Topsoil Investigation Screen

Is your topsoil up to scratch? Many of us spend thousands of pounds on our gardens, creating an idylic space to sit back in and relax. But much of that effort could be wasted if the topsoil we are working with is not up to scratch. Sub-optimal fertility levels and in some cases where a handful of unscrupoulous suppliers pass off poorly sourced “dirt” as topsoil, even dangerously contamination materials can be lurking beneath our feet. “Why chance it? Test it!” is a motto Safe Soil UK lives by.
 
To that end, we devised the Topsoil Investigation Screen, which looks at fertility levels, including phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, as well as checking for contaminant levels to ensure we are not compromising our well-being and indeed the health of our loved ones. In addition to asbestos and various hydrocarbons, we also take in heavy metals including lead, mercury and cadmium among other potentially dangerous elements.
 
Our TI Screen can set your mind at ease that the soil in your garden or growing space is fertile and safe, adhering to British Standards Institute (BSI) topsoil parameters as set out in BS3882:2015.
 
These take in the following:
 
CN Ratio
Visible Contaminants >2Mm
Clay Content 
Visible Contaminants Plastics 
Silt Content 
Visible Contaminants Man-Made Sharps 
Sand Content 
Soil Texture Class 
Electrical Conductivity 
Stones >2mm 
Stones >20mm 
Stones >50mm S
Nitrogen (Total) 
Carbonate 
Potassium (Available) 
Magnesium (Available) 
Calcium 
Sodium 
Exchangeable Sodium (ESP) 
Phosphorus (Available) 
Copper (Nitric Acid) 
Nickel (Nitric Acid) 
Zinc (Nitric Acid) 
LOI 440 
 
Soil Colour 
Other Material 
Soil Texture 
Boron (Hot Water Soluble) 
ACM Type 
Asbestos Identification 
Cyanide (Total) 
Arsenic 
Cadmium 
Chromium 
Copper 
Mercury (total)
Nickel 
Lead 
Selenium
Zinc 
Chromium (Hexavalent) 
 
Aliphatic TPH >C5-C6
Aliphatic TPH >C6-C8
Aliphatic TPH >C8-C10
Aliphatic TPH >C10-C12 
Aliphatic TPH >C12-C16 
Aliphatic TPH >C16-C21
Aliphatic TPH >C21-C35 
Aliphatic TPH >C35-C44 
Total Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
 
Aromatic TPH >C5-C7 
Aromatic TPH >C7-C8
Aromatic TPH >C8-C10
Aromatic TPH >C10-C12 
Aromatic TPH >C12-C16 
Aromatic TPH >C16-C21 
Aromatic TPH >C21-C35 
Aromatic TPH >C35-C44 
Total Aromatic Hydrocarbons 
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons 
 
Naphthalene 
Acenaphthylene
Acenaphthene
Fluorene 
Phenanthrene 
Anthracene 
Fluoranthene 
Pyrene 
Benzo[a]anthracene 
Chrysene 
Benzo[b]fluoranthene 
Benzo[k]fluoranthene 
Benzo[a]pyrene
Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)Pyrene 
Dibenz(a,h)Anthracene 
Benzo[g,h,i]perylene 
Total Of 16 PAHs 
 
Benzene
Toluene 
Ethylbenzene
m & p-Xylene 
o-Xylene 
Total Phenols