brownfield briefing vocs and ground gases conference, london 18 november 2009 gas protection- what...
TRANSCRIPT
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Gas Protection- What is needed?
Selected case studies of some common problems and pragmatic solutions
Jo Strange MEng, C Eng C Env, MICE, MIEnvSci, SiLC
Regional Director, Card Geotechnics Ltd
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Introduction
Despite a plethora of guidance, there are still a number of issues which are commonly seen which lead to either poor or over conservative design of gas protection measures for buildings.
The following case studies identify some of those issues and how they were overcome to provide a pragmatic solution.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Typical Basic Issues
•Much guidance- but lack of understanding, •Poor SI specification eg installation details•Poor quality data- data acquired during poor monitoring conditions, missing flow data•Lack of site model or understanding of gassing regime•Omitted gas protection measures•Over design or poor design of gas protection measures
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Misinterpretation of Data: Example – Residential
Development South East London1. Site geology comprises typically non-organic
Made Ground (gravelly clay or sand & brick) over Alluvium, River Terrace Deposits and Lambeth Group
2. Groundwater in borehole 6.1mbgl
3. Shallow well response zone sealed within MG and Alluvium (Max CH4 =0.1%v/v, Max CO2= 3.4% Max Flow 0.5 l/hr )
4. Deep well response zone sealed within River Terrace Deposits (9-13mbgl) (Max CO2= 3.9%v/v, Max CH4=3.4% Max Flow 0.1 l/hr
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
…cont’d
ORIGINAL CONCLUSION
Gas protection required to Characteristic Situation 2(CS2)_ (CIRIA 665), based on max CO2 in deep well
BUT……
Based on well construction, where is gas source in deep well ?
Gas caused by anaerobic reaction within closed void – typified by CH4/CO2 with no flow, in waterlogged well with no gassing source.Not a sustained source- gas resulting from borehole installation
REVISED CONCLUSIONNo gas protection measures required (CS 1 applies)
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Result
Reduction in requirements for specific gas protection measures.
Therefore…..
Cost and construction time saving for Client.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Interpretation of Anomalous data:
Example- Residential Development in vicinity of closed
landfill site, Hampshire• Site being developed on farm land close to closed
landfill with active extraction system.• Farm land between landfill and development to be
handed over to local authority as Public Open Space, as part of planning negotiations.
• Unlicensed landfilling identified outside landfill boundary.
• Local authority required robust reassurance that appropriate gas protection measures were proposed.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Cont’d
• Numerous investigations undertaken and gas protection measures to CS 3 proposed by developer’s consultant.
• Local Authority queried anomalous data, which included:Extremely high flows on occasions to south of site, with little methane and carbon dioxide, and IN SAME BOREHOLES, negligible flow and elevated methane and carbon dioxide.
• Local Authority refused to accept proposed design until anomalies explained.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Cont’d
• Geology confirmed as Wittering Formation of the Bracklesham Beds (typically silt and CLAY) overlying Whitecliff Sand
• Strata dip towards the south
• Groundwater was at depth, but anecdotal evidence of large local fluctuations in groundwater level.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Clarification of Ground Gas Regime
• Gas was migrating from unlicensed extension to landfill- concentrations decreasing with increasing distance from landfill
• Migration occurred effectively within the Whitecliff Sands• Gases confined below the Wittering Formation• Gases pressurised by fluctuating groundwater, causing high
flow rates, increasing to south of site due to ‘funnelling effect’.
• Radiocarbon dating showed gas in Whitecliff Sand to be from a modern anthropogenic source, ie landfill.
• Similar testing showed gas in Wittering Clay to south of site from a geological source i.e. derived from biological reactions in the soil. (Gas generation caused when risen groundwater sealed base of monitoring well, hence zero associated flows)
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Ground Gas Model
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Solution
• Confirmation of a minimum thickness of clay mantle between the base of the foundations and the underlying sand (requiring make up in some areas from a borrow pit on site)
• Gas protection measures to CS2 to be installed continuous, robust gas membrane incorporated within the floor slab construction to mitigate any residual gas.
• Penetration of the membrane limited by design - service entries were limited. All service penetrations were sealed through the membrane
• Passively vented under floor voids• Monitoring to confirm gas regime above and below
clay mantle.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Result
• Local Authority agreed gas regime and revised proposed gas protection measures
• Monitoring confirmed the different gas regimes above and below the clay mantle
• Development completed and occupied
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Missing Gas Protection Measures
• This happens not infrequently• Occasionally due to architect/structural engineer
being unaware of requirement for gas protection measures and nothing shown on construction drawings
• More often due to lack of attention to detail by contractor operative under pressure
• Often missed when no requirement for environmental engineer to be present on site to observe/verify incorporation of gas protection measure.Solution usually depends on when the error is found!
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Use of Risk Assessment:Example: Mixed
residential/commercial development, East London
• Site located on ex-industrial site, with a buried oil tank.
• Limited gas monitoring pre-construction indicated worst case CS4 conditions, strictly requiring a gas resistant membrane and underslab passive ventilation.
• During construction, the passive ventilation was omitted.
• CARD commissioned to undertake a risk assessment to confirm whether development was safe without ventilation for submission to Planning Authority.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Site Conditions
• Review of data showed that gas concentrations assessed for individual blocks generally fell within CS1. Data for one block fell within CS2. (Higher category was due to limited time frame for monitoring.)
• Since design of development, remediation works completed to remove buried fuel tank and surrounding impacted soil in location where worst gas conditions measured.
• Up to 2m of Made Ground had been removed from site during archaeological dig and replaced with granular fill.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Table 5.1–Classification of risk, CIRIA 152, 1995.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Risk Assessment
• Risk assessment carried out using CIRIA 152 fault tree analysis for a range of scenarios e.g. explosion or asphyxiation
• Site zoned according to location specific worst case data.
• Account taken of changes to ground conditions.
• Account taken of construction methodologies ie piled raft foundations, membrane installed and building dimensions
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Figure 5.2–Classification of risk, CIRIA report 152
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Result
• the highest risk of explosion is in the smallest confined space
• the highest risk of asphyxiation relates to the long term exposure within the small bedroom.
• All of the scenarios calculated probability of risk scenario as not exceeding 1 in 1 million (i.e. 1x10-6), (the accepted tolerable level.)
• Able to reduce required gas protection to use of waterproofing membrane only in worst case zone
• satisfied local authority.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Retrofit of Gas Protection Measures:
Example- Commercial building, Portsmouth
• Due to technical problems encountered during construction of the lift pits, the membrane was not installed prior to casting the concrete.
• This came to light when verification inspections were requested by the contractor.
• It was not possible to install gas resistant membranes on the inside of the lift pit due to the lack of spatial tolerances.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Solution
Given the site constraints, a liquid membrane solution was recommended, (Tecroc Liquid Vapour Membrane, LVM)
Four coats of the LVM (equivalent to specified sheet membrane) was applied to all internal surfaces of the lift pit, tying into the gas membrane at ground level, to achieve the required gas permeability standards.
This approach was approved by Portsmouth City Council Contaminated Land team.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Liquid membrane – In situ
A clever touch:The LVM comes in two colours, black and white, so that each layer can be clearly seen as it covered by the next layer in the alternative colour.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Poor design:Example- Commercial
development in Hampshire• Building constructed adjacent to
landfill site incorporating ‘gas protection measures’ was at commissioning stage.
• Gas concentration of between 25% and 113% of LEL in switch cupboards after New Year holiday
• Request from client to advise on building occupancy. (CARD not involved in investigation or design)
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Site Assessment
• Investigation information indicated 7.05 l/hr per sq metre
• Identified concentrations of 47.7% methane and 24% carbon dioxide.
• Concentrations changing over tidal cycle.• Design used Somtube connected to
manifold and cowls on chimneys on one side.
• Inlet at low level on side nearest to landfill.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Design drawing
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
What did we find?
• Design did not permit the dilution approach under low flow or no flow conditions.
• Identified approximately 150 unsealed service entry points.
• Degree of protection relied on quality of pre cast slab and membrane.
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Not quite a diluting ventilation layer….
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Solution
• Provide temporary seals to all service ducts and drainage.
• Establish regular monitoring regime • Determine key areas for permanent methane
monitoring – False floors
– Switch rooms
• Carry out rigorous survey of service ducts and provide internal two phase gas seal.
• Continue to monitor
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Result
• Site made safe for occupancy
• Site management scheme set up with permanent monitoring of critical zones
• Client confidence restored
Brownfield Briefing
“VOCs and Ground gases “Conference,
London
18 November 2009
Thank you for listening