CEEQUAL

The Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Awards Scheme (CEEQUAL) is the assessment and awards scheme for improving sustainability in civil engineering and public realm projects including infrastructure and landscaping. Its objective is to encourage the attainment of environmental excellence in civil engineering and thus to deliver improved environmental and social performance in project specification, design and construction.

The scheme rewards projects and contract teams who go beyond the legal, environmental and social minimum to achieve distinctive environmental and social performance in their work. Originally developed in 1999 by the Institute of Civil Engineers, it was then operated on a not-for profit basis by CEEQUAL Ltd before being acquired by BRE in 2015.

CEEQUAL uses a self-assessment process in which CEEQUAL approved trained Assessors rigorously assess project or contract strategy and performance on a range of issues such as the use of water, energy and land, impacts on ecology, landscape, neighbours and archaeology, as well as waste minimisation and management and community relations and amenity.

CEEQUAL is available in two forms: CEEQUAL for Projects and CEEQUAL for Term Contracts, each with their own Assessment Manual containing guidance and questions. Each is similarly structured into nine sections comprising Project/Contract Strategy; Project or Contract Management; People and Communities; Land use and Landscape; The Historic Environment; Ecology and Biodiversity; Water Environment (fresh and marine); Physical Resources Use and Management and Transport.

The Award is based a percentage score achieved across the sections, with a corresponding award of Pass, Good, Very Good or Excellent.

Concrete and CEEQUAL

Concrete is one of the most versatile construction materials, making it the most widely used construction material for civil engineering structures and applications worldwide. There are many examples of projects achieving well in CEEQUAL, using concrete.

One key benefit of concrete compared to other building materials, is that it is by far the most durable construction material, with a design life of at least 60 years and the ability to be simply and effectively designed for longer with little future maintenance requirements.

For more information on the CEEQUAL scheme, visit: http://www.ceequal.com/