RICS Opens Construction Standards Consultation

A NEW consultation on global construction standards has been opened by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Construction Standards Consultation

Calling on construction professionals across the globe to respond, for the first time, RICS is going to release a combined Professional Standard.

It follows over a decade (2009-2021) of RICS releasing 32 separate titles covering different elements of quantity surveying and project management practice through its Black Book suite of guidance notes.

After the consultation, RICS is going to release a combined Professional Standard incorporating global principles of Quantity Surveying practice – the subject of this consultation, alongside six Practice Information pieces covering the life cycle of construction projects.

The Professional Standard to be consulted on has been written by industry expert Matt Thompson and supported by an Expert Group of RICS members and others from across the world. Matt is a widely respected and long-standing technical author in this and related fields and has most recently authored the RIBA Handbook of Practice Management, 10^th edition.

Consistent Standards

Amit Patel, RICS Head of Professional Practice (Construction), said: “For the first time, RICS is launching a Professional Standard on construction which incorporates updates that would normally be drip-fed over a ten-year period. We believe that this new model will enable professionals to update and improve their practice more swiftly and enable a more consistent framework for standards.

“I implore all construction professionals across the globe, whether RICS members or otherwise, to get involved and respond to this important consultation. RICS is committed to serving and improving the global built and natural environment profession, and it is our members and colleagues in connected fields that guide our professional statements, standards, and guidance.”

The public consultation will be live for 6 weeks starting today 16 September, until it closes on 24 October 2025. The consultation may be found at this link.

RICS plans to launch the final version of the Professional Standard in Q1 2026 once all responses to the consultation have been analysed and incorporated where appropriate.

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