Project benchmarking
See also: Benchmarking as business tool.
Benchmarking is a process by which the estimated performance (often cost) of a project is compared to other similar projects. This can highlight areas of design that are not offering good value for money and can help in the assessment of tenders from suppliers and contractors.
Benchmarking is increasingly being carried out on public projects, where the government has access to large amounts of cost data for similar projects. For example, when analysis of the recent schools programme was carried out, it was found that it '... exposed variations in costs that could not be justified by project differences' (ref. Cabinet Office: Government Construction Strategy, May 2011).
It is now proposed that cost benchmarking should be carried out across all government capital programmes to create baselines for a cost/value-led approach to procurement.
In the private sector, comparable cost information may not be so readily available. However, large organisations may have access to in-house cost information, and some cost information is published. Comparative information can also be purchased from sources such as the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). See BCIS Online for a description of the tender price and duration information available.
It is important, however, that benchmarking does not simply consider construction costs, as these are only a small proportion of whole-life costs, and setting a low benchmark for construction could result in higher operating, maintenance and refurbishment costs throughout the life of the building.
There is now an increasing amount of data available about energy use, sustainability and whole-life costs such as:
- CarbonBuzz, an on-line service that allows architects and engineers to share project forecasts and energy use anonymously.
- Bench iT, a service for quantity surveyors to benchmark KPI's
- The Carbon Trust Energy Benchmarking
- The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers.
- Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
- Closing the Loop – Benchmarks for Sustainable Buildings (RIBA).
It is important also to consider both quality and time, as the lowest cost option may not always offer the best value for the client or deliver a completed project within the required timeframe.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Bench iT
- Benchmark.
- Benchmarking as business tool.
- Best practice.
- Business case.
- Cross estimating method.
- Design review.
- Design quality.
- Earned value analysis.
- Estimate.
- Health performance indicators in the built environment.
- Key performance indicators.
- Pareto analysis.
- Project performance management.
- Public sector comparator.
[edit] External references
- Government construction strategy, Page 11.
Featured articles and news
Encourage individuals to take action to save water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.
Digital technology, transformation and cybersecurity
Supporting SMEs through Digitalisation in Construction.
Villa Wolf in Gubin, history and reconstruction. Book review.
[[w/index.php?title=W/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DConstruction_contract_awards_down_1bn%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1&action=edit&redlink=1|Construction contract awards down £1bn]]
Decline over the past two months compared to the same period last year, follows the positive start to the year.
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
The pace of heating change; BSRIA market intelligence
Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.