BNZ demolition resumes

Iain McGregor

INSPECTION: Workers in protective clothing examine BNZ House, where demolition has been halted.

Demolition specialists, wearing protective clothingbecause ofthe asbestos risk, inspected the roof ofBNZ House in Cathedral Square today.

The demolition of BNZ House was stopped last July 20 when asbestos was found on steel beams encased in concrete.

Specialists are stripping asbestos from the steel beams, but the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority(Cera) has no date for when demolition will be complete.

A spokeswoman said thework was part of theprocess that would lead to the building coming down.

Last year, contaminated demolition rubble from the building was stockpiled on a Hereford St site until asbestos was found.

The stockpile site was covered in tarpaulins and dampened down after the July discovery.

The BNZ House demolition also contaminated Hereford St, where loose fibres of the harmful material were found.

Traces of white and brown asbestos were found at five points in Hereford St and nine points on the stockpile site,a report commissioned by Cera found.

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BNZ demolition resumes