Why List Material Rates ???

Why List Material Rates ???

• BuildCost, BuildSource and BuildSystem are being used by over 1200 construction agencies. These include project owners, builders, architects, engineers and contractors. Their names are given in index to buyers.
• The construction agencies wanted one master database of items of work, materials, equipments and labour which are given in IPMG, DSR, MORTH, State PWDs, etc. databases. Also, they wanted their own database to be included in the master database.
• One master database was required for preparing estimates by combining items of work from the different databases.
• One master database was also required for updating the rates of materials in the different databases by mapping them with the rates of materials of manufacturers and vendors.
• The 13-digit coding system enables the development of a master database of items of work, materials, equipments and labour. It is based on MasterFormat and R.S. Means’ coding system.
• MasterFormat is an international coding system for construction resources. It was introduced 50 years ago. The entire construction industry in the US and Canada uses it.
• The Government of Singapore has adopted MasterFormat after evaluating all the international coding systems.
• The material rates are entered, stored and retrieved source-wise, manufacturer-wise, vendor-wise, city-wise and date-wise. This was a requirement of the construction agencies.
• Typically, in construction projects, 70 to 80% of the contract value comprises of cost of materials. The primary use of BuildSystem is to digitally connect the materials of the construction agencies with the materials of manufacturers and vendors for estimating, tendering, procurement and inventory.
• At the request of the construction agencies, the material rates of  manufacturers and vendors are listed on BuildSystem Web.