Quantification & Costing

Question 1

What is NRM?

Answer 1

The new rules of measurement

Question 2

What is the purpose of NRM?

Answer 2

To provide standard measurement rules for estimating, cost planning, procurement and whole life costs of a building

Question 3

How do you quantify steel beams?

Answer 3

Linear metre of the beam, multiplied by kg/m and divide by 1000 to get tonnage

Question 4

How do you quantify concrete slabs?

Answer 4

Measure the area of the slab multiplied by the depth to get m3

Question 5

What is the RICS Code of measuring practice?

Answer 5

A UK measurement guidance note produced by the RICS that defines NIA, GIA and GEA and how to measure them

Question 6

What is the purpose of the COMP?

Answer 6

To provide precise definitions that allow the accurate measurement of building, the calculation of sizes and the description on a consistent basis.

Question 7

What is the IPMS?

Answer 7

International property measurement standards.

Question 8

What is the purpose of the IPMS?

Answer 8

Designed to satisfy the needs of the market by focusing on the purpose to which measurement can be applied

Question 9

Why was the IPMS introduced?

Answer 9

To provide a consistent way to measure property around the world.
Addressing inconsistencies in measurement and give transparency of property data.

Question 10

What’s the difference between IPMS and COMP?

Answer 10

IPMS is a set of rules for measurement while COMP is a guidance note that provides definitions for measuring properly.
IPMS has different labels.

Question 11

What is GEA in IPMS?

Answer 11

IPMS 1 (Exterior)

Question 12

What is GIA in IPMS?

Answer 12

IPMS 2 (Interior)

Question 13

What is NIA in IPMS?

Answer 13

IPMS 3 (interior)

Question 14

Define GIA

Answer 14

Area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter wall at each floor level

Question 15

Define NIA

Answer 15

The useable area within a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter wall at each floor level

Question 16

Name 3 differences between IPMS and COMP

Answer 16

IPMS includes window reveals
IPMS includes columns in NIA
IPMS includes non-structural walls in NIA

Question 17

How do you quantify differently between feasibility estimates and cost plans?

Answer 17

Feasibility estimates are usually based on functional units and cost plans are on a more competent basis e.g. elemental.

Question 18

What does BCIS stand for?

Answer 18

Building cost information service

Question 19

What level of BCIS location indices are there

Answer 19

Regional
County
District

Question 20

What is a provisional sum?

Answer 20

An allowance made in a cost plan where the extent of the works isn’t defined enough at tender stage to accurately price.

Question 21

What is a defined provisional sum?

Answer 21

Allowances made for works with incomplete design at the time of tender but the extent of works is known enough to make allowance for programme and management

Question 22

What is an undefined provisional sum?

Answer 22

Allowances made for works with incomplete design at tender and insufficient information to make an allowance for programme and preliminaries.

Question 23

What is a prime cost sum?

Answer 23

Cost calculated by the cost consultant for the supply of work or materials to be provided by the contractor or supplier nominated by the client.

Question 24

What are day works?

Answer 24

A method of valuing works based on the labour, plant and materials with a mark up for overheads and profit.

Question 25

When would day works be used?

Answer 25

When unforeseen circumstances are encountered during facilitating works.
Got instructed works where there are comparative rate in a BOQ or CSA.

Question 26

What are the ways dayworks can be priced?

Answer 26

Percentage addition
All-inclusive costs

Question 27

What is percentage addition?

Answer 27

Prime cost which has a percentage added for OHP and incidental costs

Question 28

What are all-inclusive costs?

Answer 28

Quoted at tender and included in the contract documents. They include ohp either fixed or subject to inflation.

Question 29

What information do you need for a defined provisional sum?

Answer 29

Description
Location
Quantity
Method of works

Question 30

What is NRM1?

Answer 30

Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works

Question 31

What are the 4 parts of NRM1?

Answer 31

1: Context and definitions
2: How to prepare order of cost estimates
3: How to prepare an elemental cost plan
4: Tabulated rules of measurement for the preparation of cost plans

Question 32

What is NRM2?

Answer 32

Detailed measurement rules for building works

Question 33

What is NRM3?

Answer 33

Order of cost estimating and cost planning for maintenance of building works

Question 34

What are the sources of cost data that can be used?

Answer 34

Primary
Secondary
First principles

Question 35

What is primary cost data?

Answer 35

You collect the information from market testing, recent tenders.

Accurate as you know the scope and date of the costs.

Question 36

What is secondary cost data?

Answer 36

Data from external sources such as projects you haven’t worked on and pricing books e.g. SPONS, benchmarking

Question 37

What is first principles?

Answer 37

Rates built up from key components of an element.

Question 38

Why should you use NRM1?

Answer 38

Proves best practice has been used when preparing cost estimates and cost plans.