4.

Measurement of Different Works

The general approach to measurement will require the separation of works between
substructure and superstructure.

The terms ‘substructure’ and ‘superstructure’ describe all structural works below and
above ground level respectively. The substructure is likely to include:

 Ground work
 Concrete work
 Masonry work

The superstructure most likely includes:

 Concrete work
 Masonry work
 Roofing
 Carpentry and joinery
 Metal work
 Finishing
 Glazing
 Sanitary installation
 Electrical installation

The demarcation between the substructure and superstructure should be taken as the
damp proof course in structural walls. The ground floor slab would be measured with
substructure work.

4.1 Groundwork

Site Preparation/Over site Excavation

It includes removal of trees and tree stumps, and clearing site vegetation.

Removal of trees and tree stumps is measured as enumerated item. Tree girths are
measured at a height of 1.00m above ground and stump girths at the top.

Clearing site vegetation is measured in m2 and embraces bushes, scrub, undergrowth,

hedges, trees and tree stumps < 600 mm.

Excavation

It includes the following items:

 Topsoil excavation
 Excavation to reduce levels

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  Excavation for foundation/ Deep excavation
 Backfilling
 Disposal of excavated material

Topsoil Excavation

The surface of most ‘green field’ sites comprises a compactable layer of vegetable matter
called ‘topsoil’. It is measured in m2 stating the average topsoil depth in the description.
A clearance around the entire basic plan must be left, usually about 1.0-1.5m is allowed
on each side of a building.

Disposal of this material off the site is measured in m3, giving details of specified
locations and handling where appropriate.

Excavation to Reduce Levels

Where the site is sloping then further excavation is required to reduce the level of the
ground to the specified formation level; this excavation is measured in m3, giving the
maximum depth range in the description.

Deep Excavation

It is the actual excavation for the foundation and is measured in m3. All excavation is
measured net with no allowance for increasing in bulk after excavation.

Backfilling

Once the foundation of the building is constructed, one of the next steps in construction is
the backfilling. It is the put back of soil that is removed during the deep excavation or
selected material from somewhere else.

Disposal of Excavated Materials

Removing excavated material from the site often costs more than the initial excavation.
For this reason it is always necessary to measure disposal of excavated materials as a
separate item in m3. It is necessary to describe where and how the material is to be
transported.

4.2 Masonry work

The measurement of masonry work requires the separation between substructure and
superstructure.

With some exception, the principal unit of measurement for masonry work is m2. The two
dimensions needed to provide this area are the centerline length and the height of the
walling. The description will identify the walling thickness, the type of masonry unit, the
bond, the type of mortar and the pointing. Rather than repeating these details in every

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description, a heading can be established to include the majority of this information. The
subsequent descriptions need only make reference to the wall’s thickness and whether it
is face work on one or both sides.

64.00 20 cm thick hollow block for the external

3.00 wall bedded in cement- sand mortar with
mix ratio (1:3)
45.00

16.00
Ditto but for the 10 cm thick parapet wall
1.00
16.00

15.00 Ditto but for the 15 cm thick internal wall

3.00
45.00

The majority of cavity or hollow walls are constructed with an outer leaf in brickwork, a
cavity, which may or may not be insulated, and an inner leaf of block work. Each of these
layers will require measuring as a separate item and each will require a separate waste
calculation in order to determine its center line length. If the cavity includes any rigid
sheet insulation, this can be incorporated as part of the description of forming cavities,
stating type, thickness and method of fixing.

The normal order of measurement is:

1. External walls
2. Internal walls
3. Chimney breasts and stacks

External walls

The length of external walling will be obtained by the method of girthing and the height
will normally be taken up to some convenient level, such as the general eaves line. Any
additional areas of external wall, such as gables, parapets and the like will be then taken
off. Finally, adjustment of walling for windows and door openings will be made.

Internal walls

The measurement of external walls is usually followed by internal walls, which may be
of bricks or blocks. A careful check should be made on the type and thickness of each
partition.

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 4.3 Concrete Work

The Measurement of concrete work comprises the measurement of the concrete (Plain
concrete) and the reinforcement bars. The order of measurement is:

 Concrete
 Reinforcement bars

The unit of measurement for the concrete is m3. The descriptive part of the measurement
identifies the type (characteristic compressive strength), the mix proportion, and the work
for the placement and compaction.

The steel bars are measured in kg. Quantities are taken from the structural drawing and
recorded on specially lined paper known as bar schedule.

Bar schedule
Bar mark  Shape of bending Length
No.
Total length
Weight (kg)
(mm) (Dimensions in cm) (m) (m)

Linear density for the determination of the quantity of bars (kg)

 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 20.0 22.0 25.0 28.0 32.0 36.0
(mm)
Density
0.22 0.39 0.62 0.89 1.21 1.58 2.47 2.98 3.85 4.85 6.31 7.99
(Kg/m)

4.4 Measurement of Roofs

Introduction

The measurement of pitched and flat roofs conveniently divides between the roof
structure and the roof covering. In practice the measurement of roof coverings will follow
the measurement of the roof structure. Eave and barge boarding together with guttering
and down pipes are normally included as part of the measurement of roof coverings.

The principal unit of measurement for roof coverings is m2. The descriptive part of the
measurement must identify the kind, quality and size of materials, together with the
method of fixing. The measurement of the main roof slope area should be followed by
adjustments for chimneys and dormers. No adjustment is made to the roof covering area
for voids of less than one square meter in area.

Ridges, hips, valleys, eaves and the like are all measured in linear meters.

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 Dormer window

Chimneystack

Measurement of Roof Structure

The Unit of measurement for roof structure naturally falls between enumerated items
(trusses) and linear meters, (rafters and purlins). In the case of the latter the description
must include the cross sectional dimensions of the material being used; whist the former
must fully describe the truss.

Measurement of Pitched Roof Coverings

The area of roof coverings is unaffected by the inclusion of hipped ends and valleys so
long as the roof pitch remains constant.

Illustration:

GABLED

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 HIPPED

COMBINATION OF HIPPED AND

GABLED

When measured, all three will provide the same roof slope area, regardless of whether
they are hipped, gabled or a combination of the two.

In each case the sloping roof area can be established by initially ignoring any projects,
valleys or hips and simply measuring the main length (L) multiplied by the roof slope
length (s). Some surveyors choose to enter the dimensions for the roof slope area by
recording the plan area of the roof in the dimension column and timesing this by the
natural secant of the roof slope in the timesing column. Others prefer to establish the roof
slope length as a waste calculation first and then record the plan length and the roof slope
length in the dimension column. This is them timesed by two for each roof slope in the
timesing column.

Measurement of Flat Roof coverings

Measurement of flat roof coverings should follow the same pattern as pitched roof
coverings, with the roof structure being measured first, followed by the covering.

Asphalt coverings to flat roofs are measured in m2.

Fascia, eaves and verge boarding

Eaves soffit boarding (fascia and soffit) together with verge (barge) boards not exceeding
300 mm girth are measured in linear meters giving their size in the description. Where
boards exceed 300 mm wide they may be measured superficially.

Rainwater gutters and down pipes

The measurement of rainwater goods completes the work associated with roof coverings.
Gutters and down pipes are measured in linear meters over all fittings. The description
should include reference to the type of pipe or gutter, its nominal size, and the type,

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method and spacing of fixings. Fittings, such as running outlets, stopped ends, offsets and
connecting shoes, are enumerated and measured extra over the pipe or gutter on which
they occur.

4.5 Measurement of Finishings

The term ‘Finishings’ includes operations associated with the completion of the floors,
walls and ceilings of a building. These are screeding, plastering, wall and floor tiling,
wallpapering and painting.

Sequence of Measurement

In the measurement of this work, it is essential to adopt a logical order in taking off work.
The order of measurement of finishings on each floor will normally be:

 Ceiling
 Walls
 Floors

Linear items like skirting will follow the measurement of the main areas of wall
finishings.

General rules of measurement

Work to attached beams is included with ceiling finishes, whilst work to attached
columns is included with wall finishes. Finishes to isolated beams and columns must be
given separately as should work in staircase.

The principal unit of measurement for wall, floor and ceiling finishes is m2. Where the
width does not exceed 300 mm the unit of measurement is linear.

Ceiling Finishings

The ceiling area is measured in m2 between wall surfaces, stating in the description the
thickness and the number of coats. In cases where the ceiling finishes are identical
throughout a floor, it may be appropriate to measure gross, over internal walls, and
subsequently deduct the plan area of internal walls from the gross ceiling area.

Wall Finishings

The measurement of wall finishings is taken from floor to ceiling. The perimeter length
of each room should be established as a waste calculation and then transferred to the
dimension column where it is followed by the floor to ceiling height.

Where the wall finishings are of tiles, full particulars of the finishings are to be given,
such as kind, quality and size of materials, and method of fixing.

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Skirtings

Skirtings are measured in linear meters and usually included with the measurement of
wall finishings. All are based on room girths and can be ampersanded to the dimensions
established for wall plaster purposes (assuming the constant dimension approach is
adopted).

Floor Finishings

Cement and sand screeds together with tiled or wood block floors are measured in m2. In
some situations it is possible to utilize the previously booked ceiling areas for the
measurement of floors. The use of an ampersand to link these two sets of dimensions can
save a great deal of time, but care should be taken to ensure the respective areas are
consistent.

Painting

The unit of measurement for painting is based on the girth of the surface to be painted.
Where it exceeds 300 mm it is measured as an area and where it is an isolated surface and
does not exceed 300 mm in girth, it is measured in linear meters.

4.6 Measurement of Plumbing Installation

Plumbing installations in domestic buildings involve a number of different systems

associated by the supply, distribution and disposal of water within and out of a building -
above the ground and below the ground.

Order of Measurement

1. Connection to water authority’s main and all work up to boundary of site

2. Underground service and rising main from site boundary up to cold water
storage tank
3. Branches to rising main
4. Cold water storage tank or cistern and associated work
5. Down services with branches
6. Sanitary appliances such as sinks, wash basins, baths and water closets
7. Discharge pipes – waste, soil and vent pipes
8. Any other work connected with the plumbing installation

The order is following the flow of water as it enters and is distributed around the
building, and collected after being used.

Pipe work

Pipes are measured in linear meters over all fittings and branches, stating the type,
nominal size and the method of jointing and fixing.

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Fittings are enumerated and measured as extra-over the pipe work on which they occur.

Equipments

In a domestic situation this will include such things as boilers, pumps, cisterns and
cylinders. These are enumerated giving in the description the type, size, pattern, rated
duty, capacity and method of fixing.

Sanitary Appliances

This includes washbasins, urinals, baths, bidets, shower trays and sinks. These appliances
are enumerated giving details in the description of their type, size, capacity and method
of fixing.

Waste pipe work

It embraces all the pipe work and fittings that are associated with the disposal of used or
soiled water, and vent pipe. The following diameters of pipe are required for the different
appliances:

Washbasin -------------- 32 mm dia.

Bath/shower/sink -------- 40 mm dia.
Water closet (WC) -------- 110 mm dia.

Waste pipe work is measured in linear meters, giving in the description details of the type
of the pipe, its nominal size, the method of jointing and the type of pipe brackets.

Fittings – elbows, tees and the like – are enumerated as extra-over the pipe work on
which they occur.

Drainage work

It is the disposal of used and surface water from a building to a point of disposal or
treatment.

Drains include excavation of pipe trenches, drain pipes and fittings. Pipes are measured
over all fittings and branches in linear meters, stating the kind of pipe work, the nominal
size and the method of jointing. Pipefittings, such as bends and branches, are enumerated
extra-over the pipe on which they occur.

The excavation, concrete work, brickwork and rendering associated with manholes and
septic tanks are measured in accordance with the rules for the appropriate work section.

4.7 Measurement of Electrical Installation

Electricity can only be transmitted through a conductor when there is a complete circuit
from the source, via a conductor, back to the source. Each conductor cable contains a

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‘live’ wire carrying the power to an appliance, a ‘neutral’ wire carrying the power back to
the source and an earth wire which reduces the risk of shock by carrying the current to a
circuit breaker or the ground in the event of a short-circuit. The conductor used for the
domestic supplies is copper wire.

Cables are identified by the cross sectional area of the conductors and this is expressed in
mm2. The more common cable sizes and the number of wiring circuits found in domestic
wiring installations are given below.

Cable Size
(mm2) Wiring Circuits No. of wiring Circuits
__________________________________________________________________
1.00 or 1.50 Lighting Circuits One per floor
2.5 Power Circuits One per floor
2.50 Immersion heater Single circuit per appliance
10.00 Cooker Single circuit per appliance
10.00 Spontaneous shower Single circuit per appliance
__________________________________________________________________

Cabling

Conduit and cable are each measured separately in linear meters stating in the description
the type and size of cabling.

Switches, Socket outlets and Light Points

As a separate enumerated item socket outlets, light points (luminaries) and other
accessories should be enumerated.

Appliances

Separately fused circuits will be necessary for the cooker, immersion heater and electric
heating units, and are enumerated items.

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