ABEE£002 Costs and v-s1-full

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Overview of Course Structure

    • 3 sessions planned

      • First session focused on casts

      • Second session covers shape and value

      • Third session on understanding the market and emerging trends, particularly related to the Building Safety Act

    • Emphasis on engaging in the module to meet learning outcomes and assessment criteria

  • Cost Estimates for School Projects

    • Establishing costs based on previous school examples

    • Determining accommodation capacity for new schools

    • Generating rate per functional unit

    • Importance of evidence for functional units in estimating costs.

  • Gross Internal Floor Area

    • Every building has a gross internal floor area which is crucial for cost calculations

    • Internal floor area defined as the area inside the internal face of the external walls

    • RICS and international property measurement standards provide guidelines for measuring areas

    • Estimation requires understanding of site limitations and surrounding areas rather than specific designs.

Chapter 2: Gross Internal Floor Area

  • Importance of Gross Internal Floor Area (GIFA)

    • GIFA always used for calculating building cost, not external areas.

    • NRM 1 outlines measurements for cost estimates

    • Ability to calculate quantities even without a design

    • Use of historical benchmark data for estimating costs, based on similar project types.

  • Benchmarking for Cost Estimation

    • Need for selecting historic projects of similar scope and scale for accurate forecasts

    • Example: Cost of a primary school should compare with similar size, not with unrelated buildings

    • Aim to establish a cost limit that the client can afford.

Chapter 3: Order Of Cost

  • Evaluating Benchmark Data

    • Flexibility in selecting projects from anywhere in the UK, but consider local regulations

    • Importance of utilizing recent construction data to enhance accuracy

    • Need for different strategies based on type and frequency of projects (e.g., schools vs. football stadiums).

  • Determining Cost Limits through Benchmarking

    • Define cost limits through analysis of relevant and suitably comparable historical data

    • Move to cost planning phase once costs are established, distributing costs across project elements including external works and demolition.

Chapter 4: Example Of Element

  • Structuring Cost Estimates

    • Cost breakdown must retain original structure through detailed design phases

    • Main headings involve building works estimates, preliminaries, overheads, and profit

    • Detailed breakdown progresses from group elements to components as design becomes more detailed.

  • Understanding NRM Codes

    • Example groups include substructures (1), superstructures (2)

    • Element codes get granular (e.g., windows, doors)

    • Importance of standardized structure for accurate cost analysis and decision-making during design.

Chapter 5: Conclusion

  • Quantity Calculations

    • Importance of calculating quantities at different structural levels: group, element, sub-element, and component

    • Understanding unit measurement for pricing elements (e.g., walls, windows, frames)

    • Clarification on measurement specifics for various materials and elements (e.g., steel vs concrete frames)

  • Guidance for Students

    • Exploration of NRM 1 for deeper understanding of elements and unit rates for efficient cost management and estimation.