Black book offers greater clarity and consistency of costing says RICS

The RICS claimed that reducing the cost of construction could be helped if suppliers and clients adopted its New Rules of Measurement – in one been dubbed its most significant shakeup of qs and costing guidance in 30 years.

The  new RICS’s revised ‘Black Book’ and its  accompanying raft of New Rules of Measurement (NRM) will provide clearer guidance for costing and greater standardisation in the measurement process, says the professional body.

Alan Cripps, Associate Director of the Built Environment at RICS said that the  the NRM provides a common framework and language for preparing cost plans, how they’re kept and updated, and will improve consistency in the tendering process and in the quality of data clients get.  He urged clients to get behind it.

“ If the NRM were taken up by everyone, then everyone’s data would be on the same basis – t, then everyone can see where the savings are being made. Otherwise, it’s hard for clients to pick out the the cost savings. It fills a pivotal role and is aligned to the UK government’s construction objectives. We know that certain government bodies are taking it up, and we’ve spoken to private sector clients who’re going to look into the NRM. 

The NRM will eventually contain about 40 or 50 guidance notes. Eleven have been issued so far with another 12 in preparation.  At the launch event, the government’s chief construction adviser Paul Morrell said: “The launch of the RICS “Black Book” of practice standards is a timely contribution to both needs, and coupled with the NRM they will help to equip the profession with the means to maintain a high quality of service and advice to its clients through this time of transformation.”