Building Data: Effective Age

The effective age of a building is its age in years as compared with other buildings performing like functions. It is the actual age less any years that have been taken off by face-lifting, structural reconstruction, removal of functional inadequacies, etc.

Use the following steps to determine the effective age of a building:

Example:  For a good quality, Class C office building built 30 years ago, the following renovations and repairs have been completed:

Based on the office building's current condition and a subjective evaluation of the effect of these changes, you estimate that the remaining useful life is now 45 years.  The Typical Lives table in the help for occupancy 344 (Office Building) is:

 

 

 

Class

 

 

Quality

A

B

C

D

S

Low

50

50

45

40

40

Average

55

55

50

45

45

Good

60

60

55

50

50

Excellent

60

60

55

50

50

From this table, the typical life is 55 years. Therefore, the effective age is:

Typical Building Life

 55 years

Minus:  Remaining Useful Life

-45 years

Effective Age

 10 years

The entry of Effective Age is optional, except if you select either of the following options for calculating Physical and Functional Depreciation: