EMS Geotech were commissioned undertake a Phase 2 Environmental Site investigation at a site in Gloucestershire by a local business.

The site had formerly been a warehouse, offices and haulage depot that was badly damaged by a fire in 2015.  Several building were still located on site which were due to be demolished prior to development,

It was proposed to develop the site into a storage container site, keeping some of the existing concrete hardstanding.

A Phase 1 investigation had been undertaken by a different company prior to EMS Geotech’s involvement, the report was passed onto us, so we were able to plan the intrusive Phase 2 Site investigation on the report’s findings.  

The main aim of our investigation was to determine the depths of Made Ground beneath the site and to obtain soil samples for chemical analysis, particularly in relation to any chemicals that were used to extinguish the fire.  

The intrusive investigation comprised seven boreholes using windowless sample techniques to investigate the depth of Made Ground underlying the site and to facilitate the installation of three gas and groundwater standpipes.  Groundwater and gas monitoring standpipes were subsequently subjected to three rounds of weekly monitoring undertaken by and EMS Technician.

Ten trial pits were broken out and excavated to expose a greater area of soils, for logging purposes, obtaining samples for analysis and providing a more reliable record of the ground conditions encountered.  On completion of the excavations, pits were backfilled with arisings and compacted down.

The boreholes and trial pits were logged by one of EMS’s Geo-Environmental Engineers and samples were taken and subsequently sent to various laboratories for analysis.  

The results of the analysis showed that no elevated levels of contaminants were found within the samples and no ground gas was encountered during several monitoring rounds.  A revised conceptual site model was produced using the compiled information from the Phase 2 investigation and the site was deemed to be very low risk of any contamination and further investigation was not deemed necessary.

The site has since been development into its planned use.