Demolition in Georgia
Selective and interior demolition planned around asbestos rules, utilities, dust control and where the debris goes.
Demolition is taking a building apart on purpose: removing walls before a remodel, stripping a space down to the structure or taking down a small structure. Jermaine Enterprises, a general contractor on Greenbriar Parkway SW in Atlanta, handles interior and selective demolition for homeowners, business owners and property managers who need a space cleared and ready to build back.
Planning comes first: what is in the walls, which utilities run through them and where the debris will go. The aim is a space that is cleared, documented and ready for the next trade.
Asbestos inspection comes first
Under the federal asbestos NESHAP, a thorough inspection for asbestos is required before demolition or renovation begins. The structure, or the portion being demolished or renovated, must be inspected, including Category I and Category II non-friable asbestos-containing material, and the results determine which other requirements apply. In Georgia, the Environmental Protection Division requires written notification before demolition or asbestos work. Its guidance memo says all demolition projects require notice regardless of how much asbestos-containing material is present, and gives a 10 working-day notification period with the postmark date counting as day one.
The EPD memo also says residential demolitions of four or fewer dwelling units are exempt from notification unless they are part of a larger project. The memo is dated 1999 and was revised in 2018, so confirm current forms and rules with EPD's Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Program before any filing.
Planning the site
OSHA calls for an engineering survey by a competent person before any demolition work, covering the structure's condition and the possibility of unplanned collapse. Other planning steps include locating, securing or relocating nearby utilities, a fire prevention and evacuation plan, first aid arrangements and an assessment of hazards such as lead, asbestos and silica.
Georgia's dig law requires contacting Georgia 811 when mechanized equipment will be used to excavate or when demolition is to occur. Georgia 811 sets the notice window, so confirm the current lead time when you call. Locating lines first lets the work be planned around gas, water and power.
Dust, silica and lead
Dust from concrete and masonry is managed with water, ventilation and containment. OSHA's construction standard, 29 CFR 1926.1153, applies except where exposures will stay below an action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over eight hours, and it sets a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Water, ventilation and containment are the usual controls. Buildings built before 1978 may contain lead paint, which EPA's RRP rule covers for paid work, including demolition of painted surfaces. Where an inspection finds asbestos-containing material, its removal is a separate regulated step, and Georgia EPD's Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Program lists the requirements.
Where the debris goes
Georgia EPD defines construction and demolition waste as waste building materials and rubble from construction, remodeling, repair and demolition, including wood, bricks, metal, concrete and wall board. It goes to permitted facilities, and open dumping is prohibited. For lead-painted residential debris, EPD guidance says painted architectural components such as doors, window frames and woodwork may go to a permitted construction and demolition landfill or a municipal solid waste landfill.
Terms you will hear on this job
- asbestos NESHAP
- thorough asbestos inspection
- Category I and Category II non-friable ACM
- friable asbestos-containing material
- 10 working-day EPD notification
- engineering survey by a competent person
- selective demolition
- Georgia 811 utility locate
- C&D landfill
- open dumping
- respirable crystalline silica action level
- lead-based paint waste (TCLP)
How a job like this runs
Describe the project
What is coming out, the age of the building and what will be built in its place.
Survey and scope in writing
Asbestos inspection results, utilities, protection of what stays and the haul-off plan are written into the scope.
Notify, permit and mark utilities
Required notices and permits are identified in the scope, with the owner or permit holder named for each filing, and Georgia 811 is called before work begins.
Take it down and clear it
Work proceeds in a planned order with dust control, debris is sorted and hauled to permitted facilities and the space is cleared of debris to the scope agreed in writing.
Permits and notices
Demolition may need a permit from the city or county building department in addition to the state asbestos notice described above. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and by building, so ask the building department that covers your address, and tell us the age and use of the building when you request a quote.
Questions about demolition
Is an asbestos survey required before demolition?
The federal asbestos NESHAP requires a thorough inspection before demolition or renovation begins, and the results decide what other requirements apply. Georgia EPD separately requires written notice for demolition projects, with an exemption in its memo for residential demolitions of four or fewer dwelling units unless they are part of a larger project.
How far ahead must Georgia EPD be notified of a demolition?
EPD's guidance sets a 10 working-day notification period, with the postmark date counting as day one. Confirm current forms and rules with EPD's Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Program before filing, because the guidance memo is dated 1999 with a 2018 revision mark.
Do I need to call 811 before demolishing a structure?
Georgia 811's excavator guide says the law requires contacting Georgia 811 when mechanized equipment will excavate or when demolition is to occur. Utilities should be located and secured before work starts.
Where does demolition debris go in Georgia?
Construction and demolition waste goes to permitted facilities, and open dumping is prohibited. Georgia EPD guidance says lead-painted residential components may go to a permitted C&D or municipal solid waste landfill, while paint chips and dust need a lined municipal solid waste landfill.
What safety planning does OSHA expect before demolition?
OSHA expects an engineering survey by a competent person, utility control, a fire prevention and evacuation plan, first aid arrangements and an assessment of health hazards such as lead, asbestos and silica before demolition begins.
Verify before you hire anyone. Check any contractor's state license on the Secretary of State contractor board and your city's permit requirements before work starts.
Where this work is quoted
Demolition is quoted in seven towns around Atlanta. Pick your town to see its permit office, neighborhoods and the building context that shapes a project there.
Related services: Framing and Drywall, Painting, CMU and Masonry Block, Office Interior.
Sources: [1] epa.gov [2] epd.georgia.gov [3] osha.gov [4] georgia811.com [5] epd.georgia.gov [6] osha.gov
Plan your demolition
Describe the work and the address. We will follow up with the phone number you provide.