Measurement - Level 1 Flashcards
Tell me about your understanding of RICS Property Measurement
Global RICS-led initiative introduced mandatory International Property Measurement Standards and practices aiming to avoid current inconsistent definitions of measurement in different countries and bring greater global transparency
It is led by the International property Measurement Standards Council and came into effect from 1st May 2018
It replaces references to the measurement of offices and residential properties in the RICS Code of Measuring Practice 2015
Members are encouraged to report on a dual basis until IPMS is embedded into market practice having regard to the client’s instructions - RICS have the intention that it will become mandatory practice
At present, members must advise their clients about the benefits of IPMS
When would you use NIA as a measurement basis?
For retail and offices
When would you use GIA as a measurement basis?
Industrial/warehouses and retail warehouses
When would you use GEA as a measurement basis?
Town planning, council tax valuations and building costs estimates for houses
Tell me about what is included in NIA/GIA/GEA
Exclusions for NIA:
- WCs
- Plant and lift rooms
- Stairwells
- Service cupboards
- Areas less than 1.5m in height
- Cleaners’ rooms
- Columns
What measurement basis would you use for office property?
NIA
IPMS:
1 for planning or building cost purposes (GEA)
2 for agency and valuation purposes (GIA)
3 also for agency and valuation purposes (NIA)
What measurement basis would you use for industrial property?
GIA
What measurement basis would you use for retail property?
NIA / ITZA
Why is accuracy important when you measure buildings?
- Cost estimation
- Space optimisation
- Property valuation
IPMS refers to the measurer having to state a degree of tolerance reported as a percentage
Tell me about how you use floor plans to facilitate measuring buildings?
They provide an overview of the building’s layout, including the location of rooms, doors, windows and other features
Measurements can be recorded on the floor plans for reference and enable you to keep track of measurements that have been taken for each section of the building
Scaled floor plans can be digitised enabling you to check the measurements that you have taken.
How do you calibrate a laser measurer?
Lasers should be calibrated annually by manufacturers
Check against a known distance and keep records logged
Why do you take check measurements?
To ensure that the measuring tool that you are using is providing accurate readings and thus avoiding errors/inaccuracy when measuring
Tell me about a strength and weakness of a measuring technique you have used
Using a laser measurer gives quick and accurate measurements of distance and areas, making the process more efficient and reduces the potential for errors. Lasers tend to be accurate to within c1.5mm up to 200m but bright sunlight can distort measurements.
When would you use a tape measure?
For measuring smaller areas or details such as checking whether a height is above 1.5m to be included within measurement when measuring in accordance with NIA for offices
When would you use a trundle wheel?
For measuring land
What is a potential source of error when measuring?
Laser not being calibrated correctly
What is IPMS?
International Property Measurement Standards
What is dual reporting and when would you use it?
Dual reporting is the recording of measurements on both a traditional measurement basis and IPMS basis
Members are encouraged to report on a dual basis until IPMS is embedded into market practice
What IPMS bases are you aware of and when would each of these be used?
IPMS Office buildings:
IPMS 1 - used for measuring the area of a building including external walls on a floor-by-floor basis
IPMS 2 - used for measuring the interior of an office to include all areas available for direct use, measured to the ‘Internal Dominant Face’ of the wall on a floor-by-floor basis in component areas
IPMS 3 - used for measuring the occupation of floor areas in exclusive use using the same assumptions as IPMS 2
What are limited use areas and how do you report these?
Parts of a building that are not typically accessible or are not designed for use by occupants.
Make note and describe the limited use area and explain why the area has been excluded from measurement
What is the internal dominant face?
Defined as the inside finished surface comprising more than 50% of the floor to ceiling height for each IDF wall section
How do you deal with a situation where your client requests a different measurement standard to those contained within the RICS guidance?
Make the client aware of the appropriate measurement standard in accordance with RICS guidance and recommend the use of these as the measurement basis
What is a suitable measurement tool for taking land measurements?
Trundle wheel / software such as Promap
How would you treat low or limited head height when measuring?
Areas less than 1.5m in height are to be excluded from measurement when doing so on an NIA basis
