Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 5 - BLASTING, DEMOLITION, FIREWORKS AND EXPLOSIVES
Subchapter B - DEMOLITION WORK
SPECIFICATIONS
Section 5.33 - Preparatory procedures

(a) Before beginning the demolition of any building or structure, the contractor or person in charge shall make a complete examination of such building or structure to ascertain any existing dangerous structural defects.

(b) Where a structure to be demolished has been partially wrecked by fire, flood, explosion, or other causes, the walls shall be shored or braced in accordance with accepted engineering practice before any demolition work is started.

(c) Electric, gas, water, steam, and other service lines from the outside, except those which are especially maintained for use in connection with the demolition work, shall be effectively cut off before demolition work is started. In each case, the service company in charge shall be notified in advance and the approval or cooperation obtained by the contractors or the property owner.

(d) Power, water, or other service lines especially maintained for use in demolition work shall be relocated when necessary or protected with substantial covering to prevent damage.

(e) Glazed sash, glazed doors, and other glass shall be removed before demolition work is begun.

(f) Exterior wall openings which extend down to floor level shall be barricaded to a height not less than three feet above floor level. This subsection does not apply to a story after structural demolition of that story has been started, nor to the ground level.

(g) Floor openings and shafts not used for material chutes shall be floored over or enclosed with guardrails and toeboards.

(h) Except for the cutting of holes in floors for chutes and holes through which to drop materials, preparation of storage space and other necessary preparatory work, demolition of exterior walls and floor construction shall begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward, and each story of exterior walls and floor construction shall be removed and dropped into the storage space before commencing the removal of walls and floors in the story below. This requirement does not prohibit the demolition of a structure in sections where positive means are taken to prevent injury to persons or damage to property.