Whether it is a commercial, residential, or public building or structure that you are looking to have removed, you might not be familiar with all the relevant demolition requirements in NZ. Is it really just a case of levelling the property with a wrecking ball and declaring the job done?
That might seem the case when you see a building being demolished in a TV news report or YouTube video. In “real life”, though, the demolition process is typically much longer and more complicated, with the planning stages alone taking several weeks.
So, let’s explain the major stages of a demolition project.
As we mentioned above, a wrecking ball is one way of demolishing a structure. However, other demolition methods might better suit your intended operation, such as selective demolition or the use of a demolition arm or implosion. You will need to decide on the most appropriate option at an early stage.
The NZ Asbestos Regulations require the identification of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACM) prior to any demolition operation at a work site, if certain conditions are fulfilled. This must be done for buildings constructed before 1st January 2000, for example, as well as if asbestos has been identified at the site.
Failing to account for asbestos in your demolition plan isn’t merely a legally foolhardy thing to do. That’s because demolition of a building that contains asbestos could cause the hazardous mineral’s fibres to be released into the air. This would be extremely dangerous for both workers and the public.
Councils around NZ vary in the rules and regulations that they set around demolition works. However, you can expect to require building consent to demolish a building more than three storeys high. So, you should check with your local council what permissions you will require, and then go through the steps of obtaining them. This will give you peace of mind ahead of the demolition operation.
There are various other essential steps to take before and during the demolition operation. These range from managing noise and controlling silt runoff, to securing the site against public access and handling hazardous demolition materials in a safe and responsible way.
Ahead of the demolition operation, there should already be arrangements in place to dispose of the resulting building materials. If such materials contain asbestos, for instance, they can only be disposed of at authorised sites, and a special permit may be required.
Make Union Demolition your choice of demolition company in Auckland, and you can rest easy in the knowledge that your demolition project will be handled correctly, from start to finish. Enquire to us now for your free no-obligation quote.
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