New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Chapter I - Industrial Board Of Appeals
Subchapter A - The Industrial Code
Part 23 - Protection In Construction, Demolition And Excavation Operations
Subpart 23-3 - Demolition Operations
Section 23-3.3 - Demolition by hand

Universal Citation: 12 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs § 23-3.3

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025

(a) Application. The provisions of this section shall not apply to mechanical means of demolition.

(b) Demolition of walls and partitions.

(1) The demolition of walls and partitions shall proceed in a systematic manner and all demolition work above each tier of floor beams shall be completed before any demolition work is performed on the supports of such floor beams.

(2) Masonry shall not be loosened nor permitted to fall in such masses as to endanger the structural stability of any floor or structural support which such masonry may strike in falling.

(3) Walls, chimneys and other parts of any building or other structure shall not be left unguarded in such condition that such parts may fall, collapse or be weakened by wind pressure or vibration.

(4) Employers shall not suffer or permit any person to work while such person is standing on top of a wall or any similar elevated structure of small area.

(5) In the demolition by hand of exterior walls, all persons performing such work shall be provided with safe footing in the form of sound flooring or scaffolds constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule).

(6) Walls or partitions which are being demolished by hand shall not be left standing more than one story or 15 feet, whichever is less, above the uppermost floor on which persons are working. Such walls or partitions shall be removed before the aggregate area of the openings in such floor exceeds 25 percent of the total floor area.

(c) Inspection. During hand demolition operations, continuing inspections shall be made by designated persons as the work progresses to detect any hazards to any person resulting from weakened or deteriorated floors or walls or from loosened material. Persons shall not be suffered or permitted to work where such hazards exist until protection has been provided by shoring, bracing or other effective means.

(d) Boarding of wall openings. Where windows and other exterior wall openings in buildings or other structures being demolished are more than 25 feet in height above the ground or grade level and are within 20 feet of any floor opening used for the removal of debris from floors above, such windows and other openings shall be solidly boarded up during demolition operations to prevent the accidental passage of debris.

(e) Methods of operation. Where the demolition of any building or other structure is being performed by hand, debris, bricks and any other materials shall be removed as follows:

(1) By means of chutes constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule);

(2) By means of buckets or hoists; or

(3) Through openings in the floors of the building or other structure in compliance with this section.

(f) Access to floors. There shall be provided at all times safe access to and egress from every building or other structure in the course of demolition. Such safe means of access and egress shall consist of entrances, hallways, stairways or ladder runs so protected as to safeguard the persons using such means from the hazards of falling debris or materials.

(g) Protection in other areas. Every floor or equivalent area within the building or other structure that is subject to the hazard of falling debris or materials from above shall be boarded up to prevent the passage of any person through such area, or shall be fenced off by a substantial safety railing constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule) and placed not less than 20 feet from the perimeter of such floor opening or such area shall be provided with overhead protection in the form of tight planking at least two inches thick full size, exterior grade plywood at least three-quarters inch thick or material of equivalent strength.

(h) Demolition of structural steel by hand. Steel construction shall be demolished column length by column length and floor by floor. Every structural member which is being dismembered shall not be under any stress other than its own weight and such member shall be chained or lashed in place to prevent its uncontrolled swinging or dropping. Large structural members shall not be thrown or dropped from the building or other structure, but shall be carefully lowered. Where a derrick is used in the demolition of buildings or other structures of skeleton steel construction, the floor upon which the derrick rests shall be completely planked over with planking of adequate size. Where other methods are used, the persons engaged in the dismantling of structural steel members shall be protected by solidly planked flooring not less than two inches thick full size or sound floor arches not more than two stories or 30 feet, whichever is less, below and directly under that portion of any tier of beams where such persons are at work.

(i) Demolition of floor arches. Before demolishing any floor arch, debris and other materials shall be removed from such arch and from other adjacent floor areas. Planks not less than two inches thick by nine inches in cross-section full size shall be provided for and shall be used by the persons to stand on while breaking down floor arches between beams. Such planks shall be so located as to provide safe supports for such persons should the arches between the beams collapse. Any open spaces between such planks shall not exceed 16 inches.

(j) Floor openings.

(1) Permissible aggregate area. During the demolition of any building or other structure by hand, the aggregate area of openings in the floor immediately beneath the floor being demolished shall not exceed 25 percent of the total area of such floor.

(2) Required protection.
(i) Every opening used for the removal of debris or materials on every floor not closed to access, except the top working floor, shall be provided with an enclosure from floor to ceiling equivalent to that afforded by planking not less than two inches thick full size. Such enclosure shall be solid except for portions openable for loosening blocked debris. Alternatively, the opening shall be fenced off by a substantial safety railing constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule) and placed not less than 20 feet from the perimeter of such opening. Every opening not used for the removal of debris or other materials in any floor to which access is permitted shall be protected by a solid enclosure as described above, by a substantial safety railing constructed and installed at least two feet from the perimeter of the opening and otherwise in compliance with this Part (rule) or such opening shall be solidly planked over with planks not less than two inches thick full size.

(ii) Openings in the top or working floor more than 16 inches in least dimension shall be protected on all sides, except the side at which debris or other materials is deposited, by a substantial safety railing constructed and installed at least two feet from the perimeter of the opening and otherwise in compliance with this Part (rule) or by a rope not less than five-eighths inch diameter or an equivalent chain placed not less than two feet from the perimeter of such opening. Such rope or chain shall be not less than 36 inches nor more than 42 inches above the floor surface. That portion of any floor opening adjacent to and immediately below a point where persons are employed in any work upon a wall or equivalent structure shall be provided with solid flooring not less than five feet in width measured from the inside face of such wall or equivalent structure. Such flooring shall consist of planking not less than two inches thick full size, exterior grade plywood not less than three-quarters inch thick or material of equivalent strength.

(k) Storage of materials.

(1) General.
(i) Materials shall not be stored on catch platforms, scaffold platforms, floors or stairways of any building or other structure being demolished, except that any such floor may be used for the temporary storage of materials when such floor is of such strength as to safely support the load to be imposed.

(ii) Storage areas shall not interfere with access to any stairway or passageway used by any person as a means of ingress or egress. Suitable barricades shall be provided to prevent stored materials from sliding or rebounding into any area where any person is located or passing. All materials shall be safely piled in such locations as will not interfere with any work operations nor present any hazard to any person employed at or frequenting the demolition site.

(2) Storage of debris or materials in cellars. When debris or materials are stored in the cellar or basement of any building or other structure being demolished, such debris or materials shall not be in piles which extend higher than the top of the foundation wall. The person in charge of the demolition operations shall provide sheet-piling, shoring, bracing or such other means as may be necessary to insure the stability of such foundation walls and to prevent any such wall from collapsing due to the pressure of the accumulated debris or materials.

(l) Safe footing required. Any person working above the first floor or ground level in the demolition of any building or other structure shall not be suffered or permitted to use accumulated debris or piled materials as a footing in the performance of his work. Every person shall be provided with safe footing consisting of sound flooring, planking not less than two inches thick full size, adequately supported exterior grade plywood at least three-quarters inch thick or other material of equivalent strength.

(m) Catch platform required. During the demolition of any exterior masonry wall or a roof from a point more than 75 feet above the adjoining ground, grade or equivalent level where persons are exposed to falling debris, materials or objects, a catch platform shall be constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule). Such catch platform shall be located at a level not more than 20 feet below the working level.

Exceptions::

(1) A catch platform is not required where a chimney is being demolished.

Exceptions::

(2) A catch platform is not required where a scaffold, constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule), provide equivalent protection.

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