PERSPECTIVES ON COST MANAGEMENT ROLES OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS' IN MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SERVICES PROJECTS
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Date
2016
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Publisher
Centre for Human Settlements and Urban Development, Federal University of Technology, Minna
Abstract
Mechanical and Electrical Services (M&E) is a complex system of buildings and their values constitutes a significant component of construction costs. The procurement is commonly based on lump sum and performance specification and there is lack of reliable cost information regarding elements of M&E services to guide project participants at the inception of building projects leading to inaccurate budget estimate, disputes, time and cost overruns. This study examined the cost management roles and functions performed by Quantity Surveyors (QS) on M&E services projects. The study was carried out using data from questionnaire survey to QS and services engineers in the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data analysis was carried out using t-test of the means to check the significance of the responses to the issues raised in the questionnaire. The results showed that the pre-contract cost management roles performed by QS is limited to the use of single purpose approximate estimating method, statistical method and historical cost information to advice clients' on M&E services project at this stage. At post-contract stage, QS prepare interim valuation, assessment of variations, claims and final account preparation. Quantity Surveyors missed the gap to effectively manage the cost of M&E services project, instead, single price approximate estimating methods based on historical cost information and statistical approach to establish indicative cost of M&E services project. Making it difficult for QS to offer reliable cost advice for comparative design solutions of alternative M&E components and installation. With the increase in the value and complexity of Mechanical & Electrical Services projects, industry clients should engage quantity surveyors to perform the full spectrum of their cost management functions on element of M&E services project. Quantity surveyors should also collaborate effectively with services engineers from the inception of M&E services project to enable them gain full understanding of the technology of M&E services components.
Description
Keywords
Cost management, Mechanical and Electrical Services, Pre-contract, Post contract quantity surveyors