Commercial Premises Restoration and Decommissioning in Alberta

1. Build a clause-cited scope register

Collect the lease, amendments, work letters, approved plans, permits, landlord approvals, condition reports and prior alteration records. List every removal, repair, replacement, cleaning, restoration and handover obligation with its source clause.

Do not rely on a generic 'base building' or 'original condition' label without defining the actual reference state, exceptions and later landlord-approved changes.

• Source clause
• Reference condition
• Improvement
• Fixture
• Equipment
• Repair
• Evidence

2. Inventory property, fixtures and operating assets

Map landlord property, tenant improvements, trade fixtures, signs, furniture, racking, machinery, tanks, hoists, kitchen or medical equipment, cabling, security devices, keys and records. Identify ownership, financing, liens and removal responsibility for legal review.

An item can be physically removable without being legally available for removal. Conversely, leaving equipment behind does not automatically transfer title or eliminate disposal responsibility.

3. Investigate hazardous materials before disturbance

Review building age, hazardous-material surveys, asbestos, lead, mercury, PCBs, refrigerants, chemicals, mould, tanks and process residues with qualified professionals before demolition or intrusive work.

Alberta's OHS Code requires asbestos controls for alteration, renovation and demolition. A visual inspection or absence of a prior report is not clearance to disturb suspect materials.

4. Confirm permits and professional design

Define demolition, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, fire-alarm, sprinkler, accessibility and exterior work. Confirm current municipal planning, building and trade-permit requirements and required professional involvement.

Calgary and Edmonton identify commercial alterations, tenant improvements and demolition as work that can require approvals. Landlord approval does not authorize unpermitted work.

5. Control environmental and waste streams

Inventory chemicals, oils, fuels, refrigerants, batteries, lamps, process liquids, contaminated materials and other wastes. Use qualified carriers and receiving facilities and retain manifests, receipts and certificates where applicable.

Alberta regulates hazardous waste and hazardous recyclables through environmental legislation and tracking requirements. Ordinary garbage disposal is not a safe assumption for an unidentified material.

6. Plan utilities, data and operational shutdown

Schedule equipment shutdown, product and inventory removal, gas, electrical, water, compressed air, drains, fire protection, alarms, telecom, data, access control and utility readings. Preserve required business, safety and environmental records.

Disconnecting equipment can affect building systems and neighbouring occupants. Use qualified contractors and written isolation or commissioning evidence appropriate to the work.

7. Document work, deficiencies and acceptance

Maintain approved scope, permits, contractor qualifications, safety documents, change orders, photographs, test results, inspection records, waste evidence, warranties, as-builts and deficiency logs. Record who reviewed each completion item.

A contractor invoice is not the same as municipal acceptance, professional certification, landlord acceptance or legal release. Label each record by its actual purpose.

8. Complete handover without overstating closure

Reconcile keys, access devices, signs, meters, cleanliness, remaining property, damage, open permits, deficiencies, holdbacks and post-handover work in a dated condition and possession record.

Commercially can coordinate property access, relocation and re-leasing strategy. It does not define the legal restoration standard, manage construction, certify hazardous-material or environmental closure, or provide engineering, accounting or tax advice.