METHODOLOGY

Demolition of Walls & Slab

1. Wall

Walls shall be removed part by part in reasonably level courses. No wall or any part of the structure shall be left in a
condition that may collapse or be toppled by wind, vibration etc.

Fall of the demolished wall in large chunks, which endangers the adjoining property or exceeds the safe load capacity
of the floor below, shall be avoided. Debris shall be removed at frequent intervals to avoid piling up and overloading of
any structural member.

Platforms shall be provided for demolition of walls less than one and half concrete thick. Lateral bracing shall be
provided for sections of walls having a height more than 22 times its thickness, or otherwise considered unsound. No
workman shall stand on any wall to remove materials; staging or scaffold shall be provided at a maximum of 3.5 m
below the top of the wall.

At the end of each day’s work, all walls shall be left stable to avoid any danger of getting overturned. Foundation walls
which serve as retaining walls shall not be demolished until the adjoining structure has been underpinned or braced
and the earth removed.

Equipment’s to be used

• Hand operated electric breaker

• Electrical Grinder

Steps

1. The proposed opening outer line will be cut first with the electric grinder

2. Hand operated electric breaker will be used for the demolition by hacking method.

3. Warning tapes shall be used for the cordon of the hacking area to be demolished. Refer the figure below for the
demarcation.

4. The required brick/concrete wall portion shall be hacked by manual hacking from top down. The required area to be
demolished will be justified by the difference between the new architectural drawing opening size and the existing
opening size. 5. For the openings on brick walls, a steel hollow section lintel will be inserted first on top of the hacking
area by removing away a layer of bricks before making the opening. This process is indicated in the diagrams below.

6. Water shall be used during the hacking process to reduce the dust propagation.

7. Form the hacked debris, good quality bricks will be salvaged for future use. Other debris will be disposed from site

2. Floor

Support/centering shall be provided prior to removal of masonry or concrete floor. Planks of sufficient strength shall be
used in shuttering. No person shall be allowed to work in an area underneath a floor being removed; such areas shall
be barricaded.

The total area of a hole cut in any intermediate floor for dropping debris shall not exceed 25% of that floors' area. No
barricades or rails for guarding the floor hole shall be removed until the storey immediately above has been demolished
down to the floor line and all debris cleared from the floor.

In cutting holes in a floor which spans in one direction, at first, a maximum 300 mm wide slit shall be cut along the
entire length of the slab; the slit shall be increased gradually thereafter.

Planks of sufficient width, not less than 50 mm thick, 250 mm wide and 2 m long shall be provided at spacing not
greater than 400 mm for the workmen to work. These shall be so spaced as to firmly support the workmen against any
floor collapse.
Reinforced concrete floor slab shall be demolished by gradually breaking away the concrete. The
reinforcement shall remain and be cut off after the concrete is broken away. The sequence for demolition of
typical floor slabs are discussed in the following:

(A) Two Way Slab

The two-way slab is supported by beams or structural members on all four sides. Demolition of the
slab shall begin in the middle of the slab and advance towards the sides in all 4 directions. Figure
below illustrates the demolition of two-way slab.

(B) One Way Slab

The breaking of concrete shall begin at the unsupported end and proceed in strips perpendicular to
the supporting beam or structural member. The strips shall be demolished from their centre towards
the supports in both directions.

(C) Flat Slab

Demolition of flat slab shall begin at the centre of the bay between the supporting columns and
proceed outwards to the columns and/or members that provide lateral support of the slab. Care must
be exercised not to prematurely weaken the shear capacity of the columns or other supports. In
general, when demolishing a column strip or part of it, adequate supports shall be provided to the
strip in advance.
Prepared by: