USER GUIDE

Elemental Cost Analysis

1 | USER GUIDE – Elemental Cost Analysis

Copyright © 2020 by Construction Computer Software (CCS)

This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be

obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage

in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means,

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise.

User Guide Reference: 45-CAN-TCH-UG-0002

User Guide Version: 00

User Guide Date: April 2020

Information is correct as per the functionality present in

Candy V 2.01e12.8

2 | USER GUIDE – Elemental Cost Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3

Elemental Cost Codes ...................................................................................... 3

Allocating Elemental Cost Coding ....................................................................... 4

Parameters .................................................................................................... 8

Elemental Cost Analysis .................................................................................... 9

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INTRODUCTION

The purpose of cost analysis is to provide data that allows comparisons to be made between the

costs of achieving various building functions in a project with those of achieving equivalent functions

in other projects. It is the analysis of the cost of a building in terms of its elements. An element for

cost analysis purposes is defined as a major physical part of a building that fulfils a specific function

or functions irrespective of its design, specification or construction. The list of elements, however,

is a compromise between this definition and what is considered practical.

The cost analysis allows for varying degrees of detail related to the design process; broad costs for

building types are needed during the initial period and progressively more detail is required as the

design is developed. The elemental costs are related to square metre of gross internal floor area

and to a parameter more closely identifiable with the elements function known as the element unit

quantity.

Elemental Cost Codes

For the purpose of this manual, BCIS Elemental Cost Coding has been used but the User may adapt

to code for any coding system or even one specifically designed by the user or his/her company.

The Elemental Cost Codes are defined in “Definitions & Settings”, that can be found following this

path:

• Step 1: Estimating > Main > Definitions & Settings > 9.1 Elemental definitions

The example below is based on the BCIS Elemental Cost Coding structure using two levels of

coding. Two (2) levels of coding is the maximum allowed.

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Allocating Elemental Cost Coding

The Elemental Cost Coding should be structure to provide the most effective cost planning data for

your organisation.

The Sub-Elemental Cost Codes are the lowest level and are allocated to the BOQ items as can be

seen from the screen shot below.

To allocate Elemental Cost Codes to the Bill items, take the following path and steps:

Select Estimating > Documents > Estimating Document Manager or the icon.

• Step 1: Under the Estimating Bills tab click on 1. Bill Pricing then Select New Document

button at the bottom.

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• Step 2: Select 1. Bill Pricing > 1.1 Standard Bill of Quantities.

• Step 3: Rename the entry to 1.1a Bill of Quantities with Element Coding.

• Step 4: Select Customise button at the bottom.

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• Step 5: Expand 17 Codes and Factors

Add 17.17 to 17.20 by either double clicking on each one or selecting the green arrow to move

it to the Selected Columns on the right. Select OK once completed.

• Step 6: Click on Select.

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The BOQ will now show the Elemental Codes as per below screenshot.

The factor column is used to determine the quantity of a Sub-Element by taking the bill quantity

and multiplying by the factor of each item. Bill items that do not have a factor will contribute

amount only to the Sub-Element.

The cost per unit of a Sub-Element is the quotient of the total amount divided by the factored

quantity (Bill quantity x Factor).

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Parameters

Elemental Costing can be analysed into Functional units of the project. A sample list of typical

functional units is scheduled below:

• Car park - Number of parking bays

• Shopping Centre – Retail floor area

• Prisons – Number of cells

• Hospitals – Number of beds

• Health Centres – Number of practitioner’s suites

• Hotels, Hostels – Number of bedrooms

• Cinemas – Number of seats

• Conference centres – Number of delegates

• Office Block – Gross floor area

• Office Block – Net Office area

• Office Block – Service area

The Project Parameters are defined in Definitions & Settings, that can be found following this

path:

• Step 1: Estimating > Main > Definitions & Settings > 9.2 Parameters

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Elemental Cost Analysis

The Elemental Cost Analysis documents are customisable and similar reports are available using

the Report Manager. To access cost analysis documents, take the following path and steps:

• Step 1: Estimating > Finalisation > Job Analysis II

• Step 2: In tab Job Analysis > New document > 2.3 Elements Resource Analysis with

Parameters

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The two Parameters defined above are displayed (see below), the rates for each Element and Sub-

Element are derived by the amount divided by the Parameter quantity.

The quantities of Element groups and Elements can be manually entered for further analysis.