Ground Investigation & Geotechnical Cleaning Equipment | V-TUF

Ground Investigation & Geotechnical — Cleaning & Dust Extraction Equipment

V-TUF supplies dust extraction equipment, pressure washers and industrial vacuums to ground investigation contractors, geotechnical engineers and contaminated land specialists across the UK. Ground investigation work generates specific dust and contamination hazards that standard site equipment does not adequately control — particularly on brownfield and contaminated land where made ground may contain asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbon contamination or other hazardous materials.

Ground investigation applications

Trial pitting and excavation dust

Trial pitting and shallow excavation on brownfield sites generates dust from made ground — imported fill material of unknown composition that may contain demolition rubble, asbestos-containing materials, industrial waste and contaminated soil. The dust profile is unpredictable until a detailed site investigation and risk assessment has been carried out. Where asbestos-containing materials may be present in made ground, H-Class extraction is required for any dust-generating work in or near those materials. Where the made ground is confirmed free of asbestos, M-Class extraction is the appropriate standard for general silica-containing soil dust. Further reading: HSE EH40 | COSHH 2002

Borehole drilling dust control

Rotary and percussion borehole drilling generates dust at the drill head and from arisings. On contaminated sites, drill arisings may contain hazardous substances requiring controlled handling and dust suppression. Dust extraction at the drill head reduces operator exposure and site contamination spread. The correct extraction class depends on the contamination profile established by the desk study and initial investigation — a preliminary risk assessment should inform the dust control specification before drilling commences.

Equipment and vehicle decontamination

Ground investigation equipment — rigs, sampling tools, CPT equipment, trial pit machinery — must be decontaminated between sites to prevent cross-contamination of samples and to comply with biosecurity and environmental requirements. Pressure washing of investigation equipment before leaving a contaminated site is standard practice. Self-contained petrol or diesel pressure washers are appropriate for remote sites without mains power. Decontamination wash-down water from contaminated sites must be contained — it is contaminated controlled waste and must not discharge to the ground, surface water or drains. See: Environment Agency guidance

Contaminated land remediation support

Ground investigation contractors often work alongside or transition into contaminated land remediation — soil washing, excavation and disposal, in-situ treatment. Remediation operations generate significant dust and contamination hazards requiring H-Class extraction, pressure washing for plant decontamination and careful wash-down water management. All remediation work is carried out under an Environmental Permit — the permit conditions will specify containment and disposal requirements for wash-down water and dust. Further reading: Environmental Permitting

Ground investigation compliance topics

COSHH — contaminated land dust — made ground and contaminated soil dust has an unpredictable hazard profile. COSHH assessment must be site-specific and based on the desk study and preliminary risk assessment. Generic COSHH assessments are not adequate for brownfield investigation. Further reading: COSHH Regulations 2002
CAR 2012 — asbestos in made ground — where asbestos-containing materials may be present in made ground, CAR 2012 obligations apply to any work that may disturb those materials. H-Class extraction is mandatory. Further reading: Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 | H-Class extraction
HSE EH40 — soil and mineral dust WELs — silica-containing soils generate RCS dust with a WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA). Ground investigation on sites with high silica content natural soils requires dust control to maintain exposures below this limit. Further reading: HSE EH40
Environmental Permitting — decontamination wash-down — wash-down water from contaminated site equipment decontamination is controlled waste. It must be contained and disposed of through licensed routes — not discharged to ground, surface water or drains. Further reading: Environmental Permitting
CDM 2015 — ground investigation as construction work — ground investigation is construction work under CDM 2015. Notifiable projects require a principal designer and construction phase plan addressing dust and contamination control. Further reading: CDM 2015

Equipment specification for ground investigation

H-Class dust extractors — for any work where asbestos-containing materials may be present in made ground or where the contamination profile is unknown. Further reading: H-Class extraction
M-Class dust extractors — for confirmed asbestos-free sites where silica-containing soil dust is the primary hazard. Further reading: M-Class extraction
Petrol pressure washers — for equipment decontamination on remote sites without mains power. Fully self-contained capability for site gate decontamination.
Diesel bowser pressure washers — for larger scale equipment decontamination on extended investigation programmes or remediation sites.
Industrial wet and dry vacuums — for drill arisings collection and general site cleanup on investigation sites.