Books: REVIEWS

BS 6187:2011 Code of practice for full and partial demolition was published in December 2011. For the first time it includes significant good-practice recommendations for partial demolition during refurbishment. The new code supersedes the first and second editions published 1982 and 2000 respectively, which in turn superseded CP94.

During the re-drafting stage, the BSI committee was charged with producing a revised standard to include new advances in technology and equipment as well as integrating partial demolition into the recommendations – all in explicit ways to aid clearer access to the information.

The term ‘demolition’ is usually described as the complete removal of a structure or building. However, it can also mean deconstructing sections of a structure. The revisions to the code mean that both interpretations are now covered, making the standard an important point of reference for demolition activities on any scale.

Recent Confidential Report on Structural Safety reports have highlighted concerns where refurbishment projects including structural alterations have been carried out incorrectly, with the potential for putting lives at risk.

The revisions of BS 6187 include guidance on partial demolition during structural alterations where part of the structure remains; project development and management; deconstruction techniques, including activities for reuse and recycling; and exclusion zones and safe working spaces, including their design and application

Certainly the revisions are welcome. First, as time passes more buildings are becoming dilapidated or are no longer required to serve the purpose for which they were originally built.

Second, developers are turning away from total demolition and rebuilding because of the time restraints, sustainability issues and planning constraints such as the requirement to retain facades. Therefore, refurbishment of existing buildings is being carried out on an increasing scale in these times of austerity.

Often, contractors are being asked to remove more superstructure to provide open areas without having the necessary skills or competence for partial demolition and temporary propping. BS 6187:2011 can provide important guidance in this regard.

In order to raise awareness of this important British standard, it would be prudent to have BS 6187:2011 listed in the next revision of part A of the Building Regulations. This will ensure that trade contractors which are unfamiliar with the vagaries of demolition activities required for structural refurbishment are advised to seek the advice of a competent practitioner.

This is a concise book (only 51 pages) produced through the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) dispute resolution panel to combine in a single reference volume the up-to-date versions of the four ICE procedures for adjudication, conciliation/mediation, arbitration and dispute boards.

Comment is given on the suitability for the application of each procedure, which is frequently to any form of construction and engineering contract. Where appropriate, the relationship with the UK Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and its amendments is shown. The four detailed procedure sections describe their particular application and their differences, including guides for those used for simple issues and small- or large-value disputes.

Each section comprises a set of rules (typically nine, except arbitration which extends to 24). There are clear rules for general aspects such as objectives, principles, notices, control and conduct as well as the resulting decisions, recommendations and awards, as appropriate. There are also reference example documents for the appointments of the professionals to be engaged in the particular dispute resolution procedure and there is guidance on the instances when experts are involved.

The book is very well set out and should be in the library of every construction-related firm. It provides the definitive ICE dispute resolution knowledge for all professionals engaged in construction, and should be considered essential for construction law practitioners and those compiling construction and engineering contracts.

The proper design, construction, regulation and management of temporary works are of critical importance in all construction projects. However, universities generally do not offer courses in temporary works so most engineers have limited training in this field. Moreover, numerous accidents occur daily in the construction industry resulting in delays, cost overruns and sometimes structural collapses causing severe injuries and fatalities.

This book is well organised, presenting in 27 chapters the most complete coverage of temporary works in one volume. Written by 21 construction industry experts established in specific fields, the book provides ideas and solutions for all aspects of temporary works including up-to-date codes and standards (including Eurocodes) as well as the UK Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and forms of contract.

The book is a valuable source of information for researchers, practising engineers, lecturers and students in civil engineering. The straightforward and concise presentation of a wide range of topics is also helpful to technicians and contractors looking to minimise costs, maximise efficiency and ensure the safety of those working on site.

I strongly recommend the book as a textbook for students and reference for practising engineers, researchers, technicians and contractors in civil engineering construction of all types of facilities. Indeed, I have taken many ideas from it to carry out my own research from chapters dealing with the stability of temporary works such as slopes, trenches, falsework, cranes, facades, jetties, modular systems and bridge installations.

This book has a jaunty title that belies its humble dedication, ‘to all those executives of state who politely and amiably suffered the foreign experts sent to advise them when, given the resources, they could very well have done the work themselves’.

George, the composite character of the book, romps through Malta, Kuwait, Pakistan, Sudan and Kenya providing a jolly mixture of anecdotes and engineering lessons learned from tours of duty that span from the 1950s to the 1980s.

One specific story stands out, narrated by George’s wife in Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan war, where George is ordered to look after the office in Lahore while his family and colleagues struggle to evacuate from the city as the ‘tail-end charlies’ of the international community. They spent 9 h traversing open terrain to Islamabad, often under fire. Once there, they survived on eggs and tea, and listening to the BBC World Service as refugees until the armistice was declared, and the family was reunited.

Also, while in Kenya, George travelled to Uganda with a small jar of marmite, some biscuits, cheese and a plug (standard travelling kit) to assess likely work there for his firm after the deposition of Idi Amin. There he witnessed the hope of the people being dashed by the lack of the most basic commodities, and the harsh comparison of Uganda with its neighbours.

There are of course engineering snippets that will delight the more technical readers, and some hilarious two-sided culture clashes. Overall it is a good read for those embarking on their first expat expeditions and is evocative of those who have been before and helped make civil engineering overseas the respected profession it is.

The ICE’s bookshop in London carries one of the most comprehensive ranges of civil engineering books in the world. New books received in the past 3 months are as follows.

The bookshop is in the ICE foyer at 1 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AA and is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Books can also be ordered by calling+44 20 7665 2019, emailing bookshop@ice.org.uk or by visiting www.ice.org.uk/bookshop.

Full versions of these reviews can be read in the supplementary data to the online version of these pages at www.civilengineering-ice.com