Construction Standards

Provides practical guidance to those involved in the commissioning or procurement of project management services, as well as RICS members undertaking the role of project manager in relation to building works contracts.

View the guidance here.

The ‘Black Book’ is a collection of technical practice documents which covers all processes throughout the construction project life cycle. The documents are essential development tools for junior professionals working through their APC and useful guides to best practice for more experienced professionals.

View the practical documents here.

This guidance note should be used as a source of reference for quantity surveyors (QS) or cost managers when BIM has been implemented in the life cycle of a project.

View the guidance here.

This professional statement provides an overview of global best practice in cost prediction and the implementation of international construction measurement standards (ICMS) for cost management professionals.

View the statement here.

RICS current data standards allow users to capture, share and exchange data on land, property, real estate, and infrastructure assets.

View the standards here.

This guidance note sets out how digital systems are commercially managed from the procurement and implementation phases through to their operational, maintenance and whole life cycle management within infrastructure assets.

View the guidance here.

The International Cost Management Standard Coalition (ICMSC) is a group of 49 professional and not-for-profit organisations from around the world, working together to develop and implement international standards for benchmarking, measuring and reporting construction project costs. 

Learn more about the standards here.

This guidance note highlights international high-level principles around how to implement and use BIM in the design, construction and operation of our built environment.

View the guidance here.

Focusing on the fundamental question of why projects fail, this guidance outlines some of the most commonly occurring reasons for failure and offers practical solutions in the context of applying the lessons learned.

View the guidance here.

NRM provides a standard set of measurement rules and essential guidance for the cost management of construction projects and maintenance works.

View the rules and guidance here.

New RICS Forms of Consultant’s Appointment have just been published across a number of construction and related disciplines. Three versions of template Appointment Forms, 14 Scope of Services schedules and explanatory notes are available in three separate jurisdictional versions: England and Wales, Northern Ireland
and Scotland.

Download the standard and short forms here.

A project is currently underway to review and update the black book content with the aim of producing a comprehensive new edition, with improved presentation and navigation. While this review is taking place, we have withdrawn several guidance notes which have been rendered out-of-date by the publication of various forms of contract, legislation and case law.

View the guidance here.

This RICS guidance note sets out how the role of the commercial manager is both expanding and deepening in the fast evolving field of infrastructure.

View the guidance here.

The RICS whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) standard is set to become the world-leading standard for consistent and accurate carbon measurement in the built environment. This 2nd edition builds upon the success of the existing RICS WLCA standard, having been extended to cover all buildings and infrastructure throughout the built environment life cycle.

Learn more about the standard here.

This practice information summarises what cash flow forecasting is, how to produce a useful forecast and how to then use the forecast to assess progress on site as well as other issues. It can also help assist both employers and contractors to analyse actual expenditure against forecast expenditure.

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