ABSTRACT
The Code defines the methods of measurement of buildings, together with when and how they
should be used. The principal methods used in property valuation and management work are (RICS 2007b: 2-3 and 8-21): • gross external floor area (GEA) • gross internal floor area (GIA) • net internal floor area (NIA). Additionally, there are the following ‘Technical Definitions’ within the Code (RICS 2007b: 22-5): • cubic content (CC) • clear internal height (CIH) • clear height • eaves height (EH) – internal or external • ceiling height (CH) • raised floor void (RFV) • maximum internal height (MIH) • site area (SA): ‘The total area of the site within the site title boundaries, measured on a
horizontal plane’ • gross site area (GSA): ‘The Site Area (SA), plus any area of adjoining roads, enclosed by
extending the boundaries of the site up to the centre of the road, or 6m out from the frontage, whichever is less’
• site depth (SD) • building frontage (BF): ‘The measurement along the front of a building from the outside of
external walls or the centre line of party walls’ • site frontage (SF): ‘The measurement of a site along its frontage between two flank boundaries’ • plot ratio (PR): ‘Ratio of Gross External Area to Site Area where Site Area is expressed as one,
for example, 3:1’. There are also ‘special use definitions’ for shops, residential or leisure property (RICS 2007b: 26-35).
