What are the weakness of Div. 17, the SF & CF cost section, and how does RSMeans address them?
Several issues are very important and worth remembering when considering the use of Div. 17 data. First, and most important, RSMeans does not know what the type of construction the received submittals cover, or what is included. Example: Is it a wood frame, concrete and steel, or masonry building? And does the plumbing include a sprinkler system? Second, was it built union or open shop? Third, where is the building being built? The submittals we received from our customer base are treated as national average prices even though the information may be coming from a part of the country that is experiencing a construction boom, or even a construction bust. Example: For a period of time the eastern part of the country was not experiencing a population growth, and some surplus schools were being converted into condominiums and elderly housing. The southwest Sunbelt states at a point in time had a population surge and had to build schools. Consequently the school prices, which we call nationa
