The New Rules of Measurement (NRM) are a suite of documents published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) that provide a standard set of measurement rules for estimating, cost planning, procurement, and whole-life costing for construction projects in the UK.
The NRM Suite
The NRM comprises three volumes:
- NRM 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works – Provides guidance on the quantification of building works for cost estimating and planning purposes
- NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works – Provides guidance on the detailed measurement and description of building works for the preparation of bills of quantities and quantified schedules of works
- NRM 3: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works – Addresses the measurement of maintenance and lifecycle replacement works
Purpose and Application
The NRM provides:
- A consistent basis for measuring building works
- A framework for cost planning at all project stages
- Standard terminology and definitions
- Alignment with the RIBA Plan of Work stages
UK Industry Standard
The NRM has replaced the Standard Method of Measurement (SMM7) as the primary measurement standard in the UK construction industry. It is widely used by quantity surveyors, cost consultants, and contractors for preparing bills of quantities and cost estimates.
Related Terms
See also: Quantity Surveyor, Bill of Quantities, Cost Estimation, Preliminary Estimate
References
RICS New Rules of Measurement
RICS New Rules of Measurement Standard
