Emergency demolition is required when a structure presents an immediate danger to public safety and cannot wait for a standard planned programme. It is one of the most time-critical services in the construction sector — and one where appointing the wrong contractor can have serious consequences.

When Is Emergency Demolition Required?

• Structural failure — following collapse, partial collapse, or discovery of imminent structural risk
• Fire damage — buildings rendered structurally unstable by fire
• Flood or subsidence damage — undermined foundations or water-damaged load-bearing elements
• Vehicle impact — lorry or vehicle strike to load-bearing elements of a building
• Local authority Section 78 notices — served under the Building Act 1984, requiring the owner to make a building safe or arrange for its demolition

Jim Wise Demolition's Emergency Response

Jim Wise Demolition provides a 24-hour emergency response service across England and Wales. From first call to plant on site, our target response time for declared emergencies is within 4 hours for our core Midlands and North West coverage area. For urgent requirements, call 0800 222 9772 — our emergency line is answered around the clock.

On first attendance, our site supervisor will assess the immediate risk, establish a safety exclusion zone, and agree a scope of works with the relevant authorities. Structural propping, hoarding, and temporary barriers are deployed immediately where required.

Regulatory Requirements in Emergencies

Emergency demolition does not exempt a contractor from legal requirements — it simply compresses the timeline for compliance. HSE notification is still required where the works are notifiable under CDM 2015, though notification can be made simultaneously with the start of works in genuine emergencies. Asbestos removal, where required, must still be carried out by a licensed contractor under appropriate controls — even in emergency conditions.

After the Emergency: Site Clearance and Reinstatement

Once the immediate danger has been addressed, a planned programme of site clearance and reinstatement follows. Jim Wise Demolition manages this entire process — from the initial emergency attendance through to a cleared, safe, and compliant site. View our Crewe emergency demolition project as an example of our rapid-response capability.