Tag Archives: Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Proper Use of Covered Walkway

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  • Proper Use of Covered Walkway

Debris shall not be accumulated on the roof of the covered walkway. It shall not be used for any other purposes such as storage of building materials and equipment inside or above the covered walkway.

If it is intended to build a temporary contractor’s shed over the covered walkway, it must be structurally independent of the covered walkway. The roof of the contractor’s shed shall sustain the design load criteria for the catch platform or covered walkway whichever is applicable.

The roof of the covered walkway shall be pitched inwards to better contain the debris and for roof drainage. Upstand edge board of 1.1 m or higher measured from the toe of roof line of the catch platform’s outer edge shall be provided to retain the fallen debris.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Design Criteria

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  • Design Criteria

The roof of the covered walkway shall be designed to support a uniformly distributed load of 5 kPa. The catch platform shall be designed to sustain a uniformly distributed load of 5 kPa or a point load of 20 kN acting on an effective area of 300 mm × 300 mm, whichever shall produce the most adverse effect. Design criteria for covered walkway and catch platform are summarised in Table 3.2. The hoarding, covered walkway and catch platform shall be designed to sustain the wind load according to the current Code of Practice on Wind Effects in Hong Kong or its latest equivalent publication. The location of the proposed covered walkway shall be compatible to the existing traffic environment.

Typical details for the catch platform and covered walkway are illustrated in Figure 3.2

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Hoarding and Covered Walkway Dimensions

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  • Dimensions

A minimum vertical clearance of 2.3 m shall be provided for the covered walkway. A minimum clear width of 1.1m is required for hoarding/covered walkways sited on a carriageway. As regards hoarding/covered walkways on a footpath, the clear width should be related to the existing pavement as set out in Table 3.1. The required clear width must not be obstructed in any manner e.g. by traffic sign, temporary supports, scaffoldings or the like. The width of the catch platform shall not be less than 2 m when it abuts a street and may be reduced by the amount of set back of the building. Separation distance between the walkway cover and the catch platform shall be individually determined according to the design need, e.g. maintenance. A minimum clearance of 5.5 m shall be maintained for the catch platform within a minimum distance of 500mm from edge of a carriageway unless otherwise agreed by the Highways Department. 5.5m clear headroom over gantry shall be maintained as far as practicable.

Table 3.1             Width of Covered Walkway

Existing Pavement WidthMinimum Clear Width in Walkway
2.5 m or lessNormally 1.5m minimum. Exemption may be considered if the pavement is of insufficient width
over 2.5 m to 3 mWidth of the pavement minus 0.8m subject to a maximum of 2 m
Over 3 m2 m

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Requirements for Hoarding Covered Walkway and Catch Platform

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  • Requirements    for   Hoarding,    Covered   Walkway                              and  Catch Platform

The criteria for use of covered walkway for a site depend on the height of the building being demolished and its proximity to the vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. The requirements for hoarding, covered walkway and catch platform are described in the following:

  • For buildings that have a clear space between the building line and the lot boundary equal to or more than the building height (hereinafter referred to as clear space), only hoarding shall be required;
    • Covered walkway shall be provided for building with clear space less than the building height;
    • Covered walkway with catch platform shall be provided for buildings with clear space less than half the building height. No catch platform is required for building less than 4 m high;
    • The hoarding and/or covered walkway shall be provided along the full length of the site boundary adjacent to public access.
    • The requirements for hoarding, covered walkway and catch platform are illustrated in Figure 3.1.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Hoarding and Covered Walkway

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  1. Hoarding and Covered Walkway

The primary purpose of hoarding and covered walkway is to provide protection of the public during the construction or demolition of buildings. Generally, hoarding isolates the demolition site from the public, thus preventing unauthorized access and trespassing. The covered walkway, in conjunction with catch platform, provides additional protection to the pedestrian traffic against falling debris. The Authorized Person / Registered Structural Engineer shall design them to suit individual site circumstances. Suggested designs for hoarding, covered walkway and catch platform are listed in the following:

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

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  1. General

Site safety features shall emphasise protection of the public, particularly, the pedestrian and vehicular traffic and the adjacent properties. Proper safety features shall be designed by the Authorized Person / Registered Structural Engineer to make sure that the demolition can be carried out safely and the site personnel is protected. The Registered Specialist Contractor (Demolition) shall carry out the demolition works including precautionary measures in accordance with the approved plans and other related documents, and provide continuous supervision to the works.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Soil Contamination Material

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  • Soil Contamination Material

In the case when possible soil contamination material is present, specialist shall be employed to prepare soil contamination test proposal and submit such proposal to the Environmental Protection Department for comment. Upon agreement by the Environmental Protection Department, and completion of the tests, a Soil Contamination Assessment shall be submitted to the Environmental Protection Department for acceptance. In the case when remedial works are required, the remedial proposal shall be submitted to the Environmental Protection Department for approval prior to implementation of such remedial works.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Asbestos Containing Material

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  • Asbestos Containing Material

Specialists shall be employed to take samples and cause such samples to be tested for asbestos containing material. In the case when asbestos containing material are discovered, specialist contractor shall be employed to remove such asbestos containing material. The asbestos

waste should be handled, stored and disposed of as chemical waste in accordance with the Waste Disposal Ordinance and Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Hazardous Material

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  1. Hazardous Material

If hazardous materials, such as asbestos containing materials, petroleum contamination and radioactive contamination, exist in the building, further investigation and removal of such hazardous material or contamination by specialist shall be referenced.

Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings – Maintenance of Certain Utilities

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  • Maintenance of Certain Utilities
  • During demolition, the following basic utilities shall be required to provide a safe and healthy working environment:
    • Temporary water supply shall be required to provide water spraying during demolition as dust pollution abatement measures;
      • Temporary telecommunication link between the demolition site and outside organisation shall be maintained for both security and communication reasons; and
      • Temporary electricity supply for lighting and other construction use.
  • In the case when temporary utilities are available, all such temporary utilities, including electrical fittings shall be weather-proofed.