ARM5
ARM5, published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, is the Agreed Rules of Measurement for building works in Ireland. It provides a standardised framework for the detailed measurement and pricing of construction projects, supporting consistency across estimating, tendering, and procurement.
ARM5 is widely adopted by quantity surveyors, estimators, and contractors operating within the Irish construction industry. It sets out clear rules for the preparation of bills of quantities, ensuring that work is measured and described in a consistent and transparent way.
The standard supports all stages of detailed estimating and procurement, enabling fair comparison of tenders and improved cost control during project delivery. It also plays a key role in reducing ambiguity and disputes by providing a common basis for measurement and pricing.
As construction continues to adopt digital tools and model based workflows, ARM5 provides the structured foundation required for accurate and auditable estimating processes in Ireland.
Key Highlights
Standard method of measurement for building works in Ireland
Supports preparation of bills of quantities for tendering
Ensures consistency in measurement, descriptions, and pricing
Enables fair and transparent comparison of contractor bids
Reduces ambiguity and supports better cost control
Widely used across the Irish construction industry
ARM5 aligns closely with Sterling’s structured and digital approach to cost and carbon estimating for building projects in Ireland.
Sterling enhances ARM5 workflows by linking measurement directly to cost and carbon data, enabling faster, more accurate, and fully auditable estimating. Key areas of alignment include:
Digital take-off (2D and 3D) aligned to ARM5 measurement rules
Automated quantity generation, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy
Resource based estimating, linking labour, plant, and materials to measured items
Consistent cost structures, supporting bills of quantities and tender pricing
Improved auditability, with full traceability of quantities and revisions
Integration of cost and carbon, extending traditional estimating into sustainability reporting
By combining ARM5 standards with Sterling’s SaaS platform, organisations can move from manual measurement and spreadsheets to a fully integrated, data driven estimating and procurement process.
Access ARM5 via the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland:
https://scsi.ie/standards/arm5/
