Happily I can report that they get along very well.

The original objective of the NRM was to produce a coordinated suit of measurement rules for construction by reviewing those rules that existed and filling in the gaps.

The rules for measuring buildings in the Code of Measuring Practice were already being reviewed and comments from the steering group were incorporated and the rules for gross and net floor area incorporated into the NRM.

Rules for measuring elements existed in the SFCA and again the element definitions were under review. BCIS and the NRM steering group ran a series of workshops with practitioners reviewing the element definitions and measurement rules and these were published in the third edition of the SFCA in 2008.

The agreed elemental definitions were then starting point for the drafting of the rules for detailed cost planning.

The measurement rules for buildings and elements are reproduced in the appendices to the NRM.

An element is defined as 'a major physical part of a building that fulfils a specific function or functions, irrespective of its design, specification or construction' this makes them a powerful tool in producing an estimate before the design has started.

'New' new rules were then needed for the development of a cost plan as the design develops.

However in its development the NRM has become much more than just rules of measurement. This is something that I shall return to another time.

Comment posted by Barry Allsopp:

Do NRM, The Code of Measuring Practice or the Third Edition of the SFCA change the traditional, and long-held, definition of 'Gross Floor Area' of a building?

Joe's Response:

'Gross Floor Area' is not a term used in any of the documents. The Code of Measuring Practice defines 'Gross External Area' (GEA), 'Gross Internal Area' (GIA) and 'Net Internal Area' (NIA).

The SFCA and the NRM reproduce the GIA definition, but refer to it as 'Gross Internal Floor Area' (GIFA) and I assume this is what you are referring to.

The basic definition of GIFA remains unchanged as 'the area of the building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level.'

The definition clarifies what is included and excluded. The Code is available on the RICS members website www.rics.org