International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS)
The International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) is an international standard which aims to provide greater global consistency in construction costing.
It is not a detailed method of measuring construction works, but ‘a high level benchmarking and reporting framework for international cost classification, reporting and comparison.’
It was established by the International Construction Measurement Standards Coalition (ICMSC), which is a group of more than 40 professional and not-for-profit organisations. The Coalition was launched at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C. in 2015.
The Coalition points to the fact that the reporting and costing methods used in the construction industry have significant variance according to the market. This means that comparing projects around the world difficult, investment risk is increased, and transparency is impeded.
They argue that this causes ‘huge problems for cost consultants, quantity surveyors, construction economists and cost engineers around the world’. Creating a common standard, they suggest, will improve transparency, investor confidence and public trust.
Other benefits they identify include:
- Improved investment and funding decisions.
- Improved cost prediction and management.
- More consistent accounting.
- Consistent and transparent benchmarking.
- Improved ability to Identify the causes of differences in costs between projects.
The Coalition anticipates that ICMS will be implemented globally through proactive engagement by the Coalition members with relevant stakeholders. It will be used alongside existing standards initially, with the expectation that it will become established over time in construction markets and then used as the primary standard for reporting on construction costs locally and globally.
In September 2019, ICMS was extended to cover life cycle costs and further civil engineering entities.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BCIS.
- Construction costs.
- Cost engineering.
- Cost plans for construction projects.
- International Fire Safety Standards Coalition (IFSS).
- International Property Measurement Standards.
- Measurement.
- Quantity surveyor.
- Whole life costs.
[edit] External resources
Featured articles and news
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
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.
Comments
It refers to it as 'International Construction Measurement Standards' but it is actually International Cost Management Standard.
https://icms-coalition.org/