About Us
S.I UXO is the fruition of decades of renowned UXO engineering knowledge and experience underpinned by an ambition to transform the industry.
S.I UXO is an established UXO risk management company committed to safeguarding infrastructure, personnel, and investment through precise, compliant, and efficient unexploded ordnance services.
Founded by former military EOD specialists and geotechnical engineers, our leadership brings over 50 years of combined field experience to each project. From pre-construction planning to post-clearance certification, our services are aligned with CIRIA C681 guidance and industry best practice.
We are trusted by major developers, Tier 1 contractors, utilities providers, and governmental bodies. Our expertise spans all phases of UXO risk mitigation, from desk-based assessments to intrusive surveys and full clearance operations. We distinguish ourselves through deep technical proficiency, CIRIA C681-certified methodology, and proprietary technology, most notably our Cone Penetration Testing rig capable of precise deep intrusive detection.
Our mission is to mitigate risk with certainty, protecting people, infrastructure and investment through robust, evidence-based UXO services.
Why Choose S.I UXO?
Fully insured operations
In-house geophysicists, EOD engineers, and survey teams
Swift mobilisation across the UK
Our operations meet the latest standards under CIRIA C681, and HSE guidance, fully certified, always up to date
Specialist intrusive survey capability and vacuum excavations
UXO: What It Means and Why It Matters
Understanding unexploded ordnance and its ongoing risks today.
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) refers to military munitions that were deployed, fired, dropped, buried or dumped – but failed to function as intended. These devices may date back to the First and Second World Wars or to post-war military training, and they remain live and potentially lethal to this day.
Each year across the UK, thousands of UXO items are discovered during construction, excavation, utilities work and even private landscaping. These range from 1,000kg aerial bombs to smaller items such as mortars, grenades and artillery shells. While many are found in urban areas bombed during the Blitz, others are uncovered in rural farmland, riverbeds and marine environments.
Despite decades underground, UXO often retains volatile explosives or unstable fuze mechanisms. Disturbing them – even inadvertently, can result in detonation, injury or fatality.
Common UXO Hotspots Across the UK
UXO can occur almost anywhere in the UK but is most commonly encountered in the following environments:
Cities that were heavily bombed during the Second World War, including London, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow
Former military sites, such as RAF airfields, training ranges and munitions depots
Ports and industrial infrastructure that were wartime targets
Reclaimed and backfilled land, including infilled bomb craters
Marine environments where munitions were dumped or lost during naval activity
The presence of UXO is not always visible or documented. It is often discovered only when ground is disturbed during development.
UXO Risks in Modern Construction
UXO poses a serious threat to health and safety, particularly on projects involving:
Piling and deep excavation
Ground investigations and boreholes
Utilities and service trenching
Site clearance and demolition
Marine dredging and offshore works
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, UXO is a foreseeable hazard that must be assessed and controlled. CIRIA C681 provides the UK’s accepted framework for UXO risk management in construction and engineering.
Step-by-Step: The UXO Risk Mitigation Process
S.I UXO provides a structured approach to identifying and mitigating UXO threats, aligned with CIRIA C681 guidance:
Risk Assessment
Our desktop assessments use military archives, bombing records, aerial imagery and land use history to determine if a credible UXO risk exists. We deliver both Preliminary and Detailed Risk Assessments depending on site conditions and proposed works.
Surveying
Where required, we carry out geophysical surveys to detect subsurface anomalies. These may be non-intrusive surface-based scans or intrusive investigations using our CPT 25t rig to test deeper ground layers.
Target Investigation and Clearance
If anomalies are detected, our teams undertake controlled excavation and identification. Confirmed UXO items are made safe and either removed or neutralised by qualified explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists.
On-Site Supervision
For high-risk operations, we provide on-site UXO engineers who oversee works, deliver toolbox talks and ensure safety protocols are followed in real time.
S.I UXO is a UK-based leader in unexploded ordnance risk management, delivering compliant services for land and marine developments with precision, safety, and integrity.
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