At GGS we have been advocating for best-practice continuous monitoring for sixteen years. With high quality continuous monitoring it will reduce uncertainty and unnecessary costs, helping you progress your development with confidence.
In this blog, we will explore why investing in robust continuous monitoring is the smart choice for developers, with a little help from Terry Pratchett’s famous “Boots Theory.”
Why continuous monitoring matters
Continuous ground gas monitoring is essential for understanding the risk profile of your site before construction begins. At GGS, we specialise in designing and delivering monitoring programmes that meet regulatory requirements and stand up to scrutiny.
Our Gas Sentinel® system provides accurate, high-resolution data, providing you with an improved understanding of ground gas behaviour over time.
When mistakes can be made
It is often tempting to adopt a cheaper “quick fix” monitoring solution. While this approach may appear cost-effective in the short-term, it can often lead to problems later in the your program.
Best practice standards is not about box-ticking – it is about generating data that can be relied upon for risk assessment, regulatory approval, and safe development.
What is the Boots Theory?
You may be wondering how the boots theory has any relevance to continuous monitoring. In Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett explains economic unfairness through the “Boots Theory”: ‘the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.’
The point is clear: buying cheap can cost more overall because it is a self-perpetuating cycle and the same applies to ground gas monitoring. Cutting corners can create a cycle of re-testing, redesign, and additional cost.
The benefits of best practice continuous monitoring
All too often we consult directly with clients who have been swayed by a cheaper offer, only to find that their developer permits are rejected. When you choose a best-practice continuous monitoring programme, you can expect:
- Regulatory compliance – avoiding rejection of reports and costly re-submission.
- Better risk management – protecting occupants, workers, and your project.
- Fewer delays – high-quality data helps speed up approvals and decision-making.
Where are you in your contract?
Whether you are at the early planning stage or already in construction, GGS can help. While it is better to carry out continuous monitoring into your project from the start, we can still support you with monitoring, data review, or remedial advice.
Choose GGS, choose best-practice
As the UK’s original innovators in ground gas monitoring, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, defensible data and exceptional client support. Let us help your de-risk your development, save money, and achieve approval the first time.
To find out more about our services, explore them here. If you would like to speak to us about your current or speculative project, get in touch with us here.
The following pages include news articles, videos, guidance notes and white papers on a range of ground gas related topics which we hope you will find of interest. Please browse through but if you can’t find something on your particular issue of interest, we’d be very pleased to hear from you so we can put that right.
Blog
Boots Theory and Best Practice
At GGS we have been advocating for best-practice continuous monitoring for sixteen years. With high quality continuous monitoring it will reduce uncertainty and unnecessary costs, helping you progress your development with confidence.
In this blog, we will explore why investing in robust continuous monitoring is the smart choice for developers, with a little help from Terry Pratchett’s famous “Boots Theory.”
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