Irrelevant costs in construction
An irrelevant cost is an accounting term used to refer to costs that do not relate to whether or not a particular business decision is made. Irrelevant costs will be incurred regardless of the decision.
By identifying the irrelevant costs in relation to a particular business decision, unnecessary cost information can be removed from the decision making process, leaving only costs that are relevant to the decision (i.e. 'relevant costs' that will be affected depending on which option is selected). Time and effort can be saved by distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant costs when analysing decision options.
Typically, irrelevant costs include:
- Sunk costs: Costs that have already been incurred, and so are independent of any decision that might be made in the future.
- Committed costs: Costs that will be incurred in the future but must be paid regardless of any business decisions.
- Notional/non-cash costs: Depreciation, amortisation, and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.