Intrusive UXO Survey_
Ensure the safety of your project with Brimstone’s Intrusive UXO Surveys, designed for precise detection and identification of unexploded ordnance (UXO) buried deep beneath the surface. Our advanced technology and experienced team deliver thorough, accurate surveys that mitigate UXO risk, ensuring the safety of your site and project team.
What is an Intrusive UXO Survey_
An Intrusive UXO Survey physically penetrates the ground to detect buried unexploded ordnance (UXO), especially deep-buried items like bombs, shells, and other munitions. Conducting this survey during the pre-construction phase ensures safety and helps avoid potentially catastrophic incidents during groundwork.
Ideal for brownfield sites or areas with made ground, this survey method provides comprehensive detection and clearance down to depths of 25 metres, far exceeding the reach of non-intrusive methods. Whether you’re dealing with individual pile locations, clusters, or borehole works, an Intrusive UXO Survey gives you the insight needed to safely proceed with construction.
At Brimstone, we collaborate closely with clients to tailor the survey to your site’s specific needs, taking into account factors such as previous land use, accessibility, and soil depth. This ensures your project stays on budget and on schedule, with minimal disruption.
Our CPT Rigs_
We conduct our Intrusive UXO Surveys by using Cone Penetrometer Testing Rigs. These are sometimes referred to as Cone Penetration Testing Rigs or CPT Rigs.
These box-like containers are mounted on a crawler undercarriage, making them ideal for traversing challenging terrain which can be common on construction sites. At Brimstone we own three state-of-the-art CPT Rigs, called Honey Badger, Redfox and Handsome.
The CPT Rig pushes a magnetometer probe into the ground using hydraulic pressure to survey a column of soil. It then uses magnetometry to identify if there are fluctuations caused by ferrous metals, which could be unexploded ordnance. This happens in real-time so our team can abort the survey if a reading is picked up.
Our rigs enable us to survey single pile positions or clusters for deep intrusive works. For large-scale excavations, we can provide a site-wide matrix clearance, offering complete surveying solutions down to the calculated maximum bomb penetration depth of 12 metres.
Benefits of an Intrusive UXO Survey_
An Intrusive UXO Survey is crucial for reducing the risk of unexpected UXO encounters during construction. Here’s why it’s essential for your project:
Striking an unexploded bomb with a piling rig or construction machinery can result in catastrophic damage. An Intrusive UXO Survey detects these hazards early, ensuring that your site is safe for workers and the public. By identifying potential threats before groundworks begin, we eliminate the risk of dangerous and costly delays.
While there is no specific UK legislation mandating UXO surveys, safety regulations like the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 require that the safety of employees is ensured during construction projects. The CIRIA C681 industry guide for UXO risk management also recommends conducting UXO surveys. Brimstone follows these best practices, providing you with peace of mind and ensuring your project meets industry safety standards.
Our CPT Rigs are equipped with triaxial capabilities, allowing them to model targets in three dimensions. This advanced technology enables us to quickly identify and eliminate non-UXO targets, reducing unnecessary survey time. Additionally, our rigs can clear multiple pile positions with one survey, making the process more efficient and cost-effective for large-scale projects.
What happens if a suspicious item is identified_
During the Intrusive UXO Survey, real-time data logs are saved and processed, with extensive cleaning, filtering, and correction processes employed to refine the dataset. This is then sent back to our in-house geophysics team at Brimstone’s Head Office for interpretation.
We use a specialist computer model to identify analytical signals and compare them against a bank of known UXO signals. Our team can make estimations of the depth and mass of any suspected item, along with its location in coordinates accurate to 5 centimetres. All of this information is then provided to our clients in a detailed report outlining the survey findings and any recommended further action.
If targets are identified that require investigation, we will recommend that our engineering team is deployed back to site to carry out a target investigation, and that no intrusive works start on site until this has been completed. Alternatively, depending on the client’s requirements, the proposed work might be amended to avoid these targets.
If no anomalies are found, and there are no further recommendations for UXO risk mitigation, you can continue with your proposed works, and we will provide you with a UXO ALARP certificate.
Order an Intrusive UXO Survey_
Don’t compromise on safety when it comes to your construction and development projects. At Brimstone UXO, our Intrusive UXO Surveys provide the precision and thoroughness needed to detect and identify hidden unexploded ordnance, ensuring your site is safe and compliant with industry standards.
When you book a survey with us, our team will ask for a drawing of the proposed pile layout. This will enable our team to calculate the minimum number of surveys that would be required to cover each pile location or parcel of land. It is also worth noting, on sites where there is dense made ground, we might require pre-drilling for the survey positions. This is because our probe can’t push through ground that has brick or concrete fragments. If this is required, our Commercial Team will liaise with you directly.