Basement Occupancies

The Basement Occupancies Screen

Use the Basement Occupancies screen to enter one or more occupancies (building uses) for the basement section, together with the basement type, depth, construction class and quality for each occupancy.  The total percentage of all occupancies in the section must be 100%.  The Basement Occupancies screen has three major parts:

• Occupancy Detail:  Top portion of the screen that lists the values you entered for the occupancy that is highlighted in the Selected Occupancies list. The data items that you enter or select for each occupancy (in the Component Detail portion of the screen) are:

Occupancy Code

Type

Area

Construction Class

Depth

Quality

• Selected Occupancies:  Middle portion of screen that lists all the occupancies you have selected.  Use this list to add or delete an occupancy, or to select an occupancy to edit.

• Occupancy Search:  Bottom portion of the screen that allows you to search for and select occupancies to add to the section, and to display that description of any occupancy.

Adding an Occupancy Using the Occupancy Code from the Worksheet

The fastest way to enter occupancies into Commercial Estimator is to first complete one of the Commercial Estimator Worksheets, then enter them directly on the Basement Occupancies screen using the occupancy codes.

To add an occupancy directly using the occupancy code (from the Worksheet), do the following:

1. Type the occupancy’s code number in the Code field in the Occupancy Detail, then press the Tab key.  Commercial Estimator displays the occupancy’s name next to the Code you typed, and displays default values for the other fields in the Occupancy Detail.

2. Make any necessary changes in these values.  See the discussion of the Occupancy Detail section for further information.

3. Click the Add button at the bottom of the Occupancy Detail.

4. Commercial Estimator displays the data you have entered in the Selected Occupancies, and clears the fields in the Occupancy Detail.

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Adding an Occupancy Using Search

To add an occupancy using search, do the following in the Occupancy Search section in the bottom portion of the screen.

1. Click on an Occupancy Group on the left side of the Occupancy Search section to display the occupancies in that group.

2. Double click on one of the Available Occupancies on the right side of the Occupancy Search section.

3. Commercial Estimator automatically displays this occupancy and its default values in the Occupancy Detail at the top of the screen.

4. Make any necessary changes in the default values.  See the discussion of the Occupancy Detail section for further information.

5. Click the Add button at the bottom of the Occupancy Detail.

6. Commercial Estimator displays the data you have entered in the Selected Occupancies, and clears the fields in the Occupancy Detail.

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Editing an Occupancy

To edit an occupancy:

1. Click the desired occupancy in the Selected Occupancies list in the middle of the screen.  Commercial Estimator displays the information you previously entered for the occupancy in the Occupancy Detail.

2. Change any of the occupancy's information necessary on the Occupancy Detail.  See the discussion of the Occupancy Detail section for further information.

3. Click the Update button at the bottom of the Occupancy Detail.  

4. Commercial Estimator displays your changes in the Selected Occupancies, and clears the fields in the Occupancy Detail.

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Deleting an Occupancy

To delete an occupancy, click the delete icon for the occupancy in the Selected Occupancies list in the middle of the screen:

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Occupancy Detail

Use the Occupancy Detail at the top of the screen to enter or change the following information for the occupancy:

Occupancy Code

Type

Area

Construction Class

Depth

Quality

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Occupancy Code

Commercial Estimator uses occupancy codes to uniquely identify each occupancy.  Enter or select an occupancy in either of the following ways:

• Direct Entry:  Type the occupancy code in this field.  The occupancy name displays to the right of the code.

• Occupancy Search:  Use the Occupancy Search section at the bottom of the screen to select an occupancy.  The occupancy code and name automatically display on this line.

If the occupancy code field already contains a code, you can use either of these methods to select or enter a different occupancy.  However, if the construction class selected for the old occupancy is not available for the new occupancy, Commercial Estimator automatically changes the class to the first class available for the new occupancy.

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Basement Type

Select the type of basement from the following list:

Finished:These basements assume the occupancy of the upper floors and are finished in a similar fashion.

Semifinished:These basements include block or concrete walls, a reinforced slab, painted walls, and a gypsum or acoustic tile ceiling. These basements may include a lounge area, restrooms, some utility and storage area. Minimum lighting and adequate plumbing are also included.

Unfinished:This is an unfinished basement area with masonry exterior walls, no partitions or wall finish, exposed ceiling (which in class A and B buildings is reinforced concrete slab) and a slab floor. These basements have few partitions that are painted. The lighting is minimal and exposed, floor drains are in a concrete slab floor structure.

Display:Basement display areas typically have plaster interiors with minimal partitioning. There is a store finish with acoustical tile ceiling and vinyl composition or rubber tile floor coverings. Lighting and plumbing are similar to what is commonly found in stores.

Office:Basement office areas normally have plaster interiors with partitioning comparable with an office build-out, including typical office finishes. Acoustical tiled ceilings, vinyl composition tile or carpet on the floors, office lighting, and plumbing are included in the cost.

Parking:Basement parking typically has an unfinished interior. The ceiling is either finished or a concrete slab. There is minimum lighting and floor drains. The floor is concrete slab and the lighting exposed. There are small service areas and lot striping and bumpers.

Resident Living:These basements may have half-exposed exterior walls with fenestration. The interiors have painted drywall or plaster with partitioning comparable with a residence. Floor finishes are vinyl composition tile or carpet. Electrical fixtures and average plumbing, one bath per unit, are included in the cost.

Laboratory:Basement laboratory areas normally have reinforced concrete with plaster interiors with partitioning typical of a laboratory, including laboratory or R&D finishes. R&D lighting, and plumbing are included in the cost. Administrative and technical facilities are included in the costs.

Classroom:Basement office areas normally have reinforced concrete with plaster interiors with partitioning typical of a classroom, including school finishes. Adequate lighting and plumbing are included in the cost. Some utility and storage space is included in the costs.

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Basement Area

Enter the total floor area of each basement occupancy/type combination (in square feet).

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Construction Class

Select the Construction Class for the occupancy.  The standard Marshall & Swift Construction Classes are:

A  Fireproof Steel Frame

B  Reinforced Concrete Frame

C  Masonry Bearing Walls

D  Wood or Steel Stud Framed Exterior Walls

H  Hoop Frame

M  Mill Type Construction

P  Wood Frame and Metal Walls (Pole Frame)

S  Metal Frame and Walls

W  Metal Slant Frame and Walls

In addition to the Marshall & Swift Classes, you can also select one of the ISO Classes.  The standard ISO Classes, together with the type of exterior walls and framing used for that class, are:

In addition, the following additional classes are available in Commercial Estimator to account for differences in exterior walls and framing within some ISO Classes:

Note:  All classes are not available for all occupancies.  When selecting a class for an occupancy, only the available classes display.  Also, if after selecting a class you change the occupancy to an occupancy for which the class is not available, Commercial Estimator automatically changes the class to the first available one for the new occupancy.

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Basement Depth

Enter the basement depth, measured from the top of one level to top of next level.  

For multilevel basements with varying depths, calculate average depth per level by dividing total basement depth by the number of levels.  

Example:  For a basement with a 10' first level and 8' second level, enter 9 for the basement depth.

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Quality

The quality of the materials and workmanship in the basement, and determines the cost level in the report. Select one of the following qualities:

You should examine both materials and workmanship when determining the overall quality. The quality of materials and workmanship of individual building components may vary. However, the overall quality tends to be consistent for the entire building. Furthermore, the quality of materials and workmanship tend to influence each other.

Workmanship is often superficial, allowing you to easily observe its quality. The following are all indicators of better quality workmanship:

• Solid and level floor structures

• Plumb walls

• Smooth finish on concrete and plastered surfaces

• Mitered joints in both exterior and interior woodwork

• Proper fitting doors and windows

As with workmanship, the quality of materials is usually apparent during the inspection of the building. Grade of wood, floor cover and fixtures (either standard or custom) are primary indications of material quality.

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Related Topics

Using Help

Using Sections

Moving From Screen to Screen

Saving Estimates