Quantification and Costing Flashcards

1
Q

How would you price prelims?

A

Dependant on the Stage.

Stage 0/1 - Assessment of cost analyses of previous buildings. PERCENTAGE 10% - 20%

Stage 2/3/4 - Cost check prelims using NRM1 (section 9 in part 4). Project particulars may make prelims expensive e.g. cranes/scaffolding/size of project etc.

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2
Q

How would you price OH&P?

A

Derived from a properly considered assessment of main contractor’s overheads and profit found on previous building projects

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3
Q

How have you priced consultant/design fees on your projects?

A

I haven’t priced consultant fees, they’ve been excluded (client request) however I would use percentage addition similar to previous projects if I had to.

Design fees - similar projects with similar design scope.

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4
Q

How have you quantified risk on your previous projects?

A

Not a standard percentage, but a properly considered assessment of the risk, taking into account the completeness of the design

Risk types:

  • Design development
  • Construction risk
  • Employer change
  • Employer other
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5
Q

What is included/excluded in GIA?

A

Included:

  • Core areas
  • Area measured at ground
  • Areas taken up by IW/columns/beams
  • Stairwells, vertical projections
  • Mezz floors w/ perm access
  • Voids over stairwells
  • Structural, raked or stepped floors are to be treated as a level floor measured horizontally

Excluded

  • Perimeter wall
  • Open sided external balconies
  • Canopies
  • Voids over/under raked/stepped floors
  • Voids above GF atria
  • Greenhouses, garden stores, fuel stores (resi)
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6
Q

What’s the relationship between the RICS Property Measurement 2nd Edition, RICS Code of Measuring Practice 6th Edition and IPMS?

A

RICS Property Measurement 2nd Edition 2018 - This is a Professional Statement, states what we should use and when. Office and Residential = use IPMS.

Code of Measuring Practice 6th Edition 2015 = Guidance Note, how to measure GIA, NIA, GEA

IPMS - how to measure IMPS1, IMPS2, IMPS3 for offices, resi, industrial and now retail.

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7
Q

What are the full names for NRM1 and NRM2?

A

New Rules of Measurement 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works

New Rules of Measurement 2: Detailed measurement for building works

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8
Q

How is NRM1 structured?

A

1 - Context & definitions

2 - Rules for preparing OCE, how to quantify non-measurable works

3- Rules for cost planning, how to quantify non-measurable works

4 - Tabulated rules of measurement

Appendices

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9
Q

How is NRM2 structured?

A

1 - Context & definitions

2 - Rules for preparing Bill of Quants, Schedule of Rates, how to quantify non-measurable works such as risk, contractors design works

3 - Tabulated rules of measurement

Appendices

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10
Q

What’s the difference between a cost estimate and a cost plan?

A

Cost plan is an iterative process, updated and tracked as design progresses, to control the development of the design and ensure the client achieves value

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11
Q

How does NRM break down project costs?

A
0 - Facilitating works
1  - Substructure
2 - Superstructure
3 - Internal Finishes
4 - Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment
5 - Services
6 - Prefabricated buildings and
building units
7 - Works to existing buildings
8 - External works
9 - Main Contractor's Prelims
10 - Main Contractor's OH&P
11 - Project/design team fees
12 - Other project/development costs
13 - Risk allowances
14 - Inflation
VAT
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12
Q

What’s the building works estimate?

A
1  - Substructure
2 - Superstructure
3 - Internal Finishes
4 - Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment
5 - Services
6 - Prefabricated buildings and
building units
7 - Works to existing buildings
8 - External works
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13
Q

What’s the works cost estimate?

A
0 - Facilitating works
1  - Substructure
2 - Superstructure
3 - Internal Finishes
4 - Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment
5 - Services
6 - Prefabricated buildings and
building units
7 - Works to existing buildings
8 - External works
9 - Main Contractor's Prelims
10 - Main Contractor's OH&P
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14
Q

What’s the cost limit?

A
0 - Facilitating works
1  - Substructure
2 - Superstructure
3 - Internal Finishes
4 - Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment
5 - Services
6 - Prefabricated buildings and
building units
7 - Works to existing buildings
8 - External works
9 - Main Contractor's Prelims
10 - Main Contractor's OH&P
11 - Project/design team fees
12 - Other project/development costs
13 - Risk allowances
14 - Inflation
CAN BE INCL OR EXCL INFLATION
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15
Q

Define NIA

A

The usable area within a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor
leve

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16
Q

Define GEA

A

The area of a building measured externally at each floor level.

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17
Q

Define GIA

A

The area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level

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18
Q

What’s the difference between GIA and IPMS2 office?

A
  • IPMS uses internal dominant face, GIA uses internal face (brick/block work or
    plaster coat)
  • Rooftop terraces included but stated separately
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19
Q

What’s the difference between NIA and IPMS3 office?

A
  • IPMS 3 measured to CL of walls separating two tenancies

- IPMS3 includes columns

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20
Q

What’s included/excluded in NIA?

A

Included
- Atria, lobbies etc that are tenant sole occupancy
- Kitchens in sole occupancy
- Built in cupboards etc in usable area
- Areas occupied by skirting/trunking
- Areas occupied by non-structural walls
subdividing accommodation in sole occupancy

Excluded
- Internal structural walls, walls enclosing
excluded areas, columns, piers, chimney
breasts, other projections, vertical ducts,
walls separating tenancies
- Common use areas (e.g. WCs, lobbies)
- Lift rooms, plant rooms, tank rooms
- The space occupied by permanent and
continuous air-conditioning, heating or
cooling apparatus, and ducting in so far as the space it occupies is rendered substantially unusable
- The space occupied by permanent,
intermittent air-conditioning, heating or
cooling apparatus protruding 0.25m or more into the usable area
- Areas with a headroom of less than 1.5m
- Areas rendered substantially unusable by
virtue of having a dimension between opposite faces of less than 0.25m
- Areas for vehicle parking

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21
Q

What’s a cost/ft2 for a strip out of a London office?

A

C. £7/sqft London office based on experience, not too cellularised

Can vary depending on factors such as cellularisation, access to building etc

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22
Q

What would you expect for a cost/sqft London office fit-out shell to cat a?

A

c. £45 - 55 sqft for high end office London

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23
Q

Cost/ft2 for a 2-bed resi unit in central London?

A

CHECK - NOT MY SPECIALITY - £250K?

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24
Q

What’s BCIS?

A

Building Cost Information Services - Cost and price information is collected by BCIS from across the UK construction industry, then collated, analysed, modelled, interpreted and made available to the industry to facilitate accurate cost planning.

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25
Q

Where would you get rates from?

A

BCIS, historic in house data, SPONs, build up rates, market test

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26
Q

What are the RIBA stages?

A
0 - Strategic definition 
1 - Preparation and brief
2 - Concept design
3 - Developed design
4 - Technical design
5 - Construction
6 - Handover and close out
7 - In use
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27
Q

What purpose does the RIBA PoW 2013 serve?

A
  • Splits project into key project stages w/ defined outcomes
  • Shared framework for design and construction
  • Offers both a process map and a management tool.
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28
Q

How would you go about market testing?

A
  • Hide name of project/client
  • Speak to supplier, give quants, drawings if necessary, get price for materials
  • Speak to subcontractor, give quants, drawings if necessary, get price for labour

GET PARTIES TO SIGN NON-DISCOUSURE AGREEMENT

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29
Q

What’s a non-disclosure agreement?

A

A legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to or by third parties

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30
Q

What are the advantages of market testing?

A

Current day cost for works, bespoke to the projects actual requirements

31
Q

What are the different waterproofing grades?

A

Grade 1 – Some water seepage and damp is tolerable depending on the intended use. Car parks etc.

Grade 2 – No water penetration is acceptable, some damp is okay. Garages, workshops etc

Grade 3 – No dampness or water penetration is acceptable – Ventilated residential / commercial spaces e.g. apartments and offices

32
Q

What’s the difference between waterproofing grades and types?

A

Grades = 1 - 3, required level of waterproofing

Type = A - C, method of waterproofing

33
Q

What are the waterproofing types?

A

Type A - “barrier protection” or basement tanking, layer of waterproof concrete. Good for grade 1 level protection

Type B - The structure itself being an integral water resistant shell. A build of reinforced concrete supplemented with a method of controlling water ingress at construction joints (such as a hydrophilic waterbar). Good for grade 2.

Type C - The structure itself provides the initial resistance against water ingress but also incorporates a drained cavity within the basement structure. Drainage system to collect groundwater ingress through the structure and direct it to drains or a sump pump for removal. Good for grade 3.

34
Q

What are the component measures for a facade? Incl unit.

A
  1. External wall - m2
  2. EO costs for plinths, ornamental bands, cornices - not stated
  3. EO for quoin - lm
  4. EO for forming openings to windows - nr
  5. EO for forming openings to doors - nr
  6. EO for PV cells - nr
  7. EO for openings/vents - nr/m2

See NRM1 for full detail.

35
Q

What are measurement rules for facade?

A
  • Measure to CL of external wall
  • Finish to externall wall is measured to external face not CL
  • Areas for different facades captured separately
  • Curved works are described and stated separately
  • Significant sub-components are to be stated separately (m2, m, nr)
36
Q

What’s included within facade measures?

A
  • External and internal lining of external wall (i.e. both skins of blockwork)
  • parapets and cappings
  • chimneys
  • columns and beams in unframed structures
  • curtain walling, masonry, panelling
  • vents, PV panels
37
Q

What is excluded from facade measures?

A
  • glazing
  • doors
  • walls and beams that form integral part of structure (incl in structure)
  • finish to inner face of external wall (dry lining, etc)
38
Q

What are the different types of facade?

A
  • Curtain walling
  • Rainscreen cladding
  • Masonry facades
  • Precast concrete panels
39
Q

What are the component measures for pile foundations? Incl unit.

A

Piling mat - m2

Piling plant - item

Moving piling rig into position - nr

Piles - unspecified

EO for piling casing - unspecified

Disposal for excavated arisings - m3

EO for breaking through obstructions - nr/m3

Cutting off piling tops - nr

Pile tests - item

Pile caps, ground beams also required

40
Q

What are some of the rules for measuring piles?

A
  • No allowance for bulk (re - material excavated)
  • Linear length of piles etc. taken from CL
  • Curved works are described and stated separately
  • Significant sub-components are to be stated separately (m2, m, nr)
41
Q

What’s excluded from pile measurements (NRM1)?

A
  • Dewatering

- Soil stabalisation

42
Q

What are the component measures for pad foundations? Incl unit.

A

Pad foundations; size & reinforcement - item

EO for disposal of contaminated material to be stated - m3

43
Q

What would you consider when chosing a foundation type?

A
  • Surrounding buildings
  • Requirements for noise restrictions
  • Soil bearing capacity
44
Q

What are the different functional units you could use to estimate the cost of a building?

A

Cost/bed

Cost/pupil

Cost/key

45
Q

What’s the difference between contiguous and secant piling?

A

Secant piles overlap, contiguous leave a gap between each pile which is filled

46
Q

What are the component measures for a steel frame? Incl unit.

A
  • Steel (t)
  • Fittings and fixings (t)
  • Fire protection (t)
  • Paint (t)
47
Q

What is included in steel frame?

A
  • Structural beams, columns, bracing
  • Roof trusses where integral to frame
  • Fire protection
  • Paint
  • Fixtures and fixings
  • Sundries, subby prelims
48
Q

What is excluded in steel frame?

A
  • Secondary steel frames (incl in specialist frames)
  • Lintels
  • Anything that can be separated from the frame (roof, floor beams)
  • Upper floors
49
Q

What are the component measures for a concrete frame? Incl unit.

A

Columns; grade, reinforcement, nr, finish - lm (BUT BREAK OUT INTO COMPONENTS BELOW TOTAL LM)

Beams; grade, reinforcement, nr, formwork finish - lm

Walls; grade, reinforcement, formwork finish - m2

EO for doors/openings to walls - nr

Designed joints; details to be stated - m

50
Q

What’s included/excluded in a concrete frame?

A

Incl - everything, concrete, formwork, reinforcement, grouting, finish,

Excl - upper floors, roof slab

51
Q

How would you value a variation?

A

Use contract rates if possible. If not, try to build up cost using contract rates.

If not, agree a reasonable rate with contractor using BCIS, historic data, SPONs

52
Q

What is a CSA?

A

Contract Sum Analysis - breakdown of the contractors tender sum/contract sum in a DB project

Used by QS to compare/analyse tenders, and basis for payments due to contractor post contract

53
Q

What’s the contract sum?

A

The price agreed with the contractor. Stated in the contract.

54
Q

How else might you advise to reduce the GIA?

A
  • Make internal spaces external by taking roof off/making open sided with canopy covers
  • Make cycle stores external
  • Put plant on roof
55
Q

What’s the full name for NRM3?

A

New Rules of Measurement - Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works

56
Q

What are the valuation rules?

A

Rules for valuing change in a contract

Different rules in different contracts

57
Q

What are the valuation rules in JCT DB 2016?

A
  • Allowances shall be made for addition/omission of relevant design work
  • Addition/substitution shall be consistent with work in CSA
  • When there is no similar work in CSA, fair valuation shall be made
  • Omission shall be in line with CSA
  • Valuation shall include cost change to site admin, facilities and temp works
  • Where the above cannot happen, addition/substitution is valued using Daywork
  • Change of conditions for other work shall be valued in accordance with the above
  • If works doesnt relate to additional/substitution/omission of work so that the above does not reasonably resolve the issue, a fair valuation shall be made
58
Q

What are the valuation rules in JCT IC 2016?

A
  • rates/prices in Contract Documents used where possible
  • Fair allowance will be made if method of works differs to above, based on rates in contract docs
  • Measurement shall be governed by same principles governing preparation of Contract Bills
  • Allowances for percentages or lump sum adjustment
  • Where there is no comparable work, works shall be valued at fair rates and prices
  • Quantity will be determined by approximate quantity if reasonable
  • Omissions will be omitted on the basis of rates and quants in Contract Documents
  • Daywork used to value works not in Contract Docs
59
Q

How do you value CDP?

A
  • Similar to valued in CDP Analysis + allowances for change in conditions under which work is carried out and/or significant change in quantity
  • If there is no similar work in CDP, a fair valuation will be made
60
Q

What are dayworks?

A

a means by which a contractor is paid for specifically instructed work on the basis of the cost of labour, materials and plant plus a mark up for overheads and profit.

61
Q

What do you need to write a cost plan?

A
  • Location
  • Function
  • Area/Drawings
  • Time start on site
  • Quality
62
Q

What is a defined PSUM?

A

A sum provided for work which is not completely designed but for which the following information shall be provided:
– the nature and construction of the work;
– a statement of how and where the work is fixed to the building and what other work is to be fixed thereto;
– a quantity or quantities that indicate the scope and extent of the work; and
– any specific limitations and the like identified

63
Q

What is an undefined PSUM?

A

A sum provided for work that is not completely designed, but for which the information required for a defined provisional sum cannot be provided

64
Q

What is a PSUM?

A

A sum of money set aside to carry out work that cannot be described and given in quantified items in accordance with the tabulated rules of measurement

65
Q

Where are PSUMS defined?

A

NRM2

66
Q

What were the risk allowances on your project in Central London?

A

Reviewed at every stage

Stage 1 - 5% design dev, 2.5% construction, 2.5% client change/other

PTE - Same, but design dev 0%

67
Q

What would you expect the construction risk to be on new build vs refurb?

A

New build if the site has been cleared will generally be lower risk. No danger of damage/disrupting existing buildings etc.

68
Q

What would you use BCIS for?

A
  • Tender Price Indices
  • Benchmarking
  • Cost estimating
69
Q

What are prime costs?

A

Never used them but:

  • Client will negotiate/agree price with a supplier/subbie before MC appointed
  • MC will include cost of supplier in their Tender Sum as a Prime Cost
  • PC will be replaced with cost incurred by supplier + MC OHP/prelims
70
Q

List items that would be included in prelims.

A
  • Site accommodation
  • Management and staff
  • Site establishment
  • Security
  • Temporary services (scaffolding)
  • Insurance, bonds, guarantees and warranties

Detailed list available in part 4 of NRM1

71
Q

How would you advise on the future inflation costs for a project?

A

Use in house TPI forecast or BCIS

72
Q

How would you test prelims?

A

Divide allowance by programme, look at rate per week and compare that to benchmarks.

£80m project, £70k - £85K per week

73
Q

How is reinforcement measured in NRM?

A

tonnes

74
Q

What drawings would you use to measure facades?

A

Off-plan to capture all of the returns.

Both drawings ideal.