Quantification & Costing

Question 1

What would be on your take-off list for a concrete slab?

Answer 1

• Floor slab area, incl the depth
  *Reinforcement allowance
• Formwork
• Joints
• Surface treatments

Question 2

What is NRM 1?

Answer 2

Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works

Question 3

What is NRM 2?

Answer 3

Detailed measurement for building projects

Question 4

What is NRM 3?

Answer 4

Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital maintenance works

Question 5

What is standard methods of measurements?

Answer 5

Standard methods are rules to ensure that all pricing of construction projects are of the same standard.

These consist of guidance and a set of rules for the basis of measurement, to ensure that the same items are included (or excluded) in each rate, so that costs for that element can be accurately applied.

Question 6

Name a number of sources of cost data

Answer 6

Spons + Legacy Projects

Question 7

What is prime cost?

Answer 7

The Unit rate

Question 8

What is dayworks?

Answer 8

When works cant be measured in a normal way and so have to be priced based on labour, plant and OHP.

Question 9

How would you price an estimate at RIBA Stage 1?

Answer 9

m2 based on the GIFA or on functional units

Question 10

How would you price an estimate at RIBA Stage 2-4?

Answer 10

More concise measures using dimension etc

Question 11

What is a GIFA?

Answer 11

Internal part of the building to the internal perimeter wall

Question 12

What is a GEA?

Answer 12

All areas outside the building

Question 13

What is the difference between NRM1 & NRM2?

Answer 13

• NRM 1 utilises unit rates - should include the cost of all materials, labour and plant that are specifically required to construct the item. Costs are also to include any subcontractors’ on costs
• NRM2 - more detailed, costed and broken down in detail. E.g. finishing, formwork, reinforcement types all split out

Question 14

Outline valuation process

Answer 14

-Pre val - Checking due dates
-Pre Val - Review programme, cash flow, take offs
-On site assessment - walkround with contractor do not need to agree val
-Valuation - review documents one last time and issue documents
-Post val - reporting

Question 15

Outline Valuation timeline

Answer 15

-Contractor submits interim valuation on or before the due date
- 1 week after the due date, assessment take places
-2 weeks after is last day for pay less
-3 weeks Is payment

Question 16

How is a valuation calculated under Option A

Answer 16

PWDD for fully complete activities + CEs - retention

Question 17

How do you benchmark?

Question 18

Why is it important to measure the works according to industry standards and best practice?

Answer 18

-To provide consistency and greater accuracy of pricing.
-To ensure that all parties price on the same basis and therefore reduce the risk of dispute

Question 19

What is IPMS and what is its Purpose?

Answer 19

International Property Measurement Standards - IPMS All Buildings supersedes all previously published IPMS standards for individual asset classes by utilising the concepts and objectives contained in those specific versions of IPMS into one harmonised standard

Question 20

What is a defined Prov Sum

Answer 20

A Provisional sums which have been described in sufficient detail that the contractor is expected to have made allowance for them in their programming, planning and pricing preliminaries.

Question 21

What is an undefined prov sum

Answer 21

A Provisional sum which has not been described in enough detail so the contractor is not expected to allow for programming and prelims.