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Eng. Giampiero Brioni analyzes the main cost classification systems in construction projects for “L’ufficio Tecnico“ (Maggioli Editore). Focus on the UNI 8290 standard: hierarchical structure, operational limitations, and comparison with international standards such as ICMS, MasterFormat, UniFormat II, and OmniClass.
The development of complex construction projects requires structured methods to manage costs, timelines, and information among different stakeholders. Without a shared classification system, projects risk losing economic and quality control. Eng. Giampiero Brioni explored this topic in the article “Cost Classification Systems in Architecture and Civil Engineering Projects,” published in L’Ufficio Tecnico (Maggioli Editore, March 2021).
The UNI 8290 represents the main Italian classification system for the construction sector. Organized across three hierarchical levels, it identifies classes of technological units (e.g., load-bearing structure, enclosure, internal partition), technological units (e.g., foundation structures, vertical enclosure), and classes of technical elements (e.g., direct foundation structures, vertical perimeter walls). This approach provides standardized terminology and rigorous syntax for project communication, ensuring an articulated interpretation of the building system through a structured database.
The standard is based on the technical-constructive function of building components, providing a rational framework for organizing project information. However, the UNI 8290 presents a significant conceptual limitation: it interprets the building as the result of a completed process, excluding critical phases such as site design, demolitions, earthworks, construction phase controls, and maintenance plans. For this reason, the article emphasizes the need to implement the standard with additional elements to represent the entire project lifecycle.
The article analyzes the main systems used internationally, highlighting how each responds to specific needs:
ICMS (International Construction Measurement Standards) provides a framework for economic definition throughout the entire asset lifecycle, enabling comparisons between projects in different national contexts. It does not replace local systems but offers a universal “reporting framework.”
MasterFormat, adopted in the USA and Canada, organizes information across three numerical levels (pairs of digits) covering both realization and maintenance. Its efficiency derives from significant attention to project management issues.
UniFormat II (ASTM E1557-97) distinguishes itself through its “objectives-based” logic: it classifies components according to their functional role in the technological system, including transitory aspects (context, site, interferences). This approach makes it particularly suitable for preliminary phase synthetic estimates and for analyzing design alternatives.
The article begins by analyzing traditional commodity classification (used in Chamber of Commerce price lists), based on macro-categories and conventional work items. This system, effective in traditional construction sites with general contractors, shows limitations in current reality characterized by work parceling and specialized subcontractors.
More evolved systems such as OmniClass (faceted, with 15 tables) and UniClass 2015 (UK, 11 tables, BIM-compatible) respond to the need for efficient communication codes in the digital era, where Building Information Modeling and integrated management require shared languages throughout the construction process.
As highlighted in the article, the choice of classification system depends on the objective: forming a Business Breakdown Structure (BBS) capable of identifying decision characteristics, correlations, and management tasks. Standard systems constitute the foundation for effectively managing projects in technical, economic, financial, and logistical terms.
Download the complete article in PDF to explore detailed diagrams, figures, and comparative tables of different classification systems.
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