BCIS Offers Essential Free Guide to Construction Data Standards


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12/01/2009 20:56

2009 BCIS International Cost Elements Enquiry Report


With the construction industry growing in new markets and more UK companies working overseas, the need for comparable cost data internationally has never been more acute. As a result BCIS (the Building Cost Information Service of RICS) has compiled a comprehensive report into international construction cost standards.

The survey is a continuation of the work BCIS has carried out in Europe and provides information on working practices from 40 countries. It gathers basic information on the provision of cost advice to clients – in particular, the primary advisors of clients, classifying buildings elements for costing purposes, area measurement standards, structuring construction cost related information, procurement routes, and available sources of cost related information.

The research not only highlights what standards are in place but also indicates the best sources for finding accurate information and data in each of the countries surveyed. Other report findings include:
  • Respondents from 19 out of the 40 countries did not claim any published standard elemental classification of building parts for costing purposes.
  • Many countries where such standards exist tend to be linked historically with the United Kingdom.
  • In the absence of locally agreed standards, professionals commonly adopt ‘foreign’ standards or ad hoc in-house developed standards.
  • There are said to be no classifications of standard building types in use in 11 of the countries, and the respondents from a further 19 countries did not identify the title of a published third party standard.
“It is difficult to interpret overseas cost information without understanding the basis on which it has been produced,” said Andrew Thompson, BCIS International Development and Data Director. “Although there are countries with quite complete construction cost related standards and information sources, there appear to be many more countries where the quality of published guidance and cost information falls short of what local professionals might wish. This report will be of great use to construction industry professionals worldwide and as such we are delighted to be able to provide such a service and make it freely available to all.”

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Notes for editors:
The 40 countries on which information is available are: Australia; Bahamas; Bahrain; Barbados; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Canada; Cayman Islands; China (Peoples Republic); China (Hong Kong SAR); Cyprus; Czech Republic; France; Greece; Guyana; Indonesia; Ireland; Italy; Jamaica; Laos; Lebanon; St Kitts & Nevis; Kenya; Malaysia; Mauritius; Morocco; New Zealand; Netherlands; Nigeria; Poland; Portugal (Algarve); Qatar; Russian Federation; Singapore; South Africa; Spain; Switzerland; Thailand; Trinidad & Tobago; United Arab Emirates; USA.

BCIS was involved with the European Council of Construction Economists (CEEC) in preparing the CEEC Code of Measurement for Cost Planning, first published in 2004, which compares elemental cost planning structures for Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland and the UK. The code was produced to identify different practices in expressing building costs so that costs from different countries could be compared on a consistent basis. This survey sought to identify other elemental cost planning data structures in use around the world.

The full report 2009 BCIS International Cost Elements Enquiry Report is available for free download at http://www.bcis.co.uk/ BCIS International Cost Elements Enquiry Report.


About BCIS
BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) publishes information on the capital cost of new and refurbished work collected from Chartered Quantity Surveyors and others working in the building industry. BCIS is a trading name of RICS and was established in 1961 to exchange detailed building price information.


About RICS & RICS Americas
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with headquarters in London, is the leading organization of its kind in the world for more than 100,000 professionals in property, land, construction and related environmental issues.

RICS Americas, based in New York and covering North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has more than 3,000 members in commercial and residential development, construction and project management, brokerage, planning and finance, valuation and fine arts appraisal. For further information visit www.ricsamericas.org or e-mail ricsamericas@rics.org.