Masonry wall demolition safety

No — masonry wall sections must not be allowed to fall in masses that exceed the safe carrying capacity of the floor. Employers must ensure the weight and size of falling debris are within floor load limits before letting masonry fall onto any floor Requirement in 1926.854(a). Also review the general demolition planning requirements in 1926.853 when assessing loads and methods.

A wall more than one story high may be left standing without lateral bracing only if it was originally designed and constructed to be self-supporting and it is currently in a condition that is safe to stand alone. If it is not originally self-supporting or is unsafe, lateral bracing is required, and all walls must be left in a stable condition at the end of each shift Requirement in 1926.854(b).

It means employers must make sure any remaining wall sections are adequately supported so they will not collapse overnight or during non-working hours. Planning must include temporary bracing or shoring as needed so that the site is stable when workers leave, per 1926.854(b). Refer to 1926.853 for broader demolition planning and safety measures.

No — employees must not be permitted to work on the top of a wall when weather conditions create a hazard. If wind, rain, ice, or other weather makes working at the top unsafe, work must stop until conditions are safe Requirement in 1926.854(c).

No — you must not cut or remove structural or load-supporting members on any floor until all stories above that floor have been demolished and removed, unless the cutting is for disposing of materials or installing equipment and the employer meets the additional requirements of 1926.853 and 1926.855 Requirement in 1926.854(d).

You may cut floor beams for disposal of materials or equipment installation only if you follow the requirements of 1926.853 (demolition safety planning) and 1926.855 (shoring/engineering controls). The demolition plan must ensure that removing those beams won’t create an unstable structure and must provide alternative support as needed Requirement in 1926.854(d).

Floor openings within 10 feet of any wall being demolished must be planked solid unless employees are kept out of the area below. That means you must cover or board over openings to prevent debris or workers from falling through, unless you restrict access below the opening Requirement in 1926.854(e).

Yes — floor openings within 10 feet of the demolition area may be left unplanked only if employees are kept out of the area below (for example, by establishing a controlled exclusion zone). If workers might be below, the openings must be planked solid Requirement in 1926.854(e).

Yes — in "skeleton-steel" buildings the steel framing may be left in place during masonry demolition, but all steel beams, girders, and similar structural supports must be cleared of loose material as the demolition progresses downward Requirement in 1926.854(f).

Employers must provide walkways or ladders that enable employees to safely reach or leave any scaffold or wall. That access must be safe and appropriate for the work being done Requirement in 1926.854(g). For additional fall-protection and scaffold specifics, see the Scaffold and fall protection clarification letter of interpretation (Dec. 5, 2023).

You must brace the earth or underpin the adjoining structure before demolishing a wall that serves as a retaining wall; do not remove such a wall until those support measures are in place Requirement in 1926.854(h).

No — you cannot use a wall to retain piled debris unless that wall is capable of safely supporting the imposed load; verify capacity before piling debris against it Requirement in 1926.854(i).

The employer is responsible for ensuring that a wall left standing without lateral bracing was originally designed to be self-supporting and is still in a safe, self-supporting condition; that evaluation should be part of the demolition plan per 1926.854(b) and 1926.853.

Employers must evaluate floor load capacities and plan demolition methods so that falling masonry won’t exceed those capacities; this includes calculating or confirming floor live/load ratings and controlling debris size and mass Requirement in 1926.854(a) and following the general demolition safety requirements in 1926.853.

Employers must assess hazards and implement controls (engineering, administrative, and PPE) appropriate to the demolition tasks; if asbestos or other hazardous materials are present, follow the asbestos-in-construction requirements in 29 CFR 1926.1101 and related guidance. See the asbestos interpretation Asbestos remediation protocols (Nov. 14, 2024) and perform a PPE hazard assessment as described in the PPE interpretation PPE hazard assessment requirements (Mar. 28, 2024). Also consider the demolition planning rules in 1926.853.

Workers must have safe means to reach and leave work areas (walkways or ladders) and must be protected by the applicable scaffold and fall protection requirements when working from suspended or elevated platforms. See 1926.854(g) and the Scaffold and fall protection clarification letter of interpretation (Dec. 5, 2023) for how suspended conveyances meet scaffold rules and what fall/falling-object protections apply.

All steel beams, girders, and similar supports must be cleared of loose material as the masonry demolition progresses downward to prevent falling debris hazards and to maintain structural integrity Requirement in 1926.854(f).

Yes — you must properly underpin the adjoining structure or otherwise provide adequate support before demolishing a wall that serves to support it; do not remove the wall until the necessary underpinning or bracing is in place Requirement in 1926.854(h).

You must confirm, through design documentation or an engineering assessment, that the wall is capable of safely supporting the weight and pattern of piled debris before using it as a retaining wall for debris; do not assume capacity without verification Requirement in 1926.854(i).

Yes — employers must assess workplace hazards to determine what PPE is required and must document the assessment when PPE will be required, per the PPE hazard assessment interpretation (Mar. 28, 2024) together with general PPE rules in 29 CFR Subpart I (see 1926). The assessment should consider falling-object, dust/asbestos, and other demolition hazards and select controls accordingly.

If demolition disturbs asbestos-containing materials and exposures exceed the asbestos standard thresholds, employers must provide the respirators required by 29 CFR 1926.1101; for asbestos Class I work, full facepiece supplied-air respirators operated in pressure-demand mode with an auxiliary SCBA are required when exposures exceed 1 f/cc, per the respirator interpretation (Jan. 4, 2024). Always assess for asbestos before demolition and follow 1926.854 planning requirements.