Standard Form of Cost Analysis – 3rd Edition released

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BCIS will publish an updated edition of the standard used across the building industry to organise cost data this month. The 3rd Edition of the Standard Form of Cost Analysis – Principles, Instructions and Definitions (SFCA) clarifies the definitions and rules in the previous edition in the light of modern building design and construction techniques.

The SFCA has been an essential aid to the Quantity Surveyor’s (QS) profession for over 40 years and the SFCA Elements have been incorporated into most of the techniques adopted by the industry during that period. For example life cycle costing, performance specification and value management

With new procurement practices making a target cost plan central to the entire process, this latest edition provides an invaluable standard cost format. The publication also provides revised and expanded definitions for the Elements.

Instructions on preparing an analysis on total building, group elemental (concise), elemental (detailed) and sub-elemental (amplified) are included as well as:

• the principles of analysis
• instructions on the information required to complete a cost analysis
• general definitions
• definitions of the elements and sub elements
• element unit quantities

Joe Martin, Executive Director of BCIS commented: “The SFCA is an essential resource for those working in the QS profession and building industry and has provided the standard format for presenting costs since it was first published in 1961. This long awaited 3rd edition brings the definitions up-to-date in line with modern building design and will ensure that it remains the main reference for clients, consultants and contractors presenting costs in a consistent and meaningful manner.”

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Notes for editors:

An Element is a major physical part of a building that fulfils a specific function, or functions, irrespective of its design, specification or construction.

The SFCA contains example analysis forms, describes the BCIS elemental XML schema and the BCIS analysis writer programme. Supporting information on contract, design/shape and market factors is defined so that the costs analysed can be fully understood.

The revised SFCA Elements will form the basis for the BCIS/BSi Standardised Method of Life Cycle Costing for Construction (SMLCCC) cost structure due to be available in June 2008. It will extend the data structure to cover maintenance, operation, occupancy and end of life costs as well as capital costs.

The full document, Standard Form of Cost Analysis – Principles, Instructions and Definitions (SFCA) priced £55 can be ordered online at www.bcis.co.uk/sfca or by calling T +44 (0)870 333 1600 (select option 2 for BCIS sales and quote item code 17320).

The new SFCA forms of analysis can be downloaded free of charge from the BCIS website: www.bcis.co.uk/sfca.

About RICS

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is the mark of property professionalism worldwide. It covers all aspects of property, construction and associated environmental issues. RICS has 140,000 members globally and represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 146 countries. RICS is governed by a Royal Charter approved by Parliament which requires it to act in the public interest. It is also a professional regulatory body approved by Government (HM Treasury).

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 1962 to exchange detailed building price information.

Claire Barratt

Press Officer

RICS Corporate Communications

T: +44 (0)20 7334 3736

www.rics.org/press