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5.3.1.1 BQ Preparation: Practice Example (Site Clearance) : Contract Documentation For Civil Engineering Projects 249

1) The document discusses the process for preparing a bill of quantities (BQ) for a civil engineering project. It involves measuring quantities from design drawings and specifications. 2) A 4-step process is outlined: 1) collate drawings and specs, 2) identify a standard measurement method, 3) take off and input quantities and dimensions, 4) finalize the unpriced BQ. 3) An example of preparing a BQ item for a site clearance is provided, walking through each step. This includes using the CESMM3 reference and measuring the land area to calculate the quantity in hectares.

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331 views5 pages

5.3.1.1 BQ Preparation: Practice Example (Site Clearance) : Contract Documentation For Civil Engineering Projects 249

1) The document discusses the process for preparing a bill of quantities (BQ) for a civil engineering project. It involves measuring quantities from design drawings and specifications. 2) A 4-step process is outlined: 1) collate drawings and specs, 2) identify a standard measurement method, 3) take off and input quantities and dimensions, 4) finalize the unpriced BQ. 3) An example of preparing a BQ item for a site clearance is provided, walking through each step. This includes using the CESMM3 reference and measuring the land area to calculate the quantity in hectares.

Uploaded by

Calvinhaowei
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Contract documentation for civil engineering projects  249

Prior to detailed cost estimation (Section 2.2.3) of a civil engineering


job, reference must be made to all available drawings and specifications to
allow a detailed measurement of the works and a systematic description of
the items.
Section 5.3.1.1 (acknowledging texts by Ivor Seeley and others188) pro-
vides a structured method for ‘taking-off’ quantities (traditionally take-
offs from drawings) in preparing project BQs.

5.3.1.1 BQ preparation: Practice example (site clearance)


After the preparation of their design drawings (and related specifica-
tions), the civil engineer needs to take-off and itemise the quantities of
the work under the contract. Four steps to prepare the project’s BQs are
as follows:

Step 1: Collate and review the available design drawings and specifications
Step 2: Identify a standard method of measurement consistent with require-
ments; refer to SMM in checklist fashion, to itemise/­measure all
parts of the design
Step 3: Prepare to ‘take off’ (manually or by Excel spreadsheet/software186)
to input
• SMM references
• Works descriptions in words
• Unit quantities (and respective dimensions) generated by both
default volumes/quantities from CAD design software and
remote measurement where default quantification is unavailable
• Retain ‘take off draft’ for future cost-control cross-check of
dimensions
Step 4: Transpose take-off draft items and finalise unpriced BQs

A scenario might involve the need to measure and prepare a BQ item for
a future land site clearance.

Step 1
The land to be measured for a future general site clearance is a nonuniform
rectangle depicted on a general arrangement drawing of approximately less
than 85 × 50 m; with no discernable trees, stumps, buildings, other struc-
tures or pipelines.

Step 2
The standard method of measurement to be used in this case is CESMM3;
specifically, class D, demolition and site clearance (as shown in Table 5.17).
250  Integrated design and cost management for civil engineers

CESMM3
Class D: Demolition and site clearance
Includes: Demolition and removal
Excludes: Removal below the original surface
Second Third Measurement Definition Coverage Additional
First division division division rules rules rules rules
C1… A1…
1 Site clearance ha D1… C2… A2…
2 Trees nr 1 girth: D2… C3… A3…
500–1 m
2 1–2 m…
3… … … … … … …
Adapted from CESMM3 published by Thomas Telford, 1991.

Step 3
Take-off ‘paper’ is prepared to facilitate description (Figure 5.4) and is
divided into six columns:

• ‘SMM reference’ column on the left


• A large second ‘item description’ column, followed by
• A columns on the right to allow the input of units (m, m 2 , m3 or ha)
• Additions (for the input of area dimensions length × width)
• Deductions (to allow omission of voids)
• A final quantities column

• The CESMM3 reference is D100


• The works description in words:
• Class D: Demolition and Site Clearance
• General Clearance
• The unit of measurement is ha (hectares)
• Remote measurement add dimensions:
• 78 × 45 (shown linearly)
• 3362 m 2 (with take-off diagram)
• Quantification in the final column:
• 0.34 ha
• Side note rules state C2 and D1 apply to hedges and fences to be
included in this case.

Step 4
The finalised transposed BQ item is shown below alongside, for clarity,
unit-rate and total; albeit rates and totals usually remain blank to facilitate
bids by prospective tenderers.
Contract documentation for civil engineering projects  251

Figure 5.4  Take-off.

Demolition and site


clearance Unit Quantity Unit rate Total
D100 General clearance ha 0.34 $1800 $612

5.3.1.2 BQ practice example (concrete strip foundation)


Measurement and itemisation of a concrete strip foundation.

Step 1: Drawings show strip foundation of grade 25 of some 30 m × 2.4 m ×​


0.9 m.
252  Integrated design and cost management for civil engineers

Step 2: CESMM3 class F, in situ concrete is shown next:

Class F: In situ concrete


Excludes: In situ concrete for boreholes, etc.
Second Measurement Definition Coverage Additional
First division division Third division rules: M1–2 rules rules rules
Provision
1 Standard m3 1… 1.10 mm D1–D4 A1…
2 Designed m3 1 C7.5 aggregate
… …
5 C25 7. 20 mm
aggregate
… … … … … … …
Placing
5 Mass m3 1 1 thick
blinding <150 mm
2 base …
footings 4 thick
>500 mm
Source: Adapted from CESMM3 published by Thomas Telford, 1991.

Step 3a: Prepare quantities to ‘take off’ (Figure 5.5). Take-off ‘paper’ from
six columns

• The CESMM3 reference is F257 (Figure 5.5).


• The work’s description in words: Class F: In situ Concrete, Provision
of concrete Designed mix Grade 25; as AS1379; 20 mm aggregate.
• Unit m3.
• Remote measurement dimensions are 30 × 2.4 × 0.9 linearly = 64.80 m2.

with take-off-diagram of strip-founds supporting a grade C30 retaining wall

Step 3b:

• The CESMM3 reference is F524 (Figure 5.6).


• Works description: Class F: In situ Concrete.
• Placing of concrete.
• Mass, bases, footings.
• Thickness, >500 mm.
• Unit is m3.
• Dimensions as previous item F257 (Figure 5.5).

Step 4: Prepare finalised BQ item. The finalised BQ items are shown below
with unit-rate and total to be completed by the various tenderers
bidding for the job.
Contract documentation for civil engineering projects  253

Figure 5.5  Placing ‘take-off’.

Figure 5.6  Final item.

Unit
In situ concrete Unit Quantity rate Total
F257 Provision of concrete m 3 64.80
Designed mix, Grade C25, AS1379, 20 mm
aggregate
F524 Placing of concrete m3 64.80
(mass, bases and footings; thickness >500 mm)

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