In addition to good practice and better management of soils on site, it is important that any excess soils generated as part of the development are prevented from falling out of the chain of utility, for example being disposed to landfill. Clearly define stockpiles of different soil materials.Keep soil storage periods as short as possible.Confine traffic movement to designated routes.When stripping, stockpiling or placing soil, do so in the driest condition possible and use tracked equipment where possible to reduce compaction.Prepare a Soil Resource Plan showing the areas and type of topsoil and subsoil to be stripped, haul routes, the methods to be used, and the location, type and management of each soil stockpile.In addition to existing guidance, new guidance is under preparation to try and assist the construction industry to make further improvements for the future.Ī Construction Code of Practice for the Sustainable Use of Soils on Construction Sites by Defra in 2011 highlighted the following good practice measures relating to the management of soils on site: It is vital that soils are better managed to ensure that this resource is used in a sustainable way and that we play our part in reducing the ever-increasing demands on it. Good soil health is essential to ensure that it can function as a vital living system to sustain plant and animal productivity and health and maintain or enhance water and air quality†. In addition to the generation of surplus soils, poor management and storage of soils can result in a detrimental impact on soil health and quality and their removal from the chain of utility. ![]() The development of sites inevitably involves disturbance of in-situ soils, whether this be stripping back topsoil, forming foundation and service excavations, reprofiling site levels and/or remediating contaminated soils. It can take hundreds of years to naturally produce a few centimetres of soil and it is under ever increasing stress from the demands of a growing population as well as the numerous challenges posed by climate change. We interact with soils during the development of land, whether it be the clearance of existing vegetation and topsoil or the introduction of new landscaping, excavation, stockpiling or reengineering of soils and building foundations on it. Soil is also crucial to the storage of the world’s carbon and plays an essential role in reducing the risk of flooding. Soils can easily be taken for granted but are a vital resource to enable the production of food and produce, and are essential to the construction of the structures we live and work in.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |