Cost update: December 2002 | Features

Insitu concrete work
	Unit	Typical low rate £	Typical mean rate £	Typical high rate
Insitu concrete
Plain concrete (mix GEN 3)
Foundations poured on or against earth	m3	70	80	95
Blinding bed not exceeding 150 mm thick	m3	80	85	100
Filling hollow walls	m3	80	85	95
Reinforced concrete (35 N/mm2)
Ground beams	m3	75	82.5	90
Isolated foundations	m3	70	80	95
Beds 150-450 mm thick	m3	75	85	100
Slabs 150-450 mm thick	m3	85	95	105
Walls 150-450 mm thick	m3	75	85	100
Columns	m3	90	105	120
Formwork
Plain formwork
Side of foundations not exceeding 250 mm height	m	8	9	10
Sides of ground beams and edges of beds 250-500 mm	m	10	11	12.5
Sides of upstands not exceeding 250 mm thick	m	8.5	9.5	10.5
Vertical walls	m2	25	30	35
Reinforcement
High yield steel bar reinforcement	t	650	700	750
Fabric reinforcement
A142, 2.22 kg/m2	m2	2	2.5	3
A193, 3.02 kg/m2	m2	2.5	3	3.5
Worked finishes
Trowelling	m2	1	1.25	1.5
Power floating	m2	2	2.25	2.5
Rates in tenders for reinforcement since July have been more variable than usual due to the uncertainty of supply following the collapse of ASW. Virtually all reinforcement is now imported and the enforced change in suppliers created temporary shortages and a sharp price rise. Some stability has now returned to the reinforcement market but at a higher price. Basic reinforcement prices are now 10-20% higher than in July. Some contractors appear to be pricing at pre-crisis levels, but many are including a significant element of risk in their pricing of reinforcement due to the continuing uncertainty of future supplies.

Price changes
	% change since spring 2002
Reinforcement (see note page 59)	6%
Formwork	3.50%
Precast concrete blocks	3%
Mortars	3.50%
Structural steelwork	3%
First fix carcassing	4%
Plywood	–2.5%
Stainless steel sheet roof coverings	2.50%
Fibre cement goods	3%
Standard timber flush doors	5%
Standard timber window frames	5%
Ironmongery	3.50%
Glazing (generally)	2%
Plasterboard partitions and linings	3%
Hardwood wood strip flooring	6%
Ceramic tiles	–3%
Copper tubes	–6%
Wires and cables	–2%
Precast concrete paving slabs	1%
Coated roadstone	5%
Gas oil fuel	9%

Key indicators
	% change October 2001 - October 02	% change April 2002 - October 02
Retail prices index
Headline rate (RPI)	210%	1.3
All items excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX) – government's target index	230.00%	1.1
All items, excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes (RPIY)	240%	1.3
Harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP)	140%	0.7
Industry generally
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry	200%	-0.4
of which materials	350%	0.2
of which fuel	–8.5	–4.5
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry excluding food, beverages,
tobacco and petroleum industries	–1.5	0.4
Output prices of manufactured products	60%	0.4
Output prices of manufactured products, excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum	70%	0.4
Construction industry
Construction materials	4.2	1.4
Housebuilding materials	370%	0.9
Machinery and equipment (UK manufacture)	100%	0.3
Electrical machinery and apparatus (UK manufacture)	–0.2	–0.8
Source: Office for National Statistics. October 2002 figures are provisional. Machinery and equipment includes mechanical engineering items such as pumps, taps, valves, lifts, cooling and ventilation equipment. Electrical machinery and apparatus includes electrical engineering materials such as electricity distribution and control apparatus, wires and cables and lighting.

Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales
	hourly rates (£) since 3 Septmerber 2001	hourly rates (£) from 2 December 2002
Operatives
Technical plumber and gas service technician	947.00%	10.7
Advanced plumber and gas service engineer	852%	9.63
Trained plumber and gas service fitter	730.00%	8.25
Apprentices
4th year of training with NVQ level 3	708.00%	8
4th year of training with NVQ level 2	641%	7.24
4th year of training	564%	6.37
3rd year of training with NVQ level 2	557%	6.3
3rd year of training	458.00%	5.18
2nd year of training	406%	4.59
Adult trainees
Third – six months of employment	6.38	7.21
Second – six months of employment	6.11	6.91
First – six months of employment	571%	6.45

Wage agreement summary for major wage-fixing bodies
Operatives	Agreement body	Wage rates effective since	Details in	Date of next review
Builders and civil engineering	Construction Industry Joint Council	24-Jun-02	Cost Update 31 May 2002 Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2003	Likely to be June 2003
	Building & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC)	10-Jun-02	Cost Update 31 May 2002 Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2003	09-Jun-03
Plumbers	The Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales	02-Dec-02	Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2003 See above	Likely to be 01/09/2003
	Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry	28-Oct-02	See above	07/04/2003 (fourth and final part of two-year agreement)
Heating and ventilation operatives	Joint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry	07-Oct-02	Cost Update 13 September 2002 Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 2003	Likely to be 01/10/2003
Electricians	The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	07-Jan-02	Cost Update 9 November 2001 Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 2003	06/01/2003 (second part of three-year agreement)
	Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	07-Jan-02	Cost Update 8 March 2002	06/01/2003 (second part of three-year agreement)