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Last edited 15 Feb 2023

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BREEAM Considerate Construction

1 Aim and benefits
2 When to consider
3 Step-by-step guidance
4 Questions to ask while seeking compliance
5 Tools and resources
6 Tips and best practice
7 Typical evidence
- 7.1 Design stage
- 7.2 Post construction stage
8 Applicable schemes
9 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Aim and benefits

The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) is a national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image. The Code of Considerate Practice focuses on construction activities which impact the general public, workforce and the environment and requires those registered sites, companies and suppliers to show a commitment to care about appearance, respect the community, protect the environment, secure everyone's safety and value their workforce. Since its introduction in 1997, the scheme has helped ensure construction sites are managed in an environmentally and socially considerate, responsible and accountable manner and has also aided improving conditions and facilities for those working on site.

It should be noted that, under BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit-Out for Non-Domestic Buildings, 1 credit can be achieved under Man03 for Considerate Construction without registration under the CCS scheme, where defined as small-scale or low-value projects.

[edit] When to consider

Construction sites should be registered before any construction activity commences, including initial demolition work.

[edit] Step-by-step guidance

[edit] BREEAM UK NC 2018

It is no longer an explicit requirement to sign up to the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), but if two or more credits (Exemplary) are sought, then this is still the easiest route to compliance, although additional requirements over and above the CCS are now needed.

The CCS Scoring has been updated for 2019, the checklist is now scored out of 45, with a maximum of 9 points per category. An additional discretional 5 points are available to reward sites, companies or suppliers who have developed innovative ways of addressing Scheme expectations.

To achieve 1 credit will require the completion of items a, d, f, g, h, j, n, o and r of Table 1 of BREEAM Guidance Note GN33, (Man03: Table 4.1 within Technical Manual (TM) version SD5078 Issue 2.0) except for item ‘g’ these will all be covered by the CCS 'Certificate of Compliance'.

Item 'g' is: 'Ensure clear and safe access in and around buildings/ homes at the point of handover'.

To achieve 2 credits will require the achievement of six additional items within Table 1 of GN33 (Table 4.1 of the TM) from items b, c, e, i, k, l, m, p and q. Except for 'p' and 'q' these will be covered by the CCS 'Performance Beyond Compliance'.

Item ‘p’ is: The fleet operators undertakes driver training and awareness to promote safety within the development footprint and off site.

Item ‘q’ is: The fleet operators, captures and investigates any road accidents, incidents and near misses and reports them back to the principal contractor. The principal contractor analyses these items.

Items 'p' and 'q' are covered by the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) and/ or Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS).

To achieve the Exemplary credit requires the completion of all items within Table 1 of GN33 (Table 4.1 of the TM).

[edit] BREEAM UK NC 2014

The commitment to achieve the required score should be included within the contract documents or set out in a formal letter from the client/developer. Up until the 31 December 2018 this would have been as follows:

for one credit: a CCS score of between 25 and 34, with a minimum of 5 points under each section;
for two credits: a CCS score of between 35 and 39, with a minimum score of 7 under each section;
Exemplary level performance: a CCS score of 40 or more, with a minimum score of 7 under each section.

[edit] Considerate Constructors Scheme Update 2019

From the 1st January 2019, the Considerate Constructors Scheme has updated its scoring methodology as follows:

The highest achievable score for sites, companies and suppliers will still be 50 but this will now be made up from two distinct scores.

From the monitoring visit assessing performance against the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice, the highest score achievable will be 45 – a maximum of 9 points per category – meaning the site, company or supplier is performing to exceptional standards across the five sections.

An additional 5 points are then available, at the discretion of the Scheme, to reward those sites, companies or suppliers who have developed innovative ways of addressing Scheme expectations.

Following the final monitoring visit to a registered site, company or supplier, certificates are issued dependant on the scores across the five sections of the Monitor’s Site Report. Certificates of Compliance are awarded to those who have scored 5 or more in each of the sections, while a Certificate of Performance Beyond Compliance is awarded to those scoring 7 or more in each of the five areas.

New for the 2019 is a Certificate of Excellence which will be awarded to sites, companies and suppliers who score 8 or more points in each of the five sections of the Monitor’s Site Report.

[edit] Further guidance

The site should be registered under the Considerate Constructors Scheme prior to any works commencing on site and therefore at this stage, proof of registration can be requested.

The site will usually undergo at least 2 site inspections by an appointed CCS Site Monitor, usually one quarter and two thirds of the way through the registration, unless they are of short duration and will therefore receive only one visit.

During the site visit, the site monitor will inspect and assess how the site performs against the following issues:

Care about Appearance - external appearance, clean and tidy site, etc.
Respect the Community - informing and showing courtesy to those affected by the works, minimising impact of deliveries and parking etc, supporting the local community, etc.
Protect the Environment - managing works to minimise the impact of vibration, air, light and noise pollution and protecting the local ecology.
Secure Everyone's Safety - ensuring safety of the pubic, visitors and workforce and minimising security risks to neighbours.
Value their Workforce - providing a supportive and caring working environment..

Within the Site Monitor's Report there will be a summary under each section which will include areas where improvements can be made. The first Monitor's Report can therefore be very useful for ensuring that the project is on track for achieving the score required or identifying where actions are required. The BREEAM credits are awarded at PC stage, based on the final Monitor's Report and Certificate of Compliance.

Where the project is looking to gain credits under the RFO assessment, the Additional Information includes examples of considerate construction practices which can be followed to provide possible ways of meeting the criteria for one credit for a small or low-value project.

[edit] Questions to ask while seeking compliance

Confirmation that registration with the Considerate Constructors Scheme will be required and that the project will be registered prior to works commencing.

Where the contractor is already appointed, it may be worth querying their usual score to ensure that the targeted score is realistic or if it is worth targeting the exemplary level credit.

It is useful to ask the contractor or project team to forward the Site Monitor's reports as they are issued so compliance can be monitored throughout the construction period and any issues can be raised at an early stage whilst it can still be rectified. If the site has scored low on their final report, there is an opportunity to pay for an additional visit.

[edit] Tools and resources

[edit] Tips and best practice

For more information on best practice and details on the Considerate Constructors Scheme please follow the link below:

https ://www.ccscheme.org.uk/

[edit] Typical evidence

[edit] Design stage

Relevant section/clauses of the building specification or contract OR a formal letter of commitment from the client/developer.

[edit] Post construction stage

Copy of the Certificate of Compliance and final Site Monitor's report.

A copy of the CCS registration should also be provided at design or PC stage (depending on timing) to confirm that the site was registered prior to works commencing.

Where only 1 credit is being targeted under Man03 for a RFO assessment, for small-scale or low-value projects without registration under CCS, then post construction evidence could include a site report summarising actions taken, site photos, site records, company policies etc.

[edit] Applicable schemes

The guidelines collated in this ISD aim to support sustainable best practice in the topic described. This issue may apply in multiple BREEAM schemes covering different stages in the life of a building, different building types and different year versions. Some content may be generic but scheme nuances should also be taken into account. Refer to the comments below and related articles to this one to understand these nuances. See this document for further guidelines.