Contents
Making the document understandable
- Think about the target audience, who are not aware of how the document has been developed.
- Will they understand the message and/or instructions?
- Use words the target audience will know and understand
- Avoid over-emphasising what should be obvious to the target audience, although consider the range of potential user skills.
- Avoid unnecessary complexity when developing requirements and related advice.
- Actively consider and use checklists, flow / process charts and maps to reduce complexity, and enhance navigation while not repeating concepts contained in the main text.
- Make sentences as independent as possible.
Accuracy across the RADs
- Make appropriate use of terms and definitions.
- Make documents as complete as necessary within the limits defined by their scope.
- Cross reference both other RADs and external publications.
- Provide the technical conditions that govern the applicability of the requirement to avoid reliance on tests of practicability.
Consistency in style and format
- Make a clear distinction between requirements and advice and between different types of requirements and advice and use appropriate clause numbering system.
- Advice is allowed in the DMRB only, advice cannot be provided in the SHW. */
- Use the structure of documents provided.
- Draft RADs to be as policy, process, and function neutral as possible to minimise the need for change as policies and processes change.
- Identify the tasks to be performed or the requirements rather than referring to the method of their procurement.
- When dealing with the SHW, do not place obligation onto any party other than the Contractor. Do not place obligations onto the ‘designer’ or sub-contractors, but rather onto the Contractor.
- Consider the wider contract the RAD will be operating in, the main terms and conditions of the contract (NEC3 / 4 etc.).
- Focus on technical requirements, write sentences in the third person and replace personnel-function expressions with the required outcome.
Health, safety, and wellbeing
- Leave the Contractor to establish their own safe systems of work.
- Allow the Contractor to manage health, safety, and wellbeing issues, although ask for evidence to demonstrate what they are doing rather than telling them what to do.