QUANTITY SURVEYING AND VALUATION

MODULE 1

QUANTITY
SURVEYIN
G
Quantity survey is a
schedule of
quantities of all the
items of work in a
building.
Once a construction
project is
completed or
depending on the
form of contract
upon completion of
certain parts of the
work, the
contractor must be
paid for
appropriately
completed works.
This would then
require that the
actual works done
be somehow
estimated or
measured for
payment purposes.
On the other hand to
estimate how much
a civil engineering
project may cost, the
actual quantities of
materials, labour,
equipment, etc.,
that is needed for
the
construction work
must be calculated
at the beginning of
the work. Such work
of
calculating the
amount of
materials and other
incidentals
necessary for the
realisation of the
work is called
quantity surveying.
Quantity 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.
The term "surveying"
means to inspect,
study, review,
investigate, asses,
and hence
"to measure"
therefore the term
"quantity surveying"
means "quantity
measuring"
as applied to civil
engineering projects.
Quantity surveying
is the application
of standard
methods of
measurement to
quantify the amount
of various items in a
construction project,
for the undertaking
of valuation, and
certifying payment
QUANTITY
SURVEYIN
G
Quantity survey is a
schedule of
quantities of all the
items of work in a
building.
Once a construction
project is
completed or
depending on the
form of contract
upon completion of
certain parts of the
work, the
contractor must be
paid for
appropriately
completed works.
This would then
require that the
actual works done
be somehow
estimated or
measured for
payment purposes.
On the other hand to
estimate how much
a civil engineering
project may cost, the
actual quantities of
materials, labour,
equipment, etc.,
that is needed for
the
construction work
must be calculated
at the beginning of
the work. Such work
of
calculating the
amount of
materials and other
incidentals
necessary for the
realisation of the
work is called
quantity surveying.
Quantity 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.
The term "surveying"
means to inspect,
study, review,
investigate, asses,
and hence
"to measure"
therefore the term
"quantity surveying"
means "quantity
measuring"
as applied to civil
engineering projects.
Quantity surveying
is the application
of standard
methods of
measurement to
quantify the amount
of various items in a
construction project,
for the undertaking
of valuation, and
certifying payment
QUANTITY SURVEYING
Quantity survey is a schedule of quantities of all the items of work in a building.
Once a construction project is completed or depending on the form of contract upon
completion of certain parts of the work, the contractor must be paid for appropriately
completed works. This would then require that the actual works done be somehow estimated
or measured for payment purposes. On the other hand, to estimate how much a civil
engineering project may cost, the actual quantities of materials, labour, equipment, etc., that
is needed for the construction work must be calculated at the beginning of the work. Such
work of calculating the amount of materials and other incidentals necessary for the realisation
of the work is called quantity surveying. Quantity 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. The term
"surveying" means to inspect, study, review, investigate, assess, and hence "to measure"
therefore the term "quantity surveying" means "quantity measuring" as applied to civil
engineering projects. Quantity surveying is the application of standard methods of
measurement to quantify the amount of various items in a construction project, for the
undertaking of valuation, and certifying payment
Purpose of Quantity Surveying

The purpose of
quantity surveying
hence the
preparation of bill of
quantities is:
 Assist the client to
have an accurate
estimate of the
volume of work as
well
as the required
budget.
The purpose of quantity surveying hence the preparation of bill of quantities is:
 Assist the client to have an accurate estimate of the volume of work as well as the
required budget.
 To assist in the accurate preparation of tenders, by providing uniform
measurement of quantities.
 To give an accurate checklist of work accomplished.
 To assist in the certification of payments.
 To give insight into the required variation work amounts.

Basic
Principles of
Quantity
Surveying
 The following are
list of the basic
principles of
quantity surveying,
applicable to all
items of work:
 Each work section
of a bill shall contain
a brief description of
the nature and
location of work.
 Work shall be
measured net as
fixed in position.
 Measure the full
work area and adjust
deductions later.
 Items which are
to be measured by
area shall state the
thickness or such
other information as
maybe appropriate.
 Items which are
to be measured by
length or depth
shall state the
cross-
sectional size and
shape, girth or
ranges of girths or
such other
information
as maybe
appropriate.
Basic Principles of Quantity Surveying
 The following are list of the basic principles of quantity surveying, applicable to all
items of work:
 Each work section of a bill shall contain a brief description of the nature and location of
work.
 Work shall be measured net as fixed in position.
 Measure the full work area and adjust deductions later.
 Items which are to be measured by area shall state the thickness or such other
information as maybe appropriate.
 Items which are to be measured by length or depth shall state the cross-sectional
size and shape, girth or ranges of girths or such other information as maybe appropriate.
 Items which are to be measured by weight shall state the material thickness and unit
weight if appropriate (For example, Duct work).
 Piece of work shall be taken in numbers.
 For items of pipe work it shall be stated whether the diameter is internal or external.
 Mass voluminous and thick works shall be measured in volume (cubic metre).
 Thin, shallow and surface work shall be measured in area (meter square) specifying
the thickness.
 Long and thin work shall be measured in length (linear measure, running meter).
 Bills are deemed to include labour, materials, goods and plant and all associated
costs for fixing, assembling, etc

Importance of
Quantity
Surveying
The importance of
quantity surveying is
as follows:
Importance of Quantity Surveying
The importance of quantity surveying is as follows:
1. Quantity survey is essential to estimate before the construction starts the probable
cost of construction for the complete work. The construction cost includes cost of materials,
cost of transportation, cost of labour, cost of scaffolding, cost of tools and plants,
establishment and supervision charges, cost of water, taxes and reasonable profit of the
contractor, etc. The estimate is required in inviting tenders for the works and to arrange
contract for a complete project.
2. Quantity survey is required to estimate the quantities of the various materials
required and the labour involved for satisfactory completion of a construction project.
3. It is also useful to check the works done by contractors during and after the execution.
Also the payment to the contractor is done according to the actual measurements of the
completed part of each item of work.
4. A complete quantity survey or estimate is useful to provide useful advice to clients on:
 Valuation of properties (land and building) for sale, purchase and mortgage, etc.
 Fixation of standard rent.
 For insurance and claim for damages ina building.
 For the process of resolving disputes by referring to a third party

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF A QUANTITY SURVEYOR IN CONSTRUCTION

INDUSTRY
PURPOSE OF ESTIMATING AND COSTING
TYPES OF ESTIMATE:
24. Centage Charges
When the engineering department(or an agency) takes up the work of other
department/government/local body, a percentage amount of 10 to 15 % of the estimate cost is
charged to meet the expenses of establishment, designing, planning, supervision etc and this
percentage charge is known as Centage charge.
25. Daywork
Daywork in estimation refers to the cost of labor and materials for work performed on a daily
basis rather than a fixed price for a specific job or task. Daywork is often used in
construction, engineering and other related fields, where the exact scope of work is not
known in advance or the work requirements may change during the project. The cost of
daywork is usually determined by the number of workers, the hours worked, and the
materials used, and is typically recorded and billed on a daily basis. This method of
pricing allows for more flexibility in managing costs, as the cost of daywork can be
adjusted based on changes in the scope of work or other factors. It includes
• Contactor’s profit
• Contractor’s overhead charges
• Contractor’s supervision
• Cost of transportation of materials to site
26. Prime Cost

A prime cost sum (PC or PC sum) is an allowance, usually calculated by the cost consultant,
for the supply of work or materials to be provided by a contractor or supplier that
will be nominated by the client - that is, a supplier that is selected by the client to carry out
an element of the works and imposed on the main contractor after the main contractor has
been appointed. The allowance is exclusive of any profit mark up or attendance by the main
contractor such as material handling, scaffolding and rubbish clearance, etc.

27. Provisional Quantity

A quantity that cannot be accurately determined (i.e. an estimate of the quantity). Where
work can be described and given in items in accordance with the tabulated rules of
measurement but the quantity of work cannot be accurately determined, an estimate of the
quantity shall be given and identified as a ‘provisional quantity’. Work items identified as
a ‘provisional quantity’ shall be subject to remeasurement when they have been completed.
Example: earth work excavation in an area of soft soil and hard soil strata.

28. Cost Index

The cost index is a measure of the relative cost of a project or a product over time. It is
calculated by dividing the current cost of the project or product by the cost at a base year. The

costs for inflation, or to estimate the future costs based on historical trends.
cost index can be used to compare the costs of different projects or products, to adjust the

29. Bill of Quantities

Bill of Quantities also referred to as BOQ, is a document formulated in the construction

industry to specify materials, labors, and their cost. It serves as a communication tool
between client, consultant & the contractor. It is usually prepared by a cost consultant or a
surveyor.
The main sections included in the bill of quantities are Form of Tender, Information,
Requirements, Pricing schedule, Provisional sums, and Day works. For the preparation of
BOQ, 5 main components are to be considered which are as follows:

1. Item Description
2. Unit
3. Quantity
4. Rate per unit
5. Total Amount
The Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM) defines a bill of
quantities as a list of items giving brief identifying descriptions and estimated quantities of
the work comprised in a contract.
Purposes of bill of quantities

1.Tendering
2.Valuation of interim certificates
3.Valuation of variations
4.Ordering of materials
5.Reference during the construction quality and cost
6.Construction planning and monitoring
7.Sub-contractor quotation
8.Final accounts
9.Cost analysis for future use
Primary Function of the bill of quantities

 The principle use is to obtain competitive tenders; for this purpose bills should be as
standardized as possible in method of measurement, format and layout.
 Bill of quantities fully describe and accurately represent the works to be executed,
including the obligations required of the contractor, and so provide a uniform basis for
the preparation of competitive tenders.

Format of bill of quantities

(1) List of principal quantities

(2) Preamble to the bill of quantities
(3) Day work schedule, if required
(4) Work items, usually classified as in theCESMM
(5) Grand summary

30. Contract Documents

 UNIT OF MEASUREMENT IN QUANTITY SURVEYING
The units of measurements are mainly categorised for their nature, shape and size and for
making payments to the contractor also.
The principle of units of measurements normally consists the following:
 Single units work like doors, windows, trusses, etc ., is expressed in numbers.
 Works consists linear measurements involve length like cornice, fencing, hand rail,
bands of specified width, etc ., are expressed in Running Meters (rm).
 Works consist of areal surface measurements involve area like plastering, white
washing, partitions of specified thickness, etc ., and are expressed in square
metres (m2).
 Works consist of cubic contents which involve volume like earthwork, concrete work,
masonry etc are expressed in cubic metres (m3).
Rules for Measurement in Quantity Surveying

The rules for measurement of each item are invariably described in IS 1200. However
some of the general rules are listed below:
  Measurement shall be made for finished item of work and description of each
item shall include materials, transport, labour, fabrication tools and plant and all
types of overheads for finishing the west in required shape, size and specification.

 In booking, the order shall be in sequence of length, breadth and height or thickness.
 All works shall be measured subject to the following tolerances:
i) Linear measurement shall be measured to the nearest 0.01m.
ii) Areas shall be measured to the nearest 0.01sqm.
iii) Cubic contents shall be worked-out to the nearest 0.01cum. .
 Same type of work under different conditions and nature shall be measured
separately under separate items.
 The bill of quantities shall fully describe the materials, proportions,
workmanships and accurately represent the work to be executed.
 In case of masonry (stone or brick) or structural concrete, the categories shall
be measured separately and the heights shall be described:
i) From foundation to plinth level.
ii) From plinth level to first floor level.
iii) From first floor to second floor level and so on
Item of works
(i) For building

(ii) For roads

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT AS PER IS 1200