demolition method, fenced and supervised. Dust suppression - water sprays, mist cannons - is set up and running before breaking starts. In the UAE, dust control and permitted working hours are conditions of the demolition permit itself, not goodwill.

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Mechanical demolition, top down

   The high-reach machine works bay by bay from the top, pulling material toward itself, never undermining its own platform. Arisings are dropped to ground and processed by a second machine with a pulveriser, separating concrete from reinforcement. Vibration and noise are monitored at the boundary where sensitive neighbours exist.

   
6. 6

   Step 6: Crush and screen the arisings

   A mobile crusher and screener convert concrete and masonry into graded material - typically a 6F2 or Type 1 substitute for haul roads and fill. Oversize goes back through, metals are lifted out by magnet, and the stockpile is sampled and tested to confirm it meets the specification for its intended reuse.

   
7. 7

   Step 7: Remove foundations, slabs and below-ground obstructions

   Old foundations, basements, tanks and drainage runs are grubbed out and either crushed on site or removed to licensed disposal. Voids are backfilled in compacted layers so no soft spots remain for the new works. A watching brief for contamination runs through every dig.

   
8. 8

   Step 8: Final clearance, segregation and sign-off

   Remaining waste streams - hazardous, non-hazardous, inert - leave site under duty-of-care waste transfer notes (Environmental Protection Act 1990) with licensed carriers. The site is graded roughly level, stockpiles are sheeted, and a validation report records what was removed, what was reused and what was disposed. Only then does the earthworks gang take over.

   

How long does Site Clearance & Demolition take?

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks for vegetation strip on a greenfield site; 4–12 weeks where structures must be demolished and processed..

Related processes

• Site Access & Enabling Works
• Setting Out & Survey Control
• Earthworks & Excavation
• Dewatering & Groundwater Control
• Shallow Foundations
• Piling & Deep Foundations
• Basement & Substructure
• Waterproofing and Tanking
• Concrete Frame Construction
• Steel Frame Construction
• Masonry & Timber Frame
• Floor Slabs & Screeds
• Roofing
• Façade & Cladding
• Insulation Systems
• Windows, Doors & Glazing
• MEP First Fix
• Internal Finishes
• MEP Second Fix & Commissioning
• External Works & Landscaping
• Testing, Handover & Snagging
• Soft strip - method
• Top-down mechanical demolition - method
• Explosive demolition - method
• Vegetation and topsoil clearance only - method