Document downloads - Conceptual cost planning
Available downloads
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BCIS Standard form of cost analysis: Section 7 Analysis forms
Cost planning of construction projects has been used for 50 years to provide a methodology for keeping control of a capital build project. It provides a means of controlling the design process to meet the budgetary requirements of the client. It enables the quantity surveyor, with the design team, to design a building to a cost, rather than costing a design after it has been completed.
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Surveyors' construction handbook: pre-contract cost planning and cost management (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
Any questions relating to its status and application should be addressed to the RICS QS and construction professional group. -
Surveyors' construction handbook: elements for buildings (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
Any questions relating to its status and application should be addressed to the RICS QS and construction professional group. -
Cost analysis and benchmarking – UK
Published August 2024
This practice information summarises the purpose and process of both cost analysis and construction project benchmarking.
It is based on current practice within the UK and covers the general principles applying to each operation. It does not seek to cover every approach to cost analysis or benchmarking but looks at the subject areas from a practical aspect.
In addition, while the processes of cost analysis and benchmarking are applicable to the whole life costs associated with the construction and operation of a building, this guidance note considers capital cost only. The principles covered may, however, also be applied to costs in use.
This is part of RICS' Black Book, which is a collection of technical practice documents that covers all processes throughout the construction project life cycle. The documents are essential development tools for junior professionals working through their APC and useful guides to best practice for more experienced professionals.
A project is currently underway to review and update the Black Book content with the aim of producing a comprehensive new edition. Expected to publish in 2025, the new Black Book will comprise an overarching global professional standard, accompanied by practical guidance material. -
New rules of measurement
Published October 2021
Effective from 1 December 2021
Reissued October 2022
New rules of measurement (NRM) provides a standard set of measurement rules and essential guidance for the cost management of construction projects and maintenance works.
For the first time, all three volumes of the NRM suite have been published at the same time. The updated suite consists of three separate volumes:
- NRM 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works
- NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works
- NRM 3: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works
The primary development in recent years has been the publication of the International Cost Management Standard (ICMS) (formerly known as International Construction Measurement Standards). Together with the Cost prediction professional standard, there now exists a hierarchy of cost management standards and tools from the high-level and global ICMS, through the more detailed principles of all aspects of cost prediction in the professional standard, to the detailed rules and guidance in the NRM suite.
Other recent developments that have resulted in the need for a revised edition include the publication of a new RIBA Plan of Work (2020), which provides a framework for the analysis of construction costs.
A mapping tool between NRM and ICMS will be provided here shortly, mapping the new NRM with ICMS 3, launched in November 2021. While NRM is based on UK practice, it provides a framework for a common set of rules and guidance with global application.
A number of other supporting documents are also being provided alongside the new NRM suite, which are designed to assist users with their understanding and use of the new NRM suite. These will be available from, or shortly after, launch.
These documents were reissued in October 2022 as practice information. They had previously been published in October 2021 as guidance notes. No material changes have been made to the documents. -
Cost analysis and benchmarking – global (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This first edition guidance provides a summary of the purpose and process of both cost analysis and construction project benchmarking.
The purpose of this guidance note is to ensure consistent practice, delivered in a professional manner that is in line with internationally recognised guidance.
This is part of the RICS QS and Construction Standards. -
Cost reporting
Published March 2015
Effective from March 2015
This 1st edition guidance note sets out the principles of cost reporting from the perspective of the quantity surveyor to the client during construction.
This guidance note explains the purpose of cost reporting, the factors affecting outturn cost and explores the different formats and types of cost report.
This guidance note covers:
- the purpose of cost reporting;
- cost reporting models;
- report formats;
- establishing the budget;
- treatment of variable costs;
- strategic importance; and
- reporting of loss and expense.
This is part of RICS' Black Book, which is a collection of technical practice documents that covers all processes throughout the construction project life cycle. The documents are essential development tools for junior professionals working through their APC and useful guides to best practice for more experienced professionals.
A project is currently underway to review and update the Black Book content with the aim of producing a comprehensive new edition. Expected to publish in 2025, the new Black Book will comprise an overarching global professional standard, accompanied by practical guidance material.