After a long period of uncertainty, Ireland’s construction sector is booming again with a significant increase of on-site activity at sites nationwide. A thriving construction sector is crucial to the country’s economic recovery and paramount to easing the housing crisis however it is important that such activity is not at the expense of our environment. Increasingly local authorities are demanding that developers pay due care to the environment. As a result, construction environmental management plans (CEMPs) are becoming a standard tool utilised
Environmental compliance monitoring is a legal necessity. It is part of corporate accountability and an efficient and effective way to avoid unnecessary loss of resources. Environmental compliance management ensures that: Compliance tasks are completed on time and assigned to competent professionals. Data is refined and uploaded correctly. Nothing is overlooked from a legislative and compliance
The ORS Environmental Team outline why in their experience the early appointment of an environmental consultant is the best strategy to avoid unforeseen scenarios and ensure a project’s success. Picture the following scenario… after months of careful planning and preparation; the construction phase is finally underway. Plant is mobilised to site and enabling works are
Firewater Risks Assessments explained A Firewater Risk Assessment (FWRA) is an evaluation of the predicted volume and composition of firewater generated in the event of a fire occurring on-site. Firewater, in this context, is defined as the liquid which arises from water, foam, rainwater or other substances that have been used for fire-fighting purposes. Firewater
ORS have just completed the integrity testing of bunds and underground services at a large multi-national biotechnology facility in Blanchardstown. These works involved the testing of >80 bunds, 8km of underground pipework and firewater retention ponds. The works were carried out in accordance with the site works permit system and Standard Operating Procedures eg: confined
The Impacts of Oil/Kerosene Loss at your Premises The Beast from the East may have retreated some time now but the consequences of its visit linger for many. From damage to property, loss of farm animals and impact to drinking water supplies the public, County Councils and insurance companies have a lot to deal with.
U.N Climate Change Summit 2019 Some 40 years ago, the first World Climate Conference was organised by a committee chaired by Robert M. White, an American meteorologist from the USA. Negotiations on several disciplines like agriculture, energy, environment and ecology to name a few were discussed by 350 specialists from 53 countries, along with numerous
Are we prepared for increased flood severity across Europe? The increasing severity of flood events is both a global and national issue. In Northern Kyushu, Japan 670,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes at the end of August 2019 due to flooding. The impact has been felt in Ireland too. In recent years significant
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) – Why in today’s built environment are they becoming increasingly important? Firstly, what is a SuDS? A SuDS is a sequence of conveyance systems and control structures designed to manage the drainage of surface water. They offer a more sustainable approach to managing surface water than conventional techniques by providing a
