Gross internal area GIA

The area of a building can be measured in a number of different ways:

• Gross external area (GEA).
• Gross internal area (GIA).
• Net internal area (NIA).

It is very important when describing the area of a building to be clear about which measure is being used, for example in planning applications, building regulation applications, property sales, lease negotiations, rating valuations and so on.

The UK government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Code of measuring practice: definitions for rating purposes suggests that gross internal area includes:

• Areas occupied by internal walls (whether structural or not) and partitions.
• Service accommodation such as WCs, showers, and changing rooms.
• Columns, piers, whether free standing or projecting inwards from an external wall, chimney breasts, lift wells, stairwells and so on.
• Lift rooms, plant rooms, tank rooms, fuel stores, whether or not above roof level.
• Open-sided covered areas (should be stated separately).

Gross internal area excludes:

• Open balconies.
• Open fire escapes.
• Open-sided covered ways.
• Open vehicle parking areas, terraces and so on.
• Minor canopies.
• Any area with a ceiling height of less than 1.5m (except under stairways).
• Any area under the control of service or other external authorities.

The VOA code is in general agreement with RICS Guidance Note, A guide for Property Professionals, 6th Edition Code of measuring practice 2007, other than, areas with a headroom of less than 1.5m which are excluded from the VOA measurement.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Beneficial occupation.
• Case notes for rating valuation (Garton V Hunter).
• Choice of method for rating valuation.
• Contractor’s basis for rating valuation.
• Floor area ratio.
• Gross external area.
• International Property Measurement Standards.
• Measurement.
• Net internal area.
• Profits method of rating valuation.
• Rating valuation.
• Rental method of rating valuation.
• Statutory formulae for rating valuation.
• Total useful floor area.

Comments

Hi,

just a quick question, on a terraced house does GIA include the party walls?

thanks

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I don't think so - It is the enclosed area of the building within the external walls (party walls would count as external walls). The Gross External Area would include the party wall - measured to the centre line of the wall.