SMM And NRM – Standard Measures For Construction Cost Estimation

SMM for Uniform Measuring Analysis of Building Works

Brief Report on SMM and NRM Suite Measurement

The SMM stands for standard method of measurement and it has been defined by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for aligning with the implementation of the detailed calculation and table analysis (Designingbuildings.co.uk. 2018). An industry based analysis had been deployed for uniform measuring analysis of the building works. The adoption of the best practice for the analysis would be based on the avoidance of the disputes.

The NRM or new rules of measurement was also published by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Quantity Surveying and Construction Professional Group (Designingbuildings.co.uk. 2018). Some standard set of measurement would be used for estimating the cost and procurement plan. The adoption of the standard methodology for the NRM would be based on the consistent facility and benchmarking that would be helpful for dealing with the disputes.

The SMM stands for standard method of measurement and it has been defined by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for aligning with the implementation of the detailed calculation and table analysis (Maurer et al. 2018). The SMM provide the detailed information for building works and it is helpful for forming the uniform basis for facilitating the industry wide consistency. The SMM has been typically used for the preparation of bills of quantities and documents for providing measures of the work items. The analysis would be based on the significant development of the work identified with the specification and drawings. The tender documentation is based on the formation of the adoption for the best practices. An industry based analysis had been deployed for uniform measuring analysis of the building works. The work section on SMM is being executed with the help of the rules and norms set by CAWS or Common Arrangement of Work Sections. The CAWS had created a consistent agreement for the bills of quantity and specifications of work sections (Akbar et al. 2015). It has been accompanied by the code of measure and procedure of measurement of the building works. The adoption of the best practice for the analysis would be based on the avoidance of the disputes.

The SMM has been phased out with the implication of the NRM or new rules of measurement that was also published by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Quantity Surveying and Construction Professional Group (Packer 2016). Some standard set of measurement would be used for estimating the cost and procurement plan. The July month of year 2013 marked the end of using the SMM and NRM marked its beginning since the time. The NRM has been introduced in two additional volumes,

1. NRM1 that involves the order for cost planning and estimating for the capital building works
2. NRM2 that involves the order for cost planning and estimating for the building works
3. NRM3 that involves the order for cost planning and estimating for the building maintenance works

NRM for Estimating the Cost and Procurement Plan

The adoption of the standard methodology for the NRM would be based on the consistent facility and benchmarking that would be helpful for dealing with the disputes. The NRM suite would be helpful for providing better achievement of the client’s needs, allowance for considering the full costs of projects, and provision for entailing better and more detailed initial requirement listing. NRM suite also provides a detailed specific alignment for the toolkit supporting the cost management for controlling the project cost development (Abanda, Kamsu-Foguem and Tah 2017). The suite helps in guiding the changes for the specific development of the operations.

Conclusion

It can be concluded from the assignment that the SMM and NRM have some specific qualities and rules for measuring the construction work requirements. The SMM has been the predecessor of NRM suite and it had been largely used for listing the bills of quantities and later on it helped in avoiding any conflict for the execution of the project. The NRM is a specific tool alignment for the deployment of the cost estimating and planning for the construction projects. The adoption of the standard methodology for the NRM was based on the consistent facility and benchmarking that would be helpful for dealing with the disputes. NRM suite also provided a detailed specific alignment for the toolkit supporting the cost management for controlling the project cost development. The suite helped in guiding the changes for the specific development of the operations.

Discussion of Appropriate Estimation Method

1. Hospital or bowling alley: The hospital or bowling alley is a new multi-storeyed building/alley construction which would require the use of varied resources and functions. The method of cubical contents method can be used for measuring the work (approximate estimation method) and it would allow the consideration of operations and forming the implication of the specific structure cost calculation (The Constructor 2016). The cubical content area for the approximate estimation method is calculated by the use of the volume of the building. The volume obtained would be calculated as length X breadth X height. The plinth offset is excluded from the length and breadth measurement for the out to walls. The cost of cornice, string course, and corbelling has been excluded from the approximate estimation method. The overall estimation of the cost is based on the multiplication of the volume of building with the rate/unit volume.
2. A project similar to a previous job: The estimation of the cost with the help of plinth area and plinth area rate would help in using the effective calculation of the overall costs (Brook 2016). The necessary enquiries and careful observation would be helpful for measuring the quality and quantity of labour and materials. The complete estimation of the building height, roof, and work related to wood, storeys and fixtures would be considered. The method of cubical contents method can be used for measuring the work (approximate estimation method) and it would allow the consideration of operations and forming the implication of the specific structure cost calculation. The cubical content area for the approximate estimation method is calculated by the use of the volume of the building (Gurcanli, Bilir and Sevim 2015). The cost of cornice, string course, and corbelling has been excluded from the approximate estimation method. The overall estimation of the cost is based on the multiplication of the volume of building with the rate/unit volume.
3. A bungalow 10m x 6m internal floor area: The internal floor area construction would be based on the implication of the plinth area method. The cost of the work would be calculated by fixing the use of plinth approximate estimation method for the multiplication of the plinth area rate. The multiplication of the length and breadth can result in forming the area of the outer dimension of the building (Akcay et al.2018). The estimation of the cost with the help of plinth area and plinth area rate would help in using the effective calculation of the overall costs. The necessary enquiries and careful observation would be helpful for measuring the quality and quantity of labour and materials. The complete estimation of the building height, roof, and work related to wood, storeys and fixtures would be considered.

The Gantt chart for the project of Tank House Formation in Gables with critical path marked in red boxes of the timeline is shown below,

 

Figure 1: Gantt chart of the project

References

Abanda, F.H., Kamsu-Foguem, B. and Tah, J.H.M., 2017. BIM–New rules of measurement ontology for construction cost estimation. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, 20(2), pp.443-459.

Akbar, A.R.N., Mohammad, M.F., Ahmad, N. and Maisyam, M., 2015. Adopting standardization in construction environment: Standard method of measurement (smms). Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 170, pp.37-48.

Akcay, C., Aslan, S., Sayin, B. and Manisal?, E., 2018. Estimating OHS costs of building construction projects based on mathematical methods. Safety Science, 109, pp.361-367.

Brook, M., 2016. Estimating and tendering for construction work. Routledge.

Designingbuildings.co.uk. 2018. New Rules of Measurement – Designing Buildings Wiki. [online] Available at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/New_Rules_of_Measurement [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].

Designingbuildings.co.uk. 2018. Standard Method of Measurement SMM7 – Designing Buildings Wiki. [online] Available at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Standard_Method_of_Measurement_SMM7 [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].

Gurcanli, G.E., Bilir, S. and Sevim, M., 2015. Activity based risk assessment and safety cost estimation for residential building construction projects. Safety science, 80, pp.1-12.

Maurer, D.L., Bragdon, A.M., Short, B.C., Ahn, H. and Koziel, J.A., 2018. Improving environmental odor measurements: comparison of lab-based standard method and portable odor measurement technology. Archives of Environmental Protection.

Packer, A.D., 2016. Building Measurement: New Rules of Measurement. Routledge.

The Constructor. 2016. Methods of Approximate Construction Cost Estimation Preparation. [online] Available at: https://theconstructor.org/construction/estimating-costing/approximate-construction-cost-estimation/6483/ [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].