§ 5.37. Removal of walls.
(a) Masonry walls or other sections of masonry shall not be permitted to fall upon floors in such masses as to exceed the safe carrying capacity of the floors.
(b) No section of wall whose height is more than 22 times its thickness shall be permitted to stand without lateral bracing unless such wall is in good condition and was originally designed to stand to a greater height without such lateral support.
(c) Workmen shall not be permitted to work on top of a wall when weather conditions constitute a hazard.
(d) Structural or load supporting members on any floor shall not be cut or removed until all stories above that floor have been demolished and removed. This provision does not prohibit the cutting of floor beams for the purposes stated in § 5.35 (relating to removal of materials) or in § 5.40(e) (relating to storage space).
(e) Before demolishing any interior or exterior wall within ten feet of any opening in the floor immediately below, such opening shall be substantially planked over unless all workmen are removed from all floors below and access to such floors is positively prevented.
(f) In buildings of ‘‘skeleton’’ construction, the steel framing may be left in place during the demolition of masonry work. Where this is done, all steel beams, girders, and the like shall be cleared of all loose material as the masonry work progresses downward.
(g) Walkways shall be provided to enable workmen to reach or leave their work on any scaffold or wall. Such walkways shall be not less than three planks, nor less than 30 inches wide.
(h) Each day, at the completion of work, all walls shall be left stable and in no danger of being overturned.
(i) Foundation walls which serve as retaining walls to support earth or adjoining structures shall not be demolished until the adjoining structures have been underpinned or braced, and earth removed or supported by sheet piling or sheathing.
(j) In the demolition of brick and masonry chimneys which cannot safely be toppled or dropped, all materials shall be dropped down on the inside of such chimneys.
(k) The loading point at the discharge end of any chute at or near the bottom of a chimney shall be completely protected by means of an overhead timber canopy having a strength equal to a sidewalk shed, as specified in § 5.34 (relating to sidewalk protection).
(l) Construction sheds and tool boxes shall be so located as to protect workers from the danger of falling walls and all other falling objects.
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