What environmental assessment is required before demolition cleanup in Ottawa's heritage districts?

Before any demolition or demolition cleanup in an older Ottawa building, the first step is finding out what hazardous materials are in it. In older and heritage buildings that usually means a hazardous materials survey done by a qualified consultant, not by a cleaning company, before anyone starts tearing out or sweeping up.

Hazardous Materials Come First

Asbestos is the main concern in older buildings. It can turn up in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe and boiler insulation, vermiculite attic insulation and drywall joint compound. Under Ontario's asbestos regulation for construction projects (O. Reg. 278/05), material counts as asbestos-containing when it holds 0.5 per cent or more asbestos by dry weight, which is why sampling and lab analysis matter. Where that regulation applies, a building owner must have the materials likely to be disturbed examined before arranging the work. Whether it applies to your project depends on the building and who is doing the work, so ask your consultant. If asbestos-containing material is found, its removal is a job for a qualified asbestos abatement contractor (ottawaabatement.com covers what that involves), and it has to be dealt with before demolition cleanup starts. It never goes in a regular bin.

Lead paint is common in older buildings. Disturbing it creates dust that can be hazardous, so have painted surfaces tested and ask any company you hire how they control dust and clean up afterward.

Other materials, such as older fluorescent light ballasts, electrical equipment and some caulking, may also need special handling. Your survey should identify them and say how each one must be handled.

Soil and site history can also matter if the property had a commercial or industrial use, an underground tank or a coal store. Ask your consultant whether soil testing makes sense.

Heritage Properties

If the building is designated or sits in a heritage conservation district, check with the City's heritage planning staff before you plan demolition. Additional approvals may be needed, and the City can tell you what it expects to see with your application.

Costs

Survey and abatement costs vary widely with the building's size, age and what is found, so ask for itemized written quotes for the survey and for any abatement before committing.

For the cleanup that follows once hazardous materials have been dealt with, you can find cleaning companies through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com. Share your survey results with them so their quotes reflect what is actually in the building.