Cover systems for land regeneration - thickness of cover systems for contaminated land (BR465)
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
On 22 March 2004, BRE published; Cover systems for land regeneration - thickness of cover systems for contaminated land (BR465), written by P Tedd, P Witherington, D Earle, S Hollingsworth, B Furlong, L Bradley, H Mallett and D Laidler. It was prepared by RSK ENSR Ltd on behalf of the Association of Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Specialists (AGS) in partnership with BRE.
Cover systems can reduce the risk to human health posed by contaminated land and provide a medium for plant growth. However, poor design can result in unnecessarily thick, or inadequate cover.
BR465 can be used to help assess the need for cover systems and to determine their thickness. It is intended for simple cover systems on brownfield sites where exposure to contamination needs to be reduced. It is not appropriate for sites where exposure to contamination must be completely prevented.
The booklet comes with a CD ROM which includes:
- A powerpoint presentation setting the scene and introducing the study that led to the development of the methodology.
- A report detailing; the findings of an in-depth study of design approaches, a literature review and on-site research; proposing a simple method for designing cover thickness, a more rigorous spreadsheet-based method and a worked example.
- A spreadsheet enabling the design of combinations of cover thickness and ground contamination for a wide range of contaminants.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved Document C.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Brownfield land.
- Building on fill.
- Building Research Establishment BRE
- Contaminated land.
- Environmental engineering.
- Ground conditions.
- Ground investigation.
- Hydraulically treated soils in residential construction (BR 513).
- Landfill tax.
- Methane and other gasses from the ground.
- Pollution.
- Pre construction information.
- Radon.
- Radon: Guidance on protective measures for new buildings BR 211.
- Settlement.
- Site appraisal.
- Soil survey.
- Solid and liquid contaminants risk assessments.
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.