2.

1 Introduction

ØQuantity surveying is a term or processes used in the

construction industry to take measurements of civil
works, prepare specifications, and estimate the cost
of works either for each trade of work or for the whole
project.
 Cont…
Tasks covered in quantity surveying are :
Ø Preparation of specification.

Ø Taking measurements of civil works (Taking off quantities

and preparing BOQ).
Ø Preparation of approximate (preliminary) cost estimate at
the very early stage of the project.
Ø Preparation of detail cost estimate at different stages.

Ø Preparation of tender documents and examining tenders.

Ø Preparation of payment certificates.

 Cont…
Purposes of quantity surveying:
Ø To know the amount of money required.

Ø To know the quantities of materials required.

Ø To know the tools and equipment required for the construction.

Ø To know the different workers to be employed.

Ø To draw up the construction schedule and program.

Ø To fix up the completion period.

Ø To invite tenders
2.2 Measurement of Civil Works
ØMeasurement of civil works includes the billing of each
trade of work either from drawings or the building itself for
defining the extent of works under each trade.

ØThe standard book, which is used in Ethiopia, is standard

technical specification & method of measurement for
construction of buildings by BaTCoDA, March 1991.
2.3 Specification Worksheet (BOQ form)

ØIt is the format which is used in a bill of quantity to

list a short description of the specification along with
its measuring unit, quantity and unit prices to
determine the total cost for each trade of item.
2.4 Process of Quantity Surveying
Ø Steps in preparation of BOQ:-

1. Taking off

2. Squaring

3. Abstracting

4. Writing the final Bill of Quantity

Ø This is the process of preparing / defining a detailed list of all

labor and materials necessary for the work and entering the items
on properly dimensioned paper.
 Cont…
Ø The standard form used for entering the dimensions taken from
drawings to determine the accurate quantity in each trade of
work, except reinforcement steel, is called take off sheet or
dimension paper.
 Cont…
Ø Column 1: is used for stating the number of times an item
occurs and is called the timising column.
Ø Column 2 is called dimension column as it is used to enter the
dimensions of the items of works. The dimensions are entered in
the order indicated below:
Ø Length, Width, Height or thickness.
Ø Column 3: is called squaring column. The stated dimensions in
column 2 are multiplied to determine the quantity of the work
either in m,m2, m3 or in Pcs. or No.
Ø Column 4: is called description column and description of the
work item is briefly stated.
 Cont…
Example:-
 Cont…
Ø A separate sheet (Bar Schedule) is used to prepare
reinforcement quantities.
 Cont…
ØExample:-
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Ø The dimensions entered in Column 2 are squared or

cubed as the case may be, multiplied by the timising
factor, and the result entered in Column 3. This task is
called squaring.

Ø All squared dimensions should be carefully checked by

another person before abstracting, and if correct the
item should be ticked with red.
 Cont…

ØThe squared dimensions are transferred to abstract

sheets and all similar dimensions are collected in the
same category to obtain the total quantity of each item.

ØAfter the abstract sheets have been completed and

checked, the final bill of quantity is written.
 Cont…
Example of BOQ:-
2.5. Basic Principles in Taking Off

Ø Drawings shall be fully understood and clearly detailed.

Ø During discrepancies in detailing, dimensioning or if missing

items exist obtain clarification from the designer.
Ø The BoQ shall accurately represent the works to be executed.

Ø Works, which cannot be measured accurately, shall be

expressed as lump sum (LS).
Ø Shall be prepared in such a way that discrepancies or
mistakes in taking off will not result in excessive variation in
the project cost which directly will affect the budget
allocation for the project.
 Cont…
Ø Built items shall generally include all possible entrants like labor,
materials (including storing, loading, unloading and handling),
f ixing, use of plant and equipment, wastage of materials,
equipment; which will result in a better process for establishing
prices and profit.

Ø There shall be understanding that there is a standard paper format

to carry out measurements of civil works, namely take off sheet or
dimension paper, schedule and specification worksheet.

Ø Measurements of civil works shall be carried out in such a way that

it can be easily checked and audited.
 Methods of takeoff
Ø The dimensions, length ,breadth, and height or depths are to be
taken out from the drawing plan, elevation and sections.

Ø The dimensions to be taken out correctly and the junctions of the

wall at the corners and the meeting point of the wall requires
special attention .

Ø Mensuration :- the calculation of geometric quantities such as

length, area, and volume, from dimensions and angles that are
already known.
Ø Girth (perimeter)computation:- linear measurement. There are various
methods of taking off quantities for computation of girth.
 Cont…
Ø Centre line method: suitable only when the cross sections of all
walls are symmetrical. In this method center line length is
found and same is used for taking off quantities (therefore only
width and depth vary).
Ø All dimensions are taken center to center

Ø In- to- in and out- to-out method: some wall lengths are
taken out to out and others in to in (offsets are added to
out to out lengths) and same are deducted from in -to-in
lengths.
 Cont…
Determine the internal, external and centerline girths for the
room plan shown below.

Ø External girths Ø Centerline girths

Ø Length = 2* 15000 = 30,000 Ø Length = 2* 14800 = 29,600
Width = 2*6000= 12,000
Ø Width = 2*5800= 11,600
Ø

Ø External girths = 42,000

Ø Centerline girths = 41,200
Ø Internal girths
Ø Length = 2* 14600 = 29,200
Ø Width = 2*5600= 11,200
Ø Internal girths = 40,400
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Ø In the given below diagram the green colored layers are the
long wall and the blue is represent the short wall.

Ø The arrow mark on the green layer shows how the length of
the a long wall(out to out) measured and the arrow mark on
the blue layer shows , how the short wall (in to in) should be
measured.
 Cont…
Example : Calculate the quantity of the excavation for the
following plan using long wall and short wall method ?
Cont…
Thanks!!!