CIRIA Studies Gases from Contaminated Sites
September 14, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) announced a new project, "Assessment and management of VOCs generated from brownfield sites" (RP766), which will examine how to assess and manage the risks to human health from volatile chemicals in the ground.
The project will result in published guidance on the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)/Environmental Agency (EA) recommended three tiers risk assessment approach in particular, detailed investigation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Tier 3) in helping the determination of:
- The spatial extent of contamination around and under buildings including the identification of free phase and mixtures.
- Soil properties relevant to assessing vapour intrusion potential.
- Building properties relevant to assessing vapour intrusion potential including techniques to measure soil gas ingress rates and building ventilation rates.
- The vapour concentration in the ground (and beneath building foundations) and its implications for ambient and indoor risk assessments.
- Effect of attenuation of vapours along the pathway including biodegradation.
- Interpreting data to assess the significance of risk.
CIRIA will work with the Energy Institute on the project and the guidance will be consistent and provide an extension and compatibility with the likely approach proposed by Defra and the Environment Agency.
Organizations and companies funding the project include the Environment Agency, Card Geotechnics, RSK Group, EPG, Waterman Environmental, Fairview Homes and ICI.
Source: Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA).