Aligning with Industry Standards: Sterling’s Comprehensive Approach to Cost and Carbon Estimation

Discover how Sterling aligns with key publications, guidance, and standards to deliver precise, industry-compliant cost and carbon estimates, resource management and cost and carbon life cycle

In the rapidly evolving construction industry, accurate cost and carbon estimation are pivotal for delivering successful and sustainable projects. Sterling stands at the forefront of this transformation, integrating a wealth of industry-leading publications, guidance, and standards into our advanced SaaS platform. By aligning our solutions with established frameworks, such as ICMS 3, NRM 3, and BS EN 15978, Sterling ensures that our users benefit from the most reliable and consistent methods for managing both financial and environmental aspects of their projects.

Our commitment to precision and compliance is demonstrated through our adherence to a comprehensive range of standards, including life cycle costing methodologies and carbon reporting guidelines. Sterling’s platform not only aligns with these industry benchmarks but also enhances them by offering real-time, resource-based estimates that cover the entire lifecycle of a project. This holistic approach supports our clients in making informed decisions, achieving sustainability targets, and optimising project outcomes with confidence.

RICS Life Cycle Costing - This document from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors provides comprehensive guidance on life cycle costing (LCC) and whole life costing (WLC). It covers methodologies for estimating the total cost of ownership of a building or infrastructure, from initial design and construction through to operation, maintenance, and disposal. The guidance aims to promote transparency and accuracy in life cycle cost assessments. Sterling’s lifecycle management module incorporates these principles to offer detailed, resource-based cost and carbon estimates throughout a project’s entire lifecycle. This ensures that all stages of a project are considered, providing a holistic view of costs and carbon impact.

ICMS 3 - The third edition of the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) introduces a standardised approach to life cycle costing and carbon reporting. It establishes a framework for categorising and reporting costs across various project phases, which helps in mitigating inconsistencies and improving financial predictions. This edition emphasises uniformity in cost classification and carbon reporting across different sectors. Sterling integrates ICMS 3 standards to ensure consistency in cost and carbon reporting. This allows users to manage and compare project finances and carbon footprints accurately, facilitating better decision-making and compliance with global standards.

NRM 3 - The New Rules of Measurement (NRM) 3 focuses on cost estimating and cost planning specifically for building maintenance works. It provides detailed guidelines on how to structure and calculate costs related to the upkeep and refurbishment of buildings, including considerations for life cycle costing. Sterling’s platform adheres to NRM 3 guidelines, enabling precise and structured cost and carbon estimates for building maintenance projects. This ensures that maintenance costs are well-planned and accounted for throughout the lifecycle of a building.

BS ISO 15686 - This international standard provides a framework for life cycle costing in construction, including detailed definitions, principles, and methodologies. It covers aspects such as the calculation of lifecycle costs, the application of these costs in decision-making, and the integration of cost data into project management processes. Sterling supports the BS ISO 15686 standard by incorporating its methodologies into our lifecycle cost estimates. This ensures that users have a structured approach to cost estimation, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of financial and carbon forecasts.

BS EN 60300 - This standard focuses on dependability management and includes guidelines for life cycle costing. It addresses the principles of reliability, maintainability, and availability, providing a structured approach to managing the costs associated with maintaining dependable systems throughout their lifecycle. Sterling integrates the dependability management principles from BS EN 60300 into our cost and carbon estimating processes. This helps ensure that our estimates consider the long-term reliability and maintainability of construction projects, providing a more comprehensive financial overview.

BS 8544:2013 - This British Standard offers guidance on applying life cycle costing (LCC) to the maintenance of buildings during their operational phase. It provides methodologies for assessing costs related to the ongoing upkeep of buildings, including maintenance and operational expenses. The standard is currently being updated to align with advances in carbon BIM and ICMS. Sterling’s solution is aligned with the principles outlined in BS 8544, ensuring that life cycle costing is integrated into maintenance planning. This enables users to manage operational costs effectively and track carbon impact throughout the building’s use phase.

Cost Estimating Guidance by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) - This document outlines best practices for cost estimating in major infrastructure projects and programmes in the UK. It covers methodologies for developing accurate cost estimates, managing financial risks, and ensuring consistency across project estimates. Sterling adopts the IPA’s best practices to deliver high-quality cost estimates for large-scale infrastructure projects. Our platform ensures that cost estimates are precise, reliable, and aligned with industry standards.

H M Treasury Green Book - The Green Book provides guidance on appraisal and evaluation for central government projects, including aspects of life cycle costing. It includes methodologies for assessing the economic value of projects, evaluating costs and benefits over the project’s lifetime, and making informed decisions based on financial data. Sterling’s cost and carbon estimating practices are in line with the Green Book’s guidelines, ensuring that our estimates meet government standards for appraisal and evaluation, and facilitating better financial decision-making.

NRM 1 / 2 - NRM 1 and NRM 2 focus on cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works. NRM 1 deals with cost estimating for new buildings, while NRM 2 provides guidelines for cost planning for refurbishment projects. These standards offer a structured approach to developing accurate cost estimates and managing project finances. Sterling’s platform is compatible with NRM 1 and NRM 2, providing accurate and structured cost estimates for both new builds and refurbishment projects. This ensures that our users can manage project costs effectively and in accordance with industry standards.

PAS 2080 & PAS 2050 - PAS 2080 provides a methodology for assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services, while PAS 2050 focuses on the carbon footprint of products. Both specifications offer guidelines for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions throughout a product’s lifecycle. Sterling uses PAS 2080 and PAS 2050 methodologies to deliver accurate carbon estimates for construction projects. This allows users to assess and manage the carbon impact of their projects effectively, in line with industry standards.

ISO 14067 -This international standard specifies principles, requirements, and guidelines for the quantification and reporting of the carbon footprint of products. It provides a framework for calculating and communicating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product throughout its lifecycle. Sterling’s carbon estimating tools align with ISO 14067, ensuring precise quantification and reporting of carbon footprints for construction projects. This helps users meet international standards for carbon reporting.

Greenhouse Gas Protocol - The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides comprehensive standards and guidance for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. It offers methodologies for accounting and reporting emissions from various sources, helping organisations to track and reduce their carbon footprints. Sterling follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to ensure that our carbon estimates are accurate and adhere to widely accepted practices. This supports users in managing their emissions and aligning with global standards.

BS EN 15978 - This standard provides a methodology for assessing the environmental performance of buildings, including carbon calculations. It covers the entire lifecycle of a building, from design and construction to operation and end-of-life, and includes guidelines for measuring and reporting environmental impacts. Sterling integrates BS EN 15978 standards into our environmental performance assessments, offering detailed carbon calculations and lifecycle analyses to support sustainable building practices.

UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework (Draft) - This framework (still not released as of Q3 2024) sets metrics and performance targets for achieving net zero carbon buildings. It includes criteria for energy use, upfront embodied carbon, and lifecycle embodied carbon, providing a framework for assessing and achieving net zero carbon goals. Sterling’s solution helps users meet the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings (draft) by providing accurate carbon estimates and lifecycle analyses that support efforts to achieve net zero carbon targets.

MacKay Carbon Calculator - Developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, this tool helps explore pathways to decarbonisation and calculate the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. It offers a means to model different scenarios and assess the impact of various decarbonisation strategies. Sterling’s platform supports similar decarbonisation modelling and assessment, helping users explore and implement strategies to reduce their carbon footprints in line with national goals.

APM / ACOSTE Estimating Guide - This guide provides best practices for cost estimating in projects, including methodologies for developing accurate and reliable cost estimates. It covers various aspects of cost estimation, including risk management and consistency in reporting. Sterling incorporates the best practices from the APM / ACOSTE Estimating Guide to ensure that our cost estimates are accurate, reliable, and aligned with industry standards.

BS EN 15978:2011 - This standard, which is part of the broader BS EN 15978 series, specifies the calculation method for assessing the environmental performance of buildings, including carbon emissions. It provides a detailed approach for evaluating the environmental impacts of building projects. Sterling uses the BS EN 15978:2011 standard to deliver comprehensive environmental performance assessments, including detailed carbon emissions calculations, ensuring that our users have accurate and standardised environmental data.

BSRIA Life Cycle Costing (BG 67/2016) - This guide from BSRIA is part of a set that addresses life cycle costing in construction. It provides practical advice on applying life cycle costing principles to various aspects of building projects, including design, construction, and operation. Sterling integrates BSRIA’s life cycle costing principles into our platform, offering users practical and comprehensive life cycle cost analyses that enhance financial planning.

And there are more....

Sterling’s alignment with key publications, guidance, and standards underscores our commitment to delivering accurate and reliable cost and carbon estimates for the construction industry. By integrating best practices from RICS, ICMS 3, NRM 3, and other authoritative sources, we ensure that our platform provides comprehensive, resource-based estimates that meet the highest industry standards. Our approach not only supports financial planning but also promotes sustainability, enabling clients to achieve their carbon reduction goals while optimising project performance.

Transform your project management with Sterling’s cutting-edge estimating solutions. Explore how our platform’s alignment with industry standards can enhance your cost and carbon forecasting, and drive more sustainable, efficient outcomes. Contact us today to learn more about how Sterling can support your next project and help you stay ahead in a competitive market.

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