|
||
|
 |
          |
 |
 |
|
|
Malcolm Price, chairman of the Membership and Publicity Working Group is pleased to announce the AGS web site is now officially launched and as you will see from the front page the visitors to the site are climbing daily. We are currently in the process of placing the AGS web site on various search engines. For AGS Members to gain the best advantage from the web site please forward details of your own web site to the Administrator and we can then place your http address against your name in the membership list so that any client visitor interested in your company's details can hyperlink direct to your own web site. This is being provided free of charge to current AGS Members. When you open the web site you will see these details and simply by clicking on the various headings you will go to the pages behind. There are seven main categories:
It is also possible to put a hyperlink on your own web site to link to the AGS site as my own company has already done and I would encourage all members to consider this as well. Finally we would welcome any more suggestions and ideas for the web site which we wish to see as a "living" entity such as discussion forums or letter pages etc. Code of Conduct for Site Investigations and Guidelines for Best Practice in Site Investigation A draft copy of the Code of Conduct for Site Investigation has previously been circulated to the AGS membership and the draft Guidelines for Best Practice in Site Investigation is also available. They were also introduced to the wider profession by articles in the May and August issues of Ground Engineering. Comments on both documents are invited. Once this period of consultation is complete, the final versions of the documents will be produced for issue to the membership together with a covering letter setting out AGS intentions for phased implementation. These documents represent an important initiative by the AGS. The initiative signals the Associations' awareness of the perception of difficulties within the industry and then sets out a scheme of objectives with which to promote improvements. It is particularly significant because it brings together a collective statement from members involved in all areas of the planning, procurement, execution of investigations and the utilisation of geotechnical data during design and eventual construction. This common purpose across the breadth of geotechnical engineering practitioners cannot be over emphasised. The Code of Conduct for Site Investigation sets out a number of essential duties, and a list of detailed general objectives that should be promoted across the spectrum of activity. There is then emphasis on particular elements for individual groups (consultant, ground investigation specialists, main contractor/specialist sub-contractor) to uphold. Whilst this document is generally considered to be an internal document of the AGS it could also be utilised for example in tender submissions if considered appropriate by the party concerned. The intention is that each member organisation will sign up to a charter ratifying the Code of Conduct. Guidelines for Best Practice, however, are less detailed and intended for overall promotion of the essential themes set out in the Code of Conduct. Copies will be distributed by the AGS to recognised Clients, Institutions, other Associations and third parties. AGS members will receive an initial number of copies and can receive further copies on request for issue to their own specific Clients and /or for general distribution within their own organisations. The following key areas have been identified which should lead to improved performance:
All members are requested to promote and enact the intentions of these documents wherever appropriate. It will take effort from all parties to achieve satisfactory implementation and to enlighten our Clients. These are "living" documents and will be subject to periodic and selective review and update. Comments and feedback following their adoption will be both welcome and necessary if the initiative is to develop momentum and show real results. Laboratory Testing Guide nears completion In the next few months the AGS will be launching their latest publication. The guide titled "AGS Guide to the Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing" will provide guidelines on the use of soil laboratory testing to assist in the classification of soils and to the selection of geotechnical engineering soil parameters. Whilst it will be a source of reference for experienced specialists, it is intended primarily to provide guidance for the younger less experienced geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist. There is also an extensive list of references which can be used to further enhance the information provided by the guide. Membership and Publicity The AGS are pleased to welcome BRE as a member firm. The Membership and Publicity Working Group are striving to raise the profile of the AGS for its members. Recent articles have been published in Ground Engineering and a number of other publications. Members are encouraged to mention the work of the AGS in any interviews or articles prepared for publication. Site Investigation After supporting the symposium on Investment, Insurance and Investigation the working group will now be concentrating on finalising the Codes of Conduct and Code of Best Practice which will be issued to Members shortly. Geoenvironmental A working sub-group has been established to obtain case histories relating to the working of the landfill tax. Any members who have instances where the landfill tax has had a direct effect on practice (whether positive or negative) are asked to contact Roger Clark. The AGS plays an active role in the CIC Environmental Group. The Institution of Structural Engineers has asked the CIC for assistance in preparing "Environmental Design Guidelines for Structural Engineers". If this initiative takes off, the AGS will be actively involved. The revision is running behind schedule and is unlikely to be completed until September. The revised document will probably be issued for public comment in November/December 1997 and consideration is being given to holding an AGS meeting during this period to discuss the issues raised so that comments can be fed back to the drafting committee. P.J. Witherington of ENSR International All AGS members will have heard of Landfill Tax. Some may well have dealt with it but most of us are still slightly confused by it. So what is the current position ? The primary law on landfill tax is contained in the Finance Act 1996 (Sections 39 to 71 inclusive, and Schedule 5). There is also the following secondary legislation:
Fortunately, HM Customs and Excise are aware that not many people wish to read the principle laws and they have produced a series of guidance notes numbers 1/96 to 11/96 inclusive. These initial documents have now been revised and re-issued as the Guide:
Both these documents can be obtained by calling the Landfill Tax Help desk (tel 0645-128484). The general principles are that all waste disposed of to landfill on or after 1 October 1996 is subject to tax unless it is specifically exempt. At present the tax is chargeable at two rates; 2 GB Pounds per tonne for inactive wastes and a standard rate of 7 GB Pounds per tonne for all other wastes. To establish whether a waste qualifies for the lower rate, it is necessary to examine the qualifying material Order (SI 1996 No. 1528). Following intense lobbying by developers, an exemption from tax for waste derived from reclamation of contaminated land was agreed. Application for exemption is quite complex but is dealt with in simple terms in LFT1/97 (shortly to be re-issued as LFT2). The particular points which the applicant must be aware of are:
Exception Application Forms are available via the Landfill Tax help desk. Customs and Excise are also quite clear that the waste must be derived from the remediation process and not general construction activities post remediation. Thus, although surface contaminants removed to reduce exposure to gardens on a new housing development would be exempt: contaminated material excavated from service trenches or foundations would not. The issue of tax highlights a vital point for anyone now considering land development. The need is to minimise the quantity of waste generated. Material only becomes waste when the producer intends to discard it. This means that if a developer has no use for arisings from excavations, they would be classified as waste. However, if the materials had a use such as raising ground levels, landscaping, etc., they would not. Although landfill tax is a significant cost and is likely to rise under the current regime, disposal charges are likely to be much higher. Consequently, not only is careful consideration of waste issues vital to avoid criminal liabilities: it can also result in major cost reductions. Limitations in the Practical Use of the Filter Paper Suction Test in Shrinkable Clay Problems Over recent years the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has spent considerable effort in developing the filter paper suction test as a means of assessing the degree of desiccation in shrinkable clays. The most recent publication dealing with this technique is BRE Digest 412. The advent of this test was heralded as the long awaited leap forward from the moisture content profile method and the various rules of thumb connected with comparing moisture contents with the liquid and plastic limits, so loved by loss adjusters and insurance companies. The development of the test was principally as a response to the growth in the domestic 'subsidence' problem. This is of particular concern in the London area where so many expensive properties are founded at inadequate depth on highly shrinkable London Clay. However, the work was based almost wholly on tests carried out on nominal 100mm diameter 'undisturbed' samples taken using the cable percussion boring technique. As any one involved in the business knows, it's a rare occasion that such a rig can be erected at the site of a domestic subsidence problem. The majority of such investigations are undertaken using hand portable equipment such as hand-auger, mini powered auger or percussion sampler (Window/Drive-in-Sampler) and sampling is restricted to small disturbed samples or 38mm 'undisturbed' samples. Attempts to use these samples to carry out suction tests often lead to bewildering and misleading results and consequently the tests are falling out of favour in the industry. We consider it a shame that such a worthwhile program of research was not built around a more useful sampling method and we ask the BRE to take note with any future developments in this field. We would appreciate your view point on this article, please contact Mike Hoar on enviresponse@msn.com. (Tel. 0181-763-2295). Fugro acquires B.E.L. Geophysical Limited Fugro Limited is pleased to announce that on June 12th 1997 it acquired the business of B.E.L. Geophysical Limited based in Chesterfield and Neath. Mr. Adrian Digby will continue as Managing Director and will be joined on the Board by Mr. Michael Horsnell, and Mr. Eugene Toolan. B.E.L. Geophysical provide a wide range of borehole logging services particularly to the mining and geotechnical industries. This acquisition will enhance Fugro's services to those clients dealing with projects in rock, by adding a form of insitu sensing and testing to the existing rock mechanics laboratory in Glasgow and the surface geophysics capability in Hemel Hempstead. B.E.L. Geophysical can be contacted on Chesterfield (01246) 203752. The German owned ENSR Corporation purchased Fugro Environmental Limited in January of this year. As a consequence, the company, which employs 50 staff in Hemel Hempstead and Manchester, has been renamed ENSR International Limited. Following this and other acquisitions, ENSR now employs 1,800 staff in 73 offices in the USA, Europe, South America and Asia. The principle strengths of the group are:
The environmental and geotechnical consultancy divisions of WSP Group plc and Graham Consulting Group (merged with WSP Group on 8th April 1997) have joined forces to form WSP Environmental Ltd. The Consultancy is now over 70 strong, working out of 8 UK office locations and serving a wide range of clients both in the UK and overseas. The Consultancy also draws on its in-house contracting division (with NAMAS laboratories) enabling it to provide a fully integrated consultancy, site investigation and testing service to clients who require a flexible rapid-response. Group Managing Director, Chris Cole said "WSP Environmental Ltd has the resource and experience to expand its activities both in UK and internationally to confirm its position as a front runner in the environmental consultancy market". For further information on WSP Environmental's service, contact Rob Whittle (Business Development Manager) on 0171 314 5000. |
