Civil Engineering Association

General
The NSCS remains laid out in terms of process rather than in terms of materials and workmanship. British Standards are referenced rather than reproduced. Where the NSCS is at variance with British Standards, the NSCS is to be used. The NSCS covers requirements for the construction of concrete building structures of in-situ concrete, precast concrete, and hybrid concrete systems. It is especially relevant for structures designed to BS 8110 and EN 1992 (EC2). Where the NSCS is to be used for structures in extreme environments, those produced by specialist construction techniques or those of a specialist design nature, Part 2, Project specification, should include the appropriate particular requirements.
The NSCS is written with safety in mind but does not specify health and safety requirements as these are covered by legal regulations that apply to all construction and are outside the scope of this specification. Where specifications, standards or regulations are referenced, readers should ensure that they refer to the latest editions.
NSCS Part 1. Standard specification
Specific obligations are placed on the Specialist Concrete Contractor, the Employer and the Engineer. In some cases these will be different organisations; sometimes any or all will be represented by the same
organisation. However, their responsibilities remain as required under the Contract.
NSCS Part 2. Project specification
This part is to be read in conjunction with NSCS Part 1 and outlines project information specific to a particular project and additional to the requirements of NSCS Part 1. Part 2 covers the exchange of information necessary between the Employer and Specialist Concrete Contractor at both tender stage and contract stage. The relevant sections of Part 2 should be completed at the appropriate stage. Part 2 allows the Engineer responsible for the design the freedom to incorporate specific Clauses to vary the standard Clauses of Part 1. It is emphasised that NSCS Part 1 has been produced as a non-prescriptive specification and therefore any amendments through NSCS Part 2 should be as few as possible. The pro-forma layout of Part 2 acts as an aide memoire to the disclosure of relevant information for most types of project. To aid the task of preparing a Project specification, permission is hereby expressly given for users of this document to copy any part or the whole of Part 2, Project specification, without infringement of copyright.
A data disc is enclosed to enable easy electronic completion and distribution. NSCS. Guidance notes
The Guidance notes are for information only and do not form part of the Specification. They provide background information on the content of the Supplement Parts 1 and 2 and explain why certain Clauses have been adopted. They include reference to the terminology changes used in the new Standards, which may be strange for UK users and are designed to be ‘dipped into’ and read with the relevant clauses in Parts 1 and 2. As a result there is some intentional duplication.

The NSCS has the same scope as BS EN 13670 for Building Structures.
The NSCS is laid out in terms of processes, and it uses the same sequence as BS EN 13670.
European and British Standards are referenced rather than reproduced within the document. The NSCS covers requirements for the construction of concrete building structures of in-situ concrete, precast concrete, and hybrid concrete systems. It is intended for use with structures designed to BS EN 1992, although it can be used when other design standards are used. Where the NSCS is to be used for structures in extreme environments, those produced by specialist construction techniques or those of a specialist design nature, the Project Specifi cation should include the particular requirements where appropriate. It is expected that the requirements for concrete in more specialist geotechnical works will be covered by a specifi cation such as the ICE Specifi cation for piling and embedded retaining walls (SPERW). The NSCS should be coordinated where required with other project specifi cations such as the SPERW. The NSCS is written with safety in mind but does not specify Health and Safety requirements as they are legal regulations that apply to all construction and are inherent within this specifi cation. Where specifi cations, standards or regulations are referred to they shall refer to the latest editions unless reference is made to a specifi c dated clause in a standard. Specifi c obligations are placed on the Constructor, the Employer and the Engineer. In some cases these will be different organisations; sometimes any or all will be represented by the same organisation. However, their responsibilities remain as required under the Contract. The NSCS Project Specifi cation is to be read in conjunction with this Standard Specifi cation and outlines project information specifi c to a particular project that is additional to the requirements of Standard Specifi cation. The NSCS Project Specifi cation covers the exchange of information necessary between the Employer and Constructor at tender stage and contract stage. Completion of the Project Specifi cation is intended to be as required for the stage for which it is being used, i.e. at time of tender or contract commencement. The NSCS Project Specifi cation allows the Engineer responsible for the design the freedom to incorporate specifi c clauses to vary and add to the Standard Specifi cation clauses. It is emphasised that the Standard Specifi cation has been produced as a non-prescriptive specifi cation to meet the standards required by BS EN 13670 and therefore any amendments through the Project Specifi cation should be as few as possible. The pro-forma layout of NSCS Project Specifi cation acts as an aide memoire to the disclosure of relevant information for most types of project. NSCS Guidance provides background information on the content and explains why certain clauses have been adopted. NSCS Guidance is designed to be ‘dipped into’, and read with the relevant clause in Standard and Project Specifi cation; as a result there is some intentional duplication