DCC20073 – CONTRACT AND ESTIMATING

THE QUANTITY MEASUREMENT

 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
(CLO)
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental concepts of construction industry in general, tender procedure

and contract procedure in Malaysia. (C3, PLO1) (C3, PO1)
2. Estimate the cost of construction project by using preliminary estimating method,
build-up rate method and quantity measurement. (C4, PLO2) (C6, PO2)
3. Describe the understanding of the professional engineering ethics and practice based on
Standard Form of Contract (P.W.D Form 203/203A) efficiently. (A3, PLO8) (A3, PO8)
4. Perform efficient management of time and resources through quantity
measurement and build- up rate in accordance to Public Work Department
practice.(A5, PLO11) (A5, PO11)
 The Taking Off Process (Billing Method)

 The Quantity Surveying (QS) profession has been on-going for many years.
 The earliest quantity surveying practice on record is a Reading firm, (Henry Cooper and
Sons), in 1785 (Seeley & Winfield, 1999)
 QS deal with the costs and contracts of a construction project.
 The Taking Off process is part of the contract documents in a construction project. Thus
when signing the contract document you are willing to accept that it is correct and you
will be held (liable) to everything in it.
 The BQ is a document which is used for the tendering process in a construction project, in
which materials, parts, and labour are itemized.
 The Bill of Quantities (BQ) is prepared by a QS.
The Bill of Quantities (BQ)

 The Taking Off process represented in a Bill of Quantities

 Taking Off actually is a measurement of dimensions, and the compilation of descriptions
from the drawing and specification.
 The term ‘taking off’ refers to the process identifying elements of
construction works that can be measured and priced.
 This is necessary to produce BQ and requires that the design is complete and
a specification has been prepared.
The preparation of the Bill :
 this involves calculations of volumes and areas (squaring the dimensions),
 followed by entering the descriptions and the dimension on an abstract (abstracting)
 and finally collect the items together and present them in a bill order (billing)
 The Bill of Quantities

 Often used in contract document for large construction projects.

 The function of Bill of Quantities (BQ) are :
i. Estimating cost of the project
ii. Tendering process in selecting contractor
iii. To prepare progress payment of the project
iv. To evaluate non-compliance work if any problem occur from
contractor
v. To order and purchase materials during the construction period
 The Method of Taking Off
 Calculation of volumes, areas etc. (Squaring and dimensions) Squaring the dimensions
and entering the resulting lengths, areas, and volumes in the third (or squaring) column of
the dimension paper.
 Entering the descriptions and squared dimensions on an
abstract (Abstracting) Transferring the squared dimensions to the abstract, where they are
written in a recognised order, ready for billing under the correct work heading.
 Collecting items together and presenting in a recognised bill order (Billing)
 The items of work which make up the total building are listed in the appropriate work
section heading which gives the description of the item and the recognised units of
measurement
 The bill also contains an empty rate and price column. The client gives the Bill of
Quantities to the contractor, and the contractor then can adds his rate and price when
tendering for the project.
 - The diagram shows how the
Taking Off process can be

The Taking Off Process used to help with project

related costs.
- An estimator estimates the
cost of the work to be
performed which is based on
the bill in the Bill of Quantities.
If the contractor is successful in
winning the tender then the
work can be put into practice.
- The project costs can be
monitored by the site
management team which
can then be compared to the
Taking Off process.
- Finally the comparison of the
cost can be sent back as
feedback, which can give
information on the work and
the time expended on all the
operations. This can be
recorded and used
throughout the project.
Dimension Paper
1. The description column, where the
description of the work item in relation to
the measurements is written.
2. The timesing column, which gives the
factor of multiplication for the measurements in
1
the
dimension column.
3. The dimension column, where
the measurements are set down as taken from
the drawings.
4. The squaring column, where the calculated 2 3 4 5
volumes, areas, and so on, are setout.
5. It is important that any calculations done
to work out the dimensions that are entered into
the dimension column are written down
as waste calculations on the right-hand side of
the description column. This is so that if
someone reviews the taking off to check for
accuracy, the process by which the final figures
have been calculated can be traced back.
Examples :
PROJECT : DRWG NO: PROJECT : DRWG NO:

ELEMENT : SUBSTRUKTUR
ELEMENT :
SUB-ELEMENT : PAGE 1 OF 17 SUB-ELEMENT : KOREKAN UNTUK PEMBERSIHAN TAPAK PAGE 2 OF 17
DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION

Korekan untuk permukaan tanah hingga ke aras laras purata kedalaman 150mm, bermula dari aras tanah, diangkut dan dibuang tanah
selebihnya tidak melebihi 100m daripada tapak binaan
TAKING OFF LIST

DIMENSION
DIMENSION

length: 3/3600
10800
1 Site Clearing (m2)
add
(F1) 275
2 Pad Foundation
11075
a. Excavate pit (m3)
13.35 add
b. Lean Conc (m2) 10.35 (F1) 275
c. Vibrated Reinf. Conc (m3) 138.17 11350
d. Reinforcement (m) add
e. Formwork (m2) 2/1000 2000
13350
3 Column Stump
a. Vibrated Reinf. Conc (m3)
b. Reinforcement (m) width: 3300
c. Link (m) add 4500
d. Formwork (m2) 7800
add
4 Ground Beam F1 275
a. Excavate trench (m3) 8075
b. Lean concrete (m2) add

c. Vibrated Reinf. Conc (m3) F1 275

8350
add
2/1000 2000
10350

QTY : TAKER-OFF :

QTY : TAKER-OFF :
UNIT : m2 SQUARED BY :
UNIT : SQUARED BY :
RATE : ABSTRACT BY :
RATE : ABSTRACT BY :
COST : CHECKED BY : COST : CHECKED BY :