CITB Specialists Working in Occupied Premises 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'working in occupied premises' mean for a specialist contractor?
- Carrying out construction or maintenance work while the building is being used by its normal occupants or business (Correct answer)
- Working on residential properties only
- Working on any live construction site
- Working in a building that has electricity and water supplies connected
Correct answer: Carrying out construction or maintenance work while the building is being used by its normal occupants or business
Working in occupied premises means performing construction, installation, or maintenance work in buildings that continue to be used by occupants (residents, office workers, retail customers, etc.) at the same time as the works are taking place.
Question 2: What additional CDM 2015 duty is triggered when working in occupied premises?
- The client's duty to ensure appropriate management arrangements and that vulnerable persons are considered in the risk assessment (Correct answer)
- No additional duties — the same rules apply
- The contractor must apply for a special occupied premises permit
- The HSE must be notified of all occupied premises work
Correct answer: The client's duty to ensure appropriate management arrangements and that vulnerable persons are considered in the risk assessment
When working in occupied premises, the client and contractor must specifically consider the safety of building occupants (who may include vulnerable people — the elderly, children, or those with disabilities) and ensure the construction work does not create risks for them.
Question 3: What dust control measures should a specialist contractor implement when working in an occupied building?
- Erect dust screens and hoarding, use vacuum extraction on tools, damp down, and ensure clean-up before areas reopen (Correct answer)
- Only open windows for ventilation
- Only work during non-occupied hours — no dust controls during working hours
- Place a warning sign on the door to the work area
Correct answer: Erect dust screens and hoarding, use vacuum extraction on tools, damp down, and ensure clean-up before areas reopen
Dust management in occupied premises requires physical barriers (hoarding), dust screens, vacuum extraction on tools, damp-down techniques, and thorough clean-up before occupied areas are reopened. Occupants, especially those with respiratory conditions, must be protected.
Question 4: What must a specialist contractor do before drilling or chasing in walls in an occupied building?
- Check for buried services using cable and pipe detectors before drilling or chasing (Correct answer)
- Only test the wall with a voltage tester
- No checks are needed if the work is away from visible sockets and switches
- Only the site manager needs to check for services
Correct answer: Check for buried services using cable and pipe detectors before drilling or chasing
Before any drilling, chasing, or cutting in walls, ceilings, or floors in occupied buildings, cable avoidance tools (CATs) and pipe detectors must be used to locate buried electrical cables, gas pipes, and water pipes to prevent electrocution, gas leaks, or flooding.
Question 5: How should a specialist contractor manage their access to occupied residential properties?
- Agree access times in advance, carry identity cards, explain the work, protect furnishings, and leave areas clean (Correct answer)
- Access any time with written notice
- Only with permission of the local authority
- Residential access rules only apply to larger contractors
Correct answer: Agree access times in advance, carry identity cards, explain the work, protect furnishings, and leave areas clean
Access to occupied residential properties requires pre-agreed times, identity card presentation, clear explanation of the work to be done, protection of furnishings and belongings, and restoration of cleanliness before leaving. Respect for occupants' homes is both a legal and professional requirement.
Question 6: What is the noise obligation of a specialist contractor working in occupied premises?
- Avoid or minimise noisy work during agreed quiet hours and warn occupants in advance of particularly noisy activities (Correct answer)
- There is no legal restriction on noise during working hours
- Only inform the local council — no obligation to warn occupants
- Noisy work must always be done outside normal hours
Correct answer: Avoid or minimise noisy work during agreed quiet hours and warn occupants in advance of particularly noisy activities
While there is no absolute prohibition on noisy work during working hours, good practice and some site rules require minimising noise impact on occupants, giving advance warning of particularly noisy activities, and adhering to any quiet-hour restrictions agreed with the client.
CITB Specialists Working in Occupied Premises 1
What does 'working in occupied premises' mean for a specialist contractor?