Critical Analysis of Building Performance Benefits and Cost Comparison of Concrete, Steel and Timber Framed Building

Most construction cost studies are focused on initial capital and construction costs, they do not address the additional costs of a building’s performance in terms of acoustic, fire protection, and thermal insulation, insurances, vibration performance and robustness. This study aims to address this and examine the differing performance and operational cost between concrete, steel and timber framed construction. A systematic cost analysis was performed on an identical building, using different concrete and steel construction techniques. Following on from that, critical documentary analysis was used to compare the actual cost of construction using data from the RICS BCIS. and the data was then analysed statistically and discussed. It was found that concrete construction provides many inherent performance benefits such as acoustic, fire protection, thermal insulation, insurances, vibration performance and robustness. The free cost of these benefits are generally not considered in cost comparison literature. It was found that when they are considered concrete construction is lowest in cost compared to steel and timber framed building. This study adds to the library of construction cost studies by contributing to the cost of construction technology debate. In particular, the operational and the costs for additional finishes. It recommends that performance costs should be considered both explicitly and implicitly as part of a building’s overall cost.