Highways Agency
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What are National Highways Sector Schemes
National Highways Sector Schemes are bespoke integrated management schemes within an ISO 9001:2000 framework. They have been developed in partnership with all sides of the highways industry to interpret the international quality management standard as it applies to a particular activity or industry within the United Kingdom.
They are designed to:
- Provide an industry benchmark
- Ensure that all processes are planned
- Provide a basis for continuous improvement
- Focus on quality as an objective
- Reduce overall costs for the client and supplier
- Provide and maintain a properly trained and competent workforce
- Involve all sides of the industry in scheme ownership within a partnership framework
- Ensure that Certification Bodies use auditors with technical knowledge and experience of the sector concerned
- Promote confidence in quality management systems by provision of a robust, transparent system.
The various Schemes are managed by separate technical advisory committees. Each Sector Scheme technical advisory committee interprets BS EN ISO 9001:2000 in relation to the requirements of their particular activity. A consensus is reached on the minimum levels of workmanship, services, products, testing and the training and competency of operatives needed to meet specification requirements. Auditor qualifications and requirements in respect of Environmental Management Systems and other management systems are also established. The details are contained in the individual Sector Scheme Documents.
The technical advisory committees are made up of representatives from across the sector, from clients, contractors, suppliers, trade associations, training organisations and certification bodies.
The individual technical advisory committees are overseen by the Highways Sector Scheme Liaison Group. This forum provides a focus for discussion in the effectiveness of the Sector Schemes and co-ordinates developments so that they can be uniformly taken forward by each of the technical advisory committees.
The Sector Schemes are included in the procurement process through reference in the Specification for Highway Works (SHW). For Highways Agency contracts their use is a mandatory requirement of SHW.
The Sector Scheme Documents are published by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) on behalf of the technical advisory committees. They can be downloaded from their web site www.ukas.com.
A list of registered organisations is maintained by the Secretary of the Sector Scheme technical advisory committee. Lantra Awards maintains the schedule of suppliers for the National Highways Sector Schemes on behalf of the Highways Sector Scheme Liaison Group. (See Contacts & Useful Links).
Coverage
National Highways Sector Schemes cover a variety of highways activities, the current list of Schemes is as follows:
| Scheme Number | Scheme Title | Issue date as at March 06 |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme 2A | Sector Scheme for the Design and/or Supply, Installation and Repair of Fences for Infrastructure Works. | Nov 05 |
| Scheme 2B | Sector Scheme for the Supply, Installation and Repair of Vehicle Restraint Systems | Nov 02 |
| Scheme 2C | Sector Scheme for the Design, Supply, Installation and Repair of Environmental Barriers (Structural) for Infrastructure Works | Nov 05 |
| Scheme 4 | Sector Scheme for Preservative Treatment of Timber | Nov 02 |
| Scheme 5A | Sector Scheme for the Manufacture of Parapets for Road Restraint Systems | April 05 |
| Scheme 5B | Sector Scheme for the Installation of Parapets for Road Restraint Systems | April 05 |
| Scheme 6 | Sector Scheme for Manufacture and Verification of Lighting Columns | April 05 |
| Scheme 7 | Sector Scheme for the Application of Road Marking Materials and Road Studs to Road Surfaces | Mar 03 |
| Scheme 8, 9B & 10 | The Installation and Maintenance of Highway Electrical and / or Highway Electronic equipment and / or Associated Highway works | March 06 |
| Scheme 9A | Sector Scheme for the Manufacture of Permanent and/or Temporary road Traffic Signs | Jan 06 |
| Scheme 12A | Sector Scheme for Installing, maintaining and removing static temporary traffic management on motorways and high speed dual carriageways for schemes incorporating contraflow operations and/or temporary road markings. | July 05 |
| Scheme 12B | Sector Scheme for static temporary traffic management on motorways and high speed dual carriageways for schemes not incorporating contraflow operations and/or temporary road markings. | July 05 |
| Scheme 12C | Sector Scheme for Mobile Lane Closure Traffic Management on Motorways and Other Dual Carriageways | July 05 |
| Scheme 12D | Sector Scheme for Installing, Maintaining and Removing Temporary Traffic Management on Rural and Urban Roads | July 05 |
| Scheme 13A | Sector Scheme for The Supply and Application of Surface Dressings to Road Surfaces | Jan 06 |
| Scheme 13B | Sector Scheme for the Supply and Application of Microsurfacing | Nov 03 |
| Scheme 14 | Sector Scheme for the Quality Assurance of the Production of Asphalt Mixes | Mar 04 |
| Scheme 15 | Sector Scheme for The Supply of Paving Grade Bitumen | Dec 02 |
| Scheme 16 | Sector Scheme for the Laying of Asphalt Mixes | Feb 06 |
| Scheme 17 | Sector Scheme for Vehicle Recovery at Highway Construction Sites | Sept 05 |
Further schemes are under active development, these are as follows:
| Scheme Number | Scheme Title |
|---|---|
| Scheme 18 | For the Environment and Landscape including Ecology |
| Scheme 19A | Corrosion Protection of Ferrous Materials By Industrial Coatings |
| HD46/05 | Quality Management Systems for Highway Design - Accreditation, Registration and Assessment Guidance for Certification Bodies - HD46-CBG |
Status
The Sector Schemes are included in the procurement process by incorporation in the Specification for Highway Works (SHW), they are called up in Clause 104 and are referenced in many other clauses. Appendix A of SHW lists the schemes.
Unless otherwise indicated in the contract documents they are a mandatory requirement. Any supplier providing the relevant services for the Highways Agency must be registered for the appropriate Scheme(s). SHW, does not permit sub-contractors to provide services under the umbrella of another registered supplier.
The Schemes are applied to all the Highways Agency types of procurement using SHW, i.e. including ECI, DBFO and Term Maintenance.
Other Overseeing Organisations and Highway Authorities using the SHW may also chose to use the Schemes. Reference will need to be made to individual contracts or authorities. Some of the Schemes have been developed to be client neutral with a view to them being adopted by other clients including Network Rail.
Implementation
National Highways Sector Schemes that supersede existing established and recognised Certification Body Quality Management Schemes published in the Specification for Highway Works (SHW) will be fully implemented within 12 months of the new scheme being published on the UKAS web-site. Information of the transitional arrangements is normally provided in the SHW.
Notice of new National Highways Sector Schemes will normally be provided in the SHW together with anticipated publication and implementation dates of the Scheme. Implementation of totally new schemes normally takes longer than replacement of an existing scheme with typical lead in times of 18 to 24 months depending on the supply industry readiness.
Information on transitional arrangements may also be included in the individual Sector Scheme Documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the objectives of National Highways Sector Schemes? - What do they do? - What are the benefits?
National Highways Sector Schemes (NHSS) have been developed with the support of UKAS; they are complementary to and interpret ISO 9001:2000 but do not duplicate this standard. They are designed to:
- Provide an industry benchmark
- Ensure that all processes are planned
- Provide a basis for continuous improvement
- Focus on quality as an objective
- Reduce overall costs for the client and supplier
- Provide and maintain a properly trained and competent workforce
- Involve all sides of the industry in scheme ownership within a partnership framework
- Ensure that Certification Bodies use auditors with technical knowledge and experience of the sector concerned
- Promote confidence in quality management systems by provision of a robust, transparent system.
Who owns the Schemes?
The Schemes are owned by the relevant Sector Scheme technical advisory committee.
The technical advisory committees are made up of expert representatives from across the sector from clients, contractors, suppliers, trade associations, training organisations and certification bodies. Each committee has its own constitution and terms of reference.
Why were they developed?
Individual certification bodies were developing their own interpretations of the ISO 9001 standard. This lead to disparate standards within individual highways industry sectors. The development of NHSS provided minimum standards and thus gave guidance to certification bodies and security to clients that standards were being consistently applied.
How do they operate?
Separate technical advisory committees are established for each sector. The committee interprets ISO 9001:2000 in relation to the requirements of their particular activity. A consensus is reached on the minimum levels of workmanship, services, products, testing and the training and competency of operatives needed to meet specification requirements. Auditor qualifications and requirements in respect of Environmental Management Systems and other management systems are also established. The details are recorded in the individual Sector Scheme Documents.
The committees meet on a regular basis and update the scheme requirements from time to time through amendments to the Sector Scheme Document.
How are they managed and controlled?
The individual technical advisory committees are overseen by the Highways Sector Scheme Liaison Group. This group provides a forum for discussion on the effectiveness of the Sector Schemes and co-ordinates developments so that they can be uniformly taken forward by each of the technical advisory committees. It is also the venue where dialogue with UKAS and the Certification Bodies on the application of the Schemes takes place.
How do you become NHSS registered?
You will need to contact a relevant UKAS accredited certification body that has been accredited to assess organizations for a particular sector scheme. Information on relevant Certification Bodies is given in Appendix A of the Specification for Highway Works and is available on the UKAS website, www.ukas.com under 'Certification Body Scope of Accreditation'. It is also included in the Sector Scheme Documents.
Do NHSS deliver training and competency?
Normally Sector Scheme Documents provide information on training and competency requirements for operatives and supervisors. Establishing minimum requirements has been central to the development of the Schemes. Some Schemes have been instrumental in developing training and competency qualifications where none were previously available or suitable.
Training and competency requirements generally include registration/skill card schemes which require registered operatives to carry cards indicating the status and categories of work for which they are competent to undertake. Details of recognised cards can be found in a pamphlet published by the Highways Agency titled "Approved Workforce Registration/Skill Card Requirements for Suppliers".
Who supports NHSS?
The Schemes are supported by the Highways Agency, Transport Scotland, Welsh Assembly Government, Northern Ireland Roads Service, the County Surveyors Society, many relevant trade associations, UKAS and Certification Bodies. Each of these organisations have been actively involved with the development of Schemes.
Where can I find information on specific Schemes?
The Sector Scheme Documents for the individual Schemes are published on the UKAS website:
http://www.ukas.com/information_centre/publications.asp
Who is required to have NHSS Registration?
Any supplier of services covered by NHSS and working on Highways Agency roads is required to be registered to the relevant Scheme(s) in order to comply with the Specification of Highway Works (SHW). Unless otherwise indicated in the contract documents they are a mandatory requirement. SHW does not permit sub-contractors to provide services under the umbrella of another registered supplier. Main contractors may not be registered assuming that they are employing specialist sub-contractors who are registered.
How do I know if a company has suitable registration?
The NHSS and work competencies will be referenced on the Certificates of Registration awarded by Certification Bodies, or on the appendices to the certificates.
A list of registered organisations is maintained by the Secretary of the Sector Scheme technical advisory committee who can be contacted in writing care of UKAS. Lantra Awards maintains the schedule of suppliers for the NHSS on behalf of the Highways Sector Scheme Liaison Group. See Contacts & Useful Links.
What is HD46?
HD 46/05 is a mandatory standard published by the Highways Agency in November 2005 in conjunction with the Overseeing Organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. HD 46/05 provides an interpretation of ISO 9001 for quality management systems for the design of highway infrastructure and associated activities. It includes a requirement for an organisation to have competency management in place. It is published as part of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and forms part of Volume 5, Section 2 of the Manual.
When is HD 46/05 effective?
HD 46 is effective from the date of publication and replaces HA 46/92. Design organisations may apply for registration to HD 46 from March 2006. Accreditation bodies will separately be accredited by UKAS for this standard who will be piloting this from March 2006 until March 2007.
Contacts and Useful Links
Any general enquiries can be directed to the Highways Agency by email to ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or by phone to the information line on 08457 50 40 30.
General queries regarding NHSS can be made in writing to the Secretary of the Highways Sector Scheme Liaison Group care of UKAS at the address below.
Queries with respect to specific Schemes can be sent to the Secretary of the relevant Sector Scheme technical advisory committee care of UKAS at the address below.
UKAS
21-43 High Street
Feltham
Middlesex
TW13 4UN
Tel 0208 917 8400
Fax 0208 917 8500
www.ukas.com
Sector Scheme Documents can be obtained at the UKAS web site:
http://www.ukas.com/information_centre/publications.asp
Lantra Awards maintains a schedule of suppliers for the National Highways Sector Schemes, details of which can be accessed from their website http://www.lantra-awards.co.uk/highways.htm or directly http://www.scheduleofsuppliers.com. Lantra Awards can also be contacted directly by email at NHSSscheduleofsuppliers@lantra.co.uk in respect of any queries relating to the register and at sector.schemes@lantra.co.uk with respect to Sector Schemes in general.
Queries on training and qualifications should be addressed to the following training organisations:
| Organisation Name | Work activities | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| AA The Arboricultural Association |
Landscaping and environment | Tel 01794 368717 admin@trees.org.uk http://www.trees.org.uk |
| BALI British Association of Landscape Industries |
Landscaping and environment | Tel 0870 770 4971 contact@bali.org.uk www.bali.org.uk |
| BASIS Registration Ltd. | Application of pesticides | Tel 01335 343945 Training.courses@basis-reg.co.uk www.basis-reg.com |
| BSGA British Sign & Graphics Association |
Traffic sign manufacture | Tel 01733 230033 www.bsga.co.uk |
| BWPDA British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association |
Timber preservation | Tel 01332 225100 info@bwpda.co.uk www.bwpda.co.uk |
| EPIC Training and Consultancy Ltd. | Asphalt laying | Tel 01727 869008 info@epicltd.co.uk www.epicltd.com |
| HEA Highway Electrical Academy |
Highway electrical works | Tel 01273 491145 hea@bowden-house.co.uk www.streetlighting.uk.com/HEA |
| ICATS Institution of Corrosion |
Corrosion protection | Tel 01525 851771 admin@icorr.org |
| Lantra Awards | Fencing, vehicle restraint systems (including parapets), highway electrical works, temporary traffic management & Landscaping & environment | Tel 024 7641 9703 sector.schemes@lantra.co.uk www.lantra-awards.co.uk |
| NPTC Part of City & Guilds |
Landscaping, environment including application of pesticides | Tel 024 7685 7300 information@nptc.org.uk www.nptc.org.uk |
| RSDA Road Surface Dressing Association |
Surface dressing and microsurfacing | Tel 01206 274 052 www.rsda-gb.co.uk |
| RSMA Road Safety Markings Association |
Road markings and studs | Tel 0161 7649494 rsma@dial.pipex.com www.rsma.org.uk |