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BAT Assessment – Norfolk

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BAT Assessment – Norfolk

SWEL have recently produced a BAT assessment for a installation permit application in Norfolk. A BAT assessment is a report which look at BAT (Best Available Technique) for a particular process and then compares the proposed process with those techniques.

Typically BAT is carried out using the relevant “How to Comply” document for you sector. Sector specific guidance can range from effluent treatment, surface treatment of metals or food and drink. Each set of guidance has its own BAT for a particular process.

The BAT Assessment reports focesses on Gap Analysis. i.e. the point at which you proposed process does not aline with BAT.

Sometimes BAT is a number or benchmark, which say for the foo and rink industry is 50mg/m3 for Dust (Particulates).

Sometimes BAT is a way of doing something, for example including a buffer tank in you effluent treatment system.

Writing s BAT assessment is a time consuming task, and it is not overly interesting either. We will give you a set price quotation for writing your BAT Assessment, and if you choose to go ahead that is one less thing for you to do!

H1 Risk Assessment Consultants

Odour Management Plan – London (WC1B – Camden)

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Odour Management Plan – London (WC1B – Camden)

Southwest Environmental were recently commissioned to write an Odour Management Plan for a Chinese Restaurant in Southampton Row, London.

Usually these reports are produced for Planning applications, but in this case the Odour Management Plan has been requested by the Landlord of the building in question.

We visited the premises to make an inspection of current arrangements and found a pre-installed system, which broadly meets the current guidance for odour management measures. 

A typically system for a moderate odour application would contain grease baffles, course filtration and GAC filters. These were all present in this case.

The odour management report was prepared on a quick turnaround and will include all management measures required to staify landlords requirements. These are operational documents written in plane English.

Southwest Environmental Limited can prepare Odour Management Plans for all types of restaurants, we have experience with Turkish, BBQ, Charcoal Cooking, Fish and Chips Shops and all manner of other eateries.

If you would like to discuss your requirements then please call and we can discuss your needs, no obligation of course.

Flood Risk Assessment – Enfield, London

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Flood Risk Assessment – Enfield, London

Southwest Environmental Limited were approached by a firm of Architects, and were commissioned for producing a Flood Risk Assessment for  Residential Extension in Enfield.

In this case the report was required on a quick turnaround. We would normally recommend waiting for bespoke site data, takes around 20 workings days to be delivered. But in this case that was too long due to deadlines, and so the report was prepared based on commercially available data that is delivered same day.

The house is very close Immediately adjacent to a water course, and as such is at some risk of flooding the purpose of the flood risk assessment is to assess this risk, and provide quantitative commentary on the nature of the flooding.

Limited advice was also given of rainwater attenuation. An attenuation volume was calculated as part of a Surface Water Management Plan, although this does not constitute a Full Drainage Strategy.

Drainage Strategy – Amersham, Buckinghamshire

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Southwest Environmental were contact my a firm of architects who required a Surface Water Management Plan (Drainage Strategy) for their site is amersham. The project involves the extension of an existing warehouse.

The additional roof area has the potential to create run-off. A design was put forward to counter this problem.

Run-Off is when water falls on a hard surface, and does not soak in to the ground. It then will “run-off” . . . but where will it go. Perhaps it is caused flooding elsewhere. This is the purpose of a Surface Water Drainage Strategy. It sets out a method for dealing with Run-Off

The report was prepared on a quick turnaround (5 working days) and submitted for review. Pending some minor amendments at request of the client the report was submitted to Chiltern District Council for Scrutiny.

Are current design avoids the use of soak-away drainage although is does recommend for some attenuation.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring – Bristol

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SWEL Air Quality Consultants Bristol were approached by a site manager in Bristol who was concerned with odours in one of his companies meeting rooms. Southwest Environmental attended site to make an assessment of what was occuring.

It looked as though some carpet tiles on the floor of the room identified were “melted” in some way. It is likely we thought that some sort of solvent had been spilled on the floor. . .or had been present when the tiles were laid.

We start a rapid monitoring program for the presence of VOCs in the room in line with occupational exposure limits. We also sent the carpet tiles for analysis, to find out:

  • The type of Resin use in their making
  • Foreign contaminants (such as solvents)
We are awaiting results on both the monitoring and the analysis and will make conclusions is due course. 

Site Investigation – Trowbridge, Wiltshire

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Southwest Environmental has recently undertaken a site investigation in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The purpose of the investigations were two fold.

  1. Find Out Soil Strengths
  2. Expose Existing Footings
The work was undertaken over 2 days, and the data was used to write a report on the state of the ground on site. The existing pad footing appear to be bedding directly on to the bedrock which was a cornbrash limestone: Limestone, medium- to fine-grained, predominantly bioclastic wackestone and packstone with sporadic peloids; generally and characteristically intensely bioturbated and consequently poorly bedded, although better bedded, commonly somewhat arenaceous units occur in places, particularly in the upper part. Generally bluish grey when fresh, but weathers to olive or yellowish brown. Thin argillaceous partings or interbeds of calcareous mudstone may occur.
SPT data was used to provide input data for bearing capacity calculations. These are then provided to the structural engineer.
SWEL undertake site investigation all over the UK. We try to do things on a quick turnaround where possible. 

Noise & Vibration Monitoring – Horsham, West Sussex

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Southwest Environmental Limited were recently commissioned undertake long term noise and vibration monitoring for a site in Horsham.

The site in question was a residential usage, with demolition and construction activities occurring immediately adjacent.

Concerns were raised by residents and site management with regards to the levels of noise and vibration experienced by residents.

SWEL acted rapidly to implement a monitoring program on behalf of the client, with an aim to reassure residents.

It was found that noise and vibration levels were for the most part below thresholds as described in the relevant British Standards, although there were some short term exceedances.

The situation has now been described to the residents and its is clear they have been reassured as the number of complaints has dropped significantly.

If you have any requirement for Noise and Vibration Monitoring please ring for a no obligation no charge discussion, and we will duly provide a fixed price quotation.

Farm Environmental Audit – Dorset

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Southwest Environmental Limited were commissioned by a national charity to make an Farm Environmental Audit or Review of there operations as a site in Dorset.

SWEL do undertake Agricultural work, this aspect suited or remit well in that the main focus of Environmental Audit was Surface Water Management and Waste Management both are topics we have considerable experience in.

A review was made of the premises, and a 21 page report was issued within 3 days of the visit, detailing findings and recommendations. We focused on low cost solutions to the problem in hand avoiding large capital expenditure requirements focusing on improvements to operating techniques and site management. 

Transfer Station Costings – Kent

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Southwest Environmental Limited have recently provided support to a company looking to establish a waste transfer station in Kent. The company were interested in costs of applying for an Environmental Permit. Besides the fees to the Environment Agency and Environmental Consultancy Fees, there are also various hardware and infrastructure costs to consider.

This is certainly the case with Fire Prevention where the EA request all manner of features installed to reduce risks from fire, and also fire water run-off.

Waste Transfer – Simple in Principal . . .  .

Based on our past experience with such matter SWEL prepared a list of requirements as we saw worst case. We included hardware costs and administrate costs on a spreadsheet (provided in XLS format) which we hope will be of use. The request was tuned around quickly in under 4 working days from commissioning.

Sequential Test Review – Rochford

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Southwest Environmental Limited have been commissioned by Rochford District Council , to make an independent review of a Sequential Test document on their behalf.

The site is within a regeneration area and as such the the search area justification for the site has been restricted to the regeneration area.

We have considerable experience in all things Flood Risk, and have been writing reports for 10 years this June. Much has changed over that time, but the Sequential Test has away been a problematic elements of flood risk reporting.

If you would like any help with reviewing your sequential test prior to submitting it to the council we would be happy to assist, we could also do the whole thing if you prefer.