Measurement Flashcards
What are the various methods of measurement you use and why?
Tape measure
- Small intricate detailing: window and door reveals - Limitation is distance.
Laser measures
- Large open spans – Limitations; daylight outdoors, batteries, distance.
3D laser scanning equipment
- Most accurate type of measurement using point cloud data to form 3D models.
- Costly to rent and limitations include failure of technology where files can corrupt /battery life.
What do you consider when choosing which method of measurement to use?
- The purpose of the measurement.
- The appropriate IPMS for that purpose.
- Apply the measurement practice for the selected IPMS.
How often should measuring equipment be calibrated?
- My firm undertakes annual calibration – sent off externally.
- Firm that undertakes measured surveys daily may wish to calibrate every quarter.
How do you undertake your own checks of equipment prior to carrying out a measured survey?
Via a known distance in the office.
What RICS documents are you aware of in relation to the measurement of building?
RICS Property Measurement 2nd edition
Code of Measuring Practice 6th edition
Explain to me your understanding of Code of Measuring Practice 6th edition?
- Provides guidance on standard procedures for the measurement of buildings and land.
- Guidance on how to measure various parts of the building (GEA, GIA & NIA)
For building classes except offices and residential buildings, the bases of measurement contained within the Code of measuring practice, 6th edition (COMP) may still apply though the application of RICS property measurement 2nd edition applies to all building classes.
Explain to me your understanding of RICS Property Measurement 2nd edition?
RICS Mandatory application that must be reported when measuring:
* Residential
* Office Buildings
RICS has produced this standard to ensure that properties are measured consistently reflecting the IPMS standards (currently only office and residential – not been updated since IPMS all buildings was published)
What are the mandatory requirements of the RICS Property Measurement 2nd edition?
The mandatory requirements include:
- Purpose of the measurement instruction.
- Date of the measurement instruction.
- Measurement standard adopted.
- If IPMS is not used, document the reason for departure.
- Measurement methodology adopted.
- Scale of any plans used.
- Floor area schedule with relevant areas cross referenced to floorplans.
- Unit of measurement and conversion factor.
- Name of the RICS member and or RICS regulated firm responsible for the instruction.
What is IPMS?
International Property Measurement Standards
What is IPMS 1?
- Measured to the outer perimeter of external construction.
- Often used for Planning Purposes.
- Used for all building classes.
- Includes all internal walls and columns.
- The external area of basement levels is calculated by extending the exterior plane of the perimeter walls at ground floor level downwards or by estimation of the wall thickness if the extent of the basement differs from the footprint of the building.
What is IPMS 2?
- Floor area measured to the internal dominant face of a building.
- Includes all internal walls and columns.
- Often used for Building Costs /Reinstatement Cost
- Provides data on the efficient use of space and for benchmarking.
What is IPMS 3?
The usable area within a building measured to the internal dominant face at each floor level.
- Often used for Valuation purposes.
Are you aware of any updates to IPMS?
IPMS Coalition: All Buildings – January 2023
What is IPMS Coalition: All Buildings – January 2023?
- Creates one shared international standard for measurement.
- Provides consistency for measuring: offices, industrial, residential and retail.
- Supersedes all previous IPMSC standards for individual classes.
In IPMS Coalition: All Buildings – January 2023 - what are the IPMS categories?
IPMS 1 and IPMS 2
External and internal measurements for the whole or part of a Building.
IPMS 3.1 and IPMS 3.2
External and internal measurements for exclusive occupation.
IPMS 4.1 and IPMS 4.2
Internal measurements for selected areas
What is the Internal Dominant Face (IDF)?
- The inside surface area comprising more than 50% of the floor to ceiling height.
- If the Wall Section is not vertical, the Finished Surface is deemed to be the IDF.
What is a Limited Use Area (measurement)?
- Areas incapable of occupation (height restrictions)
- IPMS measurement include all limited use areas but they must be clearly identified.
- Bay Windows can be classified as ‘limited use areas’.
What is a Notional Boundary (measurement)?
This is a non-physical line that forms part of a Boundary and typically agreed by a legal document.
How do you use a handheld laser scanner?
- The scanner is connects to an iPAD which is used to name each flat /block per scan.
- I ensure all internal doors are open and made my way round each apartment in a clockwise formation.
- As the laser scanner spins lasers are fired around the room recording up to 1 million points per second.
- The scan collects large volumes of data which are stored on the device’s hard drive.
- The data is then downloaded and processed to become the point cloud through a registration process using software such as Cyclone.
What are the limitations of using a laser scanner?
– High cost of rental (although this is redeemed by quicker /more efficient inspections)
– The speed of movement (for a handheld device),
– Processing software /corrupt files.
– Choosing the appropriate scanner for the job.
Were there any site limitations at Gore Street?
– No, the flats were small enough to do in one continuous loop with plenty of overlap.
– No furniture getting in the way (easy visibility of lots of plannar surfaces for registration)
– No people or moving figures within the survey.
Which measurement method did you use whilst measuring Gore Street Apartments and why?
The RICS Code of Measurement Practice to measure the GIA of each apartment.
This measurement standard was defined in the contract and the client did not want to deviate from this. (to use IPMS)
Why did you not use IPMS at Gore Street?
- The client requested not to use IPMS as the contract stipulated the standard to be measured against.
- This was the GIA which continued with the contract we were appointed on that basis.
- The reason for departure of IPMS was made clear in the appointment document.
How do you measure GIA?
Internal face of perimeter walls.
IPMS 2 is from the internal dominant face of the external walls (over 50% of the wall is the dominant face is windows)
Why did you use a laser measure for Gore Street development?
- Due to the level of accuracy required.
- Volume of instruction 300 Residential apartments.
Gore Street: What discrepancies did you find and was this acceptable?
- The known m2 of each apartment was uploaded onto an excel schedule against the thought m2 of each unit giving a % of discrepancy /area difference.
- This was found to be within acceptable tolerances agreed by the client and developers (in the contract documents).
- Ranging between -3% & +4% (usually 5% overall tolerance is acceptable depending on agreed terms)