Code of Estimating Practice

This code of practice, long established as a leading publication for the construction industry, provides an authoritative guide to essential principles and good practice in estimating for building work. The seventh edition includes new material on estimating strategy, tendering, procedures and best practice, as well as the build-up of unit rates of cost, overheads and profit, and e-commerce. 1.0 Introduction; 1.1 Principles – including flow charts (including risk management0. current charts are process-oriented – these should be incorporated into Process Section; 1.2 Processes; 1.3 Contract Types – diagrammatic presentation of contract formats to distinguish between types, application and use; 2.0 Project appreciation; 2.1 Initial Review (24 hr overview of tendering, checking validity and decisions to tender – pre-qualification process).

2.2 Design Review (packaging job and gap analysis, Q&A exercises); 2.3 Site Investigation; 2.4 Clients requirements (method statements, CDM Regulations, selection criteria); 2.5 Project planning and programming (tender programme); 3.0 Procurement; 3.1 External Planning (engaging consultants); 3.2 Internal Planning (design & build, confidentiality re: bill sharing and breaches of tendering regulations); 4.0 Cost estimate; Planning; Preliminaries; Unit rates; Sub-contract prices; Project overheads; Provisional sums; Contractor design; Other approaches – Operational estimating – Analytical estimating; Compliance – Technical – Commercial; 5.0 Tender settlement; Estimators report and risks associated with this; Settlement – anticipated margin and tender figure; Tender submission – Tender strategy and examples – Non–compliant tenders – Alternative tenders – time/cost method - European Union rules and regulations – Clarifications/Qualifications; 6.0 Post-tender activities; Changes; Handover to delivery team; Period for acceptance of tendering; Feedback on tender results/performance; 7.0 Cost planning; Cost planning; Whole life-cycle cost planning (construction) – sustainability adding; PFI; Approximate quantities/estimating; 8.0 Contractual arrangements; Large projects; D&B – lump sum; Changes to process; Risks (for each contract); Package bids – relating to specialist contractors; Management – cost plus; Hybrid – partnering arrangements; 9.0 E-commerce; E-tendering; Receipt of information; Records; Submissions; Data Protection Act; E-bidding processes

“The book is a refreshing read, easy to understand, easy to digest and contains a number of ‘specimen projects’ that help readers to understand the written text better. It will be an invaluable book to students, members and those seeking a ‘refresher course’ in the latest best practice in building estimating.” (Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1 May 2012)

The Chartered Institute of Building, Ascot, Berkshire. This code of practice was first published in 1966, and over many years of effective use has established itself as a leading publication for the construction industry, providing an authoritative guide to the essential principles and good practice in estimating for building work.

The seventh edition of the code has been completely re-structured and rewritten to reflect the changing pressures on the pre-construction and estimating process. It includes new material on estimating strategy, procedures and best practice in different procurement situations, supply chain management, risk identification, e-tendering, as well as the build-up of unit rates of cost, and overheads and profit. The standard forms and checklists, for which the previous edition was renowned, have been retained.

The Code of Estimating Practice continues the excellent work of previous editions, responding to current trends and providing a guide to best practice as observed by the team of contributors.

Published in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Building, the book has been endorsed by a broad range of industry bodies.