AGS Magazine January 2024

January 2024

AGS BITESIZE GUIDE: UNITS, MODELS AND DESIGN

A new series of guides from the AGS covering prEN 1997 updates

Image Credit: Tim Newman

THE RETURN OF GEOTECHNICA

CALIBRATION OF FILTER PAPER

AGS GUIDE TO: WELFARE

The first details are annouced for July's conference and exhibition

How to use Whatman Grade 42 filter paper for soil suction measurements

A review of expectations for welfare provided by Jon Rayner, AGS Safety WG Chair

ABOUT THE AGS

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) is a not-for-profit 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.

Chair’s Foreword Happy New Year and welcome to the January issue of the AGS Magazine. I hope you all managed to take a break over the Christmas period and are feeling refreshed.

In this edition we introduce our first bitesize Guides covering prEN 1997. The AGS Geotechnical WG have produced a number of guides, prepared due to the imminent publication of the secondgeneration of Eurocodes. They are intended to introduce topics selected from the current drafts and to give personal views and understanding of the requirements gleaned from the code as actually written.

Other topics explored in this edition are: Calibration of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper for soil suction measurements and AGS welfare guidance, a step in the right direction, which signposts newly published AGS Welfare Safety Guidance.

Also in this edition: Peter Widdowson takes us on a look inside Igne.

We have several events coming up, starting with the Early 2

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Careers webinar series on 24th January 2024, a free to attend webinar organised by our early careers’ members. The webinar will look at common risks of GI’s, identification and mitigation. In March we have BS8574 – A Guide to Data Management Plans and in April we have our Annual Conference, an in-person event which will have a sustainability theme. I hope you will be able to join us.

Vivien Dent, AGS Chair Sally Hudson, Coffey Geotechnics Caroline Kratz, Forum Court Associates (FCA) Katie Kennedy, FCA Julian Lovell, Equipe Group Calum Spires, Equipe Group David Entwisle, BGS Chris Vincett, Retired Lauren Hunt, Arcadis Adam Latimer, Ian Farmer Associates Dimitris Xirouchakis, Structural Soils Emma Anderson, HaskoningDHV UK Daniele Fornelli, Geotechnical Observations

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.

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.

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.

CONTACT US AGS Forum Court, Office 2FF, Saphir House, 5 Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8GD  ags@ags.org.uk  020 8658 8212

Vivien Dent AGS Chair

 Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists  @agsgeotech www.ags.org.uk

Inside this month’s issue

FEATURE PAGE 22

 COVER STORY PAGE 19 

Calibration of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper for soil suction measurements

Geotechnical unit, Ground models and Geotechnical Design Models– what are these, what do they cover and who is responsible?

Dimitris Xirouchakis, Director at Structural Soils Ltd talks about the calibration study undertaken

by SSL & i2 Analytical to demonstrate for accreditation purposes that filter papers can be inexpensively calibrated by using salt solutions.

GEOTECHNICA 2024 - THE RETURN PAGE 6  The first details are announced regarding the return of the UK's premier geotechnical conference and exhibition.

AGS ANNUAL CONFERENCE PAGE 12  The latest informaiton on the Annual Conference from the AGS, scheduled for Thursday 25th April 2024.

INSIDE: IGNE PAGE 34  The AGS Magazine conducts a Q & A with Peter Widdowson, Director - Business Development at Igne Ltd.

MORE INSIDE PAGE 4

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News in Short: Incl. upcoming AGS Events

PAGE 16

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AGS Webinar: Early Careers Webinar

PAGE 40

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Standards Update: December 2023

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News and Events Breaking Ground Podcast: New Episode Now Live Breaking Ground, a podcast collaboration between Ground Engineering Magazine and the Ground Forum, have released a new episodes which is available for free listening: Hock Liew and Javier Marti on the Observational Method

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Hosted by Steve Hadley, Breaking Ground covers a wide range of ground engineering related topics. Key themes include sustainability, design, commerce, diversity, health and safety, welfare, construction techniques, education, and industry challenges. Episodes also profile industry members' careers within the context of discussing industry issues, construction techniques and case studies.

Breaking Ground is available for free download on channels including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. To listen to the podcast, click HERE. For further information on the podcast or for podcast sponsorship opportunities please email gforum@ground-forum.org.uk.

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AGS Live and Virtual Events 2024

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Fee: Free for AGS members and £30+VAT for non-members.

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Speakers:

Early Careers Webinar Series – Common Risks of GIs, Identification and Mitigation (webinar) Î

Date: 24th January 2024 (11am-13:15pm)

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Fee: Free to attend

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Speakers: ∙

Harry McAllister (Senior Consultant, TRC Companies)

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Jon Rayner (SH&E Director, AECOM)

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Will Capps (Technical Manager, DeltaSimons)

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Amy Juden (Head of Geoenvironmental, The Environmental Protection Group),

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Leo Phillips (Environmental Monitoring Manager, The Environmental Protection Group)

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Lauren Hunt (Geoenvironmental Consultant, Arcadis)

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Vicki Morten (Associate Technical Director, Arcadis)

BS8574 – A Guide to Data Management Plans (webinar) Î

Date: 12th March 2024 (11am-13.15pm)

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∙

Jackie Bland (Principal Ground Investigation Data Manager at Structural Soils and AGS Data Format Working Group Leader)

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Craig Brown (Senior Data Manager – BAM Ritchies)

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Neil Chadwick (Director, Digital Geotechnical)

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Tony Daly (Managing Director, Amageo Limited)

Sponsorship: Associate sponsorship packages are available for this webinar.

For information, email ags@ags.org. uk. Sponsorship closes on Monday 12th February.

AGS Annual Conference (live event and networking drinks) Î

Date: 25th April 2024

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Location: One Great George Street, London

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Fee: Fee for the AC is £110 for Members and £180 for non-Members (Ex VAT). A limited number of delegates per AGS Member company may attend the Annual Conference free of charge, see details on the AGS website.

January 2024

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News and Events UK’s premier geotechnical conference returns in 2024 Organisers Equipe partner with exclusive Platinum Sponsors, John Lawrie Tubulars, to deliver the 15th edition of Geotechnica.

Following the successful delivery of 14 previous events, Geotechnica 2024 is set to return on 3rd & 4th July 2024 with a new partnership.

Taking place at the Warwickshire Event Centre later this year, the UK’s premier geotechnical conference and exhibition will be proudly presented by exclusive Platinum Sponsors, John Lawrie Tubulars.

2024 marks the first time an exclusive Platinum Sponsor has been brought on board for the event, and Geotechnica’s Head Organiser and Equipe’s Operations Director, Calum Spires, is excited about the potential the partnership has to make Geotechnica even bigger and better.

“We are delighted to have John Lawrie Tubulars on board for Geotechnica 2024, it is a really exciting development for everyone involved.

After making their debut at the event in 2023, it is a testament to the draw and success of

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Geotechnica that they were so keen to come back on board for another year – this time even bigger and better. We are very much looking forward to working alongside every member of the John Lawrie team to ensure that their investment in the event is repaid, and then some. As one of the largest suppliers of steel tubular products in the UK and across Europe, we can’t wait to see what exciting products they will have to display for our visitors in July.”

Marking a change from previous Geotechnica events, 2024’s offering will also feature an exciting outdoor demonstration area with live drilling and geotechnical testing technologies

being displayed. Opportunities to demonstrate products, machinery and services are still available to all sponsors and exhibitors.

Event Organisers, Equipe, are confident that Geotechnica 2024 will offer a unique opportunity for geotechnical stakeholders to build business relationships, introduce new products and innovations to the market and impart and receive valuable knowledge and advice.

“Geotechnica 2024 will bring the industry together under one roof and will appeal to the whole supply chain from Client to Supplier. With live demonstrations, technical presentations, equipment and services on display throughout, the exhibition covers all bases and there is so much for you to experience.” continues Julian Lovell, Managing Director of Equipe Group. “The 2024 event will build on its already considerable success of creating a unique mix of trade show, conference and networking. We really hope that everyone involved in our community will

be interested in attending, either as a sponsor or exhibitor or simply visiting to engage with all represented stakeholders.”

Geotechnica 2024 is planned to feature a full product and service exhibition, with the UK’s leading geotechnical specialists, suppliers, contractors, laboratories and associated services all being represented. The event is supported by the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) and the British Drilling Association (BDA) and if you are an AGS or BDA member, you also qualify for a 10% discount on all sponsorship and exhibition packages.

The event will be entirely free to attend for visitors, with over 80 exhibition spaces available for companies wishing to communicate, promote, network and learn at the UK’s premier geotechnical conference and exhibition. Full event information can be found at: www. geotechnica.co.uk.

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

3 R D & 4 T H J U LY 2 0 24 EXHIBITION REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

BRONZE SPONSORS

www.geotechnica.co.uk January 2024

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News and Events

Register for the SiLC Annual Forum 2024!

The SiLC Annual Forum 2024 takes place virtually on Wednesday 20th March (9.3013.30) and registration is now open for those wishing to attend.

Chaired by Dr. Tom Henman (Director at RSK and Chair of SiLC PTP), the event will bring together industry professionals for a stellar programme of presentations and discussions divided into two sessions; Current Developments in the Land Condition Sector and Looking into the Future.

Speakers confirmed to date include Emma Tattersdill (Partner (Environmental Law), Bexley Beaumont) who will present on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, Freddie Kennedy (Associate Director, A-squared Studio) who will be presenting on The Future of Land Condition and Sustainable Development, and Lucy Bethell (Senior Associate (Contaminated Land Specialist) at Mott MacDonald) who will be

presenting on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment: A Systems Thinking Approach.

There will also be a panel discussion on ‘What regulators expect to see on the incorporation of climate change into land condition assessments’, Chaired by Mark Hill (Climate & Sustainability – Lead at The Pensions Regulator).

Further detail about the speakers and presentations scheduled will be announced in due course.

TICKETS Tickets are £72 for SiLC Members, £32.40 for Retired SiLC Members, and £111.60 for Non SiLCs. For Affiliate Schemes the rate is £70 per ticket, with Local Authority & Other Public Sectors, Jobseeking/Graduates and Students welcome to register free of charge. All prices include VAT. To register, visit: https://www.silc.org.uk/ event/silc-annual-forum-2024/ All bookings must be paid in full by Friday 15th March to be accepted.

SPONSORED BY

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New version of AGS Piling released A new draft of AGS Piling has been released for industry comment.

AGS Piling is a data transfer format for piling data which includes design schedule information, the construction record, as built information and pile test data. It is being developed by the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) in collaboration with the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS), with support from the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI).

The latest draft (version 0.4.0) is based on industry feedback received as part of a recent HS2 innovation project. In addition, it also trials a new approach to both the schema design and the file format itself. This is in response to

the experience gained with AGSi, the relatively new transfer format for ground models and interpretative data. The documentation for the previous version of AGS Piling remains available to facilitate comparison between the different approaches.

Documentation for the both the new and previous versions is available on the AGS website.

A working group has been formed to continue the development of AGS Piling towards a formal release. This operates as a specialist subgroup of the AGS Data Management Working Group but includes representatives from the FPS and piling specialists.

The working group is keen to receive feedback on the draft, or any thoughts on the general concept of AGS Piling. Information how to get in touch is given on the AGS website.

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Sponsor the Federation of Piling Specialists Concrete Forum!

The FPS recently announced details of a new live conference entitled Concrete Forum: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Solutions. This event is taking place on 22nd February 2024 at City Hall, London and will run from 9.00am to 17.00pm.

Co-Chaired by John Chick (FPS Chair and Expanded) and Steve Hadley (FPS Past-Chair and Central Piling), the conference will aim to bring together experts on cement and concrete to share a collective insight on what needs to change in the industry, and how we can better understand the present and future of concrete.

Presentations will look at where innovation is coming from, give a considered view on what 10

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cement technology is likely to dominate, and inform the supply-chain what is needed from it for it to be fit for use in foundations.

In addition to John Chick and Steve Hadley, other speakers confirmed to date include (Veronika Elfmarkova (Innovations Manager at Lafarge Cement), Chris Harnan (Managing Director at Ceecom Consult), Dr James Branch (Regional Technical Manager Concrete at Heidelberg Materials), Matthew Oliver (Socotec), Phil Muff (Contracts Manager at Explore Manufacturing) and Paul Astle (Decarbonisation Lead at Ramboll).

There will also be a panel discussion on the theme, Operations and Suppliers in Conversation. This will be Chaired by Steve Hadley and will feature Danny Bunting (Expanded), Kevin Paterson (Commercial Director at Capital Concrete), Ian Innes (Major Projects and Key Account Director at Heidelberg Materials), Mark Boden (Skanska) and Paul Wiltcher (Aarsleff).

To register for this event click here. FPS Members are entitled to two free tickets, and FPS Associate Members are entitled to one free ticket. Additional tickets will be charged at £114 (incl VAT) for FPS Members and £192 (incl VAT) for Non-Members. Registration closes on Wednesday 7th February 2024.

There are three sponsorship packages available for companies wishing to have a presence during the event. Packages are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis and you can see full details of each below.

GOLD SPONSOR (FPS Member Rate: £1500 Non-Member Rate: £2000)

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Company logo to feature on promotional conference emails

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Two announcements of your company’s involvement on the FPS Twitter page (over 2,900 followers)

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Two announcements of your company’s involvement on the FPS LinkedIn page (over 7,800 followers).

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Company mentions in pre and post-event articles on the FPS newsletter

SILVER SPONSOR (FPS Member Rate: £800 Non-Member Rate: £1,300) Î

Company logo on the conference presentation holding slide

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Company logo, overview and URL in the event programme

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Entry for two delegates into the conference

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10% off additional conference tickets

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Shared use of a breakout room (for all gold sponsors)

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Inclusion or visibility in a future FPS webinar or industry podcast. T&C apply.

Company logo to feature on promotional conference emails

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Company logo on the conference presentation holding slide

One announcement of your company’s involvement on the FPS LinkedIn page (over 7,800 followers).

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Company logo, overview and URL in the event programme

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Company overview and URL on the FPS website

To confirm your support or if you have any questions, please email Angharad Lambourne Wade at fps@fps.org.uk.

AGS Publication Updates The top three downloaded AGS publications in last month: 1.

AGS Guidance on Waste Classification for Soils – A Practitioners Guide

2.

AGS Guide to Environmental Sampling

3.

Safety Guidance – Welfare

Recent AGS publications available on the AGS website: •

Safety Share – Contractor Prosecuted for Insufficient Welfare

•

Safety Guidance – Welfare

•

Safety Share – Sundstrom SR580 Failure

•

LPA 77 – Limits of Liability – Are They ‘Reasonable’ Under the Unfair Contract Terms Act?

To download the publications for free; click here.

January 2024

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In aid of

The AGS Annual Conference 2024 will be taking place on Thursday 25th April at One Great George Street in Westminster, London.

This full day, CPD event will feature a number of expert speakers from across the geotechnical and geoenvironmental sector, each presenting with an overarching theme of sustainability. The conference will also include reports from each of the AGS’ Working Group Leaders, providing an overview of their activities over the past 12 months. The day will conclude with a drink’s reception in the Great Hall – a first for the Annual Conference.

Speakers confirmed to date include Mark Hill (The Pension Regulator), Roseanna Bloxham (RSK), Jim Webster (Earthworks Materials Solutions), Tim Rolfe (Yes Environmental), Alan Thomas (ERM) and Ebenezer Adenmosun (on behalf of the Ground Forum Mentoring Scheme). Further information regarding speakers and presentations will be announced in due course.

The event will also showcase all entries for the AGS Early Career Professional Poster Competition which will show how industry professionals are applying sustainable practices in the workplace. For full details on how to enter click HERE. The AGS is proud to announce that they will be donating a percentage of profits generated from the Annual Conference to Projects for Nature, an initiative which aims to restore nature recovery in the UK. This event is currently sponsored by Geosense, Soil Engineering, Groundsure, Brimstone, ACS Testing, In Situ Site Investigation, Equipe Group, BAM Ritchies, Landmark Information Group, Lankelma, Igne, Envirolab, Geotechnical Engineering, i2 Analytical, AFITEXINOV UK and Maccaferri.

TICKETS AGS Member companies are entitled to a limited number of complimentary tickets, for details, please visit the AGS website. Additional tickets are priced at £110 for AGS Members, and £180 for Non-Members (ex VAT). To register click HERE.

SPONSORED BY

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S L A N O I S S E F O R P R E E A R LY CA R E C A L L FO R P O S T E R S The AGS is holding a sustainability-themed poster competition at this year’s Annual Conference, and we’d like to see how Early Career Professionals are applying sustainable practices in the workplace.

Whether it’s applying SuRF UK’s sustainable management practices, using mobile data capture, using ethically sourced PPE, we’d like to see your ideas and practices for how you’re improving sustainability.

The poster should be colourful, eye-catching and aim to inspire businesses to become more sustainable. Submissions can cover any of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals The winner will receive a Selfridges ha mper worth £85, free entry to this year’s Annual Conferen ce on 25th April in London, plu s have their poster printed in AGS M agazine which reaches over 6,0 00 industry professionals 6 times a year.

All posters submitted will be displayed at the Annual Conference.

To enter, email your A4 poster alongside your full name and company to ags@ags.org.uk. Entry closes on Friday 5th April at 9pm.

For full details visit www.ags.org.uk/2023/12/early-career-professionals-call-for-posters January 2024

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SPONSORED BY

The AGS Ground Risk Conference: Are you Managing Risks or Taking Risks? took place on 22nd November 2023 with just under 120 attendees at One Great George Street in London.

Engineer at CampbellReith) and Arash Azizi (Lecturer at University of Portsmouth) discussed the focus group’s aim to better understand ground movements associated with underpinned basements.

Chaired by Geraint Williams (AGS Contaminated Land Working Group Leader and Associate at ALS Laboratories) and Alex Dent (AGS Geotechnical Working Group Leader and Associate Director at WSP), the conference saw delegates enjoy presentations exploring the management of risk across a variety of subjects.

After lunch, Jon Palmer (Technical Director at HKA Global) presented on Groundworks Litigation and Contracts, which was followed by a presentation by Nicola Harries (Technical Director at CL:AIRE), who gave an overview of some of the outcomes from the National Brownfield Forum Industry Sector Review.

Alex Lee (AGS Chair Elect and Principal at HKA) opened the conference with a presentation on bias in the delivery of geo-environmental assessments, which was followed by a presentation from Steve Wilson (Technical Director at The Environmental Protection Group) who discussed the key contents on the new guidance for piling in contaminated ground which is currently in progress.

Following a refreshment break, Stephen Tromans (KC at 39 Essex Chambers) provided a look at the new challenges and opportunities facing practitioners. Matthew Penfold (Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Geotechnical & Environmental Associates), Katharine Barker (Associate Geotechnical

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For the final part of the conference, Patrick Hayes (Technical Director at Institution of Structural Engineers) provided a look at foundation risks and problems from a Structural Engineer’s perspective and William Bond (CPT & Geotechnical Account Management at Royal Eijkelkamp) discussed how misunderstood CPT data, processes and specifications can lead to ground risk.

A big thank you to all of our speakers, and a special thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors: Eijkelkamp Fraste UK, Element, Groundsure, HUESKER, In Situ Site Investigation, Envirolab, Igne, Fugro and Landmark.

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NEWS, R E P L AY S & UPCOMING EVENTS

AG S W E BI NAR

attend to stimulate a discussion around safety culture within the industry.

Chaired by Harry McAllister (Senior Consultant, TRC Companies), the webinar will include the presentations below:

The AGS are pleased to announce a new webinar entitled ‘Common Risks of GIs, Identification and Mitigation‘.

Taking place on Wednesday 24th January (11am-13.15pm), this webinar aims to provide an introduction to safety culture within the construction industry and an overview of some key hazards associated with ground investigations including best practices to mitigate risk.

While tailored for early career engineers and consultants new to work in the construction industry, members of all levels are welcome to

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‘Safety Culture, Putting Your Right Foot Forwards’ by Jon Rayner (SH&E Director, AECOM)

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‘Asbestos in Soil: Exposure, Risk and Mitigation’ by Amy Juden (Head of Geoenvironmental at The Environmental Protection Group)

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'Ground Gas Risks: Key Considerations When Completing Field Work’ by Leo Phillips (Environmental Monitoring Manager at The Environmental Protection Group)

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‘Buried Utilities Do’s and Don’ts’ by Will Capps (Technical Manager, Delta-Simons)

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‘Site Supervision and Regulations’ by Lauren Hunt (Geoenvironmental Consultant, Arcadis) and Vicki Morten (Associate Technical Director, Arcadis)

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A group Q&A also scheduled for after the presentations.

The webinar is free to attend and to register, please click here.

Image Credit: On-site data capture - Equipe Group

This webinar will, therefore, aim to explain the key areas of content from BS8574 that should be included. Presentations will cover what a data management plan is, what it is used for and why, with consideration for the difference between strategy, policy, and plan.

Speakers will also discuss the pitfalls faced with not having an adequate data management plan and the benefits of a good data management plan, with practical examples of best practice throughout from varying industry viewpoints.

There will also be a Q&A session at the end, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions.

SPONSORED BY

The AGS are pleased to announce a new webinar entitled ‘BS8574 – A Guide to Data Management Plans’, taking place on Tuesday 12th March (11am-1pm).

Following on from the AGS Data Conference in 2022, it was highlighted there were many questions in relation to data management plans and BS8574.

Speakers confirmed to date include Jackie Bland (Principal Ground Investigation Data Manager at Structural Soils and AGS Data Format Working Group Leader), Craig Brown (Senior Data Manager – BAM Ritchies), Neil Chadwick (Director, Digital Geotechnical) and Tony Daly (Managing Director at Amageo Limited).

More information on speakers and presentations will be announced in due course.

Sponsored by SoilCloud, this webinar is free to attend for Members and £36 including VAT for Non-Members. To register, please click here.

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AGS Bitesize Guides - Introduction prEN 1997:202x The second-generation of Eurocodes is proposed as the first major revision of the Eurocode suite of standards since original publication in 2004. This process has been underway for at least 10 years. Initially this comprised a series of Evolution Groups, set up by all the major National Standards Bodies [including BSI], tasked with reviewing the first-generation Eurocodes and identifying area where improvements, clarification, simplification, Chris Raison Raison Foster Associates and harmonisation could be applied to improve the documents.

Proposals were then passed to Task Groups for updating and preparing new drafts. The final process was a series of reviews by both the public and by the National Standards Bodies themselves [in UK by the BSI Committee B/526].

The Structural Eurocodes are a series of interlocking standards that interact as a whole and require designers to have access to and understand many different codes, which link to yet more material, execution, and testing codes. The draft prEN 1997 is a work in progress and currently comprises three parts as follows: prEN 1997-1:202x

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design — Part 1: General rules

prEN 1997-2:202x

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design — Part 2: Ground properties

prEN 1997-3:202x

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design — Part 3: Geotechnical structures

prEN 1997 in turn is dependent on the over-arching Eurocode EN 1990, now titled ‘Basis of Structural and Geotechnical Design’. EN 1990 is an integral part of design to prEN 1997. BS EN 1990:2023 was published by BSI in August 2023.

Details of the timeline for final completion and publication of prEN 1997 has been given by Andrew Bond [chair of B/526 and past-chair of TC250/SC7] in a recent article published in Ground Engineering [November 2023 pp30-32]. Some topics were covered by the recent AGS webinar [September 2023] and parallel webinars held by NEN [Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut], acting as Secretariat for the revisions to prEN 1997.

Because of the imminent publication date and the large number of new topics, revisions to layout and structure and introduction of some new concepts, the AGS Geotechnical Working Group thought it timely to issue a series of Bitesize Guides covering prEN 1997. These are intended to introduce topics selected from the current drafts and to give personal views and understanding of the requirements gleaned from the code as actually written. It is believed that review and comments from representative members of the target audience rather than knowledgeable experts closely involved in the development will help to identify areas of ambiguity or lack of clarity. Finally, the publication of bitesize guides will hopefully generate some discussion and dialogue from other members of AGS. The bitesize guides can be downloaded from the AGS website here.

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Image Credit: Tim Newman

Geotechnical unit, Ground models and Geotechnical Design Models– what are these, what do they cover and who is responsible?

Guide produced by Emma Cronin, SOCOTEC

existing in place before any construction works, each with its own hydraulic conductivity.

This note has been prepared based on a review of the draft prEN 1997 dated August 2022.

Geotechnical Unit

A unit will have a description and classification based on designation of material parameters and identification of the data used in the selection of representation values of ground properties.

A geotechnical unit is defined in prEN 19971 as a ‘volume of ground that is defined as a single material’. Ground can be soil, fill or rock

These units are normally identified prior to the start of the ground investigation as part of the initial desk study, site inspection and

 January 2024

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preliminary investigation (prEN 1997-2, 5.2.2 to 5.2.4). These are required as part of the planning of the design investigation (5.25) and develop as the project cycle evolves. The ground investigation should identify strength, stiffness, anisotropy and geometrical variation of the units.

Normal UK practice would give responsibility for these initial works either to the Specialist Ground Investigation Contractor, or to a Geotechnical Consultant appointed at an early stage in the Project.

Ground model The concept of the Ground Model is familiar to all practitioners. It is a site specific outline of the disposition and character of the ground and groundwater based on the results of ground investigations and other available data. These conditions will have an influence on the site (and this may also need to include the recognition of potential ground conditions and sources outside the site boundary), on the design itself, and finally the construction of the project.

The draft prEN 1997-2, 4.1 states that a Ground Model shall comprise the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical conditions of the site as determined by the ground investigation, and is one of the main outputs to be included in the Ground Investigation Report (GIR). The Ground Model also forms the basis for development of Geotechnical Design Model [GDM] for each geotechnical design situation and each geotechnical structure (prEN 1997-1, 4.2.3).

As an example, the Ground Model should consider, but not be limited to, the geomorphology of the site, geometrical and geotechnical properties of the geotechnical units, but also discontinuities and weathered zones. For further guidance see BS5930. The Ground Model shall state the variability and level of uncertainly of the conditions and properties alongside derived values from

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relevant ground properties of all geotechnical units encountered.

Without the Ground Model, the GIR would not be able to identify the derived values of the geotechnical units.

As the Ground Model is one of the principal outputs from the initial desk study, site inspection, preliminary or design investigations and is to be included in the GIR, development of the Ground Model is usually the responsibility of the Specialist Ground Investigation Contractor, or is sometimes passed to a Geotechnical Consultant appointed at an early stage in the Project.

The draft prEN 1997-2 states the Ground Model shall be developed and updated as new potential information is made available.

Without the ground model, a GDM cannot be developed and validated. Any changes to the ground model shall be documented in the Geotechnical Design Report (GDR). Updating the Ground Model at this stage may therefore fall to the Geotechnical Designer rather than the original Specialist Ground Investigation Contractor.

Geotechnical Design Model The GDM is a conceptual representation of the site derived from the ground model for the verification of each appropriate design situation and limit state. It is based on the Ground Model, which has verified against the variability and uncertainty of the ground conditions.

The GDM should include, but is not limited too •

tabulation or graphical cross sections of the geotechnical units

•

representative values of ground properties for all the geotechnical units encountered in the zone of influence.

•

inclusion of groundwater table

•

and the process of compiling the GDM.

The GDM should also consider the

•

•

variations of groundwater in all directions within each geotechnical unit. There may be occasions where groundwater pressures may be classified as accidental actions, as detailed in prEN 1997-1, 6.1. identification of any spatial trends

Normal practice in the UK is that the development of individual GDMs would be the responsibility of the Geotechnical Specialist appointed to design each geotechnical structure for the appropriate geotechnical design situation and then included in the GDR. On most projects, there may be multiple GDRs often prepared by different designers. Guidance on the content of the GDR is given in prEN 1997-3. The individual GDRs may be collated into a single Project GDR. The reliability of the GDM must be validated using the guidance given in prEN 1997-1, Table 4.6 for the appropriately selected Geotechnical Category [GC]. The GC would have been selected as part of the GIR. Table 4.6 has been

reproduced above.

The validation process should also review the quantity, quality and appropriateness of the information taken from the GIR. This is done to determine sufficient confidence in the GDM to ensure the level of reliability required by prEN 1990 is obtained, and additionally, that the measures taken to validate the GDM according to the GC are adequate. If neither condition is met, or there is insufficient confidence in the level of reliability then additional ground investigation shall be performed.

The GDM is reported in the GDR for each geotechnical design situation and for each geotechnical structure. Guidance on the content of the GDR is given in prEN 1997-3.

The AGS Geotechnical WG are preparing a number of other Bitesize Guides covering various Second-Generation EC7 topics, and if anyone has a burning desire to say something, get in touch with Katie, Alex Dent or Chris Raison via ags@ags.org.uk.

January 2024

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Calibration of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper for soil suction measurements ABSTRACT The correlation between the water content of filter-paper disks and the porewater suction in soil samples is used to determine soil suction, and various equations have been proposed to model it. To verify whether the equations in BRE IP 4/93 for determining soil suction based on the water content of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper remain valid and can be used with currently available batches of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper.

SSL and i2 Analytical laboratories confirmed experimentally that NaCl solutions can be used to calibrate Whatman Grade 42 filterpaper disks and the equations in BRE IP4/93 remain valid. The method is inexpensive and reliable. Filter paper from different manufacturers or other than NaCl solutions also can be used after calibration.

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Article contributed by Dimitris Xirouchakis, Director at Structural Soils Ltd

S

oil suction is the result of the interaction between soil, water and air, and is important in understanding the strength and behaviour of soils, in general, and unsaturated soils in particular. There are numerous direct and indirect methods for measuring soil suction in situ and in the laboratory (e.g. Ridley 2015; Esmaili and Hatami 2017). The filter-paper technique is the most commonly used indirect method for estimating soil suction because of its low cost, simplicity, and wide range of suction values (0-5 MPa). The method evolved in Europe in

of soil and filter paper, respectively, Ψ = (ua - uw) + π,

where ua is the pore-air pressure and uw is the porewater pressure.

The calibration of filter paper involves either equilibration of filter paper in a suction or pressure plate at different applied pressures or by non-contact equilibration of filter paper over salt solutions, e.g. NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4, or MgCl2, with different salt content, and then independently determining the filter paper water content (WCFP). The data from various calibration studies suggest that for suctions greater than ca 1000 kPa the total and matric suction calibration curves converge but diverge at lower than 1000 kPa (e.g. Fredlund et al 2012).

Whatman Grade 42 or Schleicher & Schuell No. 589-WH filter papers have been used in soil suction tests, and many studies have established and evaluated calibration equations. Even though filter paper is an industrial product manufactured under strict control, it is not clear if the manufacturing process and thus quality of the filter papers the 1910s and USA in the 1930s (e.g. Frendlund remains the same over the years or if et al 2012; Fondjo et al 2020). the published calibration curves are applicable to This paper Soil and filter paper (direct the currently available contact), or porewater describes the filter paper batches. vapour and filter paper calibration study Thus, calibration of each (indirect contact), are undertaken by SSL batch of filter paper is equilibrated for several days & i2 Analytical to recommended (Marinho in an airtight container. and Oliveira 2005). demonstrate for Subsequently, the water

“

content of the filter paper is determined, and the soil suction is calculated by using equations that relate the filter paper water content and soil suction (e.g. BRE IP 4/93; ASTM D5298).

accreditation purposes that filter papers can be inexpensively calibrated by using salt solutions...

The total suction, Ψ, in soil is the sum of the matric suction (ua - uw) and osmotic suction, π, determined by the direct and indirect contact

This paper describes the calibration study undertaken by SSL & i2 Analytical to demonstrate for accreditation purposes that filter papers can be inexpensively calibrated by using salt solutions, and the equations in BRE IP 4/93 (Crilly and Chandler 1993) can be used with currently available Whatman Grade 42

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Table 1. NaCl concentration, molality, suction, and filter-paper water content data SSL

i2

Concentration

Molaity m

Osmotic suction π

WCFP

1s

WCFP

1s

g/L

mol/kg

kPa

%

%

%

%

0.0

0.00

0

35.6

-

37.4

6.0

1.3

0.02

102

32.8

0.0

31.0

2.0

3.8

0.07

298

27.9

0.6

29.5

1.6

13.1

0.22

1027

24.5

0.3

27.2

1.5

39.0

0.67

3056

19.9

0.3

22.1

0.8

122.5

2.10

9600

13.3

0.0

13.8

0.6

Notes: average WCFP values are from two or three determinations; 1s is one standard deviation. filter paper batches.

Method Equipment Î

Ash-free Whatman Grade 42 filter paper (CAT No. 1442-070 & Lot No. 16971096) 70 mm in diameter

Î

Thermometer (±1 °C accuracy)

Î

Laboratory balance with an accuracy of 0.1% of the weighed mass

“

Clean glass shards or beads were placed at the base of the jar to support the plastic or metallic pipe upon which the filter paper disks were placed.

Î

Oven capable of maintaining the temperature at 105 ± 2.5 °C

Î

One pair of metal tweezers

Î

200 ml terrine jars, with mouth size of 100 mm to allow for the filter papers to be placed inside without touching the jars

Î

Corrosion-resistant metal or plastic pipe to act as a support for the filter paper disks

Î

Glass beads to secure the supports

Î

Six aluminium circular tins

Î

A large glass flask with distilled or deionised water

Î

Desiccator (containing dry desiccant)

Î

Cooler box

Salt solutions were prepared by dissolving

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table salt (NaCl) in distilled water (Table 1). All equipment but the thermometer and filter papers were thoroughly cleaned by carefully washing and rinsing them with distilled water, and then dried. Latex gloves and tweezers were used to prevent the transfer of any oils or other contaminants and handle the filterpaper disks. The filter-paper disks were dried and kept at 105 ± 5 °C. Clean glass shards or beads were placed at the base of the jar to support the plastic or metallic pipe upon which the filter paper disks were placed. Prior to placing the filter-paper disks, the glass jars were filled with the salt solutions.

Two filter papers were placed above the salt solution on the supports so they had 2 cm clearance from the surface of the solution and protruded more than 1 cm past the support in all directions but were not in contact with the jar. The jar contents were then secured with a water tight lid. The configuration is shown in Fig. 1.

A set of six jars was placed within a cooler in a temperature-controlled laboratory room (23 ± 2 °C) and left undisturbed for two weeks to equilibrate. Room temperature was maintained at 23 ± 2 °C. After equilibrating for two weeks, the jars were removed and the filter papers were

Fig. 1. Test configuration for (a) a single jar (left) and (b) six jars during the two-week equilibration period (right). placed into aluminium tins for initial weighing; this part was performed by two technicians who worked on each jar together to reduce the amount of time that the filter papers were exposed. The aluminium tins were then placed in a dry oven set at 105 ± 2.5 °C for a minimum of 16 hours with the lids half-off to dry completely. The following day the lids were replaced and the aluminium tins containing the filter papers were left to equilibrate in the oven for 5 min before being removed and allowed to cool in a desiccator. After this second dry weighing, the water content was calculated.

The suction values at 23 ⁰C were calculated using the online molality calculator of omnicalculator.com.

Discussion The data from the calibration tests at the SSL Bristol and i2 Analytical laboratories are given in Table 1. The 0% NaCl solution was deionised water. The filter-paper water content data suggest good reproducibility and repeatability between and within laboratories, respectively.

The osmotic suction, π, values in Table 1 are compared with the values generated by using the equations in 1) BRE IP4/93 for matric suction and 2) Leong et al. (2002) for total and matric suction (Fig. 2): •

1a) log kPa = 4.84 – 0.0622 × WCFP 15% ≤ WCFP ≤ 47%

•

1b) log kPa = 6.05 – 2.48 × WCFP WCFP > 47%

•

2a) log kPa = 8.778 − 0.222 × WCFP WCFP < 26%

•

2b) log kPa = 5.31 − 0.0879 × WCFP WCFP ≥ 26%

The data in Fig. 2 suggest that the non-contact calibration data represent total suction values and agree with the convergence of matric

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Fig. 2. Filter-paper calibration test data compared to published calibration equations. and total suction values at approximately 1000 kPa (log kPa = 3) and at about 25% WCFP.

solutions can “ NaCl be used to calibrate

ash-free Whatman Grade 42 filter paper.

The calibration method is simple and nonexpensive.

At filter-paper water content greater than 25% the calibration data well agree with the Leong et al. 2002 equation for total suction, suggesting that the Whatman Grade 42 filter paper produces data consistent with published calibration equations.

The equations in BRE IP 4/93 and Leong et al.

2002 for matric suction are in good agreement, which suggests that the equations in BRE IP 4/93 can be used to calculate soil suction, with currently available batches of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper.

There is no calibration data for matric suction; however, considering the agreement between the test data and equations 1a and 2b above, it is reasonable to argue that the currently available calibration equations, including the

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ones in BRE IP4/93, can be trusted to return reliable suction values.

Conclusions

NaCl solutions can be used to calibrate ash-free Whatman Grade 42 filter paper. The calibration method is simple and nonexpensive. Furthermore, the results strongly suggest that the equations in BRE IP 4/93 can be used to determine soil suction in the laboratory, with currently available batches of Whatman Grade 42 filter paper.

Acknowledgements Tabetha Hellard, Elizabeth Hort and Kellon Booker at SSL and Dariusz Piotrowski, Ewa Plona, and Aleksandra Jurochnik at i2 Analytical kindly performed the calibration tests.

References Î

Î

Î

Î

12, pp. 2278–3075 (online).

ASTM D5298-16 (2016) Standard test method for measurement of soil potential (suction) using filter paper, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2003, DOI: 10.1520/C0033-03, www.astm. org.

Crilly, M.S. and Chandler, R.J. (1993) A method for determining the state of desiccation in clay soils, BRE information paper, IP4/93. HIS BRE Press, Bracknell, UK. Esmaili, D. and Hatami K. (2017) Comparative Study of Measured Suction in fine-grained soil using different in situ and laboratory techniques, International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, 3:27 Fondjo, A.A., Theron, E., and Ray. R.P. (2020) Assessment of various methods to measure the soil suction, IJITEE, Vol. 9, Issue

Î

Fredlund, D.G., Rahardjo, H., Fredlund, M.D. (2012) Unsaturated soil mechanics in engineering practice, pp 939, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Î

Leong, E. C., He, L., and Rahardjo, H., (2002) Factors Affecting the Filter Paper Method for Total and Matric Suction Measurements, Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 321–332.

Î

Marinho, F.A.M. and Oliveira, O.M. 2005. The filter paper method revisited, Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 1–9.

Î

Ridley, A.M. (2015) Soil suction — what it is and how to successfully measure it, Proceedings of the Ninth Symposium on Field Measurements in Geomechanics, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 27-46.

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January 2024

27

AGS Guide to...

WELFARE: A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Image Credit: AECOM Article contributed by Jon Rayner – AECOM SH&E Director & AGS Safety Working Group Chair

T

he industry's expectations of all health, safety and wellbeing requirements have changed through the years, as we understand and acknowledge the negative impacts work activities and environments can have. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s I recall working on construction projects where the requirements to wear a safety helmet and safety boots were not amongst the site rules, where all materials were required to be carried up a ladder, normally by young inexperienced labourers, and the idea of leading-edge protection was an alien concept.

With all of these examples and many, many more, through the demonstration of the harm captured within accident statistics, the Health

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Magazine

and Safety Executive working with industry stakeholders have developed new legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance to reduce the risk of being harmed while at work.

This approach has been transformative to the construction and many other industries and benefited those working within them.

Although successful in achieving its outcomes, this change has not always been viewed as positive at the time of its introduction, although few would retrospectively now challenge the requirement to wear a safety helmet where there is a risk of falling objects, etc., as the benefits are clear.

Thinking back to my experience of construction site welfare in my earliest career, most projects I worked on had no welfare.

Breaks were taken in the back of your van and public toilets, or other alfresco arrangements

were used to relieve yourself. Where some form of welfare did exist, the quality and upkeep of it were poor by today's standards.

I worked with a bricklaying contractor on a project on the outskirts of London where a hotel was being constructed. The only welfare on site was a single 16ft canteen with a gas stove, a kettle, tables and chairs, and a solitary portaloo, all of which were supplied by the groundwork’s contractor. I do not recall how many groundworkers there were on the project, but I know there were ten bricklayers and labourers, more than the welfare could cater for by today’s standards. Welfare maintenance was limited to the emptying of the portaloo once a week by the supplier.

It was winter so everything was covered in mud. A few of the groundworkers' tools and cans of petrol were stored in the back of the canteen. As expected at the time, there was no

soap, detergent, hand towels, cups, tea, coffee, toilet roll, etc. Worst of all, and why it sticks in my mind, was the frying pan. At the 10 o’clock break, the groundworkers used to cook a fry up in this massive frying pan on the gas stove.

Due to the lack of washing facilities, the pan was reused daily without being cleaned, so it was black and charred and there remained a 5mm layer of congealed animal fat in the bottom of the pan. On a few occasions in heavy rain, the bricklayers used to stop work and take shelter in the canteen, the groundworkers didn’t, they just worked through it. If shelter was taken before 10 o’clock, on inspection of the countertop you could see the rat footprints in the frying pan fat, where they had been feasting on it through the night. The pan was always used and never cleaned!

I am glad to say that such situations are a thing of the distant past, and those coming into the construction industry today have an



January 2024

29

Image Credit: AECOM

improved experience. Recognising the impact insufficient welfare can have, today’s welfare provision must be suitable to the workforce size, serve the needs of both male and female workers, be well equipped with food and drink receptacles, have supplies of hygiene and cleaning sundries, a supply of fresh drinking water and means of heating food and drink. It should provide storage for clothing, changing areas and heating for the drying of workwear, toilets and wash basins with hot and cold running water, hand health creams, sun protection and ample waste control.

Cleanliness and maintenance of welfare must be daily, with replenishment of consumables, etc. to ensure the workforce has everything they need for their work and health.

However, this is not always the case in the pre-construction site works, such as ecology, archaeology, utility mapping, ground

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Magazine

investigation, etc.

It is fair to say, depending on the size, scope and location of geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects, our industry has very varied levels of compliance to what should be expected with regard to welfare. While I haven’t seen any frying pans and rat footprints, I have seen inadequate on-site welfare or an absence of it entirely. There are several justifications put forward for such situations, however, none which have the welfare of those working on geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects at their core or align to legislative requirements.

Such justification could include; if welfare is provided, we would price ourselves out of the project, the client has pushed back against the cost of welfare, the project is not long enough to warrant having welfare, etc.

In reality, none of this reasoning will stand

up to scrutiny by the enforcement authority, as legislation is clear, Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM15), regulation 13.4. ‘the principal contractor must ensure that—(c) facilities that comply with the requirements of Schedule 2 are provided throughout the construction phase’, or within the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 4.1. ‘Every employer shall ensure that every workplace, modification, extension or conversion which is under his control and where any of his employees works complies with any requirement of these Regulations…….’

to provide it, as long as it is readily accessible.

A 7th December 2022 prosecution of Adler and Allan Ltd, highlighted the expectation of the Health and Safety Executive for onsite welfare for brownfield / contaminated sites. However, the context of this case surrounded a worker contracting leptospirosis due to a lack of onsite hygiene facilities, so it should be noted that the contraction of leptospirosis is not linked to brownfield / contaminated sites, but any sites where rats (all year round) or cattle (spring and summer) are present.

HSE information sheet 59 was published 13 years ago, the corresponding construction regulations were the Construction (Design There are weaknesses within the regulation and Management) Regulations 2007, which and guidance, which on their casual reading is referenced within the seem to justify not having There are document on page 1. It on-site welfare. Within the goes on to state, ‘principal CDM15 Schedule 2 (which weaknesses within contractors should make the above quote relates to) the regulation and it uses the term ‘….must be guidance, which on their sure that suitable welfare facilities are provided provided or made available casual reading seem to from the start and are at readily accessible justify not having onmaintained throughout places.’, and then there is the construction phase’ the Provision of welfare site welfare. and that contractors facilities during construction ‘should ensure that there work, HSE information sheet 59, are adequate welfare facilities for workers which introduces the term ‘transient worker’ under your control’. The document sets out in and states that ‘it may be appropriate to make significant detail what welfare should consist arrangements to use facilities provided by of and contain. the owner of existing premises, in which the work is being done, local public facilities or the However, this is ignored by those using it facilities of local businesses’. as an argument for using off-site publicly accessible facilities, their focus instead turns Considering ‘readily accessible places’ within to the section titled, ‘Use of alternative facilities CDM15. The statement is part of a much for transient construction sites’. This states longer statement, which includes regulation that ‘when undertaking short duration work 13.4.c, stating that ‘the principal contractor (up to a week), it may be appropriate to make must ensure that facilities that comply with arrangements to use facilities provided by the the requirements of Schedule 2 are provided owner of the premises in which the work is throughout the construction phase’. The use being undertaken, local public facilities or the of the phrase ‘….must be provided or made facilities of local businesses. available at readily accessible places’ in this context allows the principal contractor to What is not quoted by those using Information provide the welfare or arrange for a third party sheet 59 as an argument for using off-site

“



January 2024

31

Image Credit: AECOM

publicly accessible facilities, is that it then goes on to state ‘clear agreement should be made with the provider of the facilities; it should not be assumed that local commercial premises can be used without their agreement. In all cases, the standards above (welfare standards detailed in the document) must be provided or made available. Facilities must be readily accessible to the worksite, open at all relevant times, be at no cost to the workers, be of an acceptable standard in terms of cleanliness and have handwashing facilities’. The use of garages, supermarkets, public toilets, etc. whilst often providing basic toilet and hand washing facilities will struggle to meet all the remaining requirements, with issues such as cleanliness, chairs with back support, means of heating food and drink, changing rooms, free of charge to the worker, all preventing facilities being deemed suitable and sufficient before even looking at the definition of readily accessible.

To improve welfare across the industry, providing clients with an industry benchmark

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Magazine

and contractors a level playing field to price against, the AGS has published new Welfare Safety Guidance which is available via the AGS Website. This guidance takes into consideration the vastness of scope, duration, workforce and environment variations, which are present across the industry and puts into place a set of welfare standards to ensure the health and well-being of those working within the industry. The guidance addresses the application questions posed by conflicting regulations and guidance and provides the industry with a simple, clear and concise framework to support the diversity of the workforce.

Our industry should be one that welcomes in early careers and supports existing staff by providing them with suitable and sufficient welfare, ensuring their wellbeing. The work the industry engages in is physical, dirty work, which is undertaken in all weather conditions, year-round. Those who deliver this work deserve the comforts that basic welfare delivers as a minimum.

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II G N S I D E N E G ROU P LT D

Getting to know Igne Group Ltd with Director - Business Development, Peter Widdowson.

What does the company do and what areas does it specialise in?

Igne is the new brand for six combining businesses which share a group history of 350 years’ service in site investigation, materials testing, unexploded ordnance threat mitigation, water well drilling, geothermal borehole drilling and geoenvironmental consultancy.

We know our collective services must be delivered 34

Magazine

more effectively and sustainably than ever, which is why the businesses have fused together to respond more efficiently to our customers in the pre-construction and construction phase environments.

We employ circa 300 full time staff and rely on many exceptional contract staff who support us when we need to call on them.

Our vision is to become the most trusted tier-one partner for environmentally sustainable site investigation and drilling services across the entire construction and infrastructure lifecycle in built environments throughout the UK.

I joined Igne in a brand-new role for the company in June 2023 (so 6 months and happily counting.)

Any single part of Igne can respond to customers’ needs in each of our specialist areas, simplifying the process for clients and consistently ensuring the provision of the same level of service and expertise.

Where is Igne located?

Igne has offices in Aberdeen, Airdrie, and Hamilton in Scotland; Preston, Chester le Street, Birmingham, Aylesbury and Gillingham in England; and Presteigne in Wales. Our head office is Ross on Wye, a beautiful part of Herefordshire.

How many people does the company employ?

How long have you worked at Igne?

What is your career background, and what enticed you to work for Igne?

I am a professional Civil Engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

My background has been in tier 1 and 2 civil engineering and building construction contracting, working across Scotland principally, but also supporting businesses in the North of England, around Manchester and Warrington.

Over the last 10 years, my roles have focused more on business development and work winning.

When the opportunity came to join Igne ahead of its official launch on 2nd October 2023, I was really excited for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I would be able to expand my own

project lies in the ground. knowledge across a number Understanding the ground of new sectors. I was most conditions early on can help commonly on the receiving project teams end of site understand investigation the hazards reports – now We are one of and provide I would get to the specialist mitigation promote best contractors, and solutions to practice in site consultants, who will problems that investigation lead with the advice can otherwise for clients. and intelligence that cause Secondly, I severe delay, we can provide... would be able disruption to start working and additional more directly in costs to a project. an area that I believe is one At Igne, I now represent a of the future solutions to business that gets its hands decarbonising heat in the dirty, so to speak, and does UK, harnessing geothermal the work that I know is critical energy. for a project’s success. We Finally, I would be able to start are one of the specialist practising what I have always contractors, and consultants, preached; that the greatest who will lead with the advice risk to any construction and intelligence that we

“

can provide, backed by the expertise that we have, to ensure our clients’ successes.

What is your current role within Igne and what does a typical day entail?

There are several threads to my role within Igne as I support each of our business units and service streams.

I led on the communication to all current and previous customers relating to our change to becoming Igne from 2nd October 2023. Some parts of the now-combined business had incredibly wellestablished names and were known by many as the ‘go to’ supplier for their work.

Changing the brand to Igne is significant but has been wellsupported by all involved.

The communication piece  January 2024

35

was critical to tie up all loose ends.

My key role day-to-day is to support each business to identify and secure the opportunity to negotiate and tender for future work.

We need to share our broad capabilities with our current customers who may know us primarily for one service - such as UXO or site investigation – but not realise we can now offer them so much more.

to communicate that passion to our future customers and show them what we can do for them.

What are the company’s core values?

Our purpose is to enable sustainable communities and advance positive change. We do this through our values: Reliability: Whatever the job, we focus on what matters, do things the right way and deliver real results.

Dependable, positive and hugely knowledgeable, we provide skills and experience that people can rely on.

We need to understand our customers and future customers and the markets in which they operate, so Partnership: We need to that we can We work in continually understand our partnership improve with customers and future for each clients and customers and the individual markets in which they stakeholders customer. to find operate...

My role answers and looks at how reach shared we deliver today goals. We but also how we might deliver build long-term relationships tomorrow in partnerships by being open, transparent and and alliances or through easy to work with. We are full acquisitions. of practical ideas that people

“

I truly believe, with a passion, that we can help all clients, whether they are developers, consultants, contractors or individual homeowners, to understand their project better to reduce cost, stay on programme, improve safety, reduce environmental and ecological impact and carbon intensity, and the demand on natural resources. It is my role 36

Magazine

can put into action.

Quality: We are dedicated to our work and passionate about quality. We set high standards and work hard every day to meet and advance them. We speak up, act with integrity and offer honest advice people can trust.

Are there any projects or achievements which Igne

is particularly proud to have been a part of?

Delivering sonic drilling solutions to site investigation challenges in remote and inhospitable parts of beautiful Scotland, whilst also working in environmentally sensitive locations without damaging precious flora and fauna.

This demonstrates our core values in action: Reliability, we can get the job done no matter the challenges we may need to overcome.

Quality, we deliver the highest quality works maintaining sensitivity to the environment or communities within which we are operating.

Partnership, to work with our client to determine the best way and best value option to deliver the information they need.

Another example is clearing unexploded ordnance from a 5-hectare area of the Dorset coast for the National Trust.

The area had been badly damaged by and exposed several hundred items of live and inert ammunition. We cleared this former training area, rendering it safe for public access once again.

How important is sustainability within the company?

Incredibly important – sustainability is at the heart of our purpose and is our

vision. In everything that we do today, we are thinking about tomorrow. It is the very purpose of our business, to provide the data to inform our customers about the most sustainable way to develop their project.

It is also important to us that we continually improve how we go about achieving this, to minimise our own impact. For example, as we transitioned to become Igne, all our old PPE was recycled with 0% going to landfill. This ensured we reduced CO2 emissions by 13 kg per 1 kg recycled - and we reduced water consumption by 1 litre per 1 kg recycled as the old workwear become new garments.

and many more.

How does Igne support graduates and early career We go into colleges and professionals who are universities to teach and help entering the industry?

Our CEO, Rob Hunter, is committed to advancing social mobility and does a lot of work in a voluntary capacity to advance the cause. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Igne has an acute focus on developing early talent at the heart of its workforce plan.

young people understand what the industry is like. We don’t sugar-coat what life can be like as a driller for example, but for the right people, it is a hugely rewarding career.

We do need to improve how we communicate the available careers to young people, to get them interested in what we do at Igne and in the wider We have various routes to support young people entering industry. If we can do this the industries and specialisms successfully, it will help us to stem the recruitment and we span. We have graduate and apprentice routes into roles people-resource issues that we face. Attracting the right such as engineers, geologists, administrators, marketers, HR people in the first place, and nurturing their talent is the professionals, drilling crews route to a more sustainable  January 2024

37

workforce solution. It is a core company focus for us.

How has COVID-19 impacted Igne today?

Are there any policies which were made during the pandemic that have been kept to improve employee wellbeing and productivity?

Yes, absolutely. The flexibility we developed across the businesses, which was generated as a result of COVID-19 and the ways of working that we had to adopt, has demonstrated that a hybrid working practice is both possible, in appropriate circumstances, and beneficial to employee wellbeing and therefore productivity.

Our move to hybrid has helped us reduce our carbon footprint through reduced commuting, and our employees continue 38

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to demonstrate their commitment to the business reciprocating the trust the business puts it them.

collective voice. For me, AGS helps to facilitate the foregoing across our industry, so, it is a ‘no-brainer’ - AGS is critically important to our industry.

Why do you feel the AGS is important to the industry? What are Igne’s future ambitions?

I am a firm believer that the ground holds the greatest risk to any construction project no matter how large or small. It is a constant source of challenge whether through geotechnical ground conditions, historic uses, contamination or protecting sensitive receptors.

If everybody worked in isolation, we would not deliver the results we need to develop our industry. We must work collaboratively, share best practice and allow ourselves to learn from each other for the good of the planet, our employees and the communities in which we work - and we must enjoy a

Our ambition is to consolidate the capabilities from across the group, to enable us to deliver more than the sum of our parts through shared learning and commitment to delivering a holistic and integrated service for our customers. We are also committed to continuing to grow our capabilities in the direction led by our customers’ needs. This is what excites me the most. In doing so, we will become the most trusted partner to the construction industry, providing pre- and post-construction services they can absolutely rely upon.

Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists WHY BECOME AN AGS MEMBER? Enhance your status in the industry. Make a statement about quality and good practice. Participate in the AGS Working Groups and help shape the industry and set the standards.

WHAT DO WE STAND FOR? ■ Good practice in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering ■ Quality companies providing a quality service ■ Health and Safety ■ AGS Data Format

WHAT DO WE OFFER? ■ Guidance to good practice ■ Listing in the Directory of Members ■ AGS Magazine focused on ground engineering ‘hot topics’ ■ Legal helpline ■ Chemical safety helpline ■ AGS Loss Prevention Guidance Document ■ Seminars, meetings, conferences and webinars ■ Collaboration with other bodies ■ Liaison with UKAS ■ Lobbying on matters important to the sector ■ Developing and maintaining the AGS Data Format

MEMBERS CAN CONTRIBUTE BY PRODUCING SUCH DOCUMENTS AS: ■ AGS good practice guidance ■ AGS publications ■ AGS safety guidance ■ AGS client guides

MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AGS WORKING GROUPS: For further information on the AGS and details on how to become a member visit www.ags.org.uk Established in 1988, the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists is a not-for-profit trade association which represents over 140 leading companies specialising in site investigation, geotechnics, geoenvironmental engineering, engineering geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and other related disciplines.

■ Laboratories ■ Contaminated Land ■ Safety ■ Business Practice ■ Loss Prevention ■ Data Management ■ Executive Committee ■ Geotechnical ■ Instrumentation and Monitoring

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Standards Update STANDARD BS EN 17505:2023 BS EN 17516:2023

BS ISO 17813:2023

December 2023

RECENTLY PUBLISH SUBJECT / TEST SU Soil and waste characterization – Temperature dependent differentiation of total Ne carbon (TOC400, ROC, TIC900) Waste. Characterization of granular solids with potential for use as construction Ne material. Compliance leaching test. Up-flow percolation test (The text of this standard is identical to that of: BS EN 16637-3:2023 Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances.

Horizontal up-flow percolation test) Environmental solid matrices – Halogens and sulfur by oxidative pyrohydrolytic combustion followed by ion chromatography detection

(bsi) PD CEN/TS Characterization of waste – Guidance on determination of the content of 17943:2023 elements and substances in waste ISO 18400-301:2023 Soil quality – Sampling – Sampling and on site semi-quantitative determinations of volatiles in field investigations BS ISO 18475:2023 Environmental solid matrices – Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by gas chromatography – Mass selective detection (GC-MS) or electroncapture detection (GC-EC) BS EN ISO 186748:2023

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Geotechnical monitoring by field instrumentation – Part 8: Measurement of forces: Load cells

Ne

Ne

Ne BS Im Re 13 18 Ne

(a) This table is derived from the work programmes of BSI Technical Committees EH/4-Soil quality and usually available for review and comment via AGS.

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN “G STANDARD CEN EN 1997-1

SUBJECT / TEST Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – General Rules

SU W 20

CEN EN 1997-2

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Ground properties

W

CEN EN 1997-3

Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design – Geotechnical structures

W 20

ISO/NP 18674-6

Geotechnical investigation and testing -Geotechnical monitoring by field instrumentation — Part 6: Measurement of settlement: Hydraulic settlement systems Geotechnical investigation and testing – Geotechnical monitoring by field instrumentation – Part 8: Measurement of forces: Load cells

Ne

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Field testing –Part 16: Borehole shear test

-

ISO CD 18674-7 ISO DIS 22476-16

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Magazine

Ne

HED STANDARDS (a) UPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE ew standard

STATUS Published

PUB DATE November 2023

ew standard

Published

November 2023

ew standard

Published

October 2023

ew standard

Published

August 2023

ew standardWill not be adopted as Published S because it overlaps BS 10176. mplementation of EN 17322:2020.

Published eplaces ISO 10382:2002 & ISO 3876:2013Will become BS EN ISO 8475 in due course. ew standard Published

September 2023 October 2023

October 2023

B/526/3-Ground investigation and ground testing. Copies of draft standards (e.g. CD, DIS, prEN) are

GEOTECHNICAL” STANDARDS – In preparation

UPERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 004 + A1: 2013

STATUS Progressing to FprEN

Will replace BS EN 1997-2: 2007

Progressing to FprEN

Will partially replace BS EN 1997-1: 004

Progressing to FprEN

ew standard

Preparation started

ew standard

ISO comment period ended 17 April 2023

PUB DATE BS EN 1990:2023 Basis of structural and geotechnical design was published in April 2023.Publication of EN1997-1 and EN 1997-2 is expected by about July 2024. Publication of EN 1997-3 is likely about January 2025.

For more information see: Bond A, Ground Engineering, 2023 (November) 30-32.

2025

2024

Comment period ended 2024 13 May 2023

January 2024

41

Standards Update

December 2023

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN STANDA STANDARD

SUBJECT / TEST

SUP

ISO CD 7303

Soil quality - Simplified method for oral bioaccessability of metal(oids) in soils

New

ISO DIS 8259

Soil quality – Bioaccessibility of organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated soil and soil-like material

Will 852 New

Will 7303 BS I

ISO DIS 11074

Soil quality - Vocabulary

FprCEN/TS18020

Construction products – Assessment of release of dangerous substances – Sampling and quantitative determination of asbestos in construction products Assessment of soil functions and related ecosystem services: definitions, descriptions and conceptual framework Assessment of soil functions: indicators and methods

New

Soil treated biowaste and sludge – Determination of elements using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) Soil quality - Remediation techniques applied at contaminated sites

Inclu

ISO CD 18718 ISO CD18721 ISO DIS 22036 ISO DIS 24212

New

New

New

(b) This table is derived from the work programmes of BSI Technical Committees EH/4-Soil quality and available for review and comment via AGS.

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Magazine

ARDS ON SOIL & SITE ASSESSMENT - In preparation

PERSEDED/WILL SUPERSEDE

STATUS

PUB DATE

w standard

BSI Comment period ended 12 April 2023

2024

l complement BS ISO 17924 – see also ISO CD 29 w Standard

Comment period ended 31 August 2023

2024

l complement BS ISO 17924 – see also ISO CD 3 ISO 11074:2015 & EN ISO 11074:2015+A1:2020

Comment period ended 12 April 2023

2024

Comment period in progress via BSI TC B557 ends 30 December 2023 Comment period ended 7 September 2023 Comment period ended 7 September 2023 Comment period on DIS ended 6 August 2022 Comment period on DIS ended 8 June 2023

2024

w standard

w standard

w standard

udes merger of ISO TS 16965 & EN 16171

w standard

2024/5 2024/5 2023 2024

B/526/3-Ground investigation and ground testing. Copies of draft standards (e.g. CD, DIS) are usually

January 2024

43

Training Courses Equipe Training: Specialist Geotechnical Courses Equipe Training's specialist geotechnical training courses are delivered both in person at our dedicated training facility just outside of Banbury, Oxfordshire, and also online via Zoom!

Available upcoming dates are provided below: Î

18th January 2024 - Professor David Norbury’s Soil Description Workshop

Î

24th January 2024 - Basic Foundation Design (Online)

Î Î Î Î Î

25th January 2024 - Earthworks Design and Construction (Online) 15th February 2024 - Professor David Norbury’s Rock Description Workshop 19th - 20th March 2024 - CPT in Geotechnical Practice (Newcastle University) 10th April 2024 - Slope Stability Design 12th April 2024 - Further Foundation Design

Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com

Equipe Training: Specialist Geotechnical Heath and Safety Courses Equipe Training and their health and safety training partners RPA Safety Services and EB Safety Solutions are delighted to announce their collection of specialist health and safety courses for the geotechnical market have resumed being delivered in person, as well as being delivered online where required.

These courses are approved and certified by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and meet the requirements of UK Health and Safety regulations for working on geotechnical and land drilling sites. Upcoming courses have limited numbers of places available in order to maintain social distancing within the classroom environment. Upcoming dates include: Î 18th January 2024 - IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services Î 6th – 8th February 2024 - IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites Î 22nd February 2024 - Safe Working on Geotechnical Sites Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com

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Magazine

P O T S VER

NE

G N I N AR

LE

WITH WORLD CLASS GEOTECHNICAL TRAINING FROM EQUIPE Health and Safety Courses

Delivered in partnership with RPA Safety Services

IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites (3 Days) - £495 + VAT

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

IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services - £175 + VAT

In accordance with the requirements and guidance set out within HSG47

Other Health and Safety Courses Delivered in partnership with EB Safety Solutions & RPA Safety Services

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

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

Geotechnical Courses

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

Online and In-Classroom Geotechnical Courses Delivered in partnership with Plough Geotechnical

Basic Foundation Design - £250 + VAT

Shallow foundation overview for geotechnical practitioners and engineers

Further Foundation Design - £250 + VAT

Complex & deep pile foundations 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

January 2024

45

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 2nd May 2024.

AGS Chemical and Legal Helplines All Members of the AGS are entitled to free introductory advice on chemical and legal/contractual matters from AGS Loss Prevention Group members, Marquis & Lord and Beale & Co. For advice on chemical safety and best practice, Marquis & Lord will provide up to 30 minutes of free advice, for one issue, to any 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 All articles in the AGS Magazine 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(s), 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.

46

Magazine

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 6 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

Advertising 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

All advertising artwork must be supplied in 114 dpi resolution.

 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

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.

January 2024

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