Civil Engineering Association

The Draft Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings was first issued in February 1998 to provide guidance on safe and good practices for demolition works and for compliance with the requirements of the relevant provisions of the Building (Administration) Regulations and Building (Demolition works) Regulations relating to demolition works.

Throughout the years since its adoption, the Draft Code has been well received by the practitioners. Besides, they have been offering valuable comments on the use of the Draft Code based on their experience gained from its application. The Buildings Department has considered and adopted their constructive views in the present review of the Draft Code which has thus been refined and adopted as this Code of Practice.

The Code contains basic information for the practitioners on better planning and control when carrying out demolition works. It also includes the latest development of the regulatory control on site supervision for demolishing complex structures. This Code should be read and used in conjunction with the Buildings Ordinance and the aforesaid Regulations when preparing demolition plans for approval by the Building Authority. Users of the Code should exercise their own professional judgement in the application of this Code in selecting the most suitable demolition method.

This Code of Practice outlines good practices for the planning and implementation of demolition works for different types of buildings in Hong Kong aiming at minimising the risks of :
(A) causing damage to persons and properties of the public;
(B) endangering the health and safety of site personnel; and
© damaging the neighbourhood environment.
The Code is intended to give guidelines for engineering practice and safe procedures for various demolition methods and to provide guidance on the compliance with relevant requirements of the Buildings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations. Aspects related to environmental, occupational safety and health should be referenced to other relevant ordinances and regulations. This Code sets out the guidelines for demolition of buildings and is applicable to individual structures, partial demolition of buildings, basements, underground tanks, and common civil engineering structures, e.g., silos, industrial plants, piers, etc. However, this Code is not intended to cover unauthorized building works and major civil engineering works, such as underpinning, excavation, highway or railway bridges and dams. As for removal of unauthorized building works, reference should be made to the ‘Guidelines for the Removal of Typical Unauthorized Building Works and General Maintenance of External Walls’ issued by the Buildings Department. This Code covers methods commonly used in building demolition. Any other demolition methods may also be used subject to careful consideration and recommendations made by the Authorized Person, Registered Structural Engineer and Registered Specialist Contractor in the Demolition Category (hereinafter referred to “Registered Specialist Contractor (Demolition)”), or their consultants based on well supported scientific research and engineering assessment.