In short
Before a demolition, asbestos-containing materials must be removed by a company registered in the RERA, under a work plan approved by the provincial labour authority, and disposed of as hazardous waste 17 06 05* without mixing. On our jobs that company is our subcontractor; once it has finished, we carry out the demolition and the selective sorting of the remaining waste.
Contents
- Why asbestos must come out before a demolition starts
- The legal framework: Real Decreto 847/2026 and the RERA
- How the asbestos removal process fits into a demolition
- Asbestos disposal: where the waste goes
- Who does what: owner, technician, RERA company and us
- Demolitions where asbestos is common
- Why DIY asbestos removal is a bad idea
- Frequently asked questions
Why asbestos must come out before a demolition starts
Demolition and asbestos do not mix: breaking a building with asbestos cement still on it would scatter fibres and turn the whole pile of rubble into contaminated waste. That is why asbestos-containing materials are identified and removed first, and only then does the demolition begin. Ley 7/2022 requires hazardous substances, especially asbestos, to be handled safely and never mixed with other waste, and selective demolition has been compulsory since 1 January 2024.
In a typical older building in Málaga the asbestos is fibre-cement: roof sheets, tanks, downpipes, flues and sometimes panels or ducts. Each item is located, listed and handed to the RERA-registered company before our machines or hand tools touch the structure.
The legal framework: Real Decreto 847/2026 and the RERA
Work involving exposure to asbestos in Spain is regulated by Real Decreto 847/2026, of 21 October, published in the BOE on 23 October 2026 and in force since late October 2026. It repealed Real Decreto 396/2006 and transposes the European directive (EU) 2023/2668. Two rules matter most for an owner:
- only companies registered in the RERA may demolish or remove asbestos-containing materials;
- they must do so under a work plan approved by the labour authority of the province where the work takes place, and notify the start of the work in advance.
In Andalusia the RERA is kept by the Junta de Andalucía, and work plans for jobs in Málaga are approved by the provincial Delegación Territorial of the labour department. Our guides on the asbestos work plan and on the RERA register explain both in plain English.
How the asbestos removal process fits into a demolition
The asbestos removal is carried out by a company registered in the RERA that works as our subcontractor; we coordinate that phase and do the rest of the demolition. The sequence is:
- Survey of the building. Every element that may contain asbestos is identified and listed, with photos.
- Work plan. The registered company prepares its plan and files it with the labour authority; once approved and the start notified, it can begin.
- Removal. The material is removed with the measures set out in the plan, wrapped and labelled.
- Asbestos disposal. The waste goes to an authorised manager as 17 06 05*, separately from all other materials.
- Demolition. Our team demolishes the building manually, mechanically or combining both, sorting materials as it goes.
- Clean-up. The remaining rubble is loaded and taken away, and the plot is left clear.
Asbestos disposal: where the waste goes
Asbestos waste in Spain is hazardous waste, coded 17 06 05* in the European List of Waste (construction materials containing asbestos). It is wrapped, labelled and delivered to an authorised waste manager, never mixed with ordinary rubble and never taken to a household recycling point. The documentation of that delivery is part of the job.
The rest of the demolition waste is sorted on site into the fractions the law asks for – wood, mineral fractions such as concrete, bricks and tiles, metals, glass, plastic and plaster – and taken to authorised facilities; you receive the delivery receipts. The town hall may require a deposit or guarantee for construction waste, returned once delivery is proven. Our guide on asbestos waste disposal in Spain covers this in detail.
| Code | Waste | How it is handled |
|---|---|---|
| 17 06 05* | Construction materials containing asbestos | Removed by the RERA-registered company, separate route |
| 17 01 07 | Mixtures of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics | Sorted and removed by us |
| 17 04 05 | Iron and steel | Separated for recycling |
| 17 02 01 | Wood | Separated on site |
Who does what: owner, technician, RERA company and us
An asbestos removal as part of a demolition involves several parties, and it helps to know who is responsible for what:
- The owner (promotor) commissions the work and, with their technician, handles the town hall procedure – declaración responsable or licencia.
- The técnico competente drafts and signs the demolition documentation, including the safety study and the waste management study.
- The RERA-registered company prepares and files its asbestos work plan and removes the material.
- We coordinate the asbestos phase, carry out the demolition, prepare the waste management plan for the rubble and remove it.
Because several companies work on site, the promotor appoints a health and safety coordinator during the works under Real Decreto 1627/1997. Our post on who is legally required to remove asbestos in Spain looks at the owner's side of this.
Demolitions where asbestos is common
We see asbestos cement most often when demolishing old country houses and fincas, garages and annexes, farm buildings, small warehouses and workshops, and buildings with old flat-roof installations. If the job is a whole house or villa, our sister site's page on building demolition describes the demolition side; for industrial buildings see asbestos in warehouses, and for roofs alone, uralita roof removal.
The demolition itself – by hand, with machinery or combined – is our work, as is the removal of rubble and the clean-up of the plot. We do not draft projects or obtain licences; we work with the documentation of your technician and coordinate dates with them.
Why DIY asbestos removal is a bad idea
Removing asbestos yourself is not only legally reserved to registered companies; it also creates hazardous waste that no ordinary skip or recycling point will accept. Owners who break sheets to save time often end up paying more to have the contaminated rubble dealt with later. The post Can I remove asbestos myself in Spain? compares DIY with a registered company, and the contractor checklist tells you what to ask whoever you hire.
For a first idea of the cost factors, see our sister site's page on asbestos removal costs; to start, send us photos via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Must asbestos be removed before demolishing a building?
Yes. Asbestos-containing materials are removed first by a RERA-registered company, so that the rest of the rubble is not contaminated and can be sorted normally.
Which regulation applies to asbestos work in Spain now?
Real Decreto 847/2026, of 21 October, in force since late October 2026. It replaced Real Decreto 396/2006.
What is the RERA?
The Registro de Empresas con Riesgo por Amianto, the register of companies allowed to carry out work with asbestos. In Andalusia it is kept by the Junta de Andalucía.
Who approves the work plan?
The labour authority of the province where the work is done – for Málaga, the provincial Delegación Territorial of the regional labour department.
What is the waste code for asbestos cement?
17 06 05*, construction materials containing asbestos – a hazardous waste in the European List of Waste.
Can asbestos go in the same skip as the rubble?
No. Asbestos waste must never be mixed with other waste; it is wrapped and delivered separately to an authorised manager.
Do you remove the asbestos yourselves?
No. The removal is done by a RERA-registered company working as our subcontractor; we coordinate it and carry out the demolition.
Who appoints the health and safety coordinator?
The promotor, normally the owner, when several companies take part in the works – usually on the advice of their technician.
Does a demolition with asbestos need a licence?
The owner's technician checks with the town hall. In Andalusia demolition generally goes by declaración responsable, except protected buildings and settings, which need a licencia.
What documents do I get at the end?
The delivery receipts for the waste taken to authorised facilities, and photos of the phases of the work.
Can asbestos removal and demolition be done on consecutive days?
Often the demolition can start soon after the asbestos phase ends, but the dates depend on the work plan and its approval.