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Hot rates: Lifts and escalators
Capacity Number of
floors served
Speed (m/s) Cost (£)
Hydraulic passenger lifts      
8 person; 630 kg 2 0.5 18,000
3 0.63 23,000
13 person; 1000 kg 2 1 43,000
33 person; 2500 kg 3 0.5 65,000
Traction passenger lifts      
8 person; 630 kg 3 0.63 24,000
6 1 40,000
12 person; 900 kg 8 1 44,000
8 1.6 48,000
12 1 56,000
21 person; 1600 kg 5 1 60,000
Traction passenger lifts – no machine room      
8 person; 630 kg 2 1 21,000
3 1 24,000
4 1 27,000
5 1 30,000
13 person; 1000 kg 2 1 23,000
6 1 38,000
8 1.6 100,000
Goods lifts      
300 kg – traction 2 0.3 28,000
1000 kg – hydraulic 2 0.4 55,000
1600 kg – hydraulic 3 0.4 65,000
2500 kg – hydraulic 3 0.2 73,000
Platform lifts      
400 kg screw-driven      
including modular shaft 2 0.15 15,000
Escalators      
Primed sheet steel enclosure, glass balustrades, 30-35° inclination,      
800 mm step width 2.7 m rise 0.5 55,000
1000 mm step width 6 m rise 0.5 75,000
Price changes
% change*
Excavating, etc +4
Reinforcement +3
Precast concrete blocks +8
Structural steelwork –4
Clay roof coverings +2
Softwood skirtings and trims +7
Hardwood skirtings and trims +3-5
* since the publication of Spon’s 2002 price books
Key indicators
% change last 4 mths (05/01-09/01) % change last 12 mths (09/00-09/01)
Retail Prices Index    
Headline rate +0.2 +1.7
All items excluding mortgage interest payments – government’s target index +0.4 +2.3
All items excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes +0.6 +2.8
Industry generally    
Materials and fuel purchased by manufacturing industry –4.7 –6.0
of which: materials –4.9 –7.0
of which: fuel +2.9 +3.0
Materials and fuel purchased by manufacturing industry other than food, beverages, petroleum and tobacco industries –2.3 –2.2
Output prices of manufactured products –0.3 –0.2
Output prices of manufactured products other than food, beverages, petroleum and tobacco industries –0.1 0
Construction industry    
Construction materials +0.1 +1.6
Housebuilding materials +0.1 +1.8
Machinery and equipment (UK manufacture) –0.1 +1.0
Electrical machinery and apparatus (UK manufacture) –0.4 +0.3
Source: Office for National Statistics (September 2001 figures provisional)
The ONS category of “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 equipment.
Wage agreement summary for major wage-fixing bodies
Operatives Agreement body effective since Wage rates Details to be found in Date of next review
Builders and civil
engineering operatives
Construction Industry Joint Council Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2002 25 June 2001 Cost update, 1 June 2001 24 June 2002 (third part of three-year agreement)
Building & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council 11 June 2001 Cost update, 1 June 2001 10 June 2002
Plumbers The Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2002 3 September 2001 Cost update, 1 June 2001 2 December 2002 (second part of two-year agreement)
Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry 3 September 2001 Cost update, 31 August 2001 8 April 2002 (second part of two-year agreement)
Heating and ventilation operatives Joint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry 3 September 2001 Cost update, 31 August 2001 7 October 2002 (third part of three-year agreement)
Electricians The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 2002 8 January 2001 Cost update, 31 August 2001 7 January 2002 (see below)
Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 2001/2002 8 January 2001 Cost update, 23 February 2001 7 January 2002
Plumbing work price increases, May 2001 to 3 September 2001
Work category Index title % change
3/49 Sanitary appliances 1.9
3/55 Pipes and accessories: spun and cast iron 2.8
3/56 Steel 2.9
3/57 Plastics 3.9
3/58 Copper 1.5
3/59 Aluminium 3.3
Electricians’ rates
Grade National standard rates London rate  
transport provided £/hour own transport £/hour transport provided £/hour own transport £/hour
Technician (or equivalent specialist grade) 10.54 11.06 11.32 11.87
Approved electrician (or equivalent specialist grade) 9.30 9.82 10.08 10.62
Electrician (or equivalent specialist grade) 8.54 9.05 9.32 9.84
Electrical improver 7.68 8.15 8.45 8.93
Labourer 6.78 7.27 7.52 8.02
Senior graded electrical trainee 7.68 8.15 8.45 8.93
Adult trainee 6.78 7.27 7.52 8.02
Adult trainee (under 21) 5.08 5.45 5.81 6.19
Daywork rates: current prime cost figures
Operative Rate effective from Prime cost rate per hour
Building craft operative 2 July 2001 8.20
Building general operative 2 July 2001 6.13
Advanced plumber 3 September 2001 10.97
Heating and ventilating craftsman 1 October 2001 9.42
Electrician 6 April 2001 10.75
Dayworks: overheads, profit and incidental costs
Building contracts Heating and ventilating contracts Electrical contracts
Labour 100-140% 130-160% 130-160%
Materials 20% 20-30% 20-30%
Plant 20-40% 20-40% 20-40%
Constructed civil engineering cost index
Year 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Annual average
1999 1158 1166 1206 1212 1186
2000 1238 1256 1295 1307 1274
2001 1303 1303* 1328* - -
* Provisional