Which properties should be checked?

In order to avoid dangers, it is advisable to check building sites in endangered areas at an early stage before construction begins.
An application for an explosive ordnance inspection is recommended.
According to § 16 Paragraph 1 Sentence 2 of the Building Regulations for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (BauO NRW), a building site must be suitable for building structures. This also includes the absence of explosive ordnance on the property. Of course, the absence of explosive ordnance is only relevant if work is to be carried out in the ground. The obligation under building law to clarify whether explosive ordnance is specifically suspected on a property to be built on and, if necessary, to initiate measures to dispel this suspicion is the sole responsibility of the building owner.

Where should the application be submitted?

Applications for the inspection of properties for possible explosive ordnance must be submitted by the owner or their representatives via the local regulatory authorities. In order to avoid construction delays and, if necessary, construction closures, the applications should be submitted at an early stage - i.e. at least six months before construction begins.

Explanation of application for explosive ordnance investigation - safety detection
The application for explosive ordnance investigation is always sent together with the results of the aerial photo evaluation.
If the application for explosive ordnance investigation is no longer available, it can be requested again by e-mail from the local regulatory authority.

• When applying for security detection, the "Security detection" box must be ticked
• the number of boreholes, the specialist company/contact person on site and the telephone number of the contact person must be stated.
• The explosive ordnance disposal service or a contracted company will carry out the detection without prior appointment (if the detection cannot be carried out due to the absence of boreholes, the costs will be charged to the owner).
• The proposed date for the detection is the date on which the drilling of the boreholes is definitely completed.
• On the second page of the application, the listed points must be answered in full with "yes" or "no".

What must the application for an explosive ordnance survey contain?

The application must be completed in full. The following documents must also be enclosed:

• the exact location and current use of the property
• a site plan showing exactly where the planned building is to be located on the property (addition: with/without basement)
• Information on any existing findings of explosive ordnance (witnesses, finds on neighboring properties)
• a declaration as to whether the property is owned by the federal government, including former properties if applicable
• an access permit from the owner for the directly affected property and, if applicable, also for neighboring properties
• an overview of supply lines, if exploratory measures are required (the plans are available from the respective utility companies, such as the gas or waterworks, the electricity company or Telekom. They can be submitted later if necessary).
  
  

Documents required for the application for security detections:

• Application for explosive ordnance investigation from a security directorate
• Permission to enter/line clearance
• The application must be submitted by the owner or representative via the local regulatory authority.

Who bears the costs of explosive ordnance disposal and preparatory measures?

The costs for preparatory and, if necessary, recultivation measures are borne by the building owner as the landowner and thus the "condition disturber" in accordance with the Ordnungsbehördengesetz.
Preparatory measures include, among other things

• Free access for excavators/drilling equipment
• Making the detection area accessible (removing vegetation/shrubs/trees)
• Ferromagnetic interference fields in the area of the detection area including an overlap area of:
  at least 5 meters for a geophysical survey
  at least 10 meters in the case of a suspected unexploded bomb (fences, vehicles, construction site facilities)
• Determine changes in the profile of the site since the end of the war (fillings, embankments) and remove if necessary
• Expose/unseal/flocculate the surface
• Clearance of the area from all types of use
• Survey the suspected point(s)
• Determine the course of all pipelines (if necessary by creating search trenches/pre-excavations) Show bindingly
• If pipes are located within the radii of the suspected point(s), they must be visibly exposed by suitable means (cross-cutting, opening up, etc.).
• Excavation (creation of vertical cavities)
• Insertion of exploratory boreholes, according to a drilling grid recommended by the KBD with a maximum diameter of 120 mm, which may have to be cased with PVC boreholes (inner diameter 60 mm) depending on the ground conditions
• Registration for inspection, from which point in time the KBD can inspect
• Re-establishment of the areas after inspection by the KBD

On previously developed land in city centers or land that has been filled in the meantime, probing is often not possible due to the high iron content in the soil. It may then be necessary - at the owner's expense - to drill test holes or to excavate the backfilled area down to the natural soil.

Result of the aerial photo evaluation - No suspicion
Aerial photos from the years 1839-1945 and other historical documents provide no evidence of the presence of explosive ordnance in the area applied for. It is therefore not necessary to check the area applied for for explosive ordnance.

If earthworks involving significant mechanical loads such as pile driving, pile foundations, etc. are carried out, a safety inspection is required. shoring work, etc., safety detection is recommended.

Carrying out safety detection:
The exploratory boreholes are sunk by the person placing the order or the owner.

• The exploratory drillings may only be carried out using an auger and not by percussion
• Drill bits as cutting tools and vibrating percussion devices may not be used.
• If sudden unusual resistance is encountered, the borehole must be abandoned immediately and moved two meters.
• The depth of the borehole (depending on the local ground conditions) is seven meters below ground level (the ground level always refers to the time of drilling).
• Boreholes are to be cased with a plastic pipe (free of ferrous metals) (inner diameter min. 60 mm; underside of pipe sealed with a plug to prevent soil from washing up, water in the pipe is irrelevant; pipe cut off 0.3 meters above ground level)
• The completion of the boreholes must be notified to the regulatory authority at least three working days in advance by e-mail using the "Application for explosive ordnance investigation" form (all boreholes that are to be detected must be notified at the same time)
• The detection of the exploratory drillings is carried out by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service or by a contractor commissioned by it.
• A drilling plan showing the location and names of all boreholes must be provided to the explosive ordnance disposal service or the contracted company for the documentation of the boreholes inspected (this must be submitted to the explosive ordnance disposal service or the contracted company prior to detection).

Procedure after the safety detection has been carried out
There may be up to four weeks between the detection and the availability of the results.
You will receive the results of the security detection from the local regulatory authority. If a suspected object is found in the requested area, an application for an explosive ordnance investigation must be submitted. In the application for an explosive ordnance investigation, please check the boxes "Verification of suspected explosive ordnance from the security detection" and "Declaration on the terrain situation".
The second page of the application must be completed in full, even if you are applying again. You will receive the result of the review of the suspicious circumstances from the security detection by the local regulatory authority.

Application for explosive ordnance investigation - security detection

Point one:
Preparatory measures:
Under preparatory measures, the date on which the creation of the boreholes was completed is indicated.

Point two:
Backfill since the end of the war:
Changes in the profile of the site since the end of the war must be identified (fillings, backfills) and removed if necessary. Information on this can be obtained from the Lower Environmental Authority - Groundwater and Soil Protection (Office 56-41).

Point three:
Site contaminated area:
Any existing contaminated sites must be identified. If it is a contaminated area, a list of the substances is required, e.g. work and safety plan, health plan, etc. Information on this can be obtained from the Lower Environmental Authority. Information on this can be obtained from the Lower Environmental Authority - Groundwater and Soil Protection (Office 56-41).

Point four:
Area is a federal property (also former):
In the case of work carried out on behalf of the federal government, the cost burden falls on the federal government or its legal successors.
An administrative agreement is required. The local regulatory authority requires the following information:
- Billing address
- Contact person
This information is forwarded to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service. The latter will then get in touch with the specified contact person.

Point five:
Suspected archaeological site:
Can be obtained from the LVR- Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege im Rheinland, Overath branch office.