FAQs

Whilst rare that there is a query with an invoice, please contact our accounts department who will be able to assist. Contact information can be found on the invoice.

We can accept credit card payments for UK orders only.

We deal in three main currencies – GBP, USD or EUR. Other currencies can be accessed upon request.

Yes, please contact [email protected] to enquire about a credit account. Please note successful application will depend on a number of factors.

Of course, we welcome any of our customers to visit our facility so we can showcase the processes and controls we have in place. If you want to see what the facility looks like remotely, please check out our virtual tour

Yes, all our products are calibrated to UKAS traceable standard using state of the art equipment. We can also perform recalibration on some sensors such as inclinometers, piezometers etc

We have a full quality management system, from the acceptance of raw materials, to machined components, we meticulously inspect the components that are used to make our sensors. We also have full traceability of manufacture throughout the build, ensuring that every step is followed correctly. Finally there is a full quality inspection of the final product before it is shipped, including a functionality check.

Yes, Geosense is fully certificated to ISO 9001:2015 via a UKAS accredited certification and has robust and thorough quality inspections to ensure all our sensors meet industry and customer requirements

Each sensor typically has a cable suited to its type/application, however for many of our sensors there is a choice of cable type depending on the application. We supply heavy duty, strain reinforced, braided cables, but are able to handle most cables required by the project. We also have experience supplying specific standards cables such as LSZH or London Underground approved.

PANIC!

Whilst it’s not an ideal situation, the following may help…

1. Refer to the calibration sheet for a specific piezometer and note the Average reading in Digits at ‘0.0’ pressure reading. This should be ‘close’ to the installation zero.
2. Elevation, atmospheric pressure and temperature will also affect the Zero so it is necessary to compare the site values with those detailed on the calibration sheet. A more accurate ‘calculated’ zero can then be created by compensating for any significant differences.

If you need assistance with these calculations, please contact the Geosense support team by email to  [email protected] or call +44 1359270457.

Grout mixes should always be provided by the instrumentation design engineer taking into account local ground conditions. Permeability if the key factor to be considered. For further information, read the blog ‘Fully Grouted Method – Grout Selection‘.

Contreras et al. (2008, 2012) identified that the permeability of grout can be up to three orders of magnitude higher than the permeability of the surrounding soil without inducing a significant error.

The document ‘2020 ISO 18674-4 Measurement of pore water pressure: Piezometers‘ provides specifications for grout according to soil type. In the UK, it can be ordered from the British Standards Institution.

Grout mixes should always be provided by the instrumentation design engineer taking into account local ground conditions.

The general rule for grouting any kind of instrument in a borehole is to try and mimic strength and deformation characteristics of the surrounding soil rather than permeability.

While it is feasible to match strengths, it is not really feasible to match the deformation modulus and it is a more sensible approach to minimise the area of the grouted annulus with an approximate strength grout so that the column will only contribute a weak force.

Take a look at our easy-to-use Grout Calculator developed to work out the quantity of cement, Bentonite and water required according to soil type, bore diameter, depth of bore and number of boreholes.

We would suggest no. If sensors are pulled from the casing and then reinstalled, the previous baseline readings are unlikely to be comparable. Output will stabilise after time but even slight differences in the positioning of the sensors will appear as changes (movement) in plots. It is better to establish a new baseline.

Geosense 70mm QJ and XC casing is made in the UK from high impact 100% virgin ABS.

The answer to this question very much depends on the application and project type. However shorter spacings are not always better and using longer spacings where applicable will save clients’ money and time. The recent ISO 18674-3 Measurement of displacements across a line: Inclinometers standard recommends spacings up to 2m for IPI strings.

PUR cable is very robust and especially resistant to puncture and abrasion. It is also more UV stable than other jacket materials.

No, vibrating wire sensors require incredibly low power to ‘excite’ and read. This is why many vibrating wire enabled dataloggers have very long battery life, even at short monitoring intervals.

We strongly recommend using a LAE (low resistance to air entry) stainless steel filter for all Geosense vibrating wire piezometers installed using the fully grouted method.

ISO 18674-4 Piezometers states High air entry porous filters shall not be used with the fully grouted method unless there is a means of removing air from the piezometer.

All access casings can be filled with clean water to counteract buoyancy during installation. We strongly advise against holding the casing down by loading the top as it will cause snaking in the casing.

The preferred approach is to either anchor the base of the tube or for a temporary weight to be lowered to the base, inside the casing.

Our VW gauges are calibrated using Digits, but some dataloggers read gauges in Hz.  It is necessary to convert Hz to Digits to use the calibration factors.  Use the following equations:

From Hz to Digits: (Reading in Hz)² / 1000

From Digits to Hz: √ (Reading in Digits x 1000)

Yes, all our piezometers are fitted with 90V Gas Plasma Arrester which protects against voltage spikes.

However, it is recommended that primary lightning protection should be installed where cable runs or terminal equipment might be exposed to lightning strikes.

Yes, Geosense readouts can be used to take readings from most historically installed and current Vibrating Wire sensors.

Yes, you can shorten or extend VW cables as much as you like. It will not affect the calibration or void your warranty.  It is recommended that epoxy resin joints are used but this is not essential if the joint is not exposed to the elements. However, it is not recommended to have a joint within a borehole. Care should be taken to avoid strain on the cable in the jointed zone.

Yes, every Geosense pressure sensor is temperature calibrated from factory as standard therefore readings can be compensated for small effects of thermal changes.