Group 1

Question 1

What is a cost plan

Answer 1

The cost plan presents an estimated cost of the development into and elemental or functional format

Question 2

What factors affect net to gross ratio?

Answer 2

• Circulation Space
• Plant
• General layout of the building

Question 3

What is a good net to gross ratio?

Answer 3

for offices 80%

Question 4

What is a good wall to floor ratio?

Answer 4

• Offices - 0.4+
• Residential buildings - 0.6+

Question 5

What are key cost drivers on construction projects?

Answer 5

• facade
• substructure
• MEP

Question 6

What factors affect cost?

Answer 6

• Location and use of building
• Specification and target sales value
• Logistics and sit constraints
• Availability of materials and labour
• transport costs and routes

Question 7

What are the main methods of producing a cost estimate / cost plan?

Answer 7

• Floor area method
• Functional unit method
• Elemental method

Question 8

What are the 4 main types of risk under NRM?

Answer 8

• Construction Risk
• Design Development Risk
• Employers Risk
• Employers Other

Question 9

Can you give some examples of Construction Risk?

Answer 9

• Archaeological Remains
• Contaminated ground
• Tree preservation orders

Question 10

Can you give some examples of Design Development Risk?

Answer 10

• Unclear design team responsibilities
• Ineffective design co-ordination
• Unrealistic Design Programme

Question 11

Can you give some examples of Employers Risk?

Answer 11

• changes in time or quality
• changes in scope

Question 12

Can you give some examples of Employers Other Risk?

Answer 12

• unclear project brief
• timescales affected by contractual claims
• acceleration of works
• changes in interest rates or exchange rates or inflation

Question 13

What are the different types of NRM?

Answer 13

• NRM1 - Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works
• NRM2 - Detailed measurement of building works
• NRM3 - Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works

Question 14

What is the purpose of NRM1?

Answer 14

• To provide a standard set of measurement rules that are understandable by all those involved in a construction project
• Also assists the QS in providing effective and accurate cost advise to the employer and the project / design team
• Provides rules of measurement for the preparation of order of cost estimates and elemental cost plans

Question 15

What is the use of NRM1?

Answer 15

• Provides a structured basis for measuring building work and presents a consistent approach for dealing with other key cost components associated with a building project when preparing cost estimates and elemental cost plans

Question 16

What is the structure of NRM1?

Answer 16

Divided into 4 parts with supporting appendices:
- Part 1: places cost estimating and elemental cost planning in context with the RIBA plan of work and the OGC gateway process
- Part 2: describes the purpose and content of an order of cost estimate
- Part 3: describes the purpose of elemental cost plans
- Part 4: comprises the tabulated rules of measurement for the preparation of formal cost plans

Question 17

What are the appendices in NRM1

Answer 17

Appendix A - Core definition of GIA
Appendix B - Commonly used functional units and functional units of measurement
Appendix C - Core definition of NIA
Appendix D - Special use definitions for shops
Appendix E - Logic and arrangement of levels 1 to 3 for elemental cost planning
Appendix F - Information requirements for formal cost plans
Appendix G - Template for elemental cost plan (based on level 1 codes)
Appendix H - Template for elemental cost plan (based on level 2 codes)