In 2018, our team took out their drone to capture some aerial footage of the explosive demolition of Barrington Chimney (CEMEX) in Cambridgeshire.  

Erith is commissioned on site to undertake the controlled demolition, and with Swantest, they were using Campbell Associates remote, cloud-based environmental monitoring solution to measure the impacts on the environment, providing real-time data, including SMS and email alerts.

The 58-year-old chimney was toppled by Erith with explosives, a 56m (184ft) tall chimney overlooking the peaceful Barrington Village. 

Environmental monitors were installed on the north, east, south and west boundaries of the site to measure the impact of the demolition on the environment. Swantest chooses Campbell Associates to supply the Sonitus Cloud solution, using the Aeroqual | Dust Sentry for Mcerts PM10 monitoring, the AVA | Trace M80 for vibration monitoring (with 8 months battery life), and the (just supply power) Sonitus Systems EM2030 Noise Monitor. 

Today with new technologies, we can connect from anywhere in the world with remote mobile connections, allowing us to see data, audio, and video in real-time. These technologies can be implemented into small aerial drones, environmental monitors and vehicles.

The Construction Code of Practice has been updated to assist developers and construction professionals manage the environmental issues, and minimise the impacts of construction activities. The document clearly specifies the requirements for real time monitoring of Noise, Vibration and Dust with measurements used for the alerting of exceedences and reporting.

Below is a brief overview of the monitoring requirements associated with the latest guidance from Westminster City Council with regard to Noise, Vibration and Dust emissions. It is essential that anyone planning to undertake developments in Westminster, download and read the entire document: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/code-construction-practice

The CoCP is a very useful guide and gives valuable information and references for best practice related to construction projects even outside the borough of Westminster.

It is likely that the monitoring requirements of the CoCP document will extend to other London Boroughs, Cities and Districts across the UK in the coming months and years.

The monitoring requirements depend on the type of project, with the CoCP dividing developments into categories based on size, complexity and proximity of sensitive receptors.

Level 1: Large/ strategic developments

>1000 residential units, or

>10000m2 Floorspace from creation or change of use

Level 2: Developments of

>10 or more new build residential units

>1000 m2 Floorspace from creation or change of use

Level 3: All developments falling outside of the definitions of Level 1 and 2 projects

Basements: those not fitting level 1 or 2 requirements as above

Major refurbishments:

Those of a large enough scale with equivalent impacts will be treated as Level 1, 2 and 3 above

Note:

The Council may move a site from a low to a high level, if:

– It’s impact on neighbouring users is likely to be high, or

– It is located in a particularly sensitive area, or

– The nature of the development would cause high impact work or a refurbishment period of 12 12 months (or more)

Monitoring Requirements

Level 1 and 2 developments will require real time monitors of a number and location to be defined. Data should be reported monthly. Exceedences above set limits should be investigated immediately.

Baseline measurements should be made prior to developments.

Level 3 – Real time monitornig not required unless project upgraded to higher category.

Noise prediction – Level 1 and 2 developments will require prediction models to map noise emissions for various stages of the project. See CadnaA software

Dust

Level 1 requires simultaneous PM10 and PM2.5 monitoring – See new Sonitus DM30 dust monitor

Level 2 Requires PM10 only

Trigger and action levels are set out below.

All measurements made on automatic continuous PM10 monitors that comply with the MCERTS Indicative Ambient Particulate Monitors standard.