UNIFORMAT II Elemental Classification for Building Specifications, Cost Estimating, and Cost Analysis.
UNIFORMAT II Elemental Classification for Building
Specifications, Cost Estimating, and Cost Analysis.
(1291 K)
Charette, R. P.; Marshall, H. E.
NISTIR 6389; 103 p. October 1999.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900.
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB2000-100126
Keywords:
specifications; cost benefit analysis; building
construction; building materials
Abstract:
This report describes UNIFORMAT II, a format for
classifying building elements and related sitework.
Elements, as defined here, are major components common
to most buildings. Elements usually perform a given
function, regardless of the design specification,
construction method, or materials used. Using UNIFORMAT
II ensures consistency in the economic evaluation of
building projects over time and from project to project,
and it enhances project management and reporting at all
stages of the building life cycle-planning, programming,
design, construction, operations, and disposal.
UNIFORMAT II is a significant advance over the original
UNIFORMAT classification in that it has added elements
and expanded descriptions of many existing elements.
This report proposes a fourth level of definition to
augment the three hierarchical levels provided in the
original UNIFORMAT II. Starting from Level 1, the
largest element grouping, it identifies Major Group
Elements such as the Substructure, Shell and Interiors.
Level 2 subdivides Level 1 elements into Group Elements.
The Shell, for example, includes the Superstructure,
Exterior Closure, and Roofing. Level 3 breaks the Group
Elements further into Individual Elements. Exterior
Closure, for example, includes Exterior Walls, Exterior
Windows, and Exterior Doors. The proposed Level 4 breaks
the individual elements into yet smaller sub-elements.
Standard Foundation sub-elements, for example, include
wall foundations, column foundations, perimeter
drainage, and insulation. A major benefit of performing
an economic analysis based on an elemental framework
instead of on a product-based classification is the
reduction in time and costs for evaluating alternatives
at the early design stage. This encourages more economic
analyses and more economically efficient choices among
buildings and building elements. Other UNIFORMAT II
benefits include providing a standardized format for
collecting and analyzing historical data to use in
estimating and budgeting future projects; providing a
checklist for the cost estimation process as well as the
creativity phase of the value engineering job plan;
providing a basis for training in cost estimation;
facilitating communications among members of a project
team regarding the scope of work and costs in each
discipline; and establishing a database for automated
cost estimating. This report focuses on the benefits of
applying UNIFORMAT II in design specifications, cost
estimating, and cost analysis. A proposed summary sheet
for presenting building and sitework elemental costs
with cost analysis parameters provides an efficient tool
for communicating economic information to decision
makers in a quickly understood, concise format that
helps them make project choices. Owners, developers,
programmers, cost planners, project managers,
schedulers, architects and engineers, operating and
maintenance staff, manufacturers, specification writers,
and educators will find the classification useful.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899