An element is a major part of a group element in an elemental cost plan. For example, under NRM 1 group element 3: Internal finishes comprises the elements 3.1: Wall finishes, 3.2: Floor finishes and 3.3: Ceiling finishes. A separate cost target can be set for each element.
Elements are defined by the function they perform rather than by trade or material, which allows costs to be compared between projects regardless of how they are built. Each element is broken down further into sub-elements and components, and its cost is normally expressed as a total, as a rate per m² of gross internal floor area and as a rate per element unit quantity. This consistent structure allows the QS to benchmark against historic cost data, track cost movement between formal cost plans and show the client where the money is going. Under the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) the comparable terms are cost group and cost sub-group.
Related terms: Group Element, Sub-element, Element Unit Quantity, Elemental Cost Plan.
