Unit Rate Build - Up Concrete 1
Unit Rate Build - Up Concrete 1
CONCRETE
Fix proportions
Quantities for 1 m3 concrete
(approx)
Max. Size Agg (mm) Mpa Coarse
Cement: Sand:
Fine aggregat
Aggregate
Added Water Cement aggregate e (Sand)
(litre or kg) (Bags) (Sand) (m3) (m3)
14 1:3.5:4.8 140 6 0.65 0.9
20 1:2.8:4.3 140 7 0.6 0.9
40
25 1:2.5:3.8 140 7.5 0.6 0.9
30 1:2.2:3.3 140 8.5 0.55 0.9
15 1:3.2:3.3 170 7 0.7 0.7
20 1:2.7:3.0 170 8 0.65 0.7
20
25 1:2.3:2.7 170 9 0.65 0.7
30 1:2.0:2.3 170 10 0.6 0.7
15 1:3.2:2.3 180 8 0.75 0.6
20 1:2.7:2.2 190 9 0.7 0.6
10
25 1:2.3:1.8 190 10 0.7 0.6
30 1:2.0:1.7 190 11 0.65 0.6
CONCRETE
Concrete Production
The below table gives a guide on the specified concrete mixes based on weight of materials to
give 1 cubic metre of concrete.
Cement Fine Coarse
Water
Max. Size Agg (mm) Mpa aggregate aggregate Coarse aggregate
(Ltr or kg)
Bags Kg (Sand) (kg) (Sand) (kg) quantities
15 140 6 240 790 1200 660 kg (55%) - 40mm
20 140 7 280 760 1200 330 kg (28%) - 20mm
40 25 140 7.5 300 730 1200 210 kg (17%) - 10mm
30 140 8.5 340 700 1200
40 150 10 400 650 1200 1200 kg (100%)
50 150 12 480 580 1200
15 170 7 280 860 1000 700 kg (70%) - 40mm
20 170 8 320 830 1000 300 kg (30%) - 40mm
20 25 170 9 360 790 1000
30 170 10 400 760 1000
40 170 12 480 680 1000 1000 kg (100%)
50 180 14 560 610 1000
15 180 8 320 940 800
20 190 9 360 900 800
25 190 10 400 870 800
10 30 190 11 440 840 800
40 190 13 520 770 800
50 190 15 600 690 800
CONCRETE
Labour
The cost of labour will vary depending on the method selected to supply the concrete.
The labour involved for the supply of three methods are :
Hand mixed – very high labour contents
Machine mixed – considerably reduced labour content
Ready mix – no labour content
There is a considerable reduction in the labour required for placing and finishing for ready
mixed concrete than other type concretes. This is because it comes in large quantities and the
method if placing is not labour intensive ( conveyor. Off truck, by pump or from crane).
For hand and machine mix concrete, the estimator need to calculate the size of gang to be
used. A typical gang for a 0.12 m3 mixer on foundation work would be four people involved in
mixing, transporting and placing concrete.
For RMC, the concrete can either be placed by the formwork subcontractor’s gang or
sometimes a specialist concrete place and finish subcontractor is used, particularly on a large
project.
Some of the variables that will affect the size of the gang to be used are
Quantity of work at a time
Continuity of work
Method of transportation of concrete (crane / hoist or barrow)
CONCRETE
Plant
Concrete mixers
Machine mixing is more economical than hand mixing and it gives more consistent
results.
From the various sizes and types of concrete mixers in the market, the estimator need to
select the correct one on which to base the pricing. It must have the capacity to
accommodate the peak outputs required by the contract programme but must not be so
big as to be idle for most of its time.
Rate / m3 = $14.25
CONCRETE
Plant
Concrete Pumps
Example
Let us assume the same example but assume pump can only be used for 1 hour but minimum hire is for 3
hours.
Assume the following
Set up cost = 120.00
Hire rate per hour @ $135.00
Pumping @ $ 5.50 / m3
Output per hour - 20 m3
CONCRETE
Plant
Concrete Pumps
Example
Let us assume the same example but assume pump can only be used for 1 hour
Hourly cost ($)
Rate / m3 = $31.75
CONCRETE
Plant
Concrete Pumps
From these examples, it is easy to understand that how important is to evaluate the actual
cost against possible savings in labour and time.
Possible extra allowances to make, if using a concrete pump are as follows:
Often a small amount of very fine concrete slurry is pumped through the pipe to line the sides of it to
make it smooth. Therefore the estimator need to allow for this ( often 0.4 m3 used) every time the
pump is used.
On a large project such as multi-storey building, a pump can be set up on a permanent basis and
sections of steel pipes are added as each floor proceeds. For this allow costs such as erect and
dismantle of pipe, hire of pipe sections and cost of fixings for holding in position.
If a pump is the main source of delivering the concrete to its position, it may mean that a pump is
hired on a weekly / monthly basis. This means that the estimator need to allow a location on the site.
And if it is an inner city office tower project, then this may mean paying for parking spaces on the
street for the duration. Also need to include the cost of getting the pump to and from site.
CONCRETE
Plant
Hoists and tower cranes
In pricing for multi storey structures, the cost of tower cranes and hoists for lifting the concrete is
generally included in P & G section.
The crane is usually used to lift many different materials, and it serves little purpose to allocate crane time
to each item. The total cost of hoisting equipment is therefore calculated and included in P & G as lump
sum.
Vibrators
In pricing reinforced concrete, the estimator must make allowance for the cost of needle vibrator to obtain
full consolidation of the concrete. There is no additional labour cost in that the placers operate as
vibrators as part of their duties. The cost of vibrators usually included in your rate build – up as a hire
charge.
CONCRETE
Following items must be considered by an estimator before preparing the unit rate
of Concrete. These are the principal items that can affect unit rates for mixing and
placing concrete
For site-mixed concrete
The position of the mixing plant, or plants, in relation to the areas and quantities of concrete
to be placed. This will determine the distance that the mixed concrete has to be carted. This is
best done by plotting the mixing plant on the site layout, taking into account the access on to
the site, the transporting of the material to the mixing plant, and the transportation of the
mixed concrete.
The type and size of mixer to be used. Mixers can be loaded mechanically, by hand or by
means of overhead hoppers and gravity feed. The size of the mixer will depend largely upon
the output required.
The method of transporting the mixed concrete over the site. If the concrete has to be carted
long distances, trucks or dumpers should be used, taking care when setting up the mixing
plant to ensure that the mixer will discharge into the truck or dumper. Where short distances
are involved and open trenches have to be crossed, barrows are often cheaper.
CONCRETE
For site-mixed concrete (contd…)
Whether bag or bulk cement is to be used. On smaller concreting jobs, cement in bags is
more convenient than bulk cement and a silo. It is, however, more expensive than bulk
cement, and it needs to be unloaded by hand and carefully stored. Bulk cement is stored on
the site in cement silos, which are usually placed next to the concrete mixer. Silos have their
own weigh batcher, which means that the cement can be weighed out to the amount
required and discharged straight into the loading hopper of the mixer.
The percentage allowances for voids in the aggregates. The fine aggregate and cement are
mixed together to form the matrix, which fills the voids in the coarse aggregate and binds it
together. The percentage of voids in concrete varies with the different sizes and types of
aggregate, and tests must be done to find the percentage required for any particular
aggregate and mix. Concrete that has been thoroughly vibrated when placed has less voids in
it than concrete that has not been so well vibrated. The percentage addition for voids to be
added to normal concrete mixes varies between 40% and 55%. It is usual to allow 50% for
voids. With cement and builder's mix, allow 33.33 % unless the specified mixes allow for voids
and the quantities given are for 1 cubic metre of wet concrete
CONCRETE
For ready-mixed concrete
Estimator should compare the cost of ready-mixed concrete versus site-mixed concrete.
Quality control of site-mixed concrete is a significant factor in any comparison. Availability,
location, site layout and conditions, grade of concrete produced by ready mix plant, and
programme restrictions of volume within certain time limits, may also have a bearing on
whether to use ready-mixed concrete.
Pumped concrete uses smaller, round (or uncrushed) aggregate and higher cement ratio and
additives to reduce the chance of pump blockage. This special mix is slightly more expensive
than standard ready mix.
As ready-mixed concrete is delivered in loads by the loose cubic metre, allowance has to be
made for consolidation, shrinkage, waste and spillage.
Ready-mix concrete has a minimum order delivery of around 0.4 m3, and also, under another
value (around 1 m3), they may also apply a small load charge. Pricing unit rates for small
quantities will need to reflect this.
CONCRETE
For site – mixed and ready-mixed concrete
The method of hoisting or pumping, placing and compacting the concrete. Multi-storey,
reinforced concrete buildings are suited to hoisting and placing of concrete by means of a
tower crane, a mobile crane, or a concrete pump. The mixer or concrete truck must be sited
where it can discharge directly into a skip or concrete pump. Compacting of concrete is
usually done with immersion vibrators.
Use of a concrete pump is an efficient and quick method of dealing with large quantities of
concrete, especially where the finished work is not easily accessible with wheelbarrows or
skips. Concrete pump hire arrangements include the costs of skilled operators.
Estimator need to allow a small percentage for waste. For site-mixed concrete, this covers loss
of aggregates in mixing and for both site and ready-mixed concrete in penetrations and
spillage. Also for consideration is what the concrete is being poured against (for example,
formwork or natural ground), formwork tolerances and deflection, testing and samples. These
waste factors are offset to a degree by non-deductible voids and reinforcing steel
displacement.
CONCRETE
Common waste factors for ready-mixed concrete are
against ground 5-10%
slabs 2 ½ -5%
columns and beams 2 ½ %
For site-mixed concrete, allow up to 2 ½ % more to each.
The cost of any precautions that have to be taken such as protection and curing of the placed
concrete. The curing process can involve keeping the concrete continuously damp for days.
On large inner city projects, there may also be the cost of a cleaning down station so the
concrete trucks leaving the site do not make a mess on the road.
In extreme hot or cold weather, the concrete needs protection or additives to help prevent
over drying or freezing before setting.
The cleaning of surfaces splattered by concrete, particularly when a skip is used, may also be
a cost factor.
CONCRETE
The following three calculations show the supply cost of 15 MPa concrete mixed by
the three different methods.
Hand-mixed 15 MPa, 20 mm aggregate mix
Consider the Volume table
Material
Cement rate per bag (40kg) - $10.50
Delivery rate @ $12.00 per tonne
Unloading rate - $16.50 per hour ( 1 hour per tonne)
Coarse Aggregate - @ $22.00 / m3
Fine aggregate -@ 31.00/ m3
Delivery of aggregates @ $8.00/ m3
Waste 5%
Labour
Labour required 5 hrs/m3
Labour rate - $20.00/h
Plant
Shovel nominal allowance @$0.50
CONCRETE
The following three calculations show the supply cost of 15 MPa concrete mixed by the three different
methods.
Hand-mixed 15 MPa, 20 mm aggregate mix
Materials
Cement 7 bags (40 kg) @ 10.50 73.50
Delivery 280 kg @ 12.00/t 3.36
Unloading 280 kg @ 1 hour/t @ 16.50 4.62
Cost / m3 $170.61
CONCRETE
15 MPa Ready – mixed concrete delivered to site per m3 $150.00
Waste 2.5% $3.75
Cost / m3 $153.75
Cost / m3 $281.23
THANKS!!!