Link with other document sets

 

MCHW and DMRB

In updating the MCHW, a major focus has been on aligning relevant content with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), which also led to updating existing DMRB documents or creating new ones (see also DMRB amendments). The ultimate goal was to achieve a thread of information running through DMRB, MCHW and as-built information and documentation using consistent topics and terminology. This supports the wider aspiration of the Overseeing Organisations to reinforce continuity of thinking from design through to construction.

Clearer links have been established between:

  • national and EU standards, providing products and materials and verification and documentation requirements;
  • DMRB documents, providing high-level design outcomes, specific design outputs, and options and criteria for the designer to make a choice;
  • SHW documents, providing constructor requirements;
  • IfS documents, providing specifier instructions;
  • WSRs, providing a consistent template to present the contract-specific specification;
  • drawings and models being produced and referred to in the WSR templates.

Clearer DMRB requirements and advice have been provided for where the designer has a choice to make, informing how the designer sets values, classes, levels etc. appropriate to the design outcome been sought to meet the Overseeing Organisations’ requirements. This information, in turn, is used to compile the contract-specific specification following the IfS documents.

The updated DMRB documents continue to provide requirements and advice which apply to designers in general, regardless who assumes this role, by focusing on design outcomes rather than contractual arrangements. Finally, the DMRB documents have been updated to align with the latest MCHW references.

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National Highway’s sets

MCHW and OTSL

The Operational Technology Specifications Library (OTSL) contains National Highways’ requirements for roadside technology and central systems. Roadside technology is any technology installed at the side, above, or under the carriageway of a motorway or all-purpose trunk road, for example a message sign or an emergency roadside telephone. A central system is something that is located at a real or virtual central location, remote from the roadside, for example a traffic management system or systems used by regional operation centres.

The OTSL replaced the historic Traffic Systems and Signing (TSS) Plans Registry in 2022 and is undergoing a period of review and transition to update the large library of existing specifications for equipment, testing, instructions and drawings. Some updates have already been published. The future OTSL will comprise of product specifications, process requirements and overview documents for information purposes only.

Recent updates to the MCHW now include references to the OTSL in a similar manner to external product standard references. This is particularly relevant to the updated Series 1500, which is now TC/TP 131. In addition, a few MCHW drawings from MCHW Volume 3 have been moved into the OTSL and updated to reflect current best practice.

The DMRB, MCHW and OTSL teams will continue to work together to ensure that requirements are published in the correct suite of documents. Where the OTSL is under review, aspirations include moving design requirements to the DMRB and constructor requirements to the MCHW. The tunnels teams in particular are working closely together to align requirements related to Series 7000/7100 and tunnels product specifications. A closer review of requirements related to maintenance, operation and decommissioning will also take place to bring those requirements back into the DMRB where still relevant.

For any specific queries on the OTSL, please email OTSL@nationalhighways.co.uk.

MCHW and ADMM

The Asset Data Management Manual (ADMM) gives the requirements for creating and managing data for National Highways’ assets. It contains the asset data requirements needed to achieve corporate and asset management objectives and to maintain the asset data necessary for safe and efficient operations.

The ADMM is mapped to the MCHW series, with several references made to MCHW Volume 3. However, no changes have been made recently to align with the updated MCHW – the latest ADMM version (v13) is dated October 2021.

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