Confined Space Cleaning

Thompson Group 365 provides safe, fully compliant confined space cleaning across the UK, delivering specialist cleaning, inspection, and maintenance in tanks, vessels, silos, pits, culverts, and other restricted areas.

Key Confined Space Cleaning Services

  • Confined space tank, vessel, and silo cleaning
  • Pit, sump, culvert, and chamber cleaning and de‑sludging
  • High pressure and ultra high pressure cleaning inside confined spaces
  • Remote and semi‑automated internal cleaning tools
  • Confined space entry with full permit, gas monitoring, and rescue cover
  • Waste removal, transport, and compliant disposal
  • Pre‑inspection and pre‑commissioning confined space cleaning

The benefits of using Thompson Group 365

  • Specialist teams – Fully trained confined space entrants, attendants, and supervisors with extensive industrial experience.
  • Safety first – Robust procedures, permits, and rescue plans on every confined space job.
  • Integrated services – Confined space cleaning combined with industrial cleaning, jetting, UHP, and waste management.
  • Advanced equipment – Modern access, lifting, monitoring, jetting, and vacuum equipment for complex sites.
  • 24/7, 365 support – Rapid mobilisation for planned works, outages, and emergency response across the UK.
  • Cost‑effective solutions – Efficient project planning and execution that minimises downtime and total cost of ownership.

What Is Confined Space Cleaning?

Confined space cleaning involves working in enclosed or partially enclosed areas with limited access, poor ventilation, or potential hazards such as toxic gases, low oxygen, or engulfment risks. Typical examples include storage tanks, process vessels, silos, sumps, pits, pipework, culverts, and underground chambers.

These environments cannot be cleaned safely with standard methods or untrained personnel. They require a dedicated team, specialist equipment, permit-to-work systems, and clear rescue arrangements to ensure every job is carried out safely and efficiently.

Our Confined Space Cleaning Services

Thompson Group 365 delivers a complete confined space cleaning solution, from initial survey and planning through to cleaning, waste removal, inspection, and safe return to service.

Tank, Vessel & Silo Cleaning

Safe, controlled cleaning of storage tanks, process vessels, and silos to restore capacity, prepare for inspection, or change product.

  • Internal and external cleaning of water, fuel, chemical, and product tanks.
  • Removal of sludge, sediment, scale, product residues, and contaminants.
  • Cleaning of silos and bins containing powders, grains, minerals, or by‑products.
  • Pre‑inspection cleaning to support NDT, integrity checks, and regulatory inspections.

Pits, Sumps, Culverts & Chambers

Cleaning and de‑sludging of below‑ground and difficult‑access structures to keep drainage and process systems working as designed.

  • Cleaning of pits, sumps, interceptors, bunds, and chambers.
  • Removal of sludge, grit, debris, and settled solids.
  • Culvert and large-diameter pipe cleaning to restore flow and prevent blockages.
  • Integration with jetting and vacuum units for efficient waste removal.

High & Ultra High Pressure Cleaning in Confined Spaces

Combining confined space entry expertise with high pressure and ultra high pressure (UHP) water jetting for tough deposits and coatings.

  • High pressure jetting for internal cleaning of tanks, vessels, and pipework.
  • Ultra high pressure jetting for heavy scale, coatings, and refractory removal.
  • Use of automated and semi‑automated tools to minimise manual entry.
  • Cold processes that reduce fire and explosion risks in flammable environments.

Remote & Assisted Cleaning Solutions

Where possible, we reduce or avoid man entry by using remote tools and specialist access systems.

  • Remote lances and 3D spray heads for internal tank and vessel cleaning.
  • Flexible shaft and rotary cleaning tools for pipework and small openings.
  • Use of CCTV and inspection cameras to guide and verify cleaning.
  • Reduced exposure for personnel and more consistent cleaning results.

Waste Removal, Handling & Disposal

Safe, compliant removal and management of all waste generated during confined space cleaning.

  • Pumping and vacuum removal of liquids, sludge, and solids.
  • Segregation and containment of hazardous and non‑hazardous waste streams.
  • Transport to licensed facilities for treatment, recycling, or disposal.
  • Full documentation to support your environmental and compliance records.

Safety & Compliance

Confined space work is high‑risk, so safety is at the core of every project Thompson Group 365 undertakes. Every confined space job is planned, controlled, and supervised from start to finish.

  • Formal risk assessments, method statements, and confined space permits.
  • Continuous gas monitoring, ventilation, and atmospheric control.
  • Trained entrants, top‑men/attendants, and dedicated rescue provision.
  • Use of appropriate PPE and safety equipment, including harnesses, tripods, retrieval systems, and intrinsically safe lighting and tools.

Industries & Applications

Our confined space cleaning services support a wide range of sectors where safe entry and cleaning of restricted spaces is critical.

  • Oil & Gas / Petrochemical – Tank, vessel, and pit cleaning; turnaround support; sludge removal.
  • Power Generation – Boiler drums, tanks, culverts, and below‑ground structures.
  • Chemical & Process Industries – Reactor, vessel, and sump cleaning; product changeover cleaning.
  • Food & Beverage – Silos, bins, process tanks, and hygiene‑critical confined spaces.
  • Water & Wastewater – Tanks, chambers, wells, culverts, and stormwater infrastructure.
  • Manufacturing & Heavy Industry – Pits, bunds, sumps, and process-related confined spaces.

Need Confined Space Cleaning Support?

If you have tanks, vessels, pits, culverts, or other confined spaces that need cleaning, inspection, or maintenance, Thompson Group 365 can help. Our specialist teams and equipment deliver safe, compliant, and efficient confined space cleaning across the UK.

Contact our confined space cleaning team today to discuss your requirements and arrange a site survey or quote.