QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

Dear Sir/Madam,

The questionnaire on the Relationship between project characteristics and MEP

construction cost; A focused on residential buildings in Sri Lanka

I am Quantity Survey undergraduate of University of Moratuwa and for the final year
dissertation I investigate on “Relationship between project characteristics and MEP
construction cost; A focused on residential buildings in Sri Lanka” under the supervision
of CH.Qs.Dr.(Mrs) Thanuja Ramachandra with the aim of explore the relationship between
project characteristics and MEP cost: A focused on residential buildings. Following are
the objectives of this research.

1. To investigate the factors influencing MEP construction costs of residential

buildings in Sri Lanka
2. To explore the significant project characteristics that influencing the MEP
construction costs
3. To analyse the MEP construction costs of residential buildings and thereby
identify the significant cost components which constitute the MEP
construction cost of residential buildings in Sri Lanka
4. To explore the relationship between project characteristics and MEP
construction costs in residential buildings in Sri Lanka

As you are a professional who engages in MEP activities you were identified as a respondent
for the questionnaire survey.

I here by certified the information collected from this survey will be used only for the
purposes of fulfilling the research aim. I would be grateful if you could participate in this
survey.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of your kind collaboration.

Yours faithfully,
Nilusha I. V. D
Undergraduate student
Department of Building Economics
University of Moratuwa

1
 Res. Nr.

Section A : General Information

Q1. Name (Optional) : ……………………………………….…………………….........

Q2. Please indicate your work organization (Optional) : ……………………..………...
Q3. Please indicate what is your Profession?

Engineer
Quantity Surveyor
Architect
Project Manager

Other (specify)…………………...

Q4. Please indicate your years of experience in your profession? ………………...…...

Please indicate your experience in the construction field

Less than 5 years

5-10 years

More than 10 years

Section B : Experience on MEP construction

Q5. Please indicate your level of involvement in MEP works

Very highly

Highly

Moderately

Not at all

Q6. What is your opinion about importance of MEP construction cost to the total
construction cost?
Very highly important
Highly important
Moderately important
Slightly important

Not at all importance

2
Section B : Factors Influencing MEP cost

These following factors were identified as the factors that are influencing MEP construction
costs. Please rate your opinion on the impact of those factors on the MEP construction costs
with the use of likert scale defined below.
1 – Extremely influential 2 – Very influential 3 – Somewhat influential
4 - Slightly influential 5 – Not at all influential

Factors influencing MEP construction cost Level of influence

1 2 3 4 5

Factors related to the planning phase of the project

1. Scale and Complexity
2. Project schedule
3. Location
4. Type of Building
5. Height of building
6. Number of Floors
7. Weather conditions
8. Other

Factors related to the design of MEP systems

1. Building occupancy
2. Shape of Building
3. Building quality
4. Equipment’s requirements
5. Aesthetic requirements
6. Other

Factors related to the construction of MEP systems

1. Construction technology
2. Construction timing
3. Testing requirements
4. Safety requirements
5. Other

3
 Section C : Project characteristics that influencing MEP cost
These following characteristics were identified as the characteristics that are influencing
MEP construction costs. Please rate your opinion on the impact of those characteristics on the
MEP construction costs with the use of likert scale defined below.
1 – Extremely influential 2 – Very influential 3 – Somewhat influential
4 - Slightly influential 5 – Not at all influential

Project characteristics influence for MEP

Level of influence
construction cost
1 2 3 4 5
1. Type of Project

2. Location

3. Size of Project

a. Gross Floor area

b. Number of storeys

c. Height of a storey

4. Project Duration

5. Complexity of Project

a. Special ground condition

b. Technology requirements

c. Shape of the building

6. Window to Wall Ratio

7. Value of Project

8. Quality of a Project

9. Wall to Floor Ratio

10. Roofing and Area of Roof

11. Building Orientation

12. Legislation Legal Factor

13. Level of Technological Advancement

4
14. Ownership of Building

15. Type of Specification

16. Availability of Material & Equipment

17. Percent of Repetitive Elements

18. Availability of Information at Project
Inception and Points
19. Form of contract

20. Type of client

21. Project Funding

22. Selection Process/ Methodology

a. Bidding procedure

b. Numbers of bidders

c. Selection criteria

d. Bidding environment
23. Performance of Available Contractors on
Previous (similar) Projects
a. Meeting cost

b. Quality

c. Time targets

d. Safety records

e. Client satisfaction level

24. Performance of Available Consultant on
Previous (similar) Projects
a. Meeting cost

b. Quality

c. Time targets

d. Safety records

e. Client satisfaction level

25. Contractual Agreement

26. Payment mode to the contractor

5
27. Local familiarity and confidence

28. Presence of special issues

29. Nature and status of local construction
industry
a. Available capacities of potential
project participants

b. Scarcity of work in particular fields

c. Competitiveness

30. Technical approval authorities

31. Importance for project to be completed
within budget

32. Importance for project to be delivered

33. Level of specialization

34. Design completion when budget is fixed

35. Bidder’s knowledge of the budget

36. Time given to contractor to bid

37. Time given to owners/ consultants to
evaluate bids

38. Density of the project

39. Numbers of bidders

40. Prequalification or short-listing

41. Bid evaluation and selection criteria

42. Bidding environment

6
 Section D : MEP Elements

The followings are main MEP cost elements as per BCIS Elemental Standard Form of Cost
Analysis. Please rate your opinion on the impact of those elements on the MEP construction
costs with the use of likert scale defined below.

1 – Extremely influential 2 – Very influential 3 – Somewhat influential

4 - Slightly influential 5 – Not at all influential

MEP elements Level of influence

1 2 3 4 5

Mechanical
Space Heating and Air Conditioning
Ventilation Systems
Lift and Conveyor Installations
Specialist Installations

Electrical
Electrical Installations
Fire and Lightning Protection
Communication, Security and Control
Installations

Plumbing
Sanitary Installations
Services Equipment
Disposal Installations
Water Installations

7
Additional comments:

……Thank you for your kind cooperation ……..