Demolition Method Statement
394 Camden Road, London N7
Project Number 5588
Document Reference 5588.D006 P1
Revision P1
Prepared by Martin Edwards
Date prepared March 14
Client MHA Associates
kirksaunders Associates Ltd
Registered Office: Berwick House, 8-10 Knoll Rise, Orpington, Kent BR6 0EL
Registered in Cardiff No. 4792479
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
Revision History
Rev: Description: Date: Rev by: Chk by:
P1 Initial draft for review 26/03/2014 ME
Add date
Page 2 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Existing structure ................................................................................................................................ 5
3. Soft strip .............................................................................................................................................. 8
4. Demolition........................................................................................................................................... 9
Appendix A ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Page 3 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
1. Introduction
1.1 This document provides a description of the existing structure, its condition and a preliminary
Demolition Method Statement for the proposed development at 394 Camden Road, London
N7.
1.2 This document should be read in conjunction with material and documentation prepared by
other members of the project team as follows:
• RPP Architects; existing and proposed drawings and Design & Access Statement
• MTT Limited; Building Services
• Montagu Evans LLP; Planning Consultants
• Aspect Contracts Ltd; Asbestos Survey reference SD1895P/102421 dated 22nd January
2013
1.3 No existing structural information for the existing buildings was available at the time of writing
this report. The report is therefore based upon visual inspection only.
1.4 This document outlines the preliminary demolition method envisaged to clear the existing site
and to enable the new development to be constructed. Demolition on this project relates
predominately to the warehouse buildings, as the existing townhouse is to be retained and
refurbished. The area to be demolished is indicated on the site boundary/demolition plan
included within the appendices.
1.5 This demolition method acts as a guide only and will be superseded by the Main
Contractor/Demolition Contractor once selected within his Construction Management Plan
(CMP).
1.6 This report highlights project specific significant structural risks only, which may not be
obvious to competent demolition contractors.
Page 4 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
2. Existing structure
2.1 The site is currently occupied by two properties, a townhouse and a former meat distribution
warehouse. Please refer to RPP Architects drawing reference included within appendix A for
site layout.
2.2 The townhouse occupies 394 Camden Road and is currently used as residential and office
space. The warehouse is an ‘L’ shaped on plan and consists of interlinked shed structures. The
warehouse building has an entrance in a small yard behind 394 Camden Road. This entrance
has direct access to the street. There is also direct access from the rear part of the warehouse
buildings onto Hillmarton Road.
2.3 The warehouse building(s) are typically formed of structural steel columns, lightweight steel
roof trusses with masonry wall panels. There are a number of non-structural walls within the
warehouse forming internal rooms.
2.4 The roof trusses are typically Howe or Fink trusses formed in hot rolled angle sections with
gusset plate connections. The trusses support box section purlins, supporting corrugated roof
sheeting and roof lights.
2.5 The trusses span full width of each unit onto central columns and external masonry walls.
There is a vertical thickening within the wall at each truss position indicating the presence of
either a solid loadbearing masonry pier or a masonry encased steel column. There is also a
thickening to the head of the wall indicating the presence of an eaves beam again likely to be
encased steelwork.
Page 5 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
Lightweight roof trusses
External masonry walls with piers/encased
steel columns
Lightweight roof trusses and roof sheeting
2.6 There is a part mezzanine floor within the warehouse units, which is supported on an internal
steel frame and internal loadbearing partitions.
Mezzanine support beams Internal partitions
2.7 The ground floor slab appears to be a ground bearing concrete slab. It is likely that the slab
contains a reinforcing mesh and will be in the region of 200m thick for a building of this
nature. This will need to be confirmed and established by site investigation.
2.8 Foundations were not visible at the time of the visual inspection but it is likely that for a
building of this nature with relatively light structure that the foundations will be ground
bearing concrete strips under walls and ground bearing concrete pads under steel columns.
These could be either reinforced or mass concrete to suit ground conditions. This will need to
be confirmed and established by site investigation.
Page 6 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
2.9 No basement areas, wells, pits or retaining structures were evident during the inspection.
2.10 In terms of building stability, no obvious steel bracing system was apparent within the roof (in
the form of plan bracing) or within the walls (in the form of cross bracing). It is therefore likely
that the roof may utilise diaphragm action provided by the roof sheeting and its fixings to the
steel purlins and trusses.
2.11 Longitudinal stiffness to the building may be provided by the external masonry wall panels
‘fixed’ between columns/piers. Some nominal lateral stiffness may also be provided generally
by the steel framing and connections between columns, trusses and beams.
2.12 The warehouse steel frame shows signs of serious dilapidation with many of the roof panels
beginning to collapse into the building space (refer below).
2.13 It is likely that the roof panels provide some portion of horizontal lateral stability to the
primary frame. Loss of the panels may therefore lead to progressive collapse of the primary
building frame.
Page 7 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
3. Soft strip
Note; prior to commencement of soft strip (or demolition), the content of the Asbestos Survey by
Aspect Contracts Ltd referenced in Section 1 of this report should be fully reviewed and
recommendation for removal of contaminated materials undertaken.
3.1 Once Asbestos removal has taken place, the remainder of ‘soft’ finishes are to be stripped. No
primary or secondary structural elements are to be removed during this operation.
3.2 A further structural inspection should be made at this point, prior to commencement of
demolition to verify any assumptions made in previous sections of this document particularly
in regard to structural stability.
Page 8 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
4. Demolition
Note; prior to commencement of demolition (or soft strip), the content of the Asbestos Survey by
Aspect Contracts Ltd referenced in Section 1 of this report should be fully reviewed and
recommendation for removal of contaminated materials undertaken.
Additionally, the ground floor slab should be carefully examined to investigate the presence of any
underlying voids, basements, pits or below ground structures. Where necessary, site testing should
be undertaken to establish previous use of any below ground structures discovered prior to any
demolition, removal or backfilling.
4.1 The following demolition phasing and sequence is indicative and relies on the visual
observations noted in previous sections of this document
4.2 Any assumption regarding the existing structure and its stability made in previous sections of
this report must be further investigated and verified by a competent Structural Engineer prior
to removal of any structure
4.3 The ground floor structure should be investigated as noted above and its suitability for
demolition plant verified prior to commencing work
4.4 Indicative demolition sequence to be carried out as follows in phases as noted:
Phase A
A.1 Establish non-loadbearing internal walls/partitions and carefully remove
A.2 Remove partial mezzanine floor deck
A.3 Remove beams, columns, walls supporting mezzanine floor only i.e. do not remove if
these support main roof structure
Phase B
It is suggested the following part of the demolition sequence is undertaken one ‘working bay’
at a time moving in a controlled manner along the length of the building:
B.1 Strip remaining roof sheeting and rooflights (majority may already be stripped during
asbestos removal)
B.2 Prior to removal of roof purlins or trusses, prop external masonry walls to replace
horizontal restraint provided by trusses. Props should be provided at existing piers
B.3 Once piers are propped, remove purlins one roof bay at a time followed immediately by
supporting truss (note that trusses may become horizontally unstable once purlin
restraint is removed)
B.4 Remove any remaining internal columns and walls in the working bay
B.5 Remove external masonry panels in the working between piers/encased columns
B.6 Remove exposed external columns and eaves beam within the working bay
Page 9 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
Phase C
At this point, all superstructure has been demolished and removed leaving ground floor slab,
foundations and below ground drainage (and any below ground structures discovered prior to
demolition).
C.1 Prior to commencing removal of the slab, ‘grubbing out’ of foundations and drainage or
backfilling/removal of pit structures, it is recommended that a number of Site
Investigation testing and trial pits be undertaken to establish the following (excavations
are not to undermine any adjacent structures at any time):
• Underlying soil conditions and in particular presence of any contaminants from
previous uses
• Type, size and formation level of foundations to internal structure
• Type, size and formation level of foundations to external structure
• Type, size and formation level of any below ground retaining structures
C.2 Once the existing conditions have been established, the ground floor slab can be
removed. Where practical, this should be done using a non-percussive method i.e. saw
cut slab into manageable sections
C.3 Break out internal bases, again using a non-percussive technique where practical taking
care not to undermine any adjacent structures. Excavations to be backfilled using non-
contaminated site spoil where available
C.4 Break out external bases, again using a non-percussive technique where practical taking
care not to undermine any adjacent structures. Temporary retaining works may be
required to ensure adjacent building foundations remain unaffected by these works
C.5 Any pits discovered below ground floor slab layout are to be completely removed or
broken down to a suitable level and backfilled using engineered fill compacted in layers
C.6 Existing below ground drainage within the building footprint is to be fully removed and
any associated trenches backfilled with suitable fill material
Page 10 of 11
Project: 5588 394 Camden Road, London N7
Document: 5588.D006 P1 Rev P1
Appendix A
• Site boundary/demolition plan
