Subchapter B. DEMOLITION WORK
GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.
5.21. Definitions.
5.22. Scope.
5.23. Penalty.
5.24. Filing of notice required.
SPECIFICATIONS
5.31. General.
5.32. Temporary sanitation.
5.33. Preparatory procedures.
5.34. Sidewalk protection.
5.35. Removal of materials.
5.36. Stairs, passageways and ladders.
5.37. Removal of walls.
5.38. Catch platforms.
5.39. Removal of floors.
5.40. Storage space.
5.41. Demolition of steel construction.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter B issued under act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § 25-12), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter B adopted May 29, 1952, amended through July 1, 1968, unless otherwise noted.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 5.21. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Demolition—The removal of a building or structure or part thereof.
Lumber size—Nominal stock size.§ 5.22. Scope.
This subchapter sets forth rules to safeguard the lives, limbs and health of workers engaged in demolition work, places the responsibility of compliance with the rules upon both employer and employe, and requires notification to the Bureau of Inspection before demolition is begun in certain instances.
§ 5.23. Penalty.
A person who violates this subchapter, or the regulations of the Department or who interferes with the Department or its authorized representatives in the enforcement of this subchapter, or the regulations shall be penalized under section 15 of the act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § 25-15).
§ 5.24. Filing of notice required.
No demolition may be commenced by a person except the owner of the building or structure or a part thereof, or his employes, until the person or firm, whether corporate or otherwise, which will perform the demolition work first notifies the Bureau of Inspection on prescribed forms. In the case of emergencies caused by fire, flood, riot, civil disorder or other acts of God, demolition work may be commenced without prior notice, if the notice is filed within 48 hours after the commencement of the work.
SPECIFICATIONS
§ 5.31. General.
(a) Supervision. Demolition of buildings or other structures shall be done under the direction of persons experienced in that work.
(b) Allowable loading. No structure, part of a structure, floor or temporary support, scaffold, sidewalk shed, bridge or device or equipment may be loaded in excess of the safe carrying capacity, but never more than 1/3 of its ultimate structural strength.
(c) Walkways and passageways. Walkways and passageways shall be provided for the use of workmen, who shall be instructed in such use, and all such walkways and passageways shall be kept adequately lighted and free from debris or other materials.
(d) Protruding nails. Protruding nails in any lumber shall be withdrawn, hammered in, or bent over as soon as it is removed from the structure being demolished, or all nail-bearing lumber shall be placed in piles for future cleaning or burning.
(e) First aid kit. There shall be provided and properly maintained on each job an approved type of first aid kit, in the charge of a person instructed in the application of first aid.
(f) Posting of danger signs. On every demolition job, danger signs shall be conspicuously posted around the property; all doorways or thoroughfares to the property shall be kept barricaded, except during the actual passage of men or equipment.
(g) Sprinkling. During demolition, all chutes, floors, stairways and other places affected shall be sprinkled frequently to keep down dust.
(h) Cables, ropes, slings, and tackle. Cables, ropes, slings, and tackle shall be thoroughly and frequently inspected. When not in use, they shall be stored in a dry place. Equipment showing any defect shall be removed from service at once. Splicing of ropes is prohibited.
(i) Oxygen acetylene. Oxygen acetylene and similar materials, when used in connection with demolition, shall be stored in steel cylinders, in a cool place shielded from the sun, at a point from which such cylinders cannot fall and fully protected from falling materials or objects. Such cylinders shall be chained or tied in position or set in cradles.
(j) Personal protective devices. Employes on demolition jobs shall wear approved hard hats and steel-toed shoes. Employes working in atmospheres containing excessive dust shall wear approved respirators. Employes subject to injury from flying particles shall wear approved goggles.
§ 5.32. Temporary sanitation.
(a) Chemical closets.
(1) Approved sanitary chemical closets shall be provided during demolition operations in the following ratio, and shall be located so that workmen are not obliged to walk more than three stories up or down to reach them:
Number of Persons Number of Closets 1—15 1 16—30 2 31—60 3 61—100 4 101—150 5 (2) For each additional 50 persons employed, or fractional part thereof, at least one additional closet shall be provided.
(3) In buildings of three stories or less in height, facilities may be provided outside the building, but not more than 150 feet distant.
(b) Toilets. Every toilet shall be constructed so that occupants are sheltered from view and protected against the weather and falling objects. Each toilet shall also be provided with natural or artificial illumination and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(c) Disinfectants or deodorizers. A sufficient quantity of disinfectants or deodorizers shall be supplied and frequently used to keep the closets in a clean and sanitary condition.
(d) Washing facilities. Adequate washing facilities with running water, shall be provided for workmen, and located within a reasonable distance of the place of work.
(e) Place to change clothing. A clean, safe, enclosed place shall be provided in which workmen may change clothing.
(f) Drinking water. Pure drinking water, of a quality approved by the Department of Health, shall be accessible to employes at all times. The use of common drinking cups is prohibited; individual drinking vessels or bubbling fountains shall be used.
§ 5.33. Preparatory procedures.
(a) Before beginning the demolition of any building or structure, the contractor or person in charge shall make a complete examination of such building or structure to ascertain any existing dangerous structural defects.
(b) Where a structure to be demolished has been partially wrecked by fire, flood, explosion, or other causes, the walls shall be shored or braced in accordance with accepted engineering practice before any demolition work is started.
(c) Electric, gas, water, steam, and other service lines from the outside, except those which are especially maintained for use in connection with the demolition work, shall be effectively cut off before demolition work is started. In each case, the service company in charge shall be notified in advance and the approval or cooperation obtained by the contractors or the property owner.
(d) Power, water, or other service lines especially maintained for use in demolition work shall be relocated when necessary or protected with substantial covering to prevent damage.
(e) Glazed sash, glazed doors, and other glass shall be removed before demolition work is begun.
(f) Exterior wall openings which extend down to floor level shall be barricaded to a height not less than three feet above floor level. This subsection does not apply to a story after structural demolition of that story has been started, nor to the ground level.
(g) Floor openings and shafts not used for material chutes shall be floored over or enclosed with guardrails and toeboards.
(h) Except for the cutting of holes in floors for chutes and holes through which to drop materials, preparation of storage space and other necessary preparatory work, demolition of exterior walls and floor construction shall begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward, and each story of exterior walls and floor construction shall be removed and dropped into the storage space before commencing the removal of walls and floors in the story below. This requirement does not prohibit the demolition of a structure in sections where positive means are taken to prevent injury to persons or damage to property.
§ 5.34. Sidewalk protection.
(a) Public thoroughfare. Before demolition work is commenced, every sidewalk or public thoroughfare adjacent to the site shall be closed or protected as specified in this section. Such thoroughfares shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times.
(b) Sidewalk sheds. When the structure to be demolished is more than two stories or 25 feet high, measured from sidewalk or street level, and the horizontal distance from the inside of the sidewalk to the structure is 15 feet or less, a sidewalk shed shall be constructed over the entire length of the sidewalk adjacent to the structure, of sufficient width to accommodate pedestrian traffic without causing congestion. The sidewalk shed shall be lighted by natural or artificial means sufficient to ensure safety at all times, and shall meet the following additional requirements:
(1) Each sidewalk shed shall be built to be capable of safely sustaining a load of 150 pounds per square foot, and when material is to be stored thereon it shall be capable of sustaining a load of at least 300 pounds per square foot.
(2) The outside edge and ends of the deck of a shed shall be provided with a substantial enclosure of at least 42 inches above the deck of the shed. Such enclosures may be vertical or inclined outward at approximately 45 degrees and shall consist of boards laid close together secured to braced uprights.
(3) Sidewalk shed openings for loading purposes shall be kept closed at all times except during actual loading operations.
(4) The deck flooring of a sidewalk shed shall consist of planking not less than two inches in thickness, closely laid and made watertight. Members of the shed shall be adequately braced and connected to resist displacement of members or distortion of the framework.
(5) Unless the top deck of the sidewalk shed is built solidly against the face of the structure to be demolished, the vertical face of the shed supports next to the building shall be solidly fenced throughout. This does not prohibit the construction and use of solid sliding or swinging gates necessary for the work.
(c) Fence. When the horizontal distance from the inside of the sidewalk to the structure is more than 15 feet and less than 25 feet, a sidewalk shed may be constructed over the sidewalk as described in subsection (b) or in place of such a shed, a substantial fence may be constructed along the inside edge of the sidewalk or, where permission has been granted to close the sidewalk, along the inside edge of the roadway. In addition, the following shall be complied with:
(1) Each fence shall be constructed at least 7 feet high, of wood or other suitable material, and shall be built solid for its entire height and length except that openings necessary for the proper prosecution of the work may be provided with solid sliding or swinging gates.
(2) When the entrances used by workers to buildings being demolished are not completely protected by sidewalk sheds, all such entrances shall be protected by canopies extending from the face of the building to a point not less than eight feet from it. Such overhead protection shall be at least 2 feet wider than the building entrance or opening and every canopy shall be at least as strong as the sidewalk shed specified in subsection (b).
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 5.37 (relating to removal of walls).
§ 5.35. Removal of materials.
(a) Through chutes. The removal of materials through chutes shall comply with the following:
(1) No material shall be dropped to any point outside the exterior walls of the building except through enclosed wooden or metal chutes, except where buildings being demolished are not adjacent to other buildings or thoroughfares, in which case materials may be dropped to points outside the building walls, if a sufficient number of employes are assigned to keep the public and other employes from entering the danger area.
(2) Material chutes at an angle of more than 45 degrees from the horizontal shall be entirely enclosed on all four sides except for openings at or about floor level for the receiving of materials and debris.
(3) The openings specified in paragraph (2) shall not exceed 48 inches in height, measured along the wall of the chute, and in all stories below the top floor such openings shall be kept closed when not in use.
(4) Chutes at an angle of less than 45° with the horizontal may be left open on the upper side, if at the point where such a chute discharges into a chute steeper than 45° with the horizontal, the top of the steeper chute is boarded over to prevent the escape of material.
(5) A strong gate shall be installed in each chute at or near the discharge end and a responsible employe shall be designated to control the gate and the backing up and loading of trucks. Such employe shall be instructed to prevent any person from standing or passing under the discharge end of the chute.
(6) When operations are not in progress, the danger area at the discharge end of a chute shall be completely enclosed with a substantial fence or otherwise made inaccessible.
(7) Any opening into which workmen dump debris at the top of a chute shall be guarded by a substantial guardrail extending at least 36 inches above the level of the floor or other surface on which men stand to dump material into chutes.
(8) A toeboard or bumper, not less than 2 inches thick and 6 inches high, shall be provided at each chute opening where material is dumped from wheelbarrows. Any space between the chute and the edge of openings in floors through which it passes shall be solidly planked over.
(b) Through holes in floors. The removal of materials through holes in the floor shall comply with the following:
(1) Where debris is dropped through holes in the floor without the use of chutes, the total area of the hole cut in any intermediate floor (one which lies between the floor that is being demolished and the storage floor) shall not exceed 25% of such floor area.
(2) The total area of a floor shall be computed from measurements taken to the inside faces of the exterior walls. The area of floor openings which existed before the beginning of the demolition of the structure shall not be deducted in computing the total area.
(3) Where a structure is demolished in sections, the total area of the holes cut in any section of the floor shall not exceed 25% of such sectional floor area.
(4) Openings in all floors below the floor from which walls, partitions or floor construction is being removed shall be protected by standard railings and toeboards or preferably planked over where the holes are not being used for dumping materials.
(5) All intermediate floor openings for the passage of material shall be completely enclosed with barricades or substantial guardrails not less than 36 inches high and not less than 6 feet from the edge of any opening. No barricade or guardrail shall be removed until the story immediately above has been demolished down to the floor line and all debris cleared from that floor.
(6) Where the cutting of a hole in an intermediate floor between the storage floor and the floor which is being demolished makes the intermediate floor or any portion of it unsafe, such intermediate floor shall be properly shored.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 5.37 (relating to removal of walls).
§ 5.36. Stairs, passageways and ladders.
(a) Except for stairways, passageways, and ladders for the use of workmen, access to any building being demolished shall be entirely closed off at all times.
(b) Ladders shall meet the material and construction requirements in Chapter 21 (relating to ladders), and shall be maintained in a safe condition.
(c) Ladders or their side rails shall not extend less than 42 inches above the floor or platform to which such ladders give access.
(d) Ladders shall be secured against slipping out at the bottom and against any movement at the top.
§ 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.
§ 5.38. Catch platforms.
(a) During the demolition of the exterior walls of a structure originally more than 70 feet high, catch platforms shall be erected along the exterior faces of such walls where necessary to prevent injury to the public or workmen below.
(b) Such catch platforms shall be constructed and maintained not more than three stories below the story from which the exterior walls are being removed. Where demolition has progressed to within three stories of ground level, catch platforms are no longer required.
(c) Catch platforms shall be not less than 5 feet in width, measured in a horizontal direction from the face of the structure, and shall consist of outriggers and planks. Planks shall be laid tightly together, without openings between them and the wall.
(d) Catch platforms may be constructed of material other than wood, if such material is of equal strength and does not otherwise lessen the security against falling material.
(e) Catch platforms shall be capable of sustaining a live load of not less than 125 pounds per square foot.
(f) Catch platforms shall be so inclined that the outer edge is at least 10 inches higher than the inner edge.
(g) Supports shall consist of outriggers of ample strength, secured against turning and spaced not more than 10 feet apart.
(h) Each outrigger shall have ample support against the building or in window openings and shall be adequately secured. Planks supported by the outrigger shall be not less than 2 inches thick and the ends shall overlap each other for a distance of at least 1 foot over the supports. All planks shall be secured against displacement.
(i) The outer edge of each catch platform shall be provided with a substantial enclosure, constructed at an angle of approximately 45° with the horizontal and having its outer edge not less than 48 inches from the platform, measured along the slope of the enclosure.
(j) The enclosure wall shall consist of boards nailed closely together. Such enclosure shall be secured to supports placed not more than 10 feet apart.
(k) There shall be no openings between the platform and the enclosure.
(l) Supports for the enclosure shall be not less than 2 by 6 inches, in sections with the greater dimension at right angles to the enclosures.
(m) Materials shall not be dumped on catch platforms, nor shall such platforms be used for the storage of materials.
§ 5.39. Removal of floors.
(a) As used in this section, the term ‘‘floor arches’’ shall mean the masonry filling between the floor beams and girders, irrespective of the type of floor system; and the term ‘‘planks of ample strength’’ shall mean planks of not less than two inches thick by ten inches wide.
(b) In cutting holes in floor arches which span in one direction between two beams or supports, the section of floor arch to be removed in making the hole may be of any width and shall include the entire span of the floor arch which is between the two beams or supports on which it bears.
(c) Where workmen are engaged in removing floors, planks of ample strength shall be provided and used in breaking down floor arches. Such planks shall be so placed as to give the workmen firm support should the arch collapse unexpectedly. Where it is necessary for a workman to straddle a space between two planks, such space shall not exceed 16 inches.
(d) Walkways not less than 30 inches wide, formed of planks of ample strength, shall be provided and used by workmen when necessary to enable them to reach any work place without walking on exposed beams.
(e) Stringers of ample strength shall be installed to support the planks where necessary and the ends of such stringers shall be supported by floor beams or girders and not by floor arches alone.
(f) When floor arches are being removed, no workmen shall work in the area directly underneath and such area shall be barricaded to prevent access to it.
(g) The demolition of floor arches shall not be started until they and the surrounding floor area for a distance of 20 feet have been entirely cleared of debris and other unnecessary material.
(h) Planks used for temporary protection shall be sound and at least 2 inches thick. They shall be laid close together with the ends overlapping at least 4 inches over solid bearings to prevent tipping under a load.
§ 5.40. Storage space.
(a) The storage of debris on any floor of the structure being demolished may not exceed the original allowable floor load.
(b) In buildings having wooden floor construction, the flooring boards may be removed from not more than one floor above the curb to provide storage space for debris where falling material is not permitted to endanger the stability of the structure.
(c) Where wooden floor beams are required to brace interior walls or free standing exterior walls, such beams shall be left in place until some other adequate support is substituted.
(d) In buildings of fireproof construction, floor arches of not more than 10 feet above the curb may be removed to provide storage for debris, where such removal does not endanger the stability of the structure.
(e) Intermediate steel floor beams not required for the stability of the structure may be removed from the storage space defined in subsection (d).
(f) The dumping of material from upper floors into the storage space shall cease during all periods when workmen are performing any work in such storage space.
(g) Walls shall not be subjected to lateral pressure from stored material or lateral impact from falling material.
(h) The storage space into which material is dumped shall be blocked off, except for openings necessary for the removal of material. Such openings shall be closed at all times when material is not being removed.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 5.37 (relating to removal of walls).
§ 5.41. Demolition of steel construction.
(a) Where floor arches have been removed, the entire tier of beams on which any derrick is supported shall be completely planked over, except for openings required for handling material or equipment.
(b) In the operation of cranes and derricks, a standard signal system shall be used and all men assigned to the operation of such equipment shall be fully instructed on such signals.
(c) A tagline or guide rope shall be used on all hoisted or lowered loads.
(d) The riding of the load line in any lifting device is strictly prohibited.
(e) Wherever acetylene or oxygen cylinders are transported or lifted by crane or derrick, such cylinders shall be placed in substantial stands or cradles.
(f) A beam may not be cut until precautions have been taken to prevent it from swinging freely and possibly striking a workman, piece of equipment or part of the structure being demolished.
(g) Structural steel shall be lowered from the building and never allowed to drop, except where buildings being demolished are not adjacent to other buildings or thoroughfares, in which case materials may be dropped, if a sufficient number of employes are assigned to keep the public and other workmen from entering the danger area.
(h) When a structural steel frame is demolished without a derrick, the entire tier of beams next below that from which the beams and columns are being removed shall be completely planked over. This does not apply to floors from which arches have not been removed nor to openings for the passage of material or equipment.
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