SS 557 : 2010

(ICS 91.200)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Code of practice for demolition

(Formerly CP 11)

Published by
SS 557 : 2010
(ICS 91.200)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Code of practice for demolition

ISBN 978-981-4278-54-6
SS 557 : 2010

This Singapore Standard was approved by the Building and Construction Standards Committee on
behalf of the Standards Council of Singapore on 30 July 2010.

First published, 1980

First revision, 1992
Second revision, 2002
Third revision and re-numbered as SS 557, 2010

The Building and Construction Standards Committee appointed by the Standards Council consists of
the following members:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Goh Peng Thong Member, Standards Council

st
1 Dy Chairman : Mr Lee Chuan Seng Member, Standards Council
nd
2 Dy Chairman : Mr Tan Tian Chong Member, Standards Council
Secretary : Mr Kenneth Lim SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Boo Geok Kwang Singapore Civil Defence Force
Er. Chan Ewe Jin Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Mr Chan Yew Kwong Ministry of Manpower
Mr Paul Fok Land Transport Authority
Mr Goh Ngan Hong Singapore Institute of Surveyors and
Valuers
Mr Anselm Gonsalves National Environment Agency
Mr Desmond Hill Singapore Contractors Association Limited
Mr Benedict Lee Khee Chong Singapore Institute of Architects
Ms Andris Leong Building and Construction Authority
Assoc Prof Leong Eng Choon Nanyang Technological University
Dr Lim Lan-Yuan The Association of Property and Facility
Managers
Mr McDonald Low Real Estate Developers’ Association of
Singapore
Mr Larry Ng Lye Hock Urban Redevelopment Authority
Assoc Prof Gary Ong Khim Chye National University of Singapore
Mr Davis Ong Wee Choon Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
Er. Shum Chee Hoong Housing & Development Board
Dr Tan Guan Association of Consulting Engineers,
Singapore
Mr Tang Pei Luen JTC Corporation
Co-opted
Members : Dr Tam Chat Tim Individual Capacity
Prof Choo Yoo Sang National University of Singapore

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The Technical Committee on Construction Management appointed by the Building and Construction
Standards Committee and responsible for the preparation of this standard consists of representatives
from the following organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Desmond Hill Member, Building and Construction Standards

Committee
Secretary : Ms Lee Hiok Hoong SPRING Singapore
Members : Dr David Chua Kim Huat National University of Singapoe
Mr Choong Teck Min Building and Construction Authority
Er. Hashim Bin Mansoor Ministry of Manpower
Er. Low Kam Fook Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Er. Ng Say Cheong Housing & Development Board
Er. Tan Joo Chuah Surbana Corporation Pte Ltd
Mr Tan Yew Meng Singapore Polytechnic
Er. Yap Boon Leong Land Transport Authority
Er. Yeang Hoong Goon CPG Corporation Pte Ltd
Co-opted
Members : Dr Ting Seng Kiong Nanyang Technological University

The Working Group appointed by the Technical Committee to assist in the preparation of this
standard comprises the following experts who contribute in their individual capacity:

Name

Convenor : Er. Low Kam Fook

Co-Convenor : Dr David Chua Kim Huat
Members : Mr Chan Weng Fitt Steven
Er. Chang Heng Choy (WG Secretary)
Mr Koh Ek Yeow (served till June 2009)
Er. Ngan See Pyng
Mr Ng Chun Tat
Er. Ng Peng Yuen, John
Er. Vashdev Atmaram Khialani
Mr Tong Tee Hui

The organisations in which the experts of the Working Group are involved are:

Asset Recovery Pte Ltd

Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (S.E.Asia) Pte Ltd
Building and Construction Authority
C & V Engineering Pte Ltd
First Engineers Consultants
Housing & Development Board
LKK Construction Pte Ltd
Ministry of Manpower
National University of Singapore
Surbana International Consultants Pte Ltd

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 SS 557 : 2010

Contents
Page

Foreword 7

CLAUSES

1 Scope 8
2 Normative references 8
3 Definitions 9
4 Compliance with the authorities’ requirements 10
4.1 General 10
4.2 Risk management 10
5 Development of demolition plan and stability report 10
5.1 General 10
5.2 Survey 11
5.3 Demolition plan and stability report preparations 13
6 Temporary supports 16
6.1 General 16
6.2 Types of temporary supports 16
6.3 Hoarding, covered walkway, catch platform and catch fan 17
7 Health and safety considerations 19
7.1 General 19
7.2 Safety of personnel on site 20
7.3 Safety and convenience of third parties 20
7.4 Protection of property 21
8 Environmental considerations 22
8.1 Dust control 22
8.2 Noise control 22
8.3 Smoke emission control 22
8.4 Water pollution control 22
8.5 Vector control 22
8.6 Hazardous materials 23
9 Debris and waste handling 24
9.1 Waste minimisation and recycling 24
9.2 Removal of asbestos materials – Identification and notification 25
10 Methods of demolition 25
10.1 General 25
10.2 Principles of structural demolition 26
10.3 Top down demolition by machines 28
10.4 Top down demolition by manual method 38
10.5 Mechanical demolition by machine operating from the ground 40
10.6 Mechanical demolition by deliberate collapse 41
10.7 Common demolition techniques 41
11 Demolition of stability sensitive structures 44
11.1 General 44
11.2 Precast concrete structures 44
11.3 Prestressed concrete structures 44
11.4 Cantilever structures 45
11.5 Composite structures (slabs and beams) 45
11.6 Bridges 46

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Page

12 Demolition of special structures 47

12.1 General 47
12.2 Masonry and brickwork arches 47
12.3 Independent chimneys 48
12.4 Spires 49
12.5 Lattice towers and masts 50
12.6 Storage tanks 51
12.7 Chemical works, gas works and similar establishments 51
12.8 Basements and retaining walls 52

ANNEXES

A (normative) List of relevant Acts and Regulations 53

B (informative) Demolition checklist for resource recovery 55
C (normative) Hazards associated with prestressed materials 58

TABLE

1 Propping requirements on the operation of machine 17

FIGURES

1 Demolition scheme for tall buildings 15

2 Hoarding, covered walkway and catch platform 18
3 Typical design of a catch fan 19
4 Typical sequence of top down demolition method with machinery 30
5 Sequence of demolition of reinforced concrete beam 34
6 Sequence of demolition of reinforced concrete external column 34
7 Felling of reinforced concrete wall separately from the beam 36
8 Sequence of demolition of slab 37
9a Sequence of demolition of cantilever reinforced concrete slab 39
9b Sequence of demolition of cantilever reinforced concrete slab and beam 39
10 Demolition of reinforced concrete internal wall by manual method 40
11 Demolition of masonry and brickwork arches 47
12 Demolition of pylons and masts 50
C.1 Post-tensioned beams 60

Bibliography 61

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Foreword

This Singapore Standard was prepared by the Working Group on the review of ‘Code of practice for
demolition’ appointed by the Technical Committee on Construction Management which is under the
purview of the Building and Construction Standards Committee.

This standard is a revision of SS CP 11 : 2002 which was first published in 1980. CP 11 has been re-
numbered as SS 557.

Demolition is an operation which requires special skill and procedures for it to be carried out safely
and successfully. This Code represents a standard of good practice and has been prepared with the
object of formulating the discipline to which these procedures should conform. It is intended for the
use by all those involved or engaged in demolition, or in the preparation, supervision and execution of
demolition contracts. Compliance with it does not confer immunity from conformance to the relevant
statutory and legal requirements.

In revising this Code, the Technical Committee has updated the code with current practices and
statutory requirements on demolition works, including the development of a demolition plan and stability
report, and has incorporated new requirements for public health and safety. Issues relating to the
protection of the environment, including waste minimisation and recycling in relation to demolition works,
have been expanded. There has been a greater emphasis on the demolition of high-rise buildings
especially with the use of machinery. A new section on stability sensitive structures has also been
added.

Relevant clauses of BS 6187: 2000 ‘Code of practice for demolition’ are adopted with the permission
of British Standards Publishing Ltd.

Acknowledgement is made for the use of information from the above reference.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. Enterprise Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

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Code of practice for demolition

1 Scope
This Code recommends good practices for the safe demolition of buildings and structures. It also
takes into account issues which affect the environment.

Recommendations are included for:

(a) development of the demolition plan and stability report

(b) proper and effective management of the demolition process

(c) maintaining structural stability, through the provision of temporary structural supports, where
necessary

(d) managing deliberate collapse

2 Normative references

2.1 The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

BS 5607 : 1998 Code of practice for the safe use of explosives in the construction
industry
BS EN 12811-1:2003 Temporary works equipment. Scaffolds. Performance requirements and
general design
SS CP 14 Code of practice for scaffolds
SS CP 20 Code of practice for suspended scaffolds
SS CP 23 Code of practice for formwork
SS CP 49 Code of practice for noise control on construction and demolition sites
SS CP 84 Code of practice for entry into and safe working in confined spaces
SS 280 Specification for metal scaffoldings
Part 1: Frame scaffoldings
Part 2: Modular scaffoldings
NA to SS EN 1991-1-4 Singapore National Annex to Eurocode 1 : Actions on structures –
General actions – Wind actions

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