Demolition Regulations
TRICTER control of demolition
work on
on buildings in Hong Kong will be imposed by regulations, issued under the authority of the Building Ordinance 1955, which come into force on October 1 1962.
An explanatory note to the new regulation, which are contained in a supplement to the Government Gazette published on 3 August 1962, says: "Demolition work is inherent- ly dangerous and, although there is no statutory requirement to that effect at present, is normally carried out only by those who are skilled in the work.”
(ii) erect fans or catch plat- forms at the level of such other floors of the building as may be necessary to prevent any nuisance from dust or danger from debris or materials; and
(iii) erect dust screens to cover the whole of the wall so as to prevent any nuisance from dust; (b) seal
all sewer and drainage connexions; and
(c)
remove all glazed sashes and doors from the building.
4. (1) Save as provided in para- graph (2), before commencing the de- molition and at such times during the carrying out of the demolition works as may be necessary, such precautions as may be necessary shall be taken, by the provision of adequate shoring or other- wise, to prevent, so far as is practic- able, the accidental collapse of any part of the building, or of any adjoining building, the collapse of which may en- danger any person. into
The regulations, entitled "Build- (Demolition Works) Regulations, 1962," state:
I.
These regulations may be cited as the Building (Demolition Works) Re- gulations, 1962 and shall come operation on the 1st day of October, 1962.
2. These regulatoions apply to the demolition of a building or of the sub- stantial part of a building.
3. (1) Before the demolition is commenced, the authorized architect appointed in respect of the demolition works shall--
(a) cause all gas, electricity, water and other meters to be re- moved from the building and, save in so far as the same may be used in the demolition works cause the supply of gas and electricity to the building to be disconnected; and
(b) cause any fitting attached to
the building in connexion with any tramway service, system of street lighting, supply of electricity or other be removed.
service to
de-
(2) Before commencing the molition, the registered contractor ap- pointed in respect of the demolition works shall—
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(a) where a wall of the building abuts or fronts upon a street--
(i) erect along that wall, at the level of the first floor of the building above the level of the street, fans or catch platforms;
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to a person actually engaged in placing shoring or other safeguards for the purpose of compliance with para- graph (1), if such precautions as practicable are taken to ensure the safety of that person.
are
5. No electric cable or other ap- paratus, other than such a cable ог apparatus used in the demolition works, that is liable to be a source of danger, shall, at any time during the carrying out of such works, remain electrically charged.
6. At all times during the carrying out of any demolition works—
(a) the registered contractor ap- pointed in respect thereof shall take all practicable steps to prevent danger to persons em- ployed therein—
ex-
(i) from risk of fire or plosion through the leakage or accumulation of gas or vapour;
and
(ii) from risk of flooding from water mains, sewers culverts; and
(b) all external openings to
or
or
from the building shall be so protected as to prevent danger to persons employed in the de- molition works.
7. Where shutes are provided for the removal of materials or debris, they shall be so situated and constructed as to avoid. so far as practicable, any danger to persons employed in the demolition works or to any other person.
8. (1) The demolition and all works incidental thereto shail be specifically placed under the supervision of a person experienced in the carrying out of de- molition works and appointed for the purpose.
(2) Where two от more registered contractors take part in the demolition works, each such contractor shall appoint a person in accordance with paragraph (1) and either the same person shall be jointly appointed by all the contractors taking part or each such contractor shall make arrangements to ensure that no operation in the course of the demoli- tion works is undertaken by his work- men save after consultation between all the persons appointed in accordance with to the method by paragraph (1) as which, and the time at which, the operation is to be carried out.
(3) A notice in the prescribed form specifying the name of the person or persons appointed in accordance with paragraph (1) shali be posted up in a the site of the prominent position on demolition works.
9. (1) The operations specified in para- graph (2) shall be carried cut only-
(a) under the immediate super- vision of a competent foreman with adequate experience of the particular kind of work; or (b) by workmen experienced in the kind of work and under the direction of a competent fore- man with adequate experience of the particular kind of work. (2) The following operations are specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)-
(a) the actual demolition of the framework of a building or of any floor, wall, roof or stair- case, save where there
is no risk of a collapse of any part of a building in the course of, or as a result of, the demoli- tion works, so as to endanger any person employed in the demolition works, other than a risk which could not reasonably have been foreseen;
(See Page 106)
THE HONG KONG & FAR FAST EUILDER VOLUME 17, NUMBER 2