Explore the fundamentals of work breakdown structure (WBS) codes, their application in cost estimation, and their potential customization in construction projects. Delve into examples such as construction phases, site work, self-performed work, and CSI 95 codes, among others.
Key Insights
- WBS codes represent work breakdown structures and can cover a variety of aspects in a project such as construction phases, site work, self-performed work, each trade, or even CSI 95 codes. They help group and separate cost codes.
- The use and application of WBS codes are typically determined by the estimator rather than the owner. The estimator may set up specific WBS codes to extract costs associated with a particular item or phase.
- The WBS codes are not only useful for estimators but also for schedulers who require a separate breakout of certain information to build their schedule. They provide important data for a contractor-owner partnership and contribute significantly to the project's estimation and scheduling process.
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WBS codes are work breakdown structures. Let's go ahead and look at some examples of WBS codes in an estimate. They could be any of the following.
They could be construction phases of work. They can be alternates. It could be site work versus the building structure itself.
It could be self-performed work compared to contractors doing the work for you. It could be each trade. It could also be a CSI 95 code that compares to the master format 50 division codes.
This might be an example of where a client's bid form only goes to 16 division. You then have to take your estimate and boil it on down to the 16 division codes. Your contractor or owner responsibility, those could be identified separately as a WBS code.
Anything you can think of that would group and separate cost codes would then fall under the category of a WBS code. WBS codes can reside as a standard for every estimate that you do or they could be estimate specific. That's why it's also important to make sure that when you take on a project, thoroughly understand what all the WBS codes represent and what they stand for because it could very easily involve how you do your takeoff and how you build your estimate.
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The WBS cost codes are typically added to an estimate by the estimator. The owner doesn't necessarily say provide a WBS code for this, that or the other thing. They might just come in and say give us two phases, give us three phases.
We then take it upon ourselves as estimators to say the only way I'm going to get that breakout is by setting up a WBS code that will extract all of the costs associated with that one particular item. So an owner will not necessarily say I want you to use WBS codes. It's something that we use as estimators.
It's something that our schedulers will require a separate breakout of certain information so they can actually build their schedule off of this. This all provides the important data that's needed for a contractor and an owner partnership but is not dictated to us as to how we come up with those numbers.
