1976 – 2026 · Golden Jubilee
Demolition is as old as building, and so are its standards. Since 1976 the Institute has carried that discipline forward — assessing the engineers who do the highest-risk work in construction, and speaking for them.
Demolition has been a key construction practice since the Walls of Jericho came tumbling down around 1500 BC — the story is in our logo. Today the Institute represents a rapidly-modernising industry, and defends the standards that hold it together.
Demolition faces a changing world of technological innovation and a workplace revolution. The Institute intends to be the first port of call for young talent looking to tap into decades of members' experience — and a route into a fascinating industry.
Members should play their part in a sustainable life cycle for the UK's buildings, with recycling and re-use at the core of it. Demolition belongs at the vanguard of innovation and professionalism, not at the end of a building's life.
Standing
The Institute’s standing does not rest on its own say-so. It is a Professional Affiliate of the Engineering Council, and its Full Members and Fellows are recognised by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme through the Professionally Qualified Person card — the same card held by competency-assessed members of the other construction bodies.
The Institute cannot recommend or guide on demolition methods, nor accept liability for individual member viewpoints. What it can do — and does — is act as a hub of innovation and knowledge sharing: a mandatory CPD programme, seminars, and libraries where new techniques are shared and argued over.
Fifty years
Peter A Griffiths Hon FIDE takes the first Presidency, 1976–1978.
The Institute's first woman President, 1994–1996.
2000–2002 — one of twenty-six Presidents across the Institute's fifty years.
A free place on the Institute's Foundation Degree in Demolition Management, open to members and non-members alike.
The Institute's current President, following Vernon W Watson FIDE.
Fifty years, marked at the Anniversary Gala Ball on 19 September 2026.
Governance
The Institute works in collaboration with its members rather than by decree. Members are encouraged to participate, share knowledge and open doors for one another — and are obliged to adhere to the Rules and Code of Conduct.
| President, Vice President and Treasurer | Lead the Institute, reporting to the Board of Trustees. |
|---|---|
| Council of Management | Combines talent and experience in demolition engineering and makes it generally available. Elected, each member serving a two-year term. Meets five times a year. |
| Membership Committee | Considers every application and transfer. Meets four times a year; applications are due four weeks ahead of a meeting. |
| Board of Trustees | Holds the Institute to its governance obligations. |
| National Secretary and staff | Administer the Institute day to day, from the office in Rochester, Kent. |
Beyond the profession
Answers from published Institute information
Published Institute information only. It cannot assess a live project or approve a method.
