National Highway Sector Schemes Certification

Essential certification for companies that work on the UK road network.

National Highway Sector Schemes (NHSS) are quality management systems for companies working on the UK road network.

They are based on, and supplement, ISO 9001 with additional requirements specific to highways work.

Any organisation working with the Highways Agency and local authorities needs to be certified to the relevant NHSS scheme to show that are competent to carry out the required works.

The schemes fall into four main categories; fencing, landscaping and vehicle safety restraints; road surfacing and marking; lighting, electronics and corrosion protection; and traffic management.

They were designed to provide an industry benchmark, to to make sure that work is carried out to the highest standards of professionalism, using properly trained staff and with a strong emphasis on health and safety.

National Highway Sector Schemes Certification

We currently offer certification to the following highway sector schemes:

• 2A - design and / or supply, installation and repair of fences
• 2B - supply, installation and repair of vehicle restraint systems
• 2C - design, supply, installation and repair of environmental barriers
• 4 - preservative treatment of timber
• 5A - manufacture of parapets for road restraint systems
• 5B - installation of parapets for road restraint systems
• 7 - application of road marking materials and road studs to road surfaces
• 8 - installation and maintenance of highway electrical equipment and road traffic signs
• 12A & 12B - static temporary traffic management on motorways and high speed dual carriageways including on line widening schemes
• 12C - mobile lane closure traffic management on motorways and other dual carriageways
• 12D - installing, maintaining and removing temporary traffic management on rural and urban roads
• 13 - supply and application of surface treatments to road surfaces
• 16 - laying of asphalt mixes
• 18 - natural environment and landscape including ecology
• 19A - corrosion protection of ferrous materials by industrial coatings
• 22 - management, operation, installation and maintenance of road tunnels
• 30 - installation, maintenance and repair of modular paving

Who needs NHSS?

Registration to NHSS is generally considered to be mandatory, or at the very least good practice, for all highways works.

Companies sub-contracting work do not have to be registered, but any sub-contractors must be.

If your company supplies services to the Highways Agency under the Specification for Highways Works (SHW), you must be certified under all the relevant schemes for the work you are carrying out.

The benefits of NHSS

Specifically, NHSS certification will:

• Provide access to new business through procurement specifications requiring certification as a condition to supply
• Improve processes resulting in efficiencies and reduced costs
• Ensure compliance with current legislation and regulation
• Prove business credentials
• Provide independent verification by auditors with technical knowledge and experience in the sector.