Ground Gas Protection Verification

This course delivered over two half days virtually provides participants with a very detailed understanding of the requirements for verifying the installation of gas protection systems.

It is an essential introductory learning package for environmental and construction professionals engaged in gas protection verification. The main focus is verifying gas membranes but it will also cover venting systems. It will also cover what to consider when specifying integrity testing or checking that correct testing procedures are followed on site.

To provide participants with a detailed understanding of verification of gas protection systems following the advice in CIRIA Report C735 "Good practice on the testing and verification of protection systems for buildings against hazardous ground gases." The trainer was part of the steering committee of C735.

On completion of the course, participants will understand:
• The intended philosophy of C735 and background information;
• The link between C735 and British Standard BS8485: 2015, Code of practice for the design of protective measures for methane and carbon dioxide ground gases for new buildings;
• What verification should cover – a risk based approach;
• Verification procedures;
• Verification plan;
• Visual inspection – what to look for;
• Methods of integrity testing and main requirements for good practice;
• The verification report.

The course is specifically targeted at consultants, contractors and other stakeholders/duty holders involved with the verification, assessment and management of gas protection systems.

Michael Sweeney

Michael is an environmental engineer and director of GQA.  He is a member of Engineers Ireland with over 15 year’s experience in the brownfield development industry with specialist skills in the design and verification of ground gas protection systems. He is a CL:AIRE accredited specialist in gas protection verification (SGPV) and volunteers as an assessor for CL:AIRE on the GPVS scheme.  He has carried out consultancy and advisory work for the EPA and DOE in Ireland and specialist training for CIEH Building Control Officers and Environmental Health contaminated land officers in Northern Ireland. Michael was a contributor and sat on the steering committees of best practice guidance documents; CIRIA C716 and C735.  He also lectured at Trinity College, Dublin on the Environmental Engineering Postgraduate programme on contaminated land between 2017 and 2022.