Harry Higgs has worked in SOCOTEC’s Ground Investigation division for the last three years and currently holds the position of senior geophysicist. In this blog, Harry explains the bespoke nature of his role and the importance of clear communication and accuracy within the geophysical sector.…
Introducing the new and improved method from SOCOTEC, which has been specifically developed for the analysis of acidic herbicides in soils and waters.…
The first requirement within the Legionnaires’ Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8 is to appoint a responsible person and a deputy, put in place a written scheme of control and ensure that everyone involved in managing the risk from legionella is suitably trained. Having an effective monitoring regime and keeping records is vitally important to demonstrate the system is under control and well managed.…
Heritage buildings and historical assets present a truly unique monitoring challenge. By their very nature, they are often old and fragile with poor foundations and constructed from materials less tolerant to small environmental changes. At the same time, heritage buildings are often extremely valuable as historical architectural records and need to be preserved in a state that is as close to original as feasibly possible. Over the years, SOCOTEC Monitoring has become well-known as an expert provider of monitoring solutions for heritage buildings and other heritage assets.…
With over 12 years’ experience in the ground investigation industry, Nathan Finnan has been working as a senior field technician at SOCOTEC’s Deeside office for the last two years. Attending some of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects, Nathan discusses the various benefits of field technician work, detailing how his past experience as a window sample driller continues to play a major part in his day-to-day role.…
When the Asbestos Prohibition (Amendment) Regulations 1999 banned the import, supply and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the UK, HSE guidelines stated that no asbestos fibrous minerals should be contained within commercial and non-domestic buildings constructed after the year 2000. But what is the recommended course of action when asbestos is discovered within post-2000 buildings?…
The railway industry was among the first to make extensive use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), with the fibrous mineral found to be especially useful as insulation for pipes, boilers and fireboxes in steam locomotives. In this blog, Denis Morgan, divisional technical manager for SOCOTEC’s Asbestos team, discusses how to identify and manage the risks of asbestos exposure in rolling stock built before the UK-wide ban in 1999.…
Joseph Thomas, project manager at SOCOTEC’s Bridgend site, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day supervision of many of the organisation’s asbestos management and consultancy services. Working on projects across a wide range of business sectors and types, Joseph explains more about the variety he comes across in his role, as well as why he enjoys working as part of SOCOTEC’s Asbestos division.…
Craig Sharpe, utility surveyor at SOCOTEC’s Deeside site, first joined the organisation 18 months ago, having amassed over seven years of expertise in the geotechnical sector. In this blog, he outlines his daily responsibilities and explains how his role contributes to the division’s wider project delivery.…
Syngas – an abbreviation for synthesis gas – is a flammable mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and various hydrocarbons. Its name derives from its ability to synthesise other chemicals and act as an intermediary, generating a synthetic natural gas that creates ammonia and/or methanol. Here, Daniel Bignell, one of SOCOTEC’s senior analysts who is directly responsible for the creation of the organisation’s syngas method, explains how syngas is produced and analysed, as well as detailing how SOCOTEC can provide a range of services to assist your business with any syngas-related requirements.…
