📚 CIRIA: The Backbone of Best Practice in UK UXO Risk Management

When it comes to Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance in the UK, one acronym consistently defines the gold standard: CIRIA.

🔍 CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) is the independent body behind the two core guidance documents that shape how UXO risk is assessed and managed:

✅ C681 – Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): A Guide for the Construction Industry

Published in 2009, this document remains the foundational text. It sets out:

• The risk-based decision-making process,

• The importance of Desk-Based Risk Assessments,

• Staged risk mitigation strategies,

• And the use of qualified UXO specialists.

✅ C785 – Guidance on Risk Management of Munitions in the Marine Environment

Developed in 2015, C785 focuses on offshore and nearshore operations. It addresses:

• Marine geophysical survey best practices,

• Diver and ROV intervention,

• And integration with broader marine construction risk frameworks.

🛡️ Why CIRIA Matters: These documents are not just “nice to have.” They underpin:

• Planning approvals,

• ALARP justifications,

• Insurance and liability protection,

• And regulator confidence (including HSE and ONR).

At Capreae, we don't just follow CIRIA—we build assurance frameworks around it. Our role often includes:

• Reviewing contractor RAMS against CIRIA expectations,

• Ensuring desk studies and intrusive works are proportionate and defensible,

• And providing independent assurance that best practice is not only cited—but delivered.

🧭 Coming up next: What ALARP really means in UXO clearance—and why it’s more than just a buzzword.