MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Acknowledgement
Firstly, I should be very grateful and thankful to my parent friends and specially our lecturer
Mr. Thanushan Thanabalasingam and also other people whom I havent mentioned who
helped me in many ways to complete this task much successfully than I thought, and gave me
the encouragement to accomplish this assignment.
And this assignment provides the Measurement Processes for Construction. It develops the
ability to evaluate the relevant knowledge in Construction. I completed this assignment by
gathering information from mainly E-books, Books and lecture notes Information which has
been conducted by Mr. Thanushan Thanabalasingam.
And this assignment provides a basic learning of Measurement Processes for Construction
such as Standard method of measurement, Different form of bill of quantities etc. for the
beginners who are willing to learn about Measurement Processes for Construction.
And solely I should be thankful to all who helped me in gathering information and who
supported me till the end without any hesitation to complete this assignment.

Thank you

MF. Salman Faris

QS/PT/16/02/06

BTEC HND IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Introduction
The training and knowledge of the quantity surveyor have enabled the role of the
profession to evolve over time into new areas, and the services provided by the modern
quantity surveyor now cover all aspects of procurement, contractual and project cost
management. I am involved to get the knowledge in building measurements. This piece of
work will enable us to gather a thorough knowledge of measurement activities in construction
industry.
This assignment was very useful for understand about the measurement processes. I am a
student who reading BTEC HND in Quantity Surveying in BRITISH COLLEGE OF
APPLIED STUDIES. This assignment was given to respect of module that I have mentioned.
On this assignment I have recorded theory part of measurement processes and class room
activity information in this works.
There is a need for measurement of a proposed construction project at various stages from the
feasibility stage through to the final account. This could be in order to establish a budget
price, give a pre-tender estimate, provide a contract tender sum or evaluate the amount to be
paid to a contractor. There are many construction or project management activities that
require some form of measurement so that appropriate rates can be applied to the quantities
and a price or cost established.
The general approach adopted in this assignment is to concentrate on the traditional approach
to construction whereby the client will employ a designer, and once the design is complete
the work is tendered through the use of bills of quantities. Other procurement approaches
move the need for detailed measurement to later stages of the project cycle and away from
activity undertaken by the clients team to that of the contractors team.
Here I would like to put my experiences about building measurement. I have clearly
arranged data under each topic to give clear information to readers. Further I have given clear
examples, for easy to understand and to get more clarification.
Finally I would glad to say by reading this assignment any one can get a fair and clear bit
knowledge on Measurement Processes for Construction.

BTEC HND IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Contents
TASK 1 .............................................................................................................. 1
1.1. Poster Presentaion.......................................................................................... 1
TASK 2 -.............................................................................................................. 1
2.1. Analyse measurement techniques and processes..........................................1
2.3. Different forms of Bill of Quantities and Contract Documents........................3
2.3. Prime Cost & Provisional Sum.........................................................................6
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 7
References............................................................................................................. 8

BTEC HND IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

TASK 1
1.1. Poster Presentaion.
TASK 2 2.1. Analyse measurement techniques and processes.
Definition of Constriction
If there any type of construction, alteration, renovation, and repair is done in any of
infrastructure than it can be defined as construction. The infrastructure can be Road,
Building, Bridge, Ports and Dams etc.
Construction Processes.
Pre-contract and post-contract stages
The building planner make development by requirement of client. The regular stages in the
construction of a new building can be defined as pre-contract prior to commencement of
work on site, describing the building in theoretical terms and post-contract once construction
has commenced.
The pre-contract stage includes the following:

Inception: Meeting the client, receiving the clients brief, starting to collect survey
information, initial design ideas and programming the design period.
Feasibility: Formulating the design brief, including contributions from all the
consultants, considering basic options.
Outline proposals: Establishing a concept in principle from the design brief
requirements, obtaining outline advice from interested authorities.
Scheme design: Developing an agreed idea into a coherent working proposition,
obtaining approvals from interested authorities.
Detail design: Fully developing the idea, incorporating specialist design work for
structures, electrical and heating installations, etc.
Construction information: Detailed working drawings and specifications defining
all the elements in the new building.
Measurement: Preparation of bills of quantity with numerical measurement of all the
materials and labours required to construct the new building.
Tendering arrangements: Obtaining competitive prices from a number of selected
contractors.
Pre-contract planning: Analysis of tenders and exchange of contracts between the
client and the successful contractor to construct the building as designed;
confirmation of construction methodology and construction programming.

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

The post-contract stage includes the following:

Construction on site: Supervision, inspections, approvals and valuations.

Completion: Handover to client and user occupation, correction of defects,
completion of contract requirements and settlement of the final account.
Feedback: Lessons for the next project and for the future.

Preliminary Estimate
In order to plan the budget for a project, many costs are not known in advance. Forecasting is
used in order to estimate or predicting what these costs will be. preliminary estimates are
never be completely accurate, but can provide a good idea of what to expect if the appropriate
techniques are used. Some forecasting techniques are less accurate than others but are used
to start off planning. This Preliminary Estimate used in construction project at initial stages.
When get detailed information, forecasting techniques can accurate.
What is the Purpose of Estimating?

To forecast (predict) the cost need to complete a construction project in comply with
the contract plans and specifications.

There are 2 main tasks in estimating:

To figure out the probable real cost of the project.
To figure out the probable real time to build the project.

The true value of the project will not be known until the project has been completed
and all costs have been recorded.
The estimator's job is to prepare estimates of building project costs.
The success of a contractor's business depends on the accuracy of these estimates.
The estimator's success will be based on his previous experience and knowledge
of the construction industry.

The need for measurement

There is a need for measurement of a proposed construction project at various stages from the
feasibility stage through to the final account. This could be in order to establish a budget
price, give a pre-tender estimate, provide a contract tender sum or evaluate the amount to be
paid to a contractor. There are many construction or project management activities that
require some form of measurement so that appropriate rates can be applied to the quantities
and a price or cost established.
The general approach adopted in this book is to concentrate on the traditional approach to
construction whereby the client will employ a designer, and once the design is complete the
work is tendered through the use of bills of quantities. Other procurement approaches move
the need for detailed measurement to later stages of the project cycle and away from activity
undertaken by the clients team to that of the contractors team.

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Requirements of a Standard method of measurement

Standard set of measurement rules for the procurement of building works that are

understandable by all those involved in a construction project.

Provides a structure for the information that should make up the descriptions.
Defines the unit of measurement for each item - m, m2, m3, number, tonnes, and item.
Provides rules as to what is included within each item.
Defines the terms used to avoid disputes.
Those who use a standard method regularly become familiar with the rules, so

measurement becomes easier and quicker.

Provides a clear system for structuring other project information and cross-referencing
specification information with bill of quantity information.

2.3. Different forms of Bill of Quantities and Contract Documents.

Bills of Quantity
BOQ includes listed work items which are briefly explained. The Bills also gives a measure
of the size of work and this allows the work to be priced. The work item is defined in detail
by the NRM2 or SMM7. The work item descriptions will be shorthand for allow the rules to
be defined. The measure might be a single item or number, dimension (m, m 2and m3), time
(hrs, weeks) or weight.
Preparation of BOQ splits into 2 main stages:
(1) Measure with the dimensions from drawings specification and writing the descriptions.
This is widely called as taking-off.
(2) The workout of the bill.
Types of bill of quantities
The use of BOQ in support of a contract is the traditional and proven means of securing a
lump-sum price for undertaking building works. BOQ can be:

Firm BOQ.
Approximate BOQ.

Firm BOQ:
The reliability of the tender price will increase in relation to the accuracy of the quantities
provided (i.e. the more precisely the work is measured and described). In theory, were there

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

no design changes, then a firm BOQ would provide a price at tender stage, which would
equal the final cost. In practice there will be changes, and the BOQ provides a good basis for
cost control, since the direct cost of change can be assessed with reference to the BOQ rates.
The firmer BOQ the better it is as a means of financial control.
Approximate BOQ:
Approximate BOQ are used when there is insufficient detail to prepare firm BOQ or where it
is decided by the employer that the time or cost of a firm BOQ is not warranted. Such
contracts do not provide a lump-sum price, but rather tender price totals (i.e. a quantified
schedule of rates), since the quantities are subject to re-measurement on completion by the
quantity surveyor/cost manager. These contracts are usually subject to greater variation than
lump sum contracts and therefore should only be used where time is a limiting factor or
where there is great uncertainty in respect of certain elements, such as major excavation and
earthworks.
The initial resource cost of an approximate BOQ is likely to be lower than for a firm BOQ,
but the need for re-measurement invariably results in an overall higher resource cost.
Although the quantities are approximate, the descriptions of work items should be correct.
Contract documents for a construction
1. Traditional contract
2. Design and build
3. Building information modelling (BIM)
Traditional contract
The contract documents set out the obligations and responsibilities of the parties to the
contract. On a traditionally-procured, fully-designed construction project, the contract
documents for suppliers such as the main contractor are likely to include:

Articles of agreement and conditions of contract, for completing as a simple contract

(or as a deed).
Working drawings.
Bills of quantities.
Specifications.
Schedules of work.
Perhaps an information release schedule. Consultants can be reluctant to produce
information release schedules because of concerns about being held to the dates on
the schedule (even where the progress of construction does not require information
when the information release schedule proposes it). Failure to keep to the dates set out
in the information release schedule may then be a matter for which the contractor can
claim an extension of time and loss and /or expense.
A schedule of tender adjustments or clarifications negotiated and agreed after the
receipt of tenders and prior to the signing of the contract.
The requirement for the contractor to provide a performance bond and to obtain
collateral warranties from any sub-contractors or suppliers.

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Both client and contractor should engross the contract by witnessed signatures prior to
commencement of work. In practice the administrative effort of collating all necessary
paperwork can be overtaken by the desire to begin construction. In such circumstances it
becomes harder to sort out any disputes as to the content. There have been cases where the
courts have had to interpret an implied contract when the contract has remained unsigned.
Major Contract Types (traditional)

Design and build

On design and build projects, the contract documents may comprise:

The articles of agreement and conditions of contract.

The employer's requirements.
The contractor's proposals.
The contract sum analysis.
Possibly bills of quantities (for some or all of the design).

Building information modelling

On projects that adopt building information modelling (BIM), the contract documents may
also include:

A model enabling amendment introducing a BIM protocol as part of the contract

documents.
A BIM protocol, which establishes specific obligations, liabilities and limitations on
the use of building information models and can be used by clients to mandate
particular working practices.
Employer's information requirements, which define information that the employer
wishes to procure to ensure that the design is developed in accordance with their

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

needs and that they are able to operate the completed development effectively and
efficiently. Suppliers respond to the employer's information requirements with a BIM
execution plan.
2.3. Prime Cost & Provisional Sum.
Prime cost
Prime cost sum is a lump sum included in the contract sum to cover the cost of the work or
services to be completed by a suggested subcontractor.
When considering the above selected prime cost items, they are to be executed by a suggested
sub contractor or goods or materials to be obtained from a suggested sub contractor.
Therefore these items are to be included in prime cost. Because there are not measured in the
bills or specified detail in the specification. Therefore prime cost sum are included as lump
sum in the contract sum. These are adjusted in the final account.
Provisional sum
A provisional sum is a sum provided for work or services to be executed by a statutory
authority or a statutory undertaking, or for either defined or undefined work. when
considering the above selected provisional sum items, they are to executed by statuary
authority or which are not designed or detailed at the time of tendering, but which are
normally will executed by the general contractor.
Therefore these items are to be included in prime cost. Because there are not measured in the
bill or specified detail in the specification. There for prime cost sum are included as lump
sum in the contract sum. These are fixed in the final account.
Different between prime cost sum & provisional sum
Prime sum
A lump sum provided in the BOQ for work under taken by nominated sub contractor
or material provided nominated suppliers.
If the actual cost more or less, adjustment will be made accordingly, both of the
expenditure and of any profit, attendance on sub contractor added in the tender.
Executed by nominated sub contractor, nominated suppliers.

Provisional sum
A lump sum included in the BOQ for work under taken by a statutory for work which
are defined or undefined but cant be measured
As the work covered by provisional sum are carried out by the general contractor no
attendance or profit are attached to such sum in the BOQ in that case the valuation of
the work carried out is inclusive of profit

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Executed by statutory authority, general contractor

Conclusion
It is expected that the report has been written well and understandable language. And
most of the theories about the Measurement Technique have been included in this report.
Information was collected from handouts and E-books and sites. I got enough knowledge and
I understood what are the problems may arise and how to solve those through write this
report.
The training and knowledge of the quantity surveyor have enabled the role of the profession
to evolve over time into new areas, and the services provided by the modern quantity
surveyor now cover all aspects of procurement, contractual and project cost management.
This holds true whether the quantity surveyor works as a consultant or is employed by a
contractor or subcontractor. Whilst the importance of this expanded role cannot be
emphasised enough, success in carrying it out stems from the traditional ability of the
quantity surveyor to measure and value.
Quantity Surveyors always have a major part in construction industry. Because they are
responsible for the measurements and bill of quantities. As a quantity surveyor I have to
familiar with the taking off, preparing BOQ. The owner of a building project is called as
client. To select a contractor, for a building project, clients will call for tenders. And these
tender documents are form of prized BOQ.
So according to this assignment I am able to understand the measurement techniques and
processes, Different forms of Bill of Quantities and Contract Documents and Prime Cost &
Provisional Sum. I have attached the CRA also in this report and I have prepared the bill of
quantities, preambles and specifications. These are given according to the NRM2 rules.

References
Reference Books:
LEE S., WILLISS ELEMENTS OF QUANTITY SURVEYING, 12TH ED, 2014.
DUNCAN CARTLIDGE., QUANTITY SURVEYORS POCKET BOOK, 1ST ED,
BUTTERWORTH-HEINEMANN IS AN IMPRINT OF ELSEVIER, 2009.
Martin Brook., Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, 4 th ED, and
BUTTERWORTH-HEINEMANN IS AN IMPRINT OF ELSEVIER, 2008.

MEASUREMENT PROCESSES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Reference E-Books and sites:

The Theodolite Surveying - Available from:
http://gnindia.dronacharya.info/CivilDept/Downloads/question_papers/IIIsem/UNIT-4B.pdf
Basic Surveying -Theory and Practice - Available from:
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.njspls.org/resource/resmgr/CST/BasicManual2000_02.pdf
Basic Concepts of Surveying - Available from:
https://www.discountpdh.com/course/basic_concepts_of_surveying.pdf
Contract documents for construction- Available from:
http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contract_documents_for_construction
Pre-contract and post-contract stages - Available from:
http://design-of-building.blogspot.com/2010/01/pre-contract-and-post-contract-stages.html