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Environmental Performance Standards
Lighting levels  
General classrooms  300 lux at the work surface
Lighting for visually demanding work  500 lux at the work surface
Temperature levels  
Minimum  
 classrooms, libraries and so on 18°C
 circulation areas, gymnasia and so on 15°C
Maximum  temperatures in excess of 28°C are acceptable on 10 days of the year
Ventilation  
Background ventilation, occupied areas  3 litres/pupil/second
Additional capability, teaching areas  8 litres/pupil/second
Ventilation to washrooms  6 air changes/hour
Indicative floor areas (11-16 year secondary school)
Number of pupils Teaching Area Requirement (m2)Non-Teaching Area Requirement (m2) Gross Area Requirement (m2)Gross Area per Pupil (m2)
9003600-40002500-27006100-67006.8-7.4
12004500-51003200-34007700-85006.4-7.1
15005600-62003800-42009400-104006.3-6.9
18006600-73004400-490011000-120006.1-6.8
Source: DfEE
Indicative proportions of non-teaching accommodation
Non-teaching space% total non-teaching area% gross area
Staff and administration13-145.2-5.6
Pupils' storage and washroomsOct-134.0-5.2
Teaching storage13-155.2-6.0
CateringOct-154.0-6.0
Ancillary areas03-Jun1.2-2.4
Circulation and partitions44-4817.6-19.2
Total non-teaching area 40
Source: DfEE
Indicative furniture/equipment costs
Teaching SpaceCost of furniture and equipment (£/m2 net internal area)
General teaching100-155
Laboratories130-220
IT and business studies285-400
Design and technology275-310
Art and design185-215
Library resource centre310-350
Circulation30-50
Laboratory preparation285-325
Staff accommodation330-350
Source: Dfee
Cost model schemes: key features
Building typeGross internal floor area (m2)Cost (building only) (£/m2)
Classroom block2600624.55
Technology block960751.37
Performing arts building9001 284.90
Sports hall1 760865.9
Secondary school and college building construction costs and school building efficiency
 Average £/m2Lower range £/m2High range £/m2Usable space / gfaUsable space and circulation / gfaAverage overall cost/m2 usable space
Classroom blocks6705907300.710.88940
Laboratories8206009000.820.941000
Craft, design and technology8106709000.790.851030
Music100091010500.770.871300
Sixth-form / tertiary86067010300.740.91160
All secondar schools and colleges7606309100.770.89990
Costs are for building only and exclude furniture and wquipment, external works, professional fees and VAT. Costs are at February 1998 prices based on locations in south-east England. Usable space as defined by the RICS is the total area of all enclosed space that fulfils the main functional requirements of a building. This includes teaching and non-teaching space but excludes cloakrooms, WCs and plant rooms.
Cost breakdown for classroom block
 Element cost (£)Cost /m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Substructure143 000558.81
Reinforced insitu concrete foundations and ground slab; brick-and-block cavity walls to dpc; dpc and polythene vapour barrier 1300 m2 @£110
Frame51 00019.623.14
Fabricated structural steel; grade 43; surface finishes; preparation, intumescent paint and enamel top coat 30 t @£1,600
Extra for hollow sections 6 t @£500
Upper floors189 00023.773.82
Contractor-designed beam-and-block upper floor construction 1300 m2 @£28
Timber suspended floor; plywood sheathing 150 m2 @£38
Roof475 80059.859.63
Reconstituted stone slate; structural timber; contractor-designed roof trusses; felt and battens; lead-sheet flashing and gutters; vapour barrier; insulation  1600 m2 @£60
Laminated timber structural members; flame-resistant clear finish 175 m2 @£52
Single-layer plastic roofing; structural timber; plywood decking; insulation 170 m2 @£50
Opening rooflights; Velux; 780 x 1340 mm 2 m2 @£720
Rainwater goods; plastic gutters and downpipes 320 m @£13
Stairs12 8004.920.79
Contractor-designed precast concrete stairs and half-landings; two flights Item @£2,400
Insitu concrete steps and stairs; three flights Item @£1,800
Isolated balustrades; mild-steel handrail; ash-veneer panel 18 m @£210
Isolated balustrades; mild-steel handrail and balustrades 26 m @£115
Isolated handrails; mild-steel handrail, average 50 mm diameter 25 m @£72
External walls112 30043.196.92
Cavity-wall construction; facing brick; fairface blockwork; insulation 1084 m2 @£80
Allowance for pre-cast concrete sills; lintels; thresholds Item @£21 000
Sheet cladding; plywood and lead; timber subframe; insulation; clear finish Item @£4,600
Windows and external doors80 50030.964.96
Steel-framed, double-glazed windows and doors; powder finish 230 m2 @£350
Internal walls and partitions54 50020.963.36
Partitions; 140 mm solid/hollow dense aggregate facing blockwork 2840 m2 @£18
Cubicle partitions; laminated plastics 11 @£310
Internal doors78 90030.354.86
Flush doors; solid-core; hardwood-veneer facings; factory lacquer finish; wrot softwood frame; 30/30 fire resistance; stainless steel door furniture  126 @£550
Vision panels; 200 x 1200 mm; forming openings, glazing beads; Georgian wired glass 79 @£40
Wrot softwood and hardwood glazed screens; fire-resistant glazing 28 m2 @£230
Wall finishes37 20014.312.29
Drylining; plasterboard; skim coat; softwood framing; decoration 995 m2 @£14
Sand-cement render; 10 mm thick; galvanised steel beads; ceramic tiling 175 m2 @£41
Painting blockwork; 1 mist, 3 full coats emulsion 5362 m2 @£3
Floor finishes107 600 41.386.63
Carpet; RIW damp-proof membrane; sand-cement screed 75 mm thick; reinforcement; sound insulation to upper floors; skirtings to limited areas 2450 m2 @£41
Sheet vinyl flooring; sand-cement screed 75 mm thick; reinforcement 90 m2 @£50
Mats and matwells; stainlesss steel frame; coir matting Item @ £2,600
Ceiling finishes41 90016.122.58
Suspended linings; battens; 12.5 mm plasterboard; decorations 480 m2 @£27
Suspended linings; battens; 19 mm plank and 12.5 mm plasterboard; skim coat; decorations  935 m2 @£31
Furniture and fittings69 10026.584.26
Whiteboards; 2400 x 1200 mm 40 @£220
Projection screens; 1800 x 1800 mm 30 @£280
Pinboards 850 m2 £x15
Worktops; beech-veneered and lipped chipboard; mild-steel framing 185 m2 £58
Allowance for shelving Item @£28 400
Sanitary fittings15 0005.770.92
WCs, urinals, washhand basins, fittings; laminated plastic duct panels 33 @£430
Extra for fittings for disabled WCs 2 @£150
Cleaners' sinks  2 @£230
Disposal installations20 80081.28
Waste, soil and vent installation; PVCu pipework and fittings 2600 m2 @£8
Water installations 41 600 162.56
Mains water; cold-water storage and distribution, hot-water calorifier, pumps and distribution pipework 2600 m2 @£16
Space heating & air treatment127 400497.85
Heating installation; gas supply, boilers, pumps, distribution, flue 2600 m2 @£20
Space heating; LPHW distribution; radiators, mild-steel pipework 2600 m2 @£29
Electrical installations140 000548.65
Mains and sub-mains installation 2600 m2 @£11
Small power installation 2600 m2 @£11
Lighting and general luminaires 2600 m2 @£32
Lift installations 286 000 35.975.79
Four-person electro-hydraulic lift serving 2 nr floors; 0.4 m/s Item @ £18 300
Protective installations 8 0003.080.49
Lightning protection  item @£6,000
Earthing and bonding item @£2,000
Communications installations 41 80016.082.57
Analogue fire alrm installation; smoke detectors; call points 2600 m2 @£6
Telephone and data wireways; dado trunking; TV outlets 2600 m2 @£3
Class change system item @£2,800
Security installation; intruder detection; CCTV and so on 2600 m2 @£6
Special installation 26 00 101.6
Building management system 2600 m2 @£10
Builder's work in connection22 000 8.461.35
Forming holes, chases and so on: allows 5% Item @£22 000
Preliminaries and contingencies211 80081.4613.04
Management costs; site establishment and supervision: allow 10% Item @£141 200
Contingency sum: allow 5% Item @£70 600
Total construction cost - building only 1 623 800624.55100
Cost breakdown for technology block
 Element cost (£)Cost /m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Substructure54 70056.987.58
Reinforced insitu concrete ground beams and ground slab; brick-and-block cavity walls to dpc; dpc and polythene vapour barrier 290 m2 @£130
Rotary bored, cast-in-placepiles; disposal; 300 average diameter Item @£17,000
Frame95 00098.9613.17
Fabricated sturcutral steel; including surface treatments 60 t @£1,200
Insitu concrete; column casing; white concrete; fine smooth finish 28 m @£270
Drylining; beam casings; proprietary encasing system 498 m @£31
Upper floors20 80021.672.88
Composite upper floor construction; insitu concrete on permanent steel formwork 630 m2 @£33
Roof36 50038.025.06
Vaulted alumnium profiled roof cladding; steel decking; thermal and acoustic insulation; vapour barrier; concealed gutter (area measured on plan) 390 m2 @£85
Allowance for insitu concrete flat roof to plant area item @£2,500
Plastic rooflights; 1200 x 1200 mm 1 @£800
Stairs12 30012.811.71
Insitu concrete stairs and half landings; 1300 mm wide 10 m @£230
Balustrades and handrails; 1.35 m average height; stainless steel 25 m @£400
External walls50 10052.196.95
Curtain walling; thermally insulated stick system; aluminium-faced composite infill panels; anodised aluminium finish 110 m2 @£190
Cavity-wall; facing brick; 100 mm thick blockwork; insulation 290 m2 @£80
Allowance for pre-cast concrete sills; lintels; thresholds item @£1,900
Plywood cladding, timber subframe; insulation, clear finish item @£2,100
Glass-block screen to staircase 7 m2 @£290
Windows and external doors52 00054.177.21
Steel-frame windows; W20 sections; double-glazed units; powder finish  21 m2 @£390
Aluminium-frame, double-glazed windows; anodised finish 62 m2 @£440
Aluminium-frame doors and frames; double glazin; anodised finish 5 @£3,300
Internal walls and partitions19 30020.12.68
Partitions; 100 mm solid dense aggregate common blockwork 600 m2 @£21
Screens and lights; single-glazed screens; polyester powder coating 30 m2 @£200
Duct panels; laminated plastic sheet; 2500 mm high 4 m @£180
Internal doors21 60022.52.99
Doors; solid core; MDF facings and frameset; non fire-rated; door furniture 39 @£460
Extra for 30/30 fire-rated doors and frames 32 @£50
Extra for vision panels; 300 x 500 mm; Georgian wired glass 10 @£50
Extra for side screens; average 400 x 2300 mm; Georgian wired glass 6 nr @£260
Wall finishes11 60012.081.61
Two coats plaster, 13 mm; emulsion paint 1184 m2 @£9
Sand-cement render, 10mm; galvanised-steel lathing; masonry paint 28 m2 @£33
Floor finishes39 40041.045.4
Sheet rubber flooring; sand-cement screed 75 mm average thick; reinforcement 821 m2 @£45
Extra for work to stairs 99 m2 @£5
Epoxy floor paint; plant areas 60 m2 @£15
Matwells Item @£1,030
Ceiling finishes14 30014.91.98
Suspended ceiling; 12.5 mm plasterboard on M/F; 150-500 mm suspension; skim coat; decorations 511 m2 @£23
Two coats plaster, 13 mm thick; emulsion paint 44 m2 @£32
Cement lim render; 20 mm thick; lathing; masonry paint 25 m2 @£46
Furniture and fittings16 20016.882.25
Window blinds  52 m2 @£24
Worktops with storage cupboards; pupose-made; Antium work surface; laminate faced MDF cupboards 20 m @£500
Allowance for damp cupboards and shelving Item @ £5,000
Sanitary fittings9000.940.13
WCs; washhand basins, fittings; complete 4 nr @ £230
Disposal installations 77008.021.07
Waste, soil and vent installation; PVCu pipework and fittings 960 m2 @£8
Water installations15 40016.042.13
Mains water; water pumps, storage and distribution pipework 960 m2 @£16
Space heating and air treatment47 00048.966.52
Heating installation; gas supply, boilers, pumps, distribution, flue dilation 960 m2 @£20
Space heating; LPHW distribution; radiators, mild-steel pipework 960 m2 @£29
Electrical installations 51 800 53.967.18
Mains and sub-mains installation 960 m2 @£11
Small power installation 960 m2 @£11
Lighting and general luminaires 960 m2 @£32
Lift installation 21 700 22.63.01
Four-person electro-hydraulic lift serving 4 nr floors; 0.4 m/s Item @£21 700
Protective installations 4 0004.170.55
Lightning protection  Item @£3,000
Earthing and bonding Item @£1,000
Communications installation 34 800 36.254.82
Fire alarm; smoke detectors; call points  960 m2 @£6
Telephone and data wireways; TV outlets to classrooms 960 m2 @£2
Allowance for structured cabling Item @£20 000
Class change system Item @£1,400
Security installation; intruder detection, CCTV and so on 960 m2 @£6
Special installations 9 600 101.33
Building management system 960 m2 @£10
Bulder's work in connection10 000 10.421.39
Forming holes, chases and so on: allow 5% Item @£10 000
Preliminaries and Preambles74 600 77.7110.34
Management costs, site establishment and supervision: allow 10% Item @£49 700
Contingency sum: allow 5%  Item @£24 900
Total construction cost - building only 721 300751.37100
Cost breakdown for a performing arts building
 Element cost (£)Cost /m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Substructure84 70094.117.32
Reinforced insitu concrete foundations and ground slab; cavity walls to dpc; vapour barrier   
Roof156 400173.7813.53
Sltae pitched and conical roof; proprietary felt flat-roof system; patent glazing; laminated and sawn structural timber; framing; facias, eaves and verges; vapour barriers; rainwater goods.   
Stairs2 8003.110.24
Access stairs and cat ladders    
External walls78 50087.226.79
190 mm thick dense concrete blockwork; insulation   
Window and external doors68 20075.785.9
Purpose-made wrot softwood screens and windows; proprietary steel-framed glazed screen; double glazing; solid-core flush doors; ironmongery   
Internal walls and partitions24 80027.562.15
Partitions; 100 mm solid blockwork; plasterboard-faced timber stud partitions; wrot softwood single-glazed screens; WC cubicles   
Internal doors36 10040.113.12
Flush doors; solid-core; hardwood-veneer facings; wrot softwood frame-sets, 30/30 and non fire-rated; ironmongery    
Wall finishes30 20033.562.61
Two coats plaster; ceramic tiling on sand-cement backing; acoustic panels to auditorium; emulsion paint   
Floor finishes50 70056.334.38
Carpet, slate tile, sheet rubber; sand-cement screed; insulation; dpm; skirtings; decorations; matwells   
Ceiling finishes 14 200 15.781.23
Suspended plasterboard linings; decorations; clear finishing to soffit of roof decking   
Furniture and fittings107 900 119.899.33
Fittings to foyer area; lighting gantry and access platforms; auditorium seating; staging; fixed furniture to classrooms   
Sanitary fittings 6 700 7.440.58
WCs, urinals, washhand basins, fittings and so on; showers; cleaners' sinks    
Mechanical and public health149 300 165.8912.91
Waste, soil and vent installation; mains water; hot-and cold-water storage and distribution, boiler; LPHW space heating; supply, extract and smoke extract ventilation to auditorium; controls   
Electrical installations 94 600 105.118.18
Mains and sub-mains installation; supplies to mechanical plant; small power; lighting and emergency lighting; lightning protection; earthing and bonding; fire alarm; wireways for data and telecoms; intruder detection    
Special installations 80 000 88.896.92
Stage lighting and sound reinforcement installation   
Builder's work in connection17 00018.891.47
    
Preliminaries and contingencies150 900167.6713.05
    
Total construction cost - building only 1 156 4001 284.90100
Cost breakdown for sports hall
 Element cost (£)Cost /m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Substructure82 00046.595.38
Reinforced insitu concrete column bases, strip foundations and ground slab; brick-and-block cavity walls to dpc; dpc and polythene vapour barrier   
Frame200 400113.8613.15
Fabricated structural steel; grade 43; columns, beams and trusses; cladding rails    
Upper floors21 70012.331.42
Reinforced concrete suspended slab; power floating   
Roof144 90082.339.51
Contractor-designed aluminium-profiled roof cladding on plywood decking; single-layer plastic roofing on plywood decking; aluminium roof lights   
Stairs45 00025.572.95
Precast concrete stairs and landings; Blanc de Bierges and beech treads; galvanised steel balustrades with stainless steel handrails   
External walls90 80051.595.96
Cavity-wall construction with handmade racing bricks; rendered blockwork; aluminium/galvanised steel insulated cladding   
Windows and external doors128 60073.078.44
Contractor-designed steel-framed, double-glazed windows and screens; powder-coated finish; solid core doors; revolving entrance door    
Internal walls and partitions38 60021.932.53
Blockwork paritions; polyester-powder-coated galvanised steel screens with Pyran glazing; laminated WC cubicles   
Internal doors42 30024.032.78
Polyester powder-coated glazed door/screen assemblies with Pyran glazing; galvanised steel doors and frames; fire-rated laminate-faced solid-core doors    
Wall finishes 32 300 18.352.12
Lightweight plaster; ceramic tiling on sand cement backing; emulsion paint   
Floor finishes 80 300 45.635.27
Maple-strip floating floor; wood-block flooring; vinyl sheet; barrier matting; ceramic tiles   
Ceiling finishes 4 600 2.610.3
Lightweigh plaster; wallboard and skim coat; decorations   
Furniture and fittings76 000 43.184.99
Gymnasium and sports hall equipment; bleacher seating; sotrage cupboards and shelving; cloakroom equipment; fittings to reception   
Regional Variations
All costs in this model are based on schemes in south-east England and should be adjusted by the following location factors for schemes in other areas.
Inner London1.07
Outer London1.01
South-west0.93
East Midlands0.91
West Midlands0.92
East Anglia0.94
Yorkshire and Humberside0.91
North-west0.95
Northern0.91
Scotland0.93
Wales0.9
Northern Ireland0.8