Demolition Industry Associations

NFDC is proud to collaborate with fellow demolition associations across the globe. Find out more about who NFDC’s affiliations are and why we work with them.

Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE)

IDE is a long-standing partner of NFDC, promoting demolition engineering as a skilled profession. As such, IDE provides a forum for individual members to network and learn. Additionally, IDE were instrumental in the creation of the Foundation Degree and MSc Degree in Demolition Management


European Demolition Association (EDA)

Just like NFDC, EDA is a membership organisation and trade association representing the interests of demolition companies within Europe. Our current EDA Representative is former NFDC President, Holly Price . We work with EDA in many ways, for instance, by contributing data from the UK demolition sector for wider European industry insights reports.


National Demolition Association (NDA)

NDA, is NFDC’s counterpart in the USA.
With 500 members, NDA connects demolition professionals for learning and networking as well as signposting its members for projects stateside.

Additionally, we work with construction and related industry associations in the UK.

As a result of our work, we share learning and best practice, make progress with key issues and produce guidance for the industry. So together, we are advancing the demolition sector.

Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)

CECA is the representative body for 300 plus member companies who deliver, upgrade, and maintain the country’s infrastructure. As they can’t do it without demolition contractors clearing the way at the project outset, NFDC maintains strong links with CECA.


Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA)

ARCA is the leading trade association for asbestos management services. The safe handling and removal of asbestos is a shared priority with NFDC. As such, both organisations aim to educate and inform about the dangers of asbestos and maintain high standards of training.


Asbestos Management Institute (AMI)

Formerly known as ARMI, NFDC has a long-standing relationship with the Asbestos Management Institute. Like NFDC and ARCA, the AMI promotes best practice for asbestos professionals, helping to ensure those who encounter asbestos in their work have the awareness, knowledge and skills to stay safe.


National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC)

The demolition and scaffolding industries are closely interlinked. NFDC and NASC member companies therefore work together frequently on UK projects. NFDC and NASC therefore collaborated to create and disseminate the ‘Safe Use of Scaffolding in the Demolition Industry’ guidance video. Since then we have continued to share learning and best practice.


Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM)

Demolition and Waste Management go hand-in-hand. In fact, the demolition industry is leading other construction sub-sectors in the recycling and reuse of materials arising from demolition works. Because of NFDC’s relationship with CIWM and our involvement in the Demolition Sector Forum Group we keep abreast of developments in the closely related waste management sector. Our CEO, Howard Button, was awarded CIWM Fellowship in April 2022.


Wood Recyclers Association (WRA)

The classification and safe disposal of hazardous timber, or re-use of non-hazardous timber from demolition sites is part of every demolition contractor’s job. Because of this, NFDC works in conjunction with the WRA, Environment Agency and other parties. As a result, we are able to ensure information is shared and NFDC Members are following up-to-date legislation and guidance.

Accreditations and Schemes

We are proud to have gained accreditations that matter within the demolition sector. Because NFDC sets high standards for its members, we chose to become an SSIP accreditation centre in our own right. In addition, we comply with ISO 9001. Furthermore, NFDC are accredited members of various institutes and schemes in order to show and endorse our shared standards.

Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP)

NFDC became SSIP Registered members in March 2021, with its members audited against the standards under the new scheme from April 2021. Following the transition to SSIP, NFDC demolition contractors are now able to simplify the process for accreditation through other assessment schemes, including CHAS, via the Deem to Satisfy route.


British Standards Institute (BSI)

BSI share knowledge, innovation and best practice to help people and organisations make excellence a habit. This is underpinned by their role as the national standards body. NFDC is a member of the editing and publishing committee for the BS 6187 demolition standard. In addition to this, we work with BSI to maintain the NFDC Headquarters’ ISO 9001 accreditation.


British Safety Council (BSC)

NFDC is a British Safety Council member, meaning that we gain access to expertise and advice to improve health and safety within the demolition industry. In turn, as members we are able to share sector and workplace specific insight that feeds into BSC’s policy activities.


Certificate of Competence for Demolition Operative (CCDO)

The CCDO Smart Card scheme offers a logical pathway from demolition apprentice to manager. Pioneered and owned by NFDC, with cards exclusively issued by NDTG, the CCDO Smart Card scheme is recognised and respected industry-wide. Many of those who commission demolition projects demand a CCDO carded workforce.


Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)

CSCS are the overarching body for all of the construction industry competence card schemes. The CCDO card is a partner card of the CSCS Alliance and as such, we comply with the standards and rules of the scheme and are fully Smart Card compliant.


Plant Sector Representative Organisation (PSRO)

NFDC is on the board of the PSRO, which is managed by the Construction Plant Association (CPA) . They set the standard for construction plant training and NFDC’s participation ensures that demolition plant standards are adequately recognised and represented.


Construction Plant Certification Scheme (CPCS) Managed by NOCN

NFDC is a member of the CPCS Council of Management, ensuring that the demolition plant category cards (D90) under this scheme are tested appropriately and the standards are continuously monitored.

CPCS Job Cards were formerly managed and administered by CITB, but are now managed by the Awarding Organisation, NOCN.


Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS)

NFDC is a CLOCS Strategic Partner, ensuring the demolition industry voice is heard. Our affiliated specialist demolition training group, NDTG, was approved to deliver the CLOCS Site Access Traffic Marshal (SATM) course in 2022.


National Standards Accreditation Centre (NSAC)

NFDC work with NSAC to ensure the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels are suitable and sufficient for the demolition industry card scheme. We work with NSAC to define each of the NVQ levels 1 to 7 for each of the CCDO cards within the scheme. The NVQ standards are continuously monitored by both NFDC, NDTG and NSAC.

Government Bodies

We have championed standards in the demolition industry for more than 80 years. Much of what we have achieved has been in collaboration with our affiliates. Our voices come together to lobby government bodies for change that benefits the industry and workforce.

Indirectly, we work with other government departments such as BEIS and DEFRA on projects and challenges affecting the demolition industry, such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and climate change.

Construction Leadership Council (CLC)

NFDC is represented on the CLC Forum Group as the Demolition Sector Representative Organisation (SRO). As a government group, CLC sets the parameters for construction industry operations.


Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

NFDC is a CITB Prescribed Organisation, meaning that we have a responsibility for ensuring demolition employers respond to the Consensus regarding Levy payments. We work with CITB to ensure that grants and funding are distributed effectively. NFDC, NDTG and CITB have shared priorities to make industry training accessible and affordable and to attract new talent to the sector.


Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

Safety in the demolition industry is paramount. Due to this, we work with HSE to ensure our members don’t just follow legislation, but go beyond compliance in order to keep everyone safe. HSE bulletins keep us up to date with changes, safety alerts, PPE advancements and industry learning.

Despite billions of man hours worked, incidents in demolition are thankfully rare. NFDC and its members fully cooperate with HSE to ascertain the causes of incidents and how to prevent occurrences in the future.


Environment Agency

The Environment Agency ensures that NFDC is kept updated with any changes to environmental legislation relevant to our sector. We work closely with them to ensure that our site operations have minimal impact on the environment and communities. We feedback data on our waste management, recycling and reuse to the EA on an annual basis.

Workforce Protection and Benefits Partners

Since 1941, NFDC has championed the demolition workforce and campaigned to improve standards, training, safety, working conditions, equal opportunities, fair pay and benefits.

We work with the following organisations to help us ensure that demolition operatives are suitably cared for, in many different areas.

Unite the Union

Unite and NFDC both represent the workforce’s interests in ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.

In addition, NFDC and Unite work together on the Demolition Industry Conciliation Board (DICB). An outcome of this is the Working Rule Agreement that sums up employee benefits, fair pay, equal opportunities and working conditions.


Building and Civil Engineering (B&CE)

NFDC is a member of the Building & Civil Engineering scheme. B&CE works with members and employers to provide employee and individual benefits for those working in the construction industry. Their products and services include workplace pensions, financial protection and cover insurances for reassurance.

It is a mandatory requirement of all NFDC accredited demolition contractors to be registered with B&CE or an equivalent scheme providing equal or better employee benefits.


Building Mental Health Charter

NFDC signed the Building Mental Health Charter in 2018, making a commitment to improve mental health in the construction sector. As a result of our pledge, NFDC has worked closely with mental health and wellbeing charities and subject matter experts, developed our own CPD Certified mental health workshops and launched a central information hub on our website, packed with created and curated wellbeing resources.


Lighthouse Club Construction Industry Charity

Raising awareness and signposting support for Mental Health and Wellbeing is a strategic priority for NFDC and we have supported the Lighthouse Club Construction Industry Charity with significant donations to help ensure their 24/7 helpline for construction industry workers can stay operational. We help key campaigns, such as Help Inside the Hard Hat, reach the right people within the demolition sector.

Partners for Sustainability

The demolition industry is committed to playing its part in the fight against climate change. And like all other organisations, in all industries, we are learning what more we can do to reduce carbon emissions within our operations and ensure our projects achieve net zero.

ConstructZero Partner

NFDC is a ConstructZero partner. This means we are proactively supporting the nine priority areas within the construction industry’s plan to achieve net zero by 2050.


SME Climate Hub Member

We actively support the SME Climate Hub and as part of our ‘3 Steps in the right direction’ campaign, we encourage all NFDC Members to also join and make the Climate Commitment. By using the SME Climate hub, we are all learning more about how we can play our part in the fight against climate change.


Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP)

ASBP champions sustainable building products to help ensure a low-carbon built environment. Because sustainability is important to us, we work alongside ASBP to share the demolition industry perspective and knowledge of deconstructing buildings. Our intention is to ensure that the end-of-life of buildings is given consideration at the design stage.


Reusefully

Reusefully is a forum that looks at the re-use of materials arising from construction sector operations. NFDC is an active member of the forum, contributing information on how our members re-use materials from demolition projects. In fact, many of our members re-use high percentages of materials helping to create circular economy and work towards net zero.

Charities

We raise and donate, on average, a quarter of a million pounds per year to the good causes. As a result of member fundraising events on a national and regional basis, and participation in iconic events such as the London Marathon, we have made an incredible impact.

Charities we support.

Hundreds of charitable organisations and their beneficiaries have been helped because of NFDC generosity. To find out more about all of the organisations we help, browse the NFDC magazines and yearbooks. Here we feature two current charities supported by NFDC and explain why these particular organisations are important to us.


Snowdon Trust

Lord Snowdon became the first Patron of NFDC in 2006 and we because of this close relationship we have continued to support the Snowdon Trust ever since.


Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the NFDC President’s chosen charities for 2023. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information, and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.


Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer’s Society is another of the NFDC President’s chosen charities for 2023. Alzheimer’s Society is a United Kingdom care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers. With everyone’s help they can give vital support to those who need it most, hold decision-makers to account, and fund ground-breaking research to transform the future for everyone living with dementia.