Planning Strip-Out and Investigation Properly

1. The Distinction Between “Demo” and “Strip-Out”

In refurbishment, demolition is a blunt instrument; Strip-out is a surgical one. * The Goal: To remove non-structural elements (partitions, ceilings, floor finishes, and redundant services) to reveal the building’s core.

• The Risk: Inadvertently removing “temporary” supports added by previous tenants or damaging live services that feed other parts of an occupied building.

2. The “Services-First” Protocol

Before any fabric is moved, the “Life-Blood” of the building must be audited.

• Utility Isolation: We perform a full “dead-test” of all electrical circuits and gas lines.

• Redundant Services: We remove “dead legs” of pipework that can harbor Legionella or become fire-paths.

• Occupied Logistics: As discussed in Topic 4, if the building is partially occupied, the strip-out must ensure that “common” services (like fire alarms or data risers) remain fully operational during the removal of local branches.

3. Asbestos and Hazardous Material Management

The “Management Survey” used for daily building operations is never enough for a strip-out.

• R&D Surveys: We mandate a Refurbishment and Demolition (R&D) Survey before the first crowbar is used.

• Hidden Hazards: Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) is frequently found behind old radiators, inside riser cupboards, or as packing around structural steel.

• Our Approach: We coordinate the licensed removal of hazardous materials as a standalone phase, ensuring the site is “Certified Clean” before the general strip-out team enters.

4. Sequencing Investigations (The “Opening Up” Works)

Once the finishes are gone, the Real Investigation begins. We sequence our strip-out to provide the Design Team with “Verification Points”:

• Joist & Beam Bearings: Checking for rot or masonry failure where floor joists meet external walls.

• Floor Voids: Identifying old service runs that might conflict with new underfloor heating or drainage layouts.

• Structural Slabs: Core testing concrete slabs to confirm their thickness and reinforcement before heavy plant is brought onto the floor.

5. Recording Discoveries & “As-Found” Drawings

The strip-out phase is the only time the building’s “skeleton” is fully visible.

• Digital Recording: We use 360-degree photography and laser scanning (BIM) during this phase. This creates a digital twin of the building’s bare bones.

• Future-Proofing: This data is invaluable for the O&M manual. If a leak occurs in 5 years, the owner will know exactly where the pipes are located behind the new walls because of the strip-out records.

The Bloomsbury Advantage: We don’t just “clear the site.” We treat the strip-out as a forensic exercise. Because we have surveying expertise, we know what to look for—the subtle signs of movement, the smell of damp, or the presence of non-compliant historic repairs. By planning the strip-out properly, we ensure that the “Main Works” aren’t a series of expensive surprises, but a controlled delivery.

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