AGS Magazine - December 2020 / January 2021

December 2020 / January 2021

CONTAMINATION IN GROUND INVESTIGATION AGS Safety Working Group sets about reviewing guidance on dealing with contamination during a ground investigation

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE UPDATE

AGS WEBINARS: REVIEWS AND PREVIEWS

SILC PERSPECTIVE ON LCRM GUIDANCE

Griffiths and Armour provide information on PI Insurance going forward

Full information about previous AGS Webinars and those yet to come

New guidance with emphasis on high quality assessments by competent professionals

ABOUT THE AGS

Chair’s Foreword So just when there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel - we enter Lockdown 3.0. However, upon speaking to a number of AGS members, for the majority, it is ‘business as usual’. All of the good work which had previously been put into COVID risk assessments and COVID procedures and safety measures has ensured a smooth transition into the next period. As in the last lockdown, our industry continues to fare well compared to most others and workload is high with a forward order book, so fingers crossed for this to continue.

The AGS will continue to review the situation, but in the meantime will shortly publish an Interim Strategic Plan which temporarily replaces the Business and Marketing Plans. The current strategy is that we will continue to hold virtual meetings for the Executive and Working Groups.

We will also continue to deliver high quality, informative and industry related webinars at least until June. These will be a mix of free to attend and paid for events to ensure that we continue to deliver valuable benefits to our members and the wider industry. This includes a stronger (active and financial) involvement in the Ground Forum initiative on Diversity and Inclusivity and more details will follow.

At the start of a new year, 2

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I would like to encourage any individuals of member companies who would like to take an active part in any of our Working Groups to please contact ags@ags.org.uk and we will put you in touch with the relevant Working Group Leader. We are proud of the work carried out by these groups and it really does help the industry and members as well as providing personal development and satisfaction.

I am pleased to announce and welcome Will Fardon of i2 Analytical as the new Laboratories Working Group Leader and he will definitely be keen to hear from potential new members.

We are always on the lookout for additional, informative content for the magazine, so if you have a case study or technical article that you think the wider geotechnical and geoenvironmental public would find beneficial, please do get in touch.

We would be interested in your feedback on the magazine and our future plans. Please contact ags@ags.org.uk if you have any comments.

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) is a non-profit making trade association established to improve the profile and quality of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. The membership comprises UK organisations and individuals having a common interest in the business of ground investigation, geotechnics, geoenvironmental engineering, engineering geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and other related disciplines.

EDITORIAL BOARD Julian Lovell, AGS Chair Caroline Kratz, Forum Court Associates (FCA) Katie Kennedy, FCA Calum Spires, Equipe Group Neil Parry, GEL David Entwisle, BGS Jim Poole, Coffey Chris Vincett, Hydrock Vivien Dent, RSK Adam Latimer, Ian Farmer Associates Dimitris Xirouchakis, Structural Soils Emma Anderson, HaskoningDHV UK Jonathan Gammon, Geotechnical Observations EDITORIAL STORY If you have a news story or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about, please contact the AGS on 020 8658 8212 or ags@ags.org.uk. Please note that articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. The AGS is under no obligation to feature articles or events received.

CONTACT US AGS Forum Court, Office 205 Devonshire House Business Centre, 29-31 Elmfield Road Bromley, Kent, BR1 1LT  ags@ags.org.uk

Julian Lovell AGS Chair

 020 8658 8212  Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists  @agsgeotech www.ags.org.uk

Inside this month’s issue

FEATURE PAGE 20



Professional Indemnity Insurance Update

COVER STORY PAGE 16  AGS Safety Working Group sets about reviewing guidance on dealing with contamination during GI

With insurance capacity continuing to decline, it is more important than ever to understand what is driving insurers’ current thinking and what firms can do to protect their position. Griffiths and Armour provide AGS Magazine with more information.

MORE INSIDE

AGS UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE 8  Reviews of the recent AGSi and AGS 4.1 webinars, as well as previews of upcoming webinars

SILC PERSPECTIVE ON LCRM GUIDANCE PAGE 18 

Q & A: DAVID HUTCHINSON PAGE 26 

PAGE 24 

Contaminated Land Guide New document from AGS

The AGS Magazine conducts a Q & A with David Hutchinson, former Network Rail Route Asset Manager



News in Short: AGS Yellow Book Contest

New guidance with emphasis on high quality assessments by competent professionals

PAGE 4

PAGE 30 

Standards Update November 2020

December 2020 / January 2021

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News in Short AGS Yellow Book Photography Competition The AGS are holding a photography competition to source a potential cover for the third edition of the UK Specification for Ground Investigation (Yellow Book).

The Yellow Book aids the general application of ground investigation work and also includes associated schedules and bills of quantities. This document is currently under review and the Third Edition is due to be published in 2021.

We are actively seeking the most creative images that reflect the industry. Ideally, the image will not contain people, however, this isn’t essential and we’re happy to consider all images of a geotechnical, ground engineering or contaminated land nature, provided that full permissions have been granted for their use.

Entry into the competition is free and the winner will receive a food hamper basket from luxury retailer, Fortnum and Mason, worth over £75.

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Three runners up will each win a bottle of Champagne.

There are no restrictions on the photography equipment used, so feel free to use a phone, computer, tablet or a traditional camera to capture your image.

All entries will be reviewed by select members of the AGS Magazine Editorial Board and the AGS Procurement of Ground Investigation Steering Group, who will decide on a shortlist and a winner. The results of the competition will be announced in the March 2021 issue of AGS Magazine.

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS The AGS are looking for highresolution jpeg images (no less than 300 dpi / over 1mb image file size) of a geotechnical, ground engineering or contaminated land nature nature. Images should be no smaller than 4200 x 3400 pixels. Please note that images in landscape orientation are preferred.

HOW TO ENTER •

Please email your image with: • A short description of what it showcases and where it was taken (up to 50 words)

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Image credit info (if applicable) • Your full name • Company name • Postal address to ags@ags.org.uk with the subject title ‘AGS Magazine: Yellow Book Photography Competition’.

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There is no limit to the number of images you enter.

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The deadline for entries is Friday 5th February 2021.

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Entry into the competition is free

used in future AGS event and marketing literature without prior notice. This may include usage across the AGS’ social media channels, inclusion in the AGS Magazine, event programmes and on the AGS website. Please note that all images used will be credited.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS •

Applicants must be aged 18 or over.

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All images must be high resolution and 300 DPI (dots per inch) / over 1mb image file size.

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Applicants must be based in the UK.

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The photographer must have full copyright of all entered images.

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All images entered may be reproduced by the AGS and

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The AGS will put forward the winning entry to ICE Publishing for use as a cover image for the Yellow Book but cannot guarantee that it will be used.

The top three AGS publications in the last month 1. Comment on the approach for classifying sites into green, yellow or red 2. Guidance on dealing with contamination during a ground investigation 3. AGS Guide to Ground Investigation Reports To download the publications for free; click here.

UKAS Inspection Bodies Surveying Contaminated Land for Asbestos The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is establishing a pilot programme for the development of accreditation for ‘ISO 17020:2012 for the surveying of contaminated land for the presence of asbestos’. Essentially, it is currently possible that asbestos surveys could be being carried out by persons without the relevant training, experience, competency or accreditation, such as surveyors conversant with management, refurbishment or demolition of buildings, not contaminated land professionals.

UKAS has held discussions with a number of parties regarding accreditation including representatives of the AGS, the National Brownfield Forum and Soil and Groundwater Technology Association (SAGTA). These parties have raised considerable concerns principally because the proposals fail to reflect the contaminated land investigation process.

To date, UKAS has not addressed these concerns to the satisfaction of the AGS Contaminated Land Working Group, and we are now asking for the feedback of AGS members by taking part in the poll below.

If you wish to provide further comments please do so. The results of this poll will be shared with UKAS. The poll will close on 15th January 2021. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ r/3CDNTDN

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News in Short Brownfield Awards 2020 The AGS would like to congratulate its members who won awards at the recent Brownfield Awards 2020, which took place virtually on Thursday 19th November 2020.

The Brownfield Awards, which were sponsored by the AGS, is dedicated to recognising best practice in the brownfield, regeneration and contaminated land industry.

Best Project Preparatory Work Winner: Dalgety Bay Radiological Remediation Scheme, Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland by AECOM Best Scientific/Technical/ Digital Advance Winner: BGS Brownfield Ground Risk Calculator by British Geological Survey Best Public Engagement and Participation Winner: Buchanan and St Ambrose High School Campus Independent Review, Coatbridge, Scotland by

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Scottish Government, Fife Council and RSK Environment Best Project Closure / Verification Winner: Innovative Use of Mass Discharge Remedial Targets UK by AECOM Best Re-use of Materials Winner: Mersey Gateway by RSK, RemedX, Merseylink CCJV (Kier Infrastructure & Overseas Ltd, Samsung C&T Corporation and FCC Construction), The Coal Authority, CE Geochem, AECOM, Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (Halton Borough Council)

Best International Project Limerick Gasworks Remediation, Limerick, Ireland

by WSP Best Infrastructure Project Mersey Gateway, The Mersey Gateway, Halton Borough, Northwest England by RSK, RemedX, Merseylink CCJV (Kier Infrastructure & Overseas Ltd, Samsung C&T Corporation and FCC Construction), The Coal Authority, CE Geochem, AECOM, Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (Halton Borough Council) Best Young Brownfield Professional Sarah Hey, Hydrock

New AGS Members in 2020

Ltd and Jackson Drilling. The new affiliate organisation is Worldsensing and the new practitioner member is James Harrison.

The AGS is pleased to announce that in 2020, five member organisations, one affiliate organisation and one practitioner member were accepted by the Membership Panel and approved by the Executive. Fourteen students and graduates were also accepted as new AGS members. The new member organisations are Story Contracting Ltd, Ardmore Point Ltd, Cognition Land and Water Ltd, G7 Geotech

AGS Membership is open to geotechnical and geoenvironmental companies who employ specialist who can provide competent services and affiliate companies who provide support services and supplies to the members. Students and Graduates can also become members of the AGS. Full details of membership criteria can be found at http:// www.ags.org.uk/about/become-a-member/ Environmental

Ground Engineering Awards 2020 On Wednesday 4 November, the winners of the 2020 Ground Engineering Awards were revealed in front of the industry’s top clients, consultants, contractors and geotechnical experts in a virtual ceremony.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARD Winner: Equipe Training and Aecom: LTC GI Audits and Inspections

CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

RISING STAR AWARD

Winner: Mott MacDonald

Winner: Ben Weller: Arup

CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

Highly commended: Jonny Neville: Mott MacDonald

Winner: Structural Soils EDITOR’S AWARD

It was a highly successful event for both the publication and AGS members, who came away with a multitude of awards. Congratulations to them all.

Winner: BSI, Aecom, Arup, Blackwell, Cantab Consulting, D Norbury, CSSL, Geofirma, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald and Wood: The UK team for the first European earthworks standard BS EN 16907

AWARD FOR EQUIPMENT INNOVATION

GROUND INVESTIGATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Winner: Equipe Training: Rhino Corebox

Winner: Structural Soils working with Highways England and Aecom: A303 Phase 6 and Phase 7 advanced

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD Winner: Costain: Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche JV, Tideway, Chambers Wharf

GROUND INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR Winner: Structural Soils

UK GEOTECHNICAL TEAM OF THE YEAR Winner: SCS Design House comprising Arup, Typsa and Strabag: HS2 MWCC S1/S2 UK PROJECTS WITH A GEOTECHNICAL VALUE OF BETWEEN £0.5M AND £1M Highly commended: Aecom: Crystal Palace Subway - East Courtyard retaining walls UK PROJECT WITH A VALUE BETWEEN £1M AND £3M Highly commended: Ramboll UK: Mountain Ash Southern Cross Valley Link

Highly commended: Dunelm Geotechnical and

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AG S W E BI NAR

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

On 4 November 2020, AGS held the first of what is expected to be a series of webinars and seminars under the title “Critical Links in Ground Engineering”.

The subject of the November Webinar was Instrumentation and Monitoring (I&M), with a future Webinar expected to be about Laboratory Testing.

The Webinar lasted for four hours, including a short break in proceedings, with an audience which comprised nearly 70% consultants and I&M specialists, about 20% contractors, and just over 10% client organisations and academics.

The Webinar was introduced by Julian Lovell, Chair of AGS, who also - in his capacity as Managing Director of the Equipe Group contributed to proceedings with a concluding presentation.

Jonathan Gammon, as Leader of AGS’s I&M Working Group and Non-Executive Director / Advisor at Geotechnical Observations Limited, gave the first presentation, describing the scope and types of I&M and identifying the role of I&M as a critical link in Ground Engineering.

Philip Child, Senior Consultant, Geotechnical Information Management, at Bentley Systems followed with a presentation entitled “Data Overhead, Deliverable, or Opportunity” which tackled the challenging issue of I&M data 8

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management and proposed an alternative way of thinking about data. Attention was given to the specifics of working with monitoring data and the possibilities it provides.

Presenting live from New Zealand in the middle of the night there, Paul Burton, Executive Leader at Geotechnics (New Zealand) described the I&M situation in Australasia, providing a personal perspective on the challenges of I&M work in this region and introducing a valuable global dimension to proceedings.

Andrew Ridley, Managing Director of Geotechnical Observations Limited, then tackled the subject of international standards for geotechnical monitoring, tracing in particular their development and content from 2010 to the present day. Standards currently in preparation, as well as those anticipated in the future, were discussed, as were Technical Committees that have been formed to address I&M. Julian Lovell’s concluding presentation was

then delivered, addressing the UK’s strategy to develop training for installation and monitoring technicians which dovetails in with the development of Vocational Qualifications and compliance with the Standards. Wider issues of education, training and qualifications were also included in this presentation.

Opportunities were given to question the presenters during the Webinar. Matters raised during the Q&A sessions included: responsibility for data interpretation; shortcomings of some Cloud platforms; the ability of AGS Format to accommodate the whole range of instruments and monitoring techniques now available; appropriate training of site staff and the skills set required; data formats developed in other countries in other languages; global growth of I&M and challenges in securing rapid delivery of instruments; the ability to access I&M data collected by others, with reference to national I&M databases available to all; liabilities associated with relying on I&M data provided by others; the specification of correction methods for instruments such as inclinometers; the durability of instruments and increased demands on their longevity.

The work of AGS on matters of relevance to I&M, including the revision of the UK’s “Yellow Book”, was described by Julian as he brought the Webinar to a close.

encouraging to find that it was rated overall at just over four stars out of five and 90% of the audience found it to be the correct length. All agreed that they had gained new knowledge applicable to their work and a four-and-a-half stars out of five rating was given to attending future AGS webinars and recommending these Webinars to others. Very helpful suggestions for the improvement of future Webinars and for future Webinar topics were also provided and have already received attention from AGS’s Executive.

The Critical Links in Ground Engineering webinar recording is now available for view on the AGS website by clicking HERE. This webinar is three hours long and is available at the reduced AGS member rate of £72, or the nonmember rate of £108. All prices include VAT. We’d like to extend our thanks to our brilliant line-up of presenters who made this event possible; Jonathan Gammon, Phil Childs, Paul Burton, Dr Andrew Ridley and Julian Lovellell.

Thank you also to our five webinar sponsors; Geotechnical Observations, Geosense, Measurand, RST Instruments and Senceive.

Webinar Sponsors

Additional Polls identified that just under 20% of attendees had a Civil Engineering professional qualification and almost 60% had a Geology professional qualification. Countries represented stretched around the Globe from South America to New Zealand, so this was truly an international event.

Valuable feedback was received after the Webinar. This was the first AGS Webinar for which payment was required. On the day it was also competing for attention with the GE Awards, commencing immediately after the end of the Webinar, and the BGA AGM and Technical Presentation that evening. So, it was very

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On 25th November 2020, the AGS Data Management Working Group delivered the first of two webinars.

This webinar was entitled Exchange of Ground Model and Interpreted Data - Introducing AGSi. The event, which was generously sponsored

by Jacobs, marked the official launch of AGSi, which has been developed by the AGS Data Management Working Group.

Members of the AGSi sub-working group presented on the new exchange format released as beta during the webinar. Event presenters included Jérôme Chamfray (Chief Geo-Digital Engineer at Jacobs), Neil Chadwick (Independent Consultant & Digital Geotechnical Specialist), David Farmer (Geotechnical Engineer at Arup), Osvaldas Tylenis (Senior Software Engineer at Bentley Systems), Tony Daly (Managing Director at Amageo) and Julian Lovell, (Managing Director, Equipe Group and AGS Chair).

The virtual event was attended by delegates from around the world, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, India, South Africa, Australia, Russia, Malaysia and Europe.

Over 650 delegates registered for the free webinar, which was attended by specialists from various backgrounds including ground specialists, data scientists and software developers.

AGSi is a new format which has been created for anyone involved in the construction or sharing of ground models, whether they be geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological or geo-environmental, or as a solution for anyone who has found themselves looking for: •

An industry standard non-proprietary method for transferring a ground model and/or interpreted geotechnical parameters 10

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to another organisation.

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A way of importing your ground model into a BIM model that does not involve lots of reprocessing or data loss.

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A common data format for ground information that your analysis software can understand, making automation of design workflows much easier.

The AGSi documentation is now live and can be accessed via the AGS website, under AGS Data Format.

The AGSi sub-working group is looking for volunteers to contribute further in the development of the format so if you are a software developer, ground specialist with some coding experience or interested to learn more please reach out using the AGSi documentation site or by emailing ags@ags.org. uk.

If you missed this webinar, the recording is now live and available for free view on the AGS website which can be viewed HERE. Alternatively, it is available on the AGS’ Vimeo channel HERE.

Webinar Sponsors

The second webinar delivered by the AGS Data Format Working Group marked the official launch of AGS 4.1. Sponsored by Datgel and Geotechnical Engineering, the webinar, entitled Striding into the Future with AGS 4.1, took place on Tuesday 8th December in front of a live audience including consultants, clients, ground investigation contractors and software vendors.

Over 520 delegates registered to attend the event, which was viewed across the world in countries including United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy and Estonia.

Event presenters included Jackie Bland (IT and Data Manager at Geotechnics and AGS Data Management Working Group Leader), Mark Bevan (Associate Director, Data Management

Team Leader at Structural Soils), Paul Chaplin (Data Manager, Ground & Water at WSP UK Ltd), Leon Warrington (Principal Hydrogeologist at Hydrock Consultants), Romain Arnould (Global Product Owner Digital Applications at Fugro), Peter Hepton (Principal Geotechnical Engineer and Ground Investigation Engineering Manager at SOCOTEC UK), Phil Child (Senior Consultant, Geotechnical Information Management at Bentley Systems) and Julian Lovell, (Managing Director, Equipe Group and AGS Chair).

After a successful webinar on 8th December 2020, AGS 4.1 is now available free of charge ď Ž December 2020 / January 2021

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for download from www.ags.org.uk/dataformat. The original AGS 4.0 document has been completely reviewed and AGS 4.1 represents a substantial update to the Data Dictionary including significant modifications to 14 existing groups and more importantly adding 24 new groups and 788 headings to introduce the following new subjects: •

Major improvements for handling geoenvironmental data and environmental containers

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Advanced laboratory testing

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Drillers descriptions

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Field geohydraulic testing

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Wireline geophysics

To support the release of AGS 4.1, we have launched a new website found at www.ags.org. uk/data-format to facilitate: •

improved discussion board interaction

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published a road map for the future of the AGS Data Format

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added a new searchable change log for the updates to AGS 4.1

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improved search and download facilities for groups and headings, abbreviations, units and data types

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easier route to proposed new headings, abbreviations, units and data types

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easy access to previous versions of the

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format for reference purposes We are immensely proud of the enormous effort the group has put into both AGSi and AGS 4.1 this year and would like to thank each member of the Data Management Working Group for their dedication to the industry, not forgetting our thanks also to their companies for the work-time donated to the AGS in 2020.

The group will be having a well-earned rest over Christmas and the New Year before moving on to plans for the postponed Data Conference now happening on 22nd September 2021 at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.

If you missed this webinar, the recording is now live and available for free view on the AGS website which can be viewed HERE. Alternatively, it is available on the AGS’ Vimeo channel HERE.

Webinar Sponsors

WITH WORLD CLASS ONLINE GEOTECHNICAL TRAINING FROM EQUIPE Equipe are delighted to announce that a range of our geotechnical and health and safety courses can now be delivered as trainer-led online distance-learning during the COVID-19 enforced shutdown. This means you can stay up-to-date with your training from the comfort of your own home/office.

The courses will still be delivered live by our training team and will be fully interactive, but some courses will be split into modules that will be delivered across multiple days.

Online Health and Safety Courses

Delivered in partnership with RPA Safety Services & EB Safety Solutions

IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites - £495 + VAT

Learn in detail how to keep yourself and your on-site operatives safe in the field - industry SSSTS equivalent eligible for CITB Levy

MARGI - Managing & working with Asbestos Risk in Ground Investigation - £225 + VAT

Comprehensive guidance to deal with asbestos in a GI environment, including CAR 2012

Online Geotechnical Courses Delivered in partnership with Plough Geotechnical

Geotechnical Foundation Design - £250 + VAT

Comprehensive overview for geotechnical practitioners and engineers

Earthworks Design and Construction - £250 + VAT

A general overview of materials sourcing / selection for design & construction

Slope Stability Design - £250 + VAT

Comprehensive overview for geotechnical practitioners and engineers

Classroom-Based Courses

IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services - £175 + VAT

In accordance with the requirements and guidance set out within HSG47

Prof. David Norbury’s Soil Description Workshop - £295 + VAT

Providing a detailed approach to soil description practices and techniques

Prof. David Norbury’s Rock Description Workshop - £295 + VAT

Providing a detailed approach to rock description practices and techniques

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Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them is a 2021 webinar series organised by the AGS Loss Prevention Working Group.

Basic Contractual Risk Mitigation

Chaired by Jo Strange, Technical Director at CLG, the event will provide delegates with an introduction of the guidance and advice provided by the Loss Prevention Working Group, with particular attention being given to recent developments in the field with a focus on basic contractual risk mitigation and limiting liabilities.

Speakers include:

This webinar series will provides in depth and practical advice on some particular aspects of contractual risk and how to avoid the pitfalls and better manage your potential liabilities.

The two events are useful for all Practitioners, particularly those engaged in agreeing contractual arrangements, but also for younger members who are approaching Chartership.

Attending delegates will be encouraged to raise any issues they may have which would benefit from future attention or advice from the Group.

There are two events in the series:

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Wednesday 27th January 11am – 12:30pm •

Dr Russell Jones, Director, Golder Associates The Battle of The Forms

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Hugh Mallett, Technical Director, Buro Happold.

The Importance of Definitions When Agreeing Scope and Objectives in Engineering

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Griffiths & Armour. Speaker name and presentation title TBC.

Limiting Particular Liabilities Wednesday 3rd February 11am – 12:30pm Speakers include: •

Zita Mansi, Senior Associate, Beale & Company Reliance, Collateral Warranties and Limiting Liability

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Rachel Griffiths, Contracts Manager, Fugro Fitness for Purpose or Reasonable Skill and Care

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Joe Jackson Beyond ‘Lump Sum’ Remediation

Both webinars in the Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them webinar series are available at a reduced, bundle rate. Members of the AGS may purchase both webinars for £45 (or £25 for one) and Non-Members can purchase both webinars for £55 (or £30 for one).

Prices exclude VAT.

Sponsorship To date, over 2,100 delegates have registered to attend our five webinars and have attended from countries across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, USA, Canada and Italy, to name but a few. Our reach is truly international.

The AGS have both Diamond and Gold sponsorship packages available for this webinar series. They offer an affordable way to reach a worldwide audience via the AGS Magazine, our database of over 4000 delegates, our social media channels and of course, during the webinar itself, (which will also be available for purchase on the AGS website post-event).

Our current packages for these webinars are detailed below: DIAMOND SPONSOR *one package available per webinar Price: £1000 (members) or £1,300 (nonmembers) • Company website link or pop-up promotion to feature during the live webinar • Large logo on sponsor slide during the webinar • Company mention during webinar opening & closing address • Logo and overview in the event program • Company Q&A feature in AGS Magazine (4,250 subscribers) • Full page advert in AGS Magazine (worth £400) • Two complementary event registrations (worth up to £180) • Company logo and overview featured on the webinar registration page • Logo featured on promotional marketing

• • • •

emails Company logo and overview on the AGS’ Twitter page (2803 followers) Company logo and overview on the AGS’ LinkedIn page (4128 followers) Company logo featured on replay email campaigns Company mention in a follow up article in AGS Magazine (4,250 subscribers)

GOLD SPONSOR *10 packages available per webinar Price: £550 (members) or £850 (non-members) •

Logo on sponsor slide during the webinar

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Logo and overview in the event program

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Company mention during webinar opening & closing address

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Logo featured in promotional marketing emails

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Company directory insert in AGS Magazine, worth £50 (4,250 subscribers)

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One complementary webinar registration (worth up to £90)

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Company logo and overview on the AGS’ Twitter page (2803 followers)

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Company logo and overview on the AGS’ LinkedIn page (4128 followers)

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Company mention in a follow up article in AGS Magazine (4,250 subscribers)

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Company overview on the AGS website

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Company logo featured on replay email campaigns

All prices exclude VAT. Packages are limited, however. Bespoke packages can be developed with companies (subject to space) to suit all budgets. Please note that the above sponsorship packages are fopr both Commercial Risk webinars.

If your company would like to sponsor both events in this Commercial Risk series, or if you’d like any further information, please contact Caroline Kratz on ags@ags.org.uk.

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Contamination during a ground investigation Article contributed by AGS Safety Working Group

T

he Safety Working Group aims to provide guidance to inform practice and aims to produce regular updates throughout the year. It was noticed by the group that a number of guidance documents on the AGS website are over 6 years old and may have been overlooked. The group has decided to put a focus on reviewing these older documents and either bring them up to date in line with current guidance or re-write them and withdraw as necessary.

The latest document to receive an overhaul was the guidance on safe intrusive investigation of contaminated land, published in 2010, which has become outdated. The Safety Working Group has developed two complementary documents published in September 2020. The documents have been written to aid intrusive investigation on contaminated sites.

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The main document ’Guidance on Dealing with Contamination During a Ground Investigation’ covers the importance of a desk study, risk assessment, what equipment and PPE may be required, what should be considered in the event of an emergency and general safe working guidelines.

The secondary document ‘Comment on the Approach for Classifying Sites into Green, Yellow or Red provides guidance on the British Drilling Association’s (BDA) approach for classifying sites based on risks from contamination.

The BDA is the UK’s trade association for the land drilling industry. In 1992 they produced a ‘Guidance for Safe Intrusive Activities on Contaminated or Potentially Contaminated Land’ which first introduced a site classification system (Green, yellow and red). This guidance was revised in 2008 and was adopted by the Site Investigation Steering Group to form part of the national adopted specifications. The

decontamination facilities or increased welfare availability.

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Training and advice for staff involved in the work so they are aware of the potential hazards.

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Keep vaccinations up to date against tetanus. Other vaccinations may be necessary dependent on the nature of the site being visited such as landfills.

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The need for health surveillance if a disease or adverse effect may be related to exposure that is likely to occur during the works.

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Thorough cleaning of equipment that has been in contact with contaminated ground prior to demobilising and between sampling.

It should be noted that the document is for guidance only and the information contained comments include notes on the application is not exhaustive. The safety implications of these categories and indicate the type of on any given site will vary controls, PPE and safety depending on the extent of equipment required. It’s It should be any known or encountered important to understand you noted that the contamination. Additional cannot classify a site without document is for references to further first undertaking a desk guidance are provided at guidance only and the study. the end of the document. information contained The AGS ‘Guidance on Dealing Both documents are is not exhaustive. The with Contamination During available to download safety implications a Ground Investigation’ free from our website on any given site highlights a number of Guidance on dealing with safety aspects that should contamination during a will vary depending be considered when working ground investigation can on the extent of any with contaminants including; known or encountered be downloaded here and Comment on the approach • Preparation of a risk contamination. for classifying sites into assessment covering green, yellow or red can be exposure to potential hazards outside of downloaded here. the standard investigation tasks including; chemical, biological and physical hazards.

If any readers of AGS Magazine have any

“

•

Consideration of additional or disposable PPE, including the potential need for

comments or thoughts for the Safety Working Group, please do send comments across to ags@ags.org.uk for consideration.

December 2020 / January 2021

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SiLC perspective on publication of Environment Agency guidance Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) Article contributed by Dr. Tom Henman, Deputy Chair, Professional & Technical Panel, PTP

A

fter a delay due to Covid-19, Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) was finally published by the Environment Agency in October 2020.

LCRM replaces CLR11 Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination as guidance and the framework for all who are involved in or responsible for managing risks from land contamination in England.

The overall approach to risk management and remediation in LCRM is the same as the withdrawn Model Procedures for the Management of Contaminated Land (CLR11).

However, two key elements are prominent in LCRM –which are particularly relevant to SiLC – relating to competence and the National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS).

LCRM makes prominent reference to the NQMS, which is a voluntary scheme set up by the National Brownfield Forum, and designed to improve confidence in the quality of land contamination reports. Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) who sign-off NQMS reports are accredited through the SiLC examination process and the SiLC Professional and Technical Panel is a strong advocate of the NQMS.

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As well as highlighting the value of applying the NQMS to reports, LCRM also stresses the importance of identifying any uncertainties and limitations of data and any possible consequences. This is a mandatory requirement for sign-off of reports registered under the NQMS. LCRM also states the expectation that those undertaking land contamination assessment and remediation will be competent at all stages.

This means having the appropriate knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications in each specific area of LCRM and the type of contamination being dealt with. For planning related assessments, LCRM also refers to the National Planning Policy Framework definition of a competent person, i.e. ‘with a recognised relevant qualification, sufficient experience in dealing with the type(s) of pollution or land instability, and membership of a relevant professional organisation’.

The SiLC Register was developed precisely with these considerations in mind, so this emphasis on competence is welcomed. Both SiLC and SQPs registered under the NQMS are referenced specifically in LCRM as appropriate qualifications to demonstrate competence.

Overall, SiLC welcomes the new guidance and its emphasis on high quality assessments by competent professionals as well as the application of the NQMS. For more information about the SiLC Register, please visit www.silc. org.uk.

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December 2020 / January 2021

19

Professional Indemnity Insurance Update

Article contributed by Sarah McNeill Associate Director Griffiths & Armour Professional Risks

A

s we commence a New Year, the availability and cost of Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance remains a key concern for many practices. It is likely that many will have experienced the consequence of market contraction throughout 2020 and unfortunately, with insurance capacity continuing to decline, 2021 is unlikely to offer any respite.

It is therefore more important than ever to understand what is driving insurers’ current thinking and what firms can do to protect their position.

Understanding the insurance market cycle Like many other financial institutions, insurers are bound by capital solvency requirements.

This means that they need to maintain a

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certain ratio of assets to liabilities to ensure they can meet their obligation to pay claims.

The amount of business an insurer can write is dependent upon the amount of capital they hold in reserve. When the supply of capital reduces, insurers will take on less business and when it is readily available, they will be able to write more. That fluctuation in the availability of capital is a key driver of the insurance market cycle, and in turn, the availability and cost of insurance.

Reports suggest that there has been an ‘over supply’ of capital in recent years. This, coupled with ever increasing commercial pressures, has contributed to a relaxation of underwriting discipline. In other words, the level of competition within the PI sector has led to behaviours such as the under-pricing of risk, taking on too much exposure and making insufficient allowance for claims.

As the effects of that manifest, the return on investment reduces and capital begins to withdraw from the market; many insurers are not able to take on the same volume of

business and some (as we are now seeing) may withdraw from certain market segments (e.g. professions or types of work) or entire classes of insurance.

As a result, problems can arise with the availability and cost of insurance and the breadth of cover provided.

Particular PI insurance challenges for Consultants in the Built Environment

one of the biggest challenges as we move through the year ahead. It is inevitable that the market will continue to contract and with that we are likely to see a much harder line taken by those Insurers that continue to offer capital within the PI sector for those professions active in the built environment. Insureds should be prepared for:

Further premium increases: By how much is very difficult to say, as this will be heavily As a specialist class of insurance with longdependent upon how low your insurers have tail liabilities, PI insurance has traditionally been prepared to cede to market pressures been more susceptible to significant changes in the past. Those insurers that have focused than the wider insurance market. Allied to purely on market share at any price will be the that, is the perceived evolution in risk profile ones that are in the greatest need of corrective of the construction / built action to their book of business. environment sector.

Some insurers simply Although the PI Although the PI market market looked very felt that correction was looked very different in early commercially impossible different in early 2017, 2017, the cracks were already and have exited the market the cracks were already beginning to show. Even altogether. Those that beginning to show. at that point, there was an remain can be a lot more acknowledged growing risk selective about which versus reward imbalance, with risks they will take on. In construction professionals being asked to some cases, insurers may not offer renewal do more, for less, under increasingly onerous terms to those exposed to higher risk areas contracts. of work or to those practices with poor claims Unaware or unconcerned with the implications, performance.

“

certain insurers continued to focus on growth in (or retention of) market share rather than long-term viability. Those behaviours were impacting the market, and it was only a matter of time before the effects of that would take hold and capital would begin to exit.

Higher excess levels: Those practices that are currently paying an excess of less than 1% of their fee income should expect to see higher excesses being imposed. For some areas of high-risk work, insurers may insist that the excess is also applied to defence costs.

Even before anyone had heard of COVID-19, it seemed inevitable that conditions within the PI insurance market were set to change. The impact of the combination of events over the last few years: the failure of major contractors; the tragedy of Grenfell and subsequent questions concerning the quality of our buildings; the regulation of construction and the resultant potential legacy risk for insurers.

Narrowing of coverage: Any one claim coverage has long been a feature of the UK PI market, although AGS members will be aware that any one claim coverage was removed some 20 years ago in relation to pollution and asbestos, with most insurers restricting coverage to aggregate limits only.

In the current marketplace, aggregation of all elements of coverage is being introduced as a way to deal with exposure to other high-

The availability of insurance capacity will be

ď Ž December 2020 / January 2021

21

engagement with your “ Early broker is vital to ensure you

have time to deal with issues that may arise throughout the renewal process.

risk areas of work. Unfortunately, for the geotechnical sector they are generally viewed as working in the part of the project cycle with the most severe risks and therefore when a hard market sets in, they are often amongst the first to be hit with the most severe coverage restrictions.

What can Insureds do to protect their position?

There is no doubt that the year ahead will be a challenging one commercially. Whilst it is not possible to control what is happening within the Insurance market, there are some steps that insureds can take to help navigate the difficult road ahead.

Early engagement with your broker is vital to ensure you have time to deal with issues that may arise throughout the renewal process. In 2021, time will be a required asset not a luxury.

If your insurer has chosen to withdraw from the geotechnical sector or is only prepared to offer aggregated coverage, the earlier you know about this the more time you have to explore alternative solutions. Even small practices should engage with their broker at least 2 months in advance to ensure there is sufficient time to navigate problems that could well arise. Much larger practices should be engaging 6-months ahead of renewal date.

Insurers are requesting far more information than ever before - be prepared to answer additional questions about your Business, particularly around activities of work that will be deemed by the insurers as ‘higher-risk’.

AGS members are more likely to be exposed to higher-risk activities by the very nature

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of the work they undertake (contaminated land, asbestos, basements, tunnels, railways to name but a few).

or indeed a general overview of the way in which your business operates. If you can tell a good story about how you run your business, you need to make sure that your insurer hears it from a source that they respect.

With the implementation of lockdown and most With the practices working from implementation of home, businesses have had At the end of the day, PI lockdown and most to rapidly adapt their working costs are going up. The practices working from practices. Insurers will want more that you understand home, businesses have to understand how risk insurers’ concerns and, more management procedures had to rapidly adapt their importantly, how effectively continue to be implemented your submission addresses working practices. in this changed environment. those concerns, the better.

How do you go about the Q+A Griffiths & Armour process, who signs off on work undertaken by Professional Risks are specialist professional more junior staff etc.? Many insurers now have indemnity brokers and risk managers. We a question set around COVID-19 and how the advise a number of professional bodies across business is dealing with the new challenges the construction industry, including ACE, and this presents. our specialist Scheme includes many AGS

“

Insurers will want to understand your members. contractual risk management procedures: Griffiths & Armour are not immune to do you use them; are you successful in changes within the PI market but our longmanaging liability by way of financial caps term approach to sustainable placement and and exclusions? do you trusted status in the insurance use industry standard The more that community mean that we documents? remain capable of securing

“ you understand

For those who have been ‘Any One Claim’ cover insurers’ concerns unfortunate enough to be notwithstanding the general and, more importantly, involved in a claim, prepare market move to ‘Aggregate’ how effectively your to be under more scrutiny. limits in your sector. submission addresses A post claim review may be If you have concerns required by insurers but even those concerns, the regarding your existing PI where it isn’t, drawing up a arrangements, we would be better. ‘lessons learned’ document can more than happy to discuss be a highly effective way to show these with you. Don’t wait until renewal that you have actively taken steps to avoid is upon you, do get in touch early and let’s running into the same issues. make sure we have sufficient time to help you Work closely with your broker to help to identify particular risks that your business presents to the market and construct a narrative around why those risks have been identified, and how they have been understood and mitigated. Do not underestimate the value of a well conceived and constructed narrative

achieve the best possible outcome.

Griffiths & Armour is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority smcneill@griffithsandarmour.com www.griffithsandarmour.com

December 2020 / January 2021

23

Standards Relating to Investigation, Assessment, Remediation and Development of Potentially Contaminated and Contaminated Sites Article contributed by Mike Smith, Vice-Chair, BSI committee EH4-Soil quality

T

his new AGS guidance document provides key information required for a proper understanding and use of Standard Guidance documents and Standard Specifications such as conventions in the use of language and the need for consistent use of terminology. It also provides information about in which Standards guidance on various topics such as investigation, reporting and remediation can be found.

BS 10175:2011 + A2:2017 Investigation of potentially contaminated sites -Code of practice is the key British Standard relating to the investigation and development of potentially, and proven, contaminated land.

However, its proper application depends on following the recommendations or requirements of a constellation of other standards documents (Guidance and Specifications) many of which are European and/or International Standards- see Figure 1. Of particular importance are BS 8576: 2013 Guidance on investigations for ground gas – Permanent gases and Volatile Organic Compounds, BS 10176:2020 Taking soil samples for determination of volatile

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organic compounds (VOCs) – Specification and the BS ISO 18400 Soil quality - Sampling series of standards. BS 5930:2015 + A1:2020 Code of practice for ground investigations is important not only in respect of geotechnical investigations but also for the guidance it provides on combined geotechnical and geoenvironmental investigations.

Over two hundred guidance documents and Specifications have been produced by the ISO and CEN Technical Committees responsible for soil quality (ISO TC190 Soil quality and CEN TC444 Environmental characterization of solid matrices) including chemical analytical methods, physical test methods, biological test methods and guidance on what to look for when investigations are required for particular purposes. In line with the scopes of BS EH4 Soil quality (the relevant BSI committee), CEN TC 444 and ISO TC190, these various documents cover not only potentially contaminated sites, but natural and near-natural (e.g. farmed) soils, and contribute to understanding interactions between soil and global warming; concepts such as the health of the soil, sustainable use of soil and ecosystem services; and the actual and potential environmental impacts of existing and new chemicals It is important to recognise that Standards are consensus documents prepared by technical experts and are subject to public consultation –

any member of the public is entitled to see and people from which it might be possible to draw comment on them, but the continuing difficulty on from time to time to represent the UK in ISO that BSI EH4 has in meeting its obligations and CEN Working Groups. in this respect is how to let Most of the members of EH4 potentially interested parties represent a nominating The formal know that draft documents body but membership is position is that exist. The formal position is also open to individuals that the representatives of the representatives with particular expertise. organisations such as AGS of organisations The AGS is always keen to are expected to inform and such as AGS are support such membership communicate with those and BSI provides guidance expected to inform they represent (so if you and communicate with on its web site on how to think you are missing out on information about draft those they represent... get involved with standards (How to get involved with standards the first route for standards). All enquiries will complaint should be to AGS, be sent to the relevant committee manager. your company’s AGS representative or other Alternatively, contact AGS via ags@ags.org. organisations to which you belong). uk or contact the Committee Manager Jessy EH4 actively seeks to broaden its membership.

Mathew (Jessy.Mathew@bsigroup.com).

The wider the membership of EH4, the Standards Relating to Investigation, greater the confidence that the standards Assessment, Remediation and Development of produced are technically sound and known Potentially Contaminated and Contaminated about by potential users from a wide variety Sites can be downloaded here. of backgrounds. It also increases the pool of

“

December 2020 / January 2021

25

Q & A with...

David Hutchinson

MA, MSc, LLB, CEng, MICE, MHKIE

Job Title: Route Asset Manager (Geotechnics) – Now retired Company: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Brief Biography: During my geotechnical career I have worked for a variety of organisations in consulting, contracting and asset management in the UK, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.

For the last 14 years of my career, up to 2017 when I retired, I worked in Network Rail, firstly for Network Rail (CTRL) as the Civil Engineering Asset Manager for the High Speed 1 railway, and then as Network Rail’s Geotechnical and Drainage Route Asset Manager for the London North Eastern and East Midlands Routes, based in York.

What or who inspired you to join the geotechnical industry?

In the second year of a general engineering degree I attended a short course on Soil

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Mechanics given by Professor Andrew Schofield which inspired me to undertake half of my final year studying Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering under Andrew, Dr Peter Wroth and others. I then joined Soil Mechanics Limited, who encouraged their graduates to attain a second degree. Imperial College was the choice for many, but I wanted to go further afield, and so studied at the University of Alberta under Professor Morgenstern, who like Andrew Schofield and Peter Wroth was a Rankine lecturer of the early 1980’s. The enthusiasm of geotechnical practitioners and academics for their subject has kept me in this industry for my whole career.

What does a typical day entail?

There hasn’t really been a “typical day”. But while working for the railway my phone was with me 24/7. (Night time calls from railway control heralding some disaster or other were not unusual – guaranteed to dramatically increase the heart rate!) First thing in the morning I always checked the weather forecast to see what

challenges nature was going to throw at me that day, and then checked my emails to see what challenges I was going to get from my colleagues!

Although retired I still check the weather forecast and emails every morning, but at night always leave my mobile phone out of earshot!

Are there any projects which you’re particularly proud to have been a part of?

Over the years I have worked on many projects, and I’m proud of them all. But I’m particularly proud of the people I have worked with, from the drillers in my earliest days supervising ground investigations, through my resident site staff on Landslip Preventive Measures works in Hong Kong, to the team working with me in York. I like my HK Government given Chinese name 夏,智信 which sounds like my surname and translates as “Mr Summer, wise and trustworthy”! But my proudest moment was when my line manager in York, in front of my peers, held

up my staff as an example of a high performing team! My advice is to always surround yourself with able and enthusiastic people!

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?

The challenges at Network Rail were mostly administrative, particularly new initiatives and reorganisations. I had 8 different line managers during my last 7 years of full-time work! But the geotechnical task remained the same, and being a small specialist discipline, we were usually left to get on with the job. It’s

very satisfying when things are going smoothly, but there are periods of intense pressure when the railway is closed by a landslip, particularly if a train is derailed. Route Asset Managers are Key Safety Posts having ultimate responsibility for the actions and consequences of the work of their team regarding passenger and public safety.

However, managing such incidents is the most “exciting” part of the job - leading the recovery by rapidly assessing the problem and the time needed to fix it, organising the response, communicating with the parties affected,

and completing the work quickly and safely within the timescales you have given. My rule was always under promise and over deliver (extending promised completion dates does not go down well!).

What AGS Working Group(s) are you a Member of and what are your current focuses?

I have been a member of the Loss Prevention Working Group since 2003. Being in the LPWG and employed by a client organisation is rather unusual, as one of the group’s aims is to minimise our members’ business risks when dealing

December 2020 / January 2021

27

with their clients! I became Since 2003 I have helped to interested in the law in the produce AGS documents such 1980s while investigating as Loss Prevention Alerts, geotechnical Client Guides Since 2003 failures for and Guidance cases of generally, I have helped litigation over a range to produce AGS in the High of topics. documents such Court. In Hong Currently I as Loss Prevention Kong I had the am updating Alerts, Client Guides opportunity our Guide to study for a to Training and Guidance... law degree, and Paths for on return to the UK a former colleague and chair Geoprofessionals, and of the AGS suggested I join the producing a Client’s Guide to LPWG. In 2007 (actually while the Selection of Geotechnical standing in a WW1 German Advisers. I review the trench on Vimy Ridge!) I downloads of AGS documents received a call asking if I would from the website to help spot like to become LPWG chair, a trends and determine which post I held until 2014. I joined topics are of most interest the Business Practice Working to our members, and I am Group in 2019. updating our archives by

“

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collecting copies of published AGS documents which are no longer available for downloading.

What do you enjoy most about being an AGS Member?

I enjoy making a contribution to an industry which has given me the opportunity to work and live in a number of interesting places and to meet so many interesting people.

I want to help clients better understand the issues facing geotechnical practitioners, and to help clients better manage their infrastructure, in particular in the transport sector where I am continuing my membership of the Geotechnical Asset

Owners Forum as the AGS representative.

or endangering lives. The infrastructure must then be maintained to high standards.

What does your company The AGS helps to maintain find beneficial about being high standards and integrity an AGS Member? of ground engineering and geoenvironmental practice, One of Network Rail’s aims disseminating up to date is to create professional practical knowledge including and mutually beneficial relationships with its suppliers. industry relevant health and safety guidance, minimising In 2013 NR became the first business risks and presenting AGS Client Affiliate Member. a coherent industry voice. It The activities of the AGS and provides a forum for dialogue the documents within the it publishes The AGS helps industry, help NR to maintain and informs geotechnical clients high standards and staff broaden and other their integrity of ground professionals knowledge and engineering and how to experience of geoenvironmental engage with the current practice... and what issues in the to expect industry. from their geotechnical and Why do you feel the AGS is geoenviromental advisers. important to the industry? It also helps to explain to clients the risks associated The country must maintain with different engineering its ability to deliver new solutions and that lowest infrastructure quickly, price for geotechnical and efficiently, cost effectively geoenvironmental work does and without damaging not necessarily give the best existing infrastructure

“

investment and long term value for their project.

What changes would you like to see implemented in the geotechnical industry?

The industry needs to be attractive to a diverse workforce, as described in a recent AGS webinar, to help reduce future shortages of skilled people. It must continue to strive for more widespread use of ground information in the AGS data format. Use of remote sensing, readings from large numbers of sensors on or in the ground and digital data from ground investigations will lead to the use of novel analytical techniques including machine learning and artificial intelligence. People with the relevant data management and computing skills will be needed to carry out this work, in addition to those with civil engineering, geology and geoscience backgrounds. A wider discussion is required on how the industry can reduce its carbon usage.

December 2020 / January 2021

29

Standards Update

November 2020

RECENTLY PUBLIS STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS ISO 11063:2020

Soil quality - Direct extraction of soil DNA

BS EN 17322:2020

Environmental solid matrices – Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls by gas chromatography –

+ corrigendum Oct

mass selective detection (GC-MS) or electron-capture detection (MS-ECD)

2020) BS EN ISO 22476-

Ground investigation and testing – Field testing –Part 9: Field vane test (FVT and FVT-F)

9:2020

BRITISH STANDARDS ON SOIL, GROUND STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS 1377-2

Methods of tests for soils for civil engineering purposes – Part 2

BS 1337-3

Amendment to BS 1377-3:2018 Methods of tests for soils for civil engineering purposes – Part 3, Chemical

Amendment 1

and electrochemical testing

PAS 128 (revision)

Underground utility detection, verification and location - Specification

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN STANDA STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS DIS/prEN 12404

Soil & Waste - Selection & application of analytical screening methods for on-site use

BS ISO DIS 12404

Soil & Waste - Selection & application of analytical screening methods for on-site use

BS prEN 15935

Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste – Determination of loss on ignition

BS prEN 15936

Sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste – Determination of total organic carbon (TOC) by dry combustion

BS prEN 17505

Soil and waste characterization – Temperature dependent differentiation of total carbon (TOC400, ROC, TIC900)

BS prEN 17516

Waste – Characterization of granular solids with potential for use as construction material – Compliance leaching test – Up-flow percolation test

ISO DIS 23400

Guidelines for the determination of organic carbon and nitrogen stocks and their variations in mineral soil at plot scale

EN ISO NP 24212

Soil quality - Remediation techniques applied at contaminated sites

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN “GE STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

BS prEN 1997-1

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – General Rules

BS prEN 1997-2

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Ground properties

BS prEN 1997-3

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Geotechnical structures

ISO CD 24283-1

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Qualification criteria and assessment –

ISO CD 24283-2

Part 1: Qualified technician, Part 2: Responsible expert, Part 3: Qualified enterprise

ISO CD 24283-3 FDIS/FprEN ISO

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Sampling of soil, rock and groundwater – Part 1 – Technical

22475-1

principles

DIS/prEN 22282-4

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Geohydraulic testing – Part 4: Pumping tests

DIS/prEN 22476-4

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Field testing –Part 4: Prebored pressure test by Ménard procedur

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SHED STANDARDS SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUB DATE

BS EN ISO 11063:2013

Published

October 2020

Updates BS EN 17322:2020 published August 2020

Published

October 2020

New Standard

Published

October 2020

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUB DATE

Will cover those tests in Parts 2-8 of BS 1377:1990 that

Being initiated in BSI

2021

Comment period ended 13 November.

2021

D & SITE ASSESSMENT - In preparation

have not been replaced by Parts 1 to 12 of BS EN ISO 17892 or BS 1377-3:2018.

Will update BS1337-3:2018

Being processed by BSI. PAS 128: 2014

Public comment period ended 16 March

2020/21

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUB DATE

BS EN ISO 12404: 2015 And BS EN 16123:2013

Proceeding to FDIS/FprEN

2021

BS EN ISO 12404: 2015 and BS EN 16123:2013

Proceeding to FDIS (UK disapproved)

2020/21

BS EN 15169:2007 and BS EN 15935:2012

Proceeding to FprEN

2021

BS EN 15936:2012 and BS EN 13137

Comment period on prEN ended 17 August

2021

New standard

Not approved. Second validation trial to be

2021

ARDS ON SOIL & SITE ASSESSMENT - In preparation

l

launched New standard- Text will be identical to that in revised

Comment period on prEN ended 17 August

2021

standard CEN TS 16637-3 Construction products –

Further consultation on the two parallel

Characterization……percolation test

document is expected shortly.

New standard

Proceeding to FDIS

2021

New standard

Project initiated

2022

SUPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUB DATE

Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 2004 + A1: 2013

Comment period for prEN ends 6 January 2021

2023

Will replace BS EN 1997-2: 2007

Comment period for prEN ends 6 January 2021

2023

Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 2004

Comment period for prEN ends 6 January 2021

2023

Part 1- New standard

Comment period for CDs ended 21 January 2020.

2021

Part 2 - ISO TS 22475-2:2006 (BS ISO 22475-2: 2011)

Not approved to proceed as DIS. UK voted against

Part 3- ISO TS 22475-3:2007 (BS ISO 22475-3: 2011)

approval. Future TBD.

BS EN ISO 22475-1:2006

The draft was disapproved by ISO/TC 182

EOTECHNICAL” STANDARDS – In preparation

re

2021

but approved by CEN/TC 341. ISO/TC 182 will recommend a way forward.

BS EN ISO 22282-4:2012

Comment period for DIS ended 14 June 2020

2021

BS EN ISO 22476-4:2012

Comment period for DIS/prEN ended 28 Aug 2020

2021

December 2020 / January 2021

31

Training Courses Resumed Training: Specialist Geotechnical & Health and Safety Courses Equipe Training are delighted to confirm that their specialist training courses are still being delivered via a mix on in-person, hands-on training and online distance learning. The in-person courses are all delivered from our dedicated training facility just outside of Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The courses will be operating with limited places to ensure social distancing. The online courses will all be delivered via Zoom.

Available upcoming dates are provided below: • • •

25th, 27th & 29th January 2021 (Online Course) - IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites 17th February 2021 - Professor David Norbury’s Soil Description Workshop 18th February 2021 - Professor David Norbury’s Rock Description Workshop

• • •

24th February 2021- Geotechnical Foundation Design (Online Course) 25th February 2021 - Earthworks Design and Construction (Online Course) 4th March 2021 - IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services

• 18th March 2021 - Slope Stability Design (Online Course) Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com

Industry Events Calendar February 2021

July 2021

26th February 2021 – The New Civil Engineer Awards

7th & 8th July 2021 - Geotechnica 2021: The UK’s Premier Geotechncial Conference and Exhibition

March 2021 17th March 2021 – BGA Rankine Lecture

September 2021

23rd-26th March 2021 – BGA Piling 2020 Conference

22nd September 2021 – AGS Data Format Conference

April 2021 21st April / 28th April 2021 – BDA – What are the risks of rising complacency about geotechnics (Glasgow) 32

Magazine

How to become a Member of the AGS AGS Members all share a commitment to quality in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental industry. This has become widely recognised by clients, governmental bodies and other associations that touch issues to do with the ground.

We welcome both companies and individuals who want to be recognised for their quality of practice to join our growing membership of over 130 Members. We shape our industry, continually improve practice and collaborate on issues that affect us all; from clients, all the way through to the people who use the land and the buildings we help develop.

To become a Member of the AGS, please visit http://www.ags.org.uk/about/become-a-member and submit your application online. Please note that all membership applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee 6 weeks in advance of each quarterly Executive meeting.

The deadline for the next round of completed applications is Tuesday 11th May 2021.

AGS Chemical and Legal Helplines All Members of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are entitled to free chemical and contractual advice through the use of Loss Prevention Committee Members, Marquis & Lord and Beale & Co. For advice on chemical safety and best practice, Marquis & Lord will provide 30 minutes of free advice to all AGS Members.

Additionally, if you’re an AGS Member and are looking for legal advice, please contact Beale & Co and quote ‘AGS Helpline’ where the first 15 minutes of legal advice will be free of charge.

CHEMICAL SAFETY HELPLINE Marquis & Lord Tel: +44 (0) 121 288 2386 www.marquisandlord.com

LEGAL HELPLINE (Please quote Beale & Co ‘AGS Helpline’) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0400 www.beale-law.com

Member Reporting Service for Industry Issues If you have any queries regarding AGS Data Format, there is a discussion forum on the AGS Data Format website, where queries can be posted and answered by the Data Format team.

If a Member has any issues with regard to Safety, Contaminated Land, Geotechnical, Instrumentation & Monitoring or Laboratories which you think the industry should be aware of please email ags@ags.org.uk, we will then forward your email to the relevant AGS Working Group.

Disclaimer These articles are the opinions of the authors and are not intended to be a complete or comprehensive statement of the law, nor do they constitute legal or specialist advice. They are intended only to highlight current issues from date of publication that may be of interest. Neither the writer, nor the AGS, assumes any responsibility for any loss that may arise from accessing, or reliance on the material and all liability is disclaimed accordingly. Professional advice should be taken before applying the content of the articles to particular circumstances.

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Advertising and Rates An online advertising campaign within the AGS Magazine will help to build and increase industry awareness of your company’s profile, initiatives and offerings.

The AGS can help build a package to suit your needs and budget; whether it’s a series of adverts across multiple issues, a combination of event sponsorship and advertising, or a single advertorial.

How to Advertise in the AGS Magazine The AGS Magazine is a free email publication that looks at a range of topical issues, insights and concerns, whilst publishing new guidance notes, working group activities and information on upcoming industry seminars.

With 10 issues each year, our subscribers include industry professionals such as practitioners, chartered specialists, senior decision makers and managing directors To receive a media pack or to discuss advertising rates, please contact Caroline Kratz on 0208 658 8212 or email ags@ags.org.uk

Adversiting Requirements

Advert Sizes and Rates

All adverts should be sent in a PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD (Photoshop) or EPS (Illustrator) format.

 FULL PAGE W: 210mm H: 297mm RATE: £400  HALF PAGE W: 210mm H: 145mm RATE: £250  QUARTER PAGE

COMPANY NAME ADDRESS CONTACT NUMBER EMAIL

W: 105mm H: 145mm RATE: £160

LOGO

 DIRECTORY Company name, address, contact number, email and one logo.

RATE: £50

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All advertising artwork must be supplied in 114 dpi resolution.

Magazine

Artwork must be delivered to the AGS using the agreed artwork specification size listed left.

Artwork should be emailed to ags@ags.org. uk no later than 10 days prior to publication.

Directory Datgel

Jacobs

261 Waterloo Street Waterloo Centre #03-36 180261 Singapore

95 Bothwell Street Glasgow G2 7HX Scotland

contact@datgel.com

+44 (0)141 243 8000 https://www.jacobs.com/connect-with-us

Geotechnical Engineering Ltd Centurion House, Olympus Park, Quedgeley, Gloucester, Gl2 4NF 01452 527743 Geotech@geoeng.co.uk

AGS Dates for Your Diary Basic Contractual Risk Mitigation

Limiting Particular Liabilities

Online Webinar Wednesday 27th January 11am – 12:30pm

Online Webinar Wednesday 3rd February 11am – 12:30pm

• • •

• • •

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes Cost: Starting from £25 ex VAT Sponsorship: Diamond and Gold packages available

For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes Cost: Starting from £25 ex VAT Sponsorship: Diamond and Gold packages available

For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk

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