On site analysis: contaminated land

The 80 Charlotte Street project in Fitzrovia is subject to a planning condition that requires a thorough and effective ground investigation to be carried out in line with the approved Remediation Method Statement.

As such Multiplex has worked very closely with Arup, the ground contamination consultants, to develop a method that meets the requirements of the London Borough of Camden and the Environment Agency, whilst also looking to implement solutions in the area of testing and analysis.

To assist in the testing of soil for contaminants, the QROS QED hydrocarbon analyser is being utilised to inform the Multiplex team when further soil removal may be necessary. It provides real-time results on two key factors, but of particular importance is diesel contamination. On-site testing is not used enough within the construction industry and samples are often sent away to certified laboratories for review before the results are sent back to the site to make informed decisions. The QED methodology is approved and promoted by the Environment Agency and allows for greater speed and accuracy of results in the analysis of potentially contaminated ground.

By utilising real-time, on-site technology the 80 Charlotte Street team is able to:

• reduce the amount of soil unnecessarily removed from the project and sent to hazardous landfill
• reduce the amount of vehicles leaving site, helping with carbon footprint and community nuisance
• increase the amount of soil that can be kept on site and reused
• increase the speed at which results are obtained, maintaining programme and avoiding delays
• improve the ability to provide a clean, remediated site for future use

For more information about the system, click the link below.