Demolition Dust Monitoring
Short-duration intensive PM&sub10; / PM&sub2;.&sub5; boundary monitoring for the highest-dust phase of a project. MCERTS-grade real-time instruments, Trigger Action Plans, deposited dust gauges and same-day exceedance investigation. IAQM 2024 framework.
The dustiest phase — and the one inspectors visit
Demolition is the single highest-dust phase of any project. Mechanical breakers, hydraulic crunchers, deconstruction work and the inevitable concrete crushing that follows generate large fugitive dust emissions over a relatively short period — weeks rather than months — and during exactly the time when the local environmental health team and any neighbours are most likely to be paying attention. The IAQM 2014/2024 framework classifies demolition as the highest-risk activity within construction dust assessment, with the highest mitigation standards.
Demolition-phase dust monitoring schemes are therefore typically more intensive than the main construction-phase scheme: higher monitor density, shorter reporting cadence, faster exceedance response. A typical demolition scheme runs for 6 to 12 weeks, with two or three MCERTS-grade real-time PM&sub10; monitors, weekly Frisbee deposited dust gauges at every sensitive receptor, weekly compliance reports rather than monthly, and same-day exceedance investigation with the on-site project team.
Most local planning authority conditions for High Risk demolition projects require this intensive monitoring as a discharge condition before demolition can start. We can usually install the scheme within 10 working days of a confirmed instruction, write the Trigger Action Plan in parallel, and have the condition discharge package with the council the same week.
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Two- or Three-Monitor Boundary Scheme
MCERTS-grade real-time PM&sub10; / PM&sub2;.&sub5; monitors typically deployed at the boundary nearest sensitive receptors and at the downwind boundary — giving both source attribution and exposure characterisation in a single dataset.
Weekly Frisbee Deposited Dust
Frisbee gauges serviced weekly at the agreed sensitive receptor locations, with rapid (7-day turnaround) UKAS-accredited gravimetric analysis. Critical for demonstrating that controls are working in real time.
Trigger Action Plan tuned for demolition
TAP tuned for demolition-phase exposure profiles: tighter triggers (often 150 µg/m³ investigation, 200 µg/m³ action, 400 µg/m³ stop-works) reflecting the heightened risk, and an exceedance investigation protocol that gets a person on site within 4 working hours.
Same-Day Exceedance Investigation
Where a TAP trigger is reached during demolition, we investigate the same day — correlating PM data with wind direction, the demolition activity log and any concurrent complaints — and document the cause, the mitigation deployed and the verification that controls have worked.
Weekly Compliance Reports
Shorter reporting cadence than the main construction phase. Weekly time-series plots, wind rose, deposited dust update and forward look at the following week's programme.
Final Closure Report
At the end of demolition we produce a closure report summarising the dust performance against the TAP triggers and the IAQM thresholds, supporting discharge of the demolition-phase planning condition before the main construction phase begins.
How a demolition monitoring scheme is run
Intensive, fast-cycle and designed for the dustiest phase of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is demolition phase monitoring more intensive than construction phase?
Demolition is classified as the highest-risk phase under the IAQM 2014/2024 framework because it generates the highest fugitive dust emissions in the shortest time. The intensive monitoring is the only way to demonstrate compliance during the period when sensitive receptors are most exposed and when the local environmental health team is most likely to inspect.
When should demolition monitoring start?
Typically the day demolition starts — or a few weeks earlier if a baseline is needed. The scheme must be agreed with the local planning authority through CEMP discharge before demolition can lawfully begin, so the planning condition discharge package needs to be submitted at least 4 to 6 weeks before the intended start date.
How long does demolition monitoring run for?
Until the demolition phase is complete plus a short tail (typically 2 weeks) covering the immediate site clearance. Most demolition phases run 6 to 12 weeks. The Trigger Action Plan and monitoring can transition into a less intensive main-phase scheme for the remainder of the project.
What happens if a TAP trigger is reached?
For an investigation-level trigger we document the cause and any contributing factors and brief site management. For an action-level trigger we get a person on site within 4 working hours, identify the cause, agree additional mitigation (water suppression, screening, plant changes) with site management and document the closeout. For a stop-works trigger the works halt until the cause is identified and controlled. Every exceedance is documented in writing and reported to the local authority in the next compliance report.
How much does demolition dust monitoring cost?
A typical 8-week intensive demolition scheme with two real-time PM&sub10; monitors, weekly Frisbee deposited dust gauges at three sensitive receptors, TAP, weekly reporting and same-day exceedance response starts from around £5,500 to £8,500 plus VAT. Larger or longer-duration schemes scale up proportionately.