Risk Analyses
Every project presents risks to the environment. The risks depend on the work method to be used in relation to the adjacent structures and infrastructure in the vicinity.
As the principal and/or the main contractor, you are responsible for these risks. SOCOTEC assists its clients in identifying these risks prior to the work and giving advice on how to limit them as much as possible.
Risk Control
Every project presents risks to the environment. The risks depend on the work method to be used in relation to the adjacent constructions and structures in the vicinity. As the principal and/or the main contractor, you are responsible for these risks.
SOCOTEC assists its clients in charting these risks prior to the work and giving advice on how to limit them as much as possible. A good way to start is to carry out risk control.
During a risk control assignment, SOCOTEC carries out an extensive analysis of the environment and risks and then incorporates the results and its monitoring recommendations in a monitoring plan.
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How is a risk control compiled?
The analysis of the surroundings looks at various elements such as:
- What is the distance from the project to the surrounding and adjacent structures?
- What condition are the surrounding and adjacent structures in?
- Are there sensitive structures such as railway tracks in the immediate vicinity?
Various databases are also consulted (such as the Dutch Land Registry Office and the Register of Addresses and Buildings - BAG) to gain insight into the construction years and any listed status of the adjacent structures. In this way the analysis of the surroundings carried out will be as complete as possible; it forms the basis for the risk analysis.
Vibration prediction
By drawing up a vibration prognosis, vibrations are charted in advance and tested against the SBR-A measurement and assessment guideline for damage to buildings. This guideline applies in the Netherlands and is generally accepted.
Doing the calculations beforehand means that the client avoids construction delays following complaints from external sources. In addition, the final measuring results of the vibration measurements will form the basis of any causality assessments.
Noise prediction
During building work in inner cities, the area is subjected to construction noise. This can inconvenience those in the vicinity, for example homes, schools and companies. In the Netherlands, only a certain number of decibels of construction noise many be caused for a certain period. The Building Code also indicates that a noise measurement must be carried out for inner city building activities.
A noise prediction calculates the noise levels of the work proposed and tests them against the requirements of the 2012 Building Code. The noise levels calculated are tested against the requirements of the Building Code at the location of the noise-sensitive elements.
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Settlement predictions
In the design phase, SOCOTEC can investigate which settlement you need to take into account for your project and whether measures need to be taken to so that the settlement-related requirements have been met on delivery of the project.
For the construction documents (or possibly as part of the final design), SOCOTEC can investigate for you what the aforementioned measure is and which specifications it has to meet. Where applicable this can be done in combination with determining the filling plan.
With regard to the aforementioned measures, you could consider (a combination of):
- Observing a settlement / waiting period if there is sufficient time so that the majority of the settling has occurred by the time the project is delivered
- Applying a temporary pre-load to accelerate the settlement process
- Using vertical drains to accelerate the settlement process
- A combination of the previous two measures
- Applying light filling material
- In special cases, using a stabilising construction, consisting of light filling material such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) or foam concrete
In the design phase, SOCOTEC can investigate which settlement you need to take into account for your project and whether measures need to be taken to so that the settlement-related requirements have been met on delivery of the project.
For the construction documents (or possibly as part of the final design), SOCOTEC can investigate for you what the aforementioned measure is and which specifications it has to meet. Where applicable this can be done in combination with determining the filling plan.
With regard to the aforementioned measures, you could consider (a combination of):
- Observing a settlement / waiting period if there is sufficient time so that the majority of the settling has occurred by the time the project is delivered
- Applying a temporary pre-load to accelerate the settlement process
- Using vertical drains to accelerate the settlement process
- A combination of the previous two measures
- Applying light filling material
- In special cases, using a stabilising construction, consisting of light filling material such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) or foam concrete
Monitoring plan
SOCOTEC charts the risks to the environment prior to the project, incorporating this information, including a detailed description of the monitoring services required, in the monitoring plan. This plan offers the contractor an excellent basis for carrying out the work in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the monitoring plan can form a basis for assessing damage claims.
