Quantification And Costing Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two recommended ways to cost estimate a project at RIBA Stage 0?

A
  1. Cost per m2 (Gross Internal Floor Area x £/m2)
  2. Cost per function unti
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2
Q

Can you define the 3 NRM Suites?

A

NRM 1 - Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Capital Building Works
NRM 2 - Detailed Measurement of building works
NRM 3 - Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Building Maintenance Works

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3
Q

What is the 3rd recommended way at RIBA Stage 1?

A
  1. Elemental Cost
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4
Q

How does NRM define substructure?

A

Substructure is defined as the work below the underside of the screed, or if screed does not exist the underside of the lowest floor finish. This includes DPM, excavations, foundations and the basement retaining walls.

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5
Q

What is the functional definition of a substructure?

A

To transfer the load of the building to the ground and isolate it from the ground.

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6
Q

How do you measure substructure?

A

Lowest floor area to the ground to the internal face of the external wall.
Any floor area extending out from the external wall should be shown separately.
Basement wall area should also be measured separately.

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7
Q

How do you measure external walls?

A

Area to the internal face of the wall less windows.

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8
Q

Can you name the 15 elements on NRM 1?

A
  1. Facilitating Works
  2. Substructure
  3. Superstructure
  4. Internal Finishes
  5. Fittings, Furnishings and Equipment
  6. Services
  7. Prefabricated building and building units
  8. Work to existing buildings
  9. External Works
  10. Main contractor’s preliminaries
  11. Main contractor’s overhead and profit
  12. Project and design team fees
  13. Other project costs
  14. Risks
  15. Inflation
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9
Q

Why do quantities need to measure in a uniform way?

A
  1. Enable more effective and accurate cost advice to be given to clients
  2. Facilitates better cost control.
  3. Understandable by all those involved in a construction project, including the client
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10
Q

Can tell me what is your understanding of RICS code of Measuring Practice?

A

The code of measuring practice is guidance on how to measure non-residential and residential buildings, for consistency across RICS disciplines.

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11
Q

When would it be used in your day-to-day employment?

A

For my day-to-day employment I would consult this guidance if I was carrying out a take-off for cost planning/cost estimating.

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12
Q

GEA, GIA and NIA how are they each measured?

A

Gross External Area is the area of a building measured externally at each floor level.
Gross Internal Area is the area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level
Net Internal Area is the usable area within a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level.

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13
Q

Which method of measurement would you consider is the most appropriate for measuring civil engineering works?

A

CESMM - Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement

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14
Q

In the document suite the New Rules of Measurement (NRM) what are the key differences between NRM 1 and NRM 2?

A

NRM1 and 3 use an elemental structure which is suitable for top-down cost analysis and cost planning. NRM2 is a set of detailed measurement rules intended to create Bills of Quantities for procurement and cost control purposes.

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15
Q

What is the purpose of NRM 3?

A

NRM 3 is for cost estimating and cost planning of maintenance works.

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16
Q

What is your understanding of the shorter schedule of cost components?

A

Used in NEC contracts, shorter schedule may be used to assess compensation events, pricing the following elements:
1. People
2. Equipment
3. Plant and Materials
4. Charges – consumables
5. Manufacturing and fabrication
6. Design
7. Insurance

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17
Q

How do British Standards affect the measurement of construction works?

A

More fluid and change more often, so may increase scope of works on areas previously defined

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18
Q

How do the Building Regulations affect the measurement of construction works?

A
  1. Certain standards require specific materials that can be more expensive
  2. Specialised labour might be necessary to ensure compliance, further increasing costs.
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19
Q

What new standards have been introduced (IPMS)?

A

IPMS All Buildings has been introduced to remove any inaccuracies in the previous versions, office, industrial, residential and retail property.

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20
Q

Talk me through how you valued the materials off site in accordance with the contract.

A

In accordance with clause 3.6.2.1 on the JCT Intermediate contract, I provided a vesting certificate. The vesting certificate detailed the following:
1. Subcontractor Name
2. Employer’s Name
3. Architect
4. Address of where the materials are stored
5. Clearly labelled with client’s name and stored separately
6. Materials are insured against loss or damage for their full value

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21
Q

Talk me through how you quantified the works for an interim payment

A

To quantify works on sites I use the latest cost report, subcontract applications and walk through site to value:
1. Percentage complete on Measured works
2. Percentage complete on Preliminaries
3. Update variation sheet and measure progress
4. Adjustment of prime cost and provisional sums
5. Value materials on site
6. Value materials off-sote
7. Loss and expense claim
8. Retention
9. Previously certified
10. Issue to PQS
11. Agree on site
12. Issue invoice

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22
Q

How do you convert m2 to sqft?

A

Multiply by 10.764

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23
Q

How could you price mechanical services?

A

Refer to Work Section 38 in NRM 2.

Summary
Primary Equipment
Secondary Equipment
Pipework
Ancillaries
Ducting
Insulation
Fire protection
Test and Commissioning
Operations and Maintenance manual

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24
Q

How could you price electrical services?

A

NRM2 Work Section 39

Summary
Primary Equipmemt
Terminal Equipment
Cable containment
Cable
Circuits
Fire Stopping
Test and Commission
O&M

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25
Q

What are the advantages of Bill of Quantities?

A
  1. Forms an identical basis for evaluation
  2. Transparency
  3. Familiar
  4. Provides a good basis for post contract cost control
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26
Q

What are the disadvantages of bill of quantities?

A
  1. A lengthy process to produce (time consuming)
  2. Costly
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27
Q

Are standard methods of measurement unique to the UK?

A

No many countries have their own standard method of measurement, some based on NRM2.

28
Q

Can the rules of measurement be altered?

A

Yes provided that any departure is clearly stated in the contract bills.

29
Q

Is it a contractual requirement that bills of quantities are prepared in accordance with NRM2?

A

No, but some contracts, for example JCT 2016, states they should be in accordance with NRM2 unless otherwise stated.

30
Q

What percentage of contracts is based on lump sum bills of quantities?

A

30%

31
Q

How are BofQ presented?

A

In NRM format, divided into work sections

32
Q

What are the different columns on BofQ paper?

A

Column 1 - time sing column
Column 2 - dimension
Column 3 - squaring column
Column 4 - description

33
Q

What is included in IPMS All Buildings?

A

IPMS 1 - GEA
IPMS 2 - GIA
IPMS 3 - NIA
IPMS 4 - International measurements

34
Q

What is ICMS?

A

ICMS is an International Cost Management Standard and is for project life cycle costs, the new addition now adds carbon emissions.

35
Q

Why would you use GEA?

A

For insurance
For Town planning approvals
For council tax bands

36
Q

Why would you use GIA?

A

Building cost estimation
Valuation of new homes
Property management services

37
Q

What is a post-tender estimate?

A

Is a link between tender reporting and cost reporting and is prepared once all tenders are recieved to estimate the final cost of the project.

38
Q

Why would you use NIA?

A
  1. Marketing and valuation of shops/offices
39
Q

What are the sections of NRM2?

A
  1. Part 1: Intro
  2. Part 2: Measurement rules which discusses the benefit of bofQ
  3. Part 3: Tabulated rules for measurement
40
Q

How many sections are in NRM2?

A

41 Sections

41
Q

What is conceptual cost planning?

A

Conceptual cost planning is the forecast of the cost at an early stage of the project before significant design or specifications are available. The purpose is to provide a quick and reliable estimate which will determine if the development is taken further. This is normally per functional unit or per m2

42
Q

What factors would you consider with conceptual cost planning?

A
  1. Physical factors - difficult access
  2. External bodies - legislation, building control
  3. Client requirements
43
Q

What is cost analysis?

A

Process of examining cost of buildings already planned which tenders are available

44
Q

What is cost planning?

A

Using information gained by cost analysis to maintain a surer control of costs on future projects.

45
Q

What is an element?

A

Defined by BCIS as ‘a part’ of a building that fulfils a specific purpose irrespective of its design, specification or construction.

46
Q

What is a building?

A

Construction works that have the provision of shelter for its occupants an contents and is to stand permanently in one place.

47
Q

What is BCIS?

A

BCIS is Building Cost Information Service and was launched in 1961 by RICS to exchange data for the benefit of the profession.

48
Q

What is Pareto’s Law?

A

The 80:20 rule applies that by the time 20% of the design is complete 80% of costs are committed.

49
Q

What should be included on a VO form?

A
  1. Project Title
  2. Supplier/Work Package
  3. Variation Number
  4. Details of instruction
  5. Attachments
  6. Justification of VO
  7. Issuing person
  8. Estimate of cost
  9. Approval section
  10. Note of distribution
50
Q

What is out-turn cost?

A

Costs committed to date plus estimate of uncommitted costs to complete the project.

51
Q

What are the timings of FA on D&B?

A

Must be issued within 3 months of PC.

52
Q

What must be present for materials to be valued off site?

A
  1. They must be intended for the works
  2. Complete
  3. Set aside and labelled with employer’s details
  4. Adequately insured against damage
  5. In accordance with the contract
53
Q

Is there a standard way of calculating Element unit Quantities?

A

The model is compiled by BCIS

54
Q

Is is mandatory to follow NRM1?

A

NRM has the same status as guidance notes, it is best practice for surveyors.

55
Q

Do functional units include circulation areas?

A

Yes.

56
Q

What are the different measurement methods?

A
  1. Functional Unit
  2. Floor Area - GIFA
  3. Elemental Method - Cost into elements (facilitating, sub, super….)
57
Q

What are sources of cost info?

A

BCIS
Price Books
Previous projects
In-house data

58
Q

How do you treat inflation?

A

Fixed price - inflation has been accounted for

59
Q
A
60
Q

What is a pre-tender estimate?

A

Last cost check before a project is issued out for tender.

61
Q

How is risk allocated in pre-tender estimates due to procurement route?

A
  1. D&B - design fees included and risk contingency
  2. CM - design not complete for allowance for design risk
  3. Traditional - risk and inflation should be accounted for
62
Q

How is a pre-tender estimate different to a cost plan?

A

Cost plan determines the cost of a project before design is developed and no programme
Pre tender estimate is based on tender prices and will be more accurate

63
Q

How do we define risk?

A

The effect of uncertainty on objectives.

64
Q

What is POMI?

A

Principle of Measurement International

65
Q

How is COVIC catered for?

A

Must be carefully considered what were the conditions when the contract were entered into?