CEEQUAL –
The Civil Engineering
Environmental QUALity Assessment
& Awards Scheme
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
Glenn Hedges
Taylor Woodrow
Sustainability in the Built Environment
IEMA North East Region Event
9th December
Newcastle Upon Tyne
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Scope
Objectives
Origins
Operation
• Examples of awards
• Website for more information:
www.ceequal.com
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Why CEEQUAL?
• Overall Objective:
to improve the environmental quality of civil
engineering projects …
… by providing the incentive of an award
scheme and associated assessment methods
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
Specific Objectives:
 to provide a scheme, which normally applies at the
end of design and construction, and assesses what is
built and how it is built
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
Specific Objectives:
 to deliver improved environmental performance in
civil engineering projects and thus improve the
industry’s image
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
Specific Objectives:
 to assist in achieving UK Government and Industry
targets for Sustainable Construction
so the scheme is a means to an end, not an end in itself
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Other key features of CEEQUAL
an incentive for the industry and its clients
to apply best environmental practice
can become a benchmark against which
expected standards of environmental
performance can be set
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Key features cont’d:
applicable to all types and sizes of civil
engineering projects
is a voluntary award – not a legal
requirement
not a competitive scheme, but an achievement
scheme
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Relationship with laws and regulations
CEEQUAL assesses projects at end of
construction
… goes beyond the minimum required by law
… does not replace requirements for
Environmental Impact Assessment
… does not replace project Environmental
Management Systems
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Comparison with BREEAM
CEEQUAL is a civil engineering equivalent
to BREEAM
One scheme for all projects, not a family of
schemes
Can envisage a large regeneration project
seeking an overall CEEQUAL award and
BREEAM awards for individual buildings
within the development
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• How does it work?
Manual – assessment questions, scores and
guidance
Spreadsheet for recording scores and
calculating total
Assessment by the Applicant
Verification and Ratification through
CEEQUAL Ltd
Five types and Four levels of Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• 12 CEEQUAL section headings
 Project Environmental
Management
 Land Use
 Landscape
 Ecology & Biodiversity
 Archaeology & Cultural
Heritage
 Water Issues
© CEEQUAL Ltd
 Energy
 Use of Materials
 Waste Management
 Transport
 Nuisance to Neighbours
 Community Relations
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
 Guidance given throughout on what evidence is
needed to score points
© CEEQUAL Ltd
 NSO = No Scoping Out
 This question is
compulsory for all
assessments
 Point Scale
 Score depends on level
of achievement
 Boxes combined
 Points can be scored by
either role, but only
once per project
 Box Greyed out
 Question not relevant
for that role
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
Five award types
 Whole-Project award
 Client & Design Award
 applied for by client on behalf of themselves and
their project team
 Design-only award
 Construction-only award
 Design and Build Award
 all applied for by team members because either the
client does not wish to apply, or they seek reward
for their individual effort
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Presentation of Awards
Four levels of achievement
 exceed by 25% – Pass
 exceed by 40% – Good
 exceed by 60% – Very Good
 exceed by 75% – Excellent (Certificates for excellent
will state the percentage)
Aiming for presentation at public events
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Examples of Awards in 2003
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Wakefield Flood Defence Works
• Award recipients:
Arup
Nuttall
for the Environment
Agency
• Excellent Award –
75.6%
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Osberton Top Bridge Refurbishment,
Chesterfield Canal
• Award Recipients:
British Waterways
 GallifordTry
• Very Good Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Stabilisation of Polesworth Embankment
• Award Recipients:
British Waterways
AWG Construction
Services
• Very Good Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Littlestone Sea Defences
 Awards Recipients:
Environment
Agency
Babtie, Brown
&Root
 Excellent Award –
85.1%
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Newtownstewart Bypass
• Award Recipients:
Northern Ireland
Roads Service
 Scott Wilson &
Ferguson McIlveen
Whitemountain
Quarries
• Very Good Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Greyabbey & Kircubbin Wastewater Treatment Works
• Awards Recipients:
Northern Ireland
Water Service
The Geda/EPS
Consortium
• Excellent Award –
91.9%
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Newburn Riverside Land Reclamation
 Award Recipients
One North East
WSP
Taylor Woodrow
 Very Good Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
Reading Sewage Treatment Plant
• Award Recipients:
 Thames Water
 Faber Maunsell and
Black & Veatch
 Target Alliance
(Taylor Woodrow
Construction and
Black & Veatch)
• Excellent Award –
79.5%
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Overall process
 Applicant registers interest and then formally applies –
50% of fee paid to CEEQUAL Ltd
 Assessor confirmed and Verifier identified
 Scoping process: Assessor identifies questions that do not
apply to the applicant’s project & agrees with Verifier
 Self-assessment and scoring by Assessor, plus gathering
evidence to support scores
 Second 50% of fee paid
 Verification of Assessment
 Ratification by CEEQUAL Ltd and Award
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Role of Assessors
Arrange scoping and verification meetings
Propose scoping & agree with Verifier
Collect evidence and complete spreadsheet
Submit assessment to Verifier
Respond to Verifiers queries
Comply with CEEQUAL Code of Conduct
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Role of Verifiers
Agree scoping out with Assessor
Review completed assessment
Act as ambassador for CEEQUAL Ltd
Keep up to date with Scheme updates.
Act as Contracted Assessors as necessary or
if desired
Comply with CEEQUAL Code of Conduct
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL – Assessor & Verifier Training
• Outline of the Verification Process
Check the Spreadsheet
 Does evidence match the score
Mark any items where evidence is not
sufficient
 Mark the score down (or up if scoring too harsh)
 Annotate the spreadsheet
View selected evidence at verification
meeting
 Provide comfort level of robustness
 Adjust scores further as necessary
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Process vs Outcomes
Because CEEQUAL is applicable to all civil
engineering projects
So assessment has to focus on process aimed
at delivering good outcomes, not on the
outcomes themselves
Initial scheme will be developed over time to
include more outcome-specific questions and
scores
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Organisation so far
 Development led by Institution of Civil Engineers
 Project-managed by Crane Environmental
 DTI funding to May 2004 for main project
 Trials in 2002
 First assessments and Awards in 2003
 Public operation now by CEEQUAL Ltd, owned by
project partners, and managed jointly by Crane
Environmental and CIRIA
 Seven assessments in progress, ≈ 15 in pipeline
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Current position?
Assessments open to anyone – for a fee
Manual available for sale – can also be used as a
checklist
Training courses for Assessors (includes current
Manual) and development of Verifiers
Continuous development, upgrading Manual
and training/accreditation of Assessors
Verifiers’ Workshops to keep them up to date
Version 3 just completed
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• Website
 www.ceequal.com
• Questions?
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Project Environmental Management
• 23 Questions,120 points
 the need for environmental risk assessments and
active environmental management,
 training,
 the influence of contractual and procurement
processes,
 delivering environmental performance, minimising
emissions,
 human environment considerations.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Land Use
• 15 Questions, 82pts
 design for minimum
land-take,
 legal requirements,
 flood risk,
 previous use of the
site,
 contaminated land
and remediation
measures.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Landscape
• 13 Questions, 69 pts
 consideration of
landscape issues in
design,
 amenity features,
 local character,
 loss and compensation
or mitigation of
landscape features,
 implementation and
aftercare.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Ecology &
Biodiversity
• 14 Questions, 85 pts
 impacts on sites of high
ecological value,
 protected species,
 conservation &
enhancement,
 habitat creation
measures,
 monitoring and
maintenance.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Archaeological and
cultural heritage
• 10 Questions, 62 pts
 surveys,
 measures to be taken
if features are found,
 information to the
public,
 public access.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Water issues
• 14 Questions, 89 pts
 control of a project’s
impacts on, and
protection of, the
water environment,
 legal requirements,
 minimising water
usage,
 enhancement of the
water environment.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Energy
• 13 Questions, 85 pts
 life-cycle energy
analysis,
 energy in use,
 energy performance
on site.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Use of materials
• 21 Questions, 95 pts
 minimising environmental
impact of materials used,
 minimising material use
and waste,
 selection of timber,
 using re-used and/or
recycled material,
 minimising use and impacts
of hazardous materials,
 durability and
maintenance,
 future demolition.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Waste
• 16 Questions, 87 pts
 design for waste
minimisation,
 legal requirements,
 waste from site
preparation,
 on-site waste
management.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Transport
• 13 Questions, 76 pts
 location of a project
in relation to
transport
infrastructure,
 minimising traffic
impacts of a project,
 construction
transport,
 minimising workforce
travel.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Nuisance to neighbours
• 17 Questions, 73 pts
 minimising operation and
construction-related
nuisances,
 legal requirements,
 nuisance from
construction noise and
vibration,
 air and light pollution,
 visual impact, including
site tidiness.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL - Assessor Training
• Community relations
• 11 Questions, 77 pts
 community
consultation,
 community relations
programmes and
their effectiveness,
 engagement with
relevant local groups,
 ‘joy in use’.
© CEEQUAL Ltd
An Introduction to CEEQUAL
• CEEQUAL Schedule of Fees for Awards
Minimum £1000 - for project value up to £1million
…..rising non-linearly in steps to…..
Maximum £10,000 - for project value > £200 million
* reduced by 20% for ‘Design only’ or ‘Construct only’
* excludes costs of internal or contracted Assessor
© CEEQUAL Ltd
CEEQUAL –
The Civil Engineering
Environmental QUALity Assessment
& Awards Scheme
www.ceequal.com
ceequal@crane-environmental.co.uk
ceequal@ciria.org