1926.854: Demolishing Walls and Chimneys
During demolition, masonry must not fall on floors in masses that exceed their safe capacity, and wall sections more than one story high must not stand alone without lateral bracing unless designed to. Walls must be left stable each shift, no one works atop walls in hazardous weather, and supporting members are not cut until stories above are removed. Floor openings within 10 feet of a wall being demolished must be planked solid unless the area below is kept clear.
Key takeaways
- 1926.854 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart T).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $6,572 in current penalties.
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.854, "Removal of walls, masonry sections, and chimneys", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart T). It has 9 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1926.854 (9 paragraphs)
(a) Masonry walls, or other sections of masonry, shall not be permitted to fall upon the floors of the building in such masses as to exceed the safe carrying capacities of the floors.
(b) No wall section, which is more than one story in height, shall be permitted to stand alone without lateral bracing, unless such wall was originally designed and constructed to stand without such lateral support, and is in a condition safe enough to be self-supporting. All walls shall be left in a stable condition at the end of each shift. 1 citations
(c) Employees shall not be permitted to work on the top of a wall when weather conditions constitute a hazard.
(d) Structural or load-supporting members on any floor shall not be cut or removed until all stories above such a floor have been demolished and removed. This provision shall not prohibit the cutting of floor beams for the disposal of materials or for the installation of equipment, provided that the requirements of §§ 1926.853 and 1926.855 are met. 2 citations
(e) Floor openings within 10 feet of any wall being demolished shall be planked solid, except when employees are kept out of the area below.
(f) In buildings of “skeleton-steel” construction, the steel framing may be left in place during the demolition of masonry. Where this is done, all steel beams, girders, and similar structural supports shall be cleared of all loose material as the masonry demolition progresses downward.
(g) Walkways or ladders shall be provided to enable employees to safely reach or leave any scaffold or wall.
(h) Walls, which serve as retaining walls to support earth or adjoining structures, shall not be demolished until such earth has been properly braced or adjoining structures have been properly underpinned. 1 citations
(i) Walls, which are to serve as retaining walls against which debris will be piled, shall not be so used unless capable of safely supporting the imposed load.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.854.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tall wall section stand alone during demolition?
Not if it is more than one story high, unless it was designed to stand without lateral support and is safe to be self-supporting.
What about floor openings near walls being demolished?
Openings within 10 feet of the wall must be planked solid, except when employees are kept out of the area below.
Can workers stand on top of a wall in bad weather?
No. Employees shall not work on the top of a wall when weather conditions constitute a hazard.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.854 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.