Establishing a new warehouse involves managing numerous moving parts such as ensuring operational systems are in place, training staff and coordinating logistics. Amidst this complexity, it’s essential to remain compliant with environmental and safety regulations.
One important aspect is managing and mitigating ground gas risk. Keep reading to learn about the process and what to expect.
What ground gases may be present in warehouses?
Ground gases appear through natural or environmental occurrences. There are a range of gases that can be harmful to life, depending on their concentration. These include, but are not limited to, methane (CH4) cardon dioxide (CO2), radon gas, VOCs etc. These gases can accumulate in enclosed spaces within a warehouse, leading to poor air quality and in extreme cases, asphyxiation, combustion or explosion.
Due to their size and logistical needs, warehouses are being built on ‘marginal land’ which often comes with an industrial history, meaning the chances of finding gas contamination is likely.  So, it’s integral that the design properly considers the ground gas risk when a new warehouse is being built.
If gases are not managed at your warehouse it can put your business at risk of liability and potentially cause damage to your reputation. Unfortunately, you cannot rule out which ground gases are present until a survey of your site is completed.
Ground gas challenges in warehouse construction
At GGS, we’ve observed a growing demand for ground gas services in warehouse developments, particularly as the UK infrastructure expands and timelines tighten. We have also seen an increased number of mega-warehouses developing.
If ground gas is present, it’s only after the warehouse has been built that failures in the building design and/or installation, start to become apparent. The costs associated with retrospective remediation can be enormous and cause significant disruptions to business operations.
Managing a warehouse project of any scale comes with challenges related to ground gas and include:
- Foundation planning to ensure a ground gas risk assessment is carried out
- Reducing ongoing issues for warehouse users, and taking action when required, such as performing regular sweep surveys
- Managing risk during extended development phases
Ignoring these challenges could be costly and time consuming to your business which is why it’s so important to develop a strategy.
Developing an effective mitigation strategy
Early planning is crucial for large scale developments. To remain compliant, you must carry out a risk assessment that evaluates ground gas. Though it might be tempting to speed up the process and seek out a faster solution, having a thorough approach which is backed by ground gas science is key.
During the assessment phase you will plan for current and potential ground gas issues on site. If intervention is required, this may become more complex but is usually manageable with the right strategy.
Continuous monitoring can then be carried out at regular intervals as part of your continued approach to managing potential hazards. This may be a sweep survey at regular intervals, or a longer period of monitoring using our innovative technology. We offer a range of services for warehouse clients, using a bespoke approach built around your warehouse site.
Warehouse verification services
You may need a more permanent verification strategy in your warehouse if the risk cannot be easily managed. This ensures the safety of the warehouse receptors now and in the future.
At GGS we have consulted with clients who have needed verification for their warehouse developments. In this case study we helped a in their new warehouse to provide independent verification services in line with Ciria C735.
How GGS can help warehouse developers
We offer a range of services to developers and we look forward to receiving your enquiry. We can help with gas pollution linkage assessments, due diligence, verification and more. We will provide in depth data and advice on what the next steps should be for your warehouse to ensure ground gas risks are mitigated.
Reach out to GGS today to effectively manage potential liabilities and future challenges to your warehouse. Get in touch with us by following the link below.
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.
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Ground Gas Management and Mitigation Strategy for New Warehouse Developments
Establishing a new warehouse involves managing numerous moving parts such as ensuring operational systems are in place, training staff and coordinating logistics. Amidst this complexity, it’s essential to remain compliant with environmental and safety regulations.
One important aspect is managing and mitigating ground gas risk. Keep reading to learn about the process and what to expect.
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