2/8/18 MODULE 1- QSV

Quantity survey

Quantity survey is a schedule of quantities of all the items of work in a building. 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.
Quantity survey is required to estimate the quantities of the various materials required and the
labour involved for satisfactory completion of a construction project. 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. A complete quantity survey or estimate is useful to provide useful advice to clients on:

(i) Valuation of properties (land and building) for sale, purchase and mortgage etc.
(ii) Fixation of standard rent.
(iii) For insurance and claim for damages in a building.
(iv) For the process of resolving disputes by referring to a third party.

Types of Estimates

1. Preliminary or Approximate Estimate

This is to find out an approximate cost in a short time. It is used to give an idea of the cost
of a proposed project. This estimate helps the client or sanctioning authority to make
decision of the administrative approval. The approximate cost is prepared from the
comparison with similar works. The approximate cost can be found by using methods that
depends on the area or cubic content of a building and then multiplying this by an estimated
rate for the unit of the area or cubic content. Approximate quantities of materials and labour
required per m2 of the area for a proposed building also can be found.

2. Detailed Estimate

After getting the administrative approval, this estimate is prepared in detail prior to inviting
of tenders. The whole project is divided into sub-works, and the quantities of each sub-
work are calculated separately. The dimensions of the required work are taken from the
drawings of the project.
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3. Quantity Estimates

This is a complete estimate of quantities for all items during project implementation.

4. Revised Estimate

Prepared if the estimate exceeded by 5% due to the rates being found insufficient or due to
some other reason.

5. Maintenance Estimate

Estimating required quantities and cost of work to maintain a structure (road, building, etc.)

Specifications

Detailed specifications, giving the nature, quality and class of work, materials to be used,
quality of the material, their proportions, and method of preparation are required.

Purpose of Specification:

1. The cost of a unit quantity of work is governed by its specification.

2. A work is carried out according to its specification and the contractor is paid for the
same. Any change in specification changes the tendered rate.
3. The necessity of specification is to verify and check the strength of materials for a work
involved in a project.
4. Specification is an essential contract document and is required for Arbitration or court
cases.
5. Specification is necessary to specify the equipments, tools and plants to be engaged for
a work and thus enables to procure them beforehand.

Principles of specifications:

1. Description of materials: The quality and size of materials required to do an item of

work shall be fully described for checking up at site according to the bindings provided
in the specification.
2. Workmanship: Complete description of workmanship, the method of mixing to the
proportion, the method of laying, preparation of base or surface, compaction, finishing
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and curing etc. specifically applicable to the item of work shall be clearly stated in
different clauses.
3. Tools and plants: The tools and plants to be engaged to carry out a work shall be
described. The method of operation and by whom to be supplied shall be stated.
4. Protection of new work: The method of protection of new works against damage or
the method of curing if required, the test of completed work if necessary shall be
described in separate clauses
5. Expression: While writing a specification endeavour shall be made to express the
requirements of the specification clearly and in concise form avoiding repetition and
unusual words. The style of tense shall remain same throughout.
6. Clauses of specifications: As far as possible, the clauses shall be arranged in the order
in which work shall be carried out. This does not mean to follow the works according
to the order of arrangements but it facilitates reference. While framing clauses for
quality of materials, workmanship, tools and plants etc. practical possibilities shall be
realized.

Methods of Measurements and Units of Civil Construction Works

The methods and units of measurements for civil construction works are mainly categorised
for their nature, shape and size and for making payments to the contractor. The principle of
units of measurements normally consists the following:

a) Single units work like doors, windows, trusses etc., are expressed in numbers.
b) Works consists linear measurements involve length like cornice, fencing, hand rail,
bands of specified width etc., are expressed in running metres (RM)
c) Works consists areal surface measurements involve area like plastering, white washing,
partitions of specified thickness etc., and are expressed in square meters (m2)
d) Works consists cubical contents which involve volume like earth work, cement
concrete, Masonry etc are expressed in Cubic metres.

Methods for Measurement of civil engineering works:

The rules for measurement of each item are invariably described in IS – 1200. However some
of the general rules are listed below:
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1. 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 finished the work in required shape, size and specification.
2. In booking, the order shall be in sequence of length, breadth and height or thickness.
3. All works shall be measured subject to the following tolerances.

• Linear measurement shall be measured to the nearest 0.01m.

• Areas shall be measured to the nearest 0.01 SQM
• Cubic contents shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 cum.

4. Same type of work under different conditions and nature shall be measured separately
under separate items.
5. The bill of quantities shall fully describe the materials, proportions, workmanships and
accurately represent the work to be executed.
6. In case of masonry (stone or brick) or structural concrete, the categories shall be
measured separately and the heights shall be described as:

• From foundation to plinth level

• From plinth to first floor level
• From first floor to second floor level and so on.

Analysis of rates

In order to determine the rate of a particular item, the factors affecting the rate of that item are
studied carefully and then finally a rate is decided for that item. This process of determining
the rates of an item is termed as analysis of rates or rate analysis.

The rate of particular item of work depends on the following:

1. Specifications of works and material about their quality, proportion and constructional
operation method.
2. Quantity of materials and their costs.
3. Cost of labours and their wages
4. Location of site of work and the distances from source and conveyance charges.
5. Overhead and establishment charges
6. Profit
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Purpose of Analysis of rates:

1. To work out the actual cost of per unit of the items.

2. To work out the economical use of materials and processes in completing the
particulars item.
3. To work out the cost of extra items which are not provided in the contract bond but
are to be done as per the directions of the department.
4. To revise the schedule of rates due to increase in the cost of material and labour or
due to change in technique.

Cost of labour -types of labour, standard schedule of rates:

The labour can be classified in to

1) Skilled – 1st class

2) Skilled – 2d Class
3) Unskilled

The labour charges can be obtained from the standard schedule of rates 30% of the skilled
labour provided in the data may be taken as Ist class, remaining 70% as II class. The rates of
materials for Government works are fixed by the superintendent Engineer for his circle every
year and approved by the Board of Chief Engineers. These rates are incorporated in the standard
schedule of rates.

Lead statement: The distance between the source of availability of material and construction
site is known as “Lead ” and is expected in Km. The cost of conveyance of material depends
on lead.

This statement will give the total cost of materials per unit item. It includes first cost,
conveyance loading, unloading stacking, charges etc.

The rate shown in the lead statement are for metalled road and include loading and staking
charges. The environment lead on the metalled roads are arrived by multiplying by a factor.

Schedule of rates

In its most simple form, a schedule of rates can be a list in a contract setting out the
staff, labour and plant hire rates the contractor will use for pricing cost reimbursable
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instructed daywork. However, on a much larger scale, a 'schedule of rates term contract', 'term
contract' or 'measured term contract' may be used when the nature of work required is known
but it cannot be quantified, or if continuity of programme cannot be determined. In the absence
of an estimate, tenderers quote unit rates against a document that is intended to cover all likely
activities that might form part of the works. As the extent of the work is unknown, the unit
rates include overheads and profit. General preliminaries such as scaffolding, temporary
power, supervision and temporary accommodation will also have rates. On projects longer than
around 18 months there might be escalation provisions based on annual percentage increases.

The advantages of schedule of rates term contracts include:

▪ Variations are easier to estimate and normally cheaper than on fixed price traditional
contracts.
▪ The client can stop and start work at a pace that might be determined by cash
flow or funding.
▪ A larger pool of contractors can be asked to tender as the process is inexpensive and quick.
▪ It is flexible in relation to scope and contractual commitment.
▪ As a fully-detailed design is not required the client can obtain tenders at the early stages of
a project and begin construction before completion of the design. So to this extent it is 'fast
track'.

The disadvantages include:

▪ Additional resources are required to measure work and certify payments.

▪ The client does not have a final price when committing to starting work.
▪ It is difficult for contractors to plan long-term resources and so might mean changes to
personnel with loss of continuity.
▪ Contractors may be tempted to front-load costs in case later work does not materialise.
▪ There is no real incentive for contractors to treat such work with any sense of urgency and
its best staff will be placed on the projects where the contractor is carrying more risk.

Miscellaneous charges

Miscellaneous charges are the fees providers charge customers for a range of services additional
to the normal supply of their energy, gas or water. Fees for miscellaneous services provided by
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electricity and gas networks are regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator, e.g. meter tests.
Fees for miscellaneous services relevant to electricity and gas retailers are regulated by the
Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), e.g. late payment fees. EWON does not
set the fees charged by electricity, gas and water companies. EWON can only investigate
whether your provider has applied a fee correctly.

Some fees will be charged automatically when a particular situation arises, e.g. a late payment
fee on an overdue or unpaid amount, or a disconnection fee. Other fees are for services that the
customer may request – e.g. a special meter read or a meter test fee – and your provider should
advise you the amount of the charge in advance. If the special meter read shows an earlier read
was incorrect or the meter test shows the meter is faulty, the fee will be refunded to you. Some
market contracts provide that supply to the premises will be disconnected if the customer moves
out during the term of the contract. In this case you may be charged a disconnection fee when
you close your account on move out.