OBJ 5.2

Question 1

Typical building efficiencies

Answer 1

Efficiency = (rentable area sf x 100) / gross floor plate area sf 
Hospital = 55%. 
Classrooms = 65%. 
Offices = 75%. 
Residential apartments = 85%.

Question 2

Proforma

Answer 2

Document used by owner/developer that lists all of the costs and fees for the project balanced against expected earned income and expenditures.

Question 3

Quantity take-off

Answer 3

A measurement of a material for estimating purposes. A different way of quantifying a material in a take-off is used for every material. For example, concrete is measured in cubic yards, floor tile is measured in square feet, and earthwork is measured in cubic yards.

Question 4

What are the five types of project costs?

Answer 4

1. Direct costs: Those costs directly linked to performing work on the project, such as the hiring of specialized contractors, purchasing of software, and commissioning the building.
2. Indirect costs: Costs not specifically linked to the project, such as the cost of doing business (e.g., paying overhead costs such as heating and lighting in your office).
3. Fixed costs: Any costs that are a one-time expense.
4. Variable costs: Costs that change with the duration of your project, such as salaries.
5. Sunk costs: Costs that have already been incurred and should not have any determining factor on the future project.

Question 5

What is the largest contributing cost factor when considering cast-in-place concrete for construction, and what are ways to reduce this cost factor?

Answer 5

Formwork. To reduce the cost of formwork, the architect can design cast-in-place elements to be uniform in size, shape, and thickness so the formwork can be reused during construction.

Question 6

List the criteria used to determine the type of glass selected for a project.

Answer 6

1. Strength
2. Security
3. Transparency
4. Transmission of light
5. U-factor
6. Solar heat gain coefficient
7. Cost
8. Availability
9. Sound isolation

Question 7

List the criteria used to determine the type of roofing system selected for a project.

Answer 7

1. Climate
2. Slope and type of roof
3. Required fire resistance determined by building code
4. Cost
5. Weight of roofing assembly and its effect on structure

Question 8

List the advantages for specifying prefabricated open web joists.

Answer 8

1. Reduced construction time
2. Reduced labor costs
3. Ease of installation; they are lightweight and relatively rigid compared to steel beams
4. Ease of coordination with other systems, including mechanical lines that can pass through the open webs

Question 9

What does the term “square” mean in roofing?

Answer 9

Square is equal to 100 square feet and is the measurement used with estimating, selling, and installing roofing materials.

Question 10

List the criteria used for selecting an HVAC system.

Answer 10

1. Available capital and life cycle costs
2. Suitability for a building’s program
3. Maintenance requirements
4. Product reliability
5. Space requirements for the system

Question 11

What heating and cooling system has a low life cycle cost (LCC) but a high initial cost?

Answer 11

Fan coil system. This system is very efficient for both heating and cooling but has a high initial cost because of the required amount of piping—it is a three- or four-pipe system.

Question 12

True or False? In general, labor is less expensive than materials in construction projects.

Answer 12

False.

Question 13

True or False? Costs are best calculated using real numbers from real experience.

Answer 13

True. Costs vary by location and job size, and they change over time. Costs should not be guessed.

Question 14

Estimate

Answer 14

An estimate provides cost information without a promise to carry it out.

Question 15

Quote

Answer 15

A quote is a figure given by a supplier for the price of a material.

Question 16

Cost database

Answer 16

There are several commercially available databases of construction cost information. The information is gathered from construction projects across the country and published yearly. This information can be used to estimate costs for future projects.