When do I adopt it?

 

Implementation Considerations

The updated MCHW will start to be implemented in contracts let after the MCHW publication date. For details relating to the implementation of the MCHW, refer to GP 110 requirements. In any case, please talk to your client Project Manager to confirm the implementation approach to be taken. Relevant decision is to be recorded by the project team.

What if…

  • I have an existing construction contract let before the MCHW publication date and I wonder whether I have to redraft my contract-specific specification to align with the updated MCHW. It is not envisioned that the updated MCHW would be used.
  • I have an existing construction contract let before the MCHW publication date and I now need to update the contract-specific specification. Should I use the updated DMRB and MCHW documents? In this case, there is a contract change, hence the project team would need to decide how they wish to implement the design changes, including an option for them to use the updated DMRB. It is not envisioned that the updated MCHW would be used to draft the updated contract-specific specification. This would need to be confirmed and recorded by the project team.
  • I have an existing design contract (i.e. design to the old DMRB) which was let before the MCHW and associated DMRB consequential amendments’ publication date, and I need to start drafting the contract-specific specification now. Should I re-design it following the updated DMRB and then use the updated MCHW?
    • It is not envisioned that a re-design would be needed. This would need to be confirmed and recorded by the project team.
    • In terms of drafting the contract-specific specification, the implementation requirements stated in GP 110 would need to be complied with. These include the option for Overseeing Organisation not to use the updated MCHW for a project that is advanced in the design stage where that would cause significant additional cost or programme delay. A decision whether to use a new or revised document will depend on the stage of the project and the impact of implementing the new documents. This would need to be confirmed and recorded by the project team. In any case, old and updated MCHW documents cannot be mixed because this would lead to contractual problems.
  • I have a product that has been assessed and/or certified referencing the old MCHW. Can it still be used after the MCHW publication date? Its use depends on the contract under consideration.
    • If the product has to be used under an existing construction contract, then it is not envisioned that the updated MCHW would be used hence it would still be valid.
    • If the product has to be used under a new construction contract, then the updated MCHW requirements will apply.
  • I have a product that has been assessed and/or certified referencing the old MCHW. Should it be re-assessed and certified to be used under the updated MCHW (i.e. for use under a new construction contract)? This depends on the individual product and the adopted reference standard (designated, EADs, non-designated standards) or scheme to certify and/or accept its use (product certification and acceptance schemes). An assessment would need to be made for the individual product to check whether the performance characteristics are still equivalent.
  • Can I adopt technical changes implemented in the updated MCHW and DMRB documents if my project is using the previous version of the MCHW? If the project team wanted to use any of the individual technical changes in the individual MCHW documents then they could use the alterations system for the old MCHW, i.e. by using substitute, additional and/or cancelled clauses as set out in the old Series NG 000. That would need to be assessed for individual technical areas with SR, AR, CR text written in the style of the old MCHW. Further details are provided below.
  • Within “Implementation for New Standards documents” through PCF, how it is envisaged for existing contracts to deal with this submission? Will the PCF product templates be updated? This needs to be managed by the relevant directorate / project team. There may be cases where a general high-level assessment of documents is considered appropriate, rather than a detailed one.
  • I have a question regarding the application of the implementation requirements or procedures and clarification of roles and responsibilities to meet requirements specific to Major projects, Operations or other relevant directorate. Please contact the Directorate / Group / Project team under the relevant Overseeing Organisation.
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Implementation of the updated MCHW on existing projects at design stage

It may be appropriate/necessary to consider the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the updated MCHW in comparison to not adopting it.

The updated MCHW provides several advantages. There are many aspects of the old MCHW which are out of date, inconsistent with current industry practice and in some areas inconsistent with current legislation. It may be necessary to consider if these areas have a significant or unacceptable impact on the works.

For many works aspects the updated MCHW offers

  • the opportunity to use up to date technical requirements without the need to apply for Departures from Standard,
  • opportunities for the use of lower carbon materials, and
  • a more consistent approach to the contract specific specification which would feed more easily into achieving consistency with further future projects.

Where the updated MCHW is used on a project designed to older versions of the DMRB, the risks due to the inconsistency between the two document sets would need to be understood and managed on a case-by-case basis.

In all cases the implementation requirements stated in GP 110 need to be complied with.

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Using technical content from the updated MCHW on a contract using the old MCHW

Where a project team proposes to use technical content from the updated MCHW on contracts using the old MCHW it would be necessary to apply for Departures from Standard against the old MCHW documents.

These Departures from Standard would need to be implemented on the contract using the alterations system for the old MCHW. This system is laid out in Series NG 000.

The alterations to the specification are required to be incorporated using contract specific Appendices 0/1 and 0/2. AR, SR and CR Clause text would need to be drafted for each alteration to the specification. This Clause text would need to be in the style of the old MCHW and use the contractual definitions and operation of the old MCHW.

Aspects to be considered would include the following.

  • References internal to the MCHW – these would need to be checked and conflicts dealt with as necessary.
  • External references – these would need to be checked for the specific work items and consistency with the rest of the contract documents (for the old SHW references are listed in Appendix F).
  • Verification requirements – including that testing requirements would need to be listed in contract specific Appendix 1/5.
  • Contractor design requirements – details would need to be included in contract specific Appendix 1/10.

Copy and pasting text, or on-block usage of new MCHW documents or parts of documents is unlikely to be appropriate because of the considerations discussed above and the potential contractual ambiguities that would result. Further details on why the old and new MCHW documents cannot be mixed is provided here.

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