Report BR 212 Construction of new buildings on gas-contaminated land

Publication Year

1991

Document Status

Archived

Abstract

Incidents involving landfill gas in buildings have increased in recent years and these are of concern to developers and builders who are faced with the problem of developing sites where this gas is present. The principal components of landfill gas are methane (which is flammable) and carbon dioxide (which is toxic), but these two gases are also associated with coal strata, river silt, sewage and peat. The report provides a brief background on the production of landfill gas, its properties and how it migrates off-site. It then goes on to discuss assessment of gas-contaminated sites and outlines the construction principles that need to be followed when ground where methane and carbon dioxide are present is built on. The types of construction covered in this report are a concrete slab with a granular venting layer, and a ventilated subfloor void. It is recommended that private houses should be protected using only passive measures, and that active measures, which include gas monitoring, are only appropriate where there is a responsible body which can provide continuing maintenance for these measures. The report gives minimum recommended areas of ventilation and the standard for gas-proof membranes. It also recommends that service pipes and cables should be directed into buildings above the floor but that if this is unavoidable then all entry points should be properly sealed against gas ingress.

Document History

Whilst this publication can still be purchased some of the information in it has been superseded by more recent research and standards. The BRE Group does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage, including - without limitation - indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from use, or loss of use, of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this document.

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