Document downloads - Measured surveys
Available downloads
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Code of measuring practice
Published: September 2007
Reinstated: 23 January 2018
Effective from: 23 January 2018
Code of measuring practice, 6th edition was reinstated on 23 January 2018 after publication of RICS property measurement, 2nd edition.
The 6th edition of the code became effective globally from 18 May 2015 when it was incorporated into the first professional statement, that for offices. -
Use of GNSS in land surveying and mapping
Published: May 2023
Effective from: 18 June 2023
This standard forms part of a series of specifications and guidelines intended to assist those connected with the requesting, purchasing and production of surveys and mapping material at all scales, by spreading good practice and seeking to avoid duplication of effort.
This document has been written primarily to provide:
- the surveyor with a set of practical operational guidelines, which can be used when undertaking any survey that includes GNSS techniques; sufficient information is also included to allow the surveyor to generate a set of GNSS survey procedures applicable to a survey task required by the client, and
- the client, or purchaser of spatial information generated from a GNSS survey, with sufficient information to write a task-specific specification for a GNSS survey, which sets out the accuracy requirements, products and a scope of work from which the surveyor can accurately produce a bid for the survey. -
Principles of measurement (international) for works of construction (ARCHIVED)
A set of principles of measurement is essential to reduce widely varying practices and consequent disputes. Although there are an increasing number of contract documents requiring bills of quantities, often there is no framework within which they can be prepared, nor a commonly agreed basis of measurement. These principles, prepared by the RICS, provide a uniform basis of measurement. They are suitable for use where existing rules are inappropriate or where no rules exist.
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Measured surveys of land, buildings and utilities
Published November 2014
Effective from 8 December 2014
Reissued April 2024
This professional standard is designed for use by land, engineering and measured building surveyors who are acting in an advisory capacity and by survey knowledgeable clients who specify their own surveys.
This third edition supersedes the second edition. One of the primary changes from the second edition is the use of survey accuracy band, which takes into consideration client requirements for scale independent metadata and digital data handling environments.
This professional standard covers:
- project information
- survey accuracy, control, coordinate grid and datum
- topographic surveys
- measured building surveys
- underground utility surveys
- monitoring and deformation and
- deliverables. -
Terms and conditions of contract for land surveying services (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This document contained the main contractual terms and conditions for survey contracts, for small- to medium-sized projects, where a longer and more complex general contract was not required. -
Geospatial information and the surveying profession (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
Geographic or geospatial information (GI) has become part of everyday life and is a growing worldwide phenomenon. No longer is GI the preserve of highly skilled professionals; instead many people in society use it on a daily basis, sometimes unknowingly. In-car navigation systems and instant access to satellite imagery through the Internet are just two of the enormous changes that have taken place over the past few years. The proliferation of websites that use maps, images and addresses is a clear indication that GI has become part of the norm for many people. Although many of the examples in this information paper are taken from the UK, the acceleration of GI is a relevant worldwide. -
Rights of light
3rd edition
Published March 2024
Effective from 1 June 2024
2nd edition
Published March 2016
Effective from 1 July 2016 - 31 May 2024
Produced by a cross-professional group specialist panel of associate and chartered surveyors, this guidance deals with easements known as rights of light and outlines current best practice for surveyors in this field.
A right of light as an easement requires various factors to be in in order to create or trigger the formation of the legal right. Due to the legal nature of rights of light, practitioners often work closely with specialist legal advisers.
Members should avoid exceeding the extent of their competence in reporting on legal rather than technical issues. -
Daylighting and sunlighting
Published: October 2012
Effective from: October 2012
Reissued: October 2023
This professional standard is about daylight, sunlight and shading and, to a lesser extent, how it is dealt with in the design, planning, and environmental impact assessment of developments, and particularly in relation to the Building Research Establishment Report: Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight 2011, which sets out the standards and methods of calculation most usually relied upon by local authorities when assessing planning applications.
Surveyors advising on daylight and sunlight need to ensure that they are familiar with that document and with the planning policy of local authorities to whom reports are to be submitted. -
RICS property measurement
Published January 2018
Effective from 1 May 2018
RICS property measurement comprises the following two elements:
1. Professional statement: property measurement
a) Application of this professional statement
b) Technical definitions
c) IPMS: Office Buildings, as applied under the professional statement
d) IPMS: Residential Buildings as applied under the professional statement (applies to office measurements and residential measurements only – download these below).
2. RICS IPMS data standard
This document reflects the IPMS standards (IPMS: Office Buildings and IPMS: Residential) and will be updated over time to comply with other IPMS standards, including industrial, retail and mixed use, as they are published.
For all building classes except offices and residential buildings, the bases of measurement contained within the Code of measuring practice, 6th edition (COMP) may still apply though the application of this professional statement applies to all building classes. The COMP was effective globally from 18 May 2015, though early adoption of IPMS is recommended on publication of the new standards.
Software developers and those requiring the use of structured data are advised to follow the schemas as defined, and those wishing to pursue RICS software certification must demonstrate compliance with this data standard. This data standard is an XML schema and is available to download.
A user guide to the standard, intended for implementers, is available for download. For more information please email datastandards@rics.org.