NRM2, CESMM4, SMM7: UK Construction Measurement Standards Compared

You've been handed a project. Maybe it's your first civils job after years on buildings. Maybe it's a mixed scheme and you're not sure which rules apply. Maybe someone's told you to "use CESMM4" and you want to check that's right.

This page tells you which measurement standard applies to your project, and what to watch out for when you use it.

Quick Comparison

Which Standard Should You Use?

The rule: Check your contract first. Some clients specify a particular standard regardless of sector.

When Standards Overlap

Real projects don't always fit one category. Here's how to handle the common situations:

NRM2: For Building Works

NRM2 replaced SMM7 in 2013. If you're working on UK building projects, this is the default.

What Changed from SMM7

If you trained on SMM7, these differences catch people out:

Worked Example: Measuring Brickwork

102.5mm facing brick wall, 15m long, 3m high:

Same quantity, but NRM2 requires actual thickness and PC rates. NRM2 also measures reveals, sills, and copings separately where SMM7 deemed them included.

CESMM4: For Civil Engineering

CESMM4 is the civils standard. It uses a coding system that classifies work by type.

How the Coding Works

Every item has a three-level code:

E425 = Earthworks (E) : Excavation for foundations (4) : Max depth 2-5m (25)

This lets you compare costs across projects by filtering for the same codes.

Don't Forget Method-Related Charges

CESMM4 Class A covers how work is done, not just what's built:

• Temporary works
• Site setup and clearance
• Testing and commissioning

Under pricing Class A is one of the main reasons civils tenders go wrong.

MCHW: For Highways

MCHW is part of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Unlike NRM2 and CESMM4, it's free.

The measurement rules connect directly to specification clauses. Series 700 measurement aligns with Series 700 specification.

Watch out: Traffic management (Series 100) can be 15-25% of project cost on live roads. Don't bury it in preliminaries.

RMM: For Rail

RMM applies to Network Rail projects. Access is typically through your contract rather than public purchase.

Rail measurement has unique challenges:

• Possession costs aren't linear. A single 72-hour possession might be cheaper than three 24-hour ones.
• System interfaces between track, signalling, and power need separate measurement.
• PACE implications mean your commercial approach needs to align with how Network Rail now manages projects.

SMM7: Legacy Only

SMM7 was superseded by NRM2 in 2013. You'll still see it on:

• Framework agreements set up before 2013
• Public sector clients with old standard documents
• Contracts that specifically reference SMM7

If the contract says SMM7, use SMM7. Don't apply NRM2 rules because they're "more current."

ASMM and ICMS

These serve specific purposes. You won't use them on typical UK projects.

For day-to-day UK measurement, stick with NRM2, CESMM4, MCHW, or RMM.

Where to Get Each Standard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Measurement Depends on Records

Every measurement standard assumes you have accurate data about what was built.

When your site records capture quantities and progress in a structured way, interim valuations are based on evidence. When they don't, you're measuring from assumptions. And when reality doesn't match assumptions, disputes follow.

If you're spending weekends pulling together valuation evidence from scattered emails and spreadsheets, that's a records problem.

See how Gather structures site records for commercial teams →

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