🎯 Learning Objectives

• Decode demo symbology, hatches, and keynotes; confirm “what stays” vs “what goes.”
• Cross-reference demo intent across Architectural, Structural, and MEP demo sheets.
• Spot structural risks and build a safe, staged removal sequence.
• Plan disconnects, temp protections, and access/egress with the field in mind.
• Capture addenda/revisions and prevent scope gaps before pricing.

🧾 Construction Drawings & Demolition Plans

Demo sheets show removal limits via hatches, clouds, and dashed outlines. Treat the legend as law and verify against general notes, keynotes, and sheet indices.

• Stays vs. Goes: “PIP/Protect in Place” items, heritage finishes, active utilities, egress paths.
• Legend & Keynotes: Hatch patterns, sawcut lines, infill notes, temporary partitions.
• Phasing: Colored zones, phase tags, swing spaces, night/occupied constraints.
• Clouds & Rev triangles: Track addenda and delta changes by sheet.

🏗 Identifying Structural Elements to Remove or Preserve

Structural errors are the costliest. Confirm load paths and temporary works before pricing aggressive production.

• Differentiate non-load partitions vs. shear walls, brace frames, and transfer beams.
• Look for “DO NOT REMOVE”, shoring notes, and engineered temp support details.
• Coordinate slab infill thicknesses, rebar dowels, and edge prep in the bid (not as a surprise CO).
• Plan crane picks, interior equipment access, and weight limits on elevated slabs.

🔌 Reviewing MEP Disconnection Plans

Price legal, safe disconnects up front—don’t bury them in production rates.

• Electrical: panel lockout, feeder isolation, lighting controls, fire alarm devices.
• Mechanical: duct caps, gas capping, RTU/condensing unit recovery, refrigerant handling.
• Plumbing: cap domestic, sanitary, storm; water heater/tank removal; trap sealing.
• Fire/Life Safety: sprinkler impairments, F/A bypass plans, hot work permits.

🕵️ Site Investigation & Pre-Demolition Surveys

• Measure actual wall types, slab thickness, roof layers; verify existing vs. as-builts.
• Access & haul paths, laydown, crane/picker positions, street permits.
• Hidden utilities/abandoned systems; above-ceiling surprises.
• Hazmat indicators (asbestos, LBP, PCB, mercury, silica); sampling status and scope owner.

⏱ Structural Risks & Demolition Sequencing

• Demo order: finishes → ceilings → MEP → non-structural walls → structural cuts/picks → infills.
• Sequence by phase/floor to maintain egress and operations for occupied buildings.
• Schedule inspections (structural, fire) and protection resets between phases.
• Stagger debris removal to avoid bottlenecks with other trades and keep lifts moving.

🧭 Cross-Reference Workflow & Sheet Index

1. Start with A-Demo overall plan → identify rooms/zones/limits.
2. Check S-Demo for structural notes, sawcut details, shoring, infill thickness.
3. Open M/E/P Demo: find caps, equipment removals, reroutes, temp systems.
4. Read General/Spec sections (hazmat, dust, noise, hours, disposal reporting).
5. Log conflicts as RFIs with marked screenshots and sheet references.

✍️ Suggested Clarifications (copy/paste)

• Demo limits per A-Demo; structural per S-Demo; M/E/P per respective demo sheets. Conflicts priced as alternates.
• Disconnects/caps by licensed trades; demo to commence after written confirmation of shutoffs.
• Phasing/night work premiums included only where noted; additional premium billed as T&M.
• Temp partitions/negative air/infection control included per plan notes; additional zones are a unit price.
• As-built deviations and unforeseen utilities handled by documented CO process.

🧰 Plan-Reading Mini Tools