Discussion Material:

Part 1: Fundamental Concepts in Taking Off Quantities

Define Quantity Take Off

Taking off is the process of measuring dimensions from working drawings and recording
them in a systematic and concise manner along with the description of each item.

Booking of Dimensions. The golden rule of booking dimensions is to record length first,
the breadth or width second and height/depth or thickness third and last.

Write the recommendation for degree of accuracy in measurements.

 Dimensions of works shall be measured to an accuracy of 0.01 m

 Thickness of R.C works shall be measured to an accuracy of 0.0005 m
 Areas of works shall be calculated to the nearest 0.01 m
 Volumes of work shall be calculated to the nearest 0.01 m
 Volumes of wood shall be calculated to the nearest 0.001 m

There are six distinct forms of measurements:

1. Cubic items: 0.32 Cum RCC 1:2:4 with 20mm graded stone aggregate in column
below ground level.

2. Square items: 30.00 Sqm half brick wall in cement mortar 1:4 in super-structure in
ground floor.

3. Linear or run items: 90.00 Running Meter 900 mm dia NP3 RCC pipe.

4. Numbers or enumerated items: 10 Nos. Telephone connections with STD facility.

“Or” 3840 Vehicle Days of hard top cars ambassador. “Or” providing 1 wireless
system. “Or” 32 Months for maintenance of wireless system.

5. Provisional sum: Allow provisional sum of PhP 2,000/= for site clearance.

6. Prime cost sum: Provide prime cost sum of PhP 2,000/= for electrical tube light fittings
to be provided by Specialist firm. Add for overhead and profit.
Principles and Procedure of Taking Off

 The “taker off” should look on the drawing when received from Employer /
Consultant / A/E and visualize the work entailed for clear understanding of the job
and drawings.

 After looking over the drawings and checking plans, elevations, sections, and details
if any are in agreement with one another. It should be checked that each overall
dimensions agrees with the total room dimensions.

 If the discrepancy is clearly the result of some slight clerical error, the drawing
should be corrected and in case serious error is discovered, the designer should be
informed, and correct drawings obtained.

 After having done the above preliminary work the “taker off” will be in a position to
start the actual operation of taking off quantities in definite order.

Methods of Taking off quantities

The calculations of quantities of materials can be done using various methods of estimates.
The application of an individual method depends upon the design and shape of the building.
The different methods are as under:

A. English Method:
1. Taking off (dimension from the drawings)
2. Grouping them
3. Billing or Bill of quantities
 B. Long wall – short wall Method
1. Taking out (dimensions from the relevant drawings)
2. Squaring the dimensions
3. Abstracting

Comparison between English Methods and Long wall – short wall Method

English Method

• The quantities of items of work are worked out in the order of their execution
• Grouping of items are not carried out
• Chances of omitting any measurement of items of work are very less
• Method is tedious & time consuming
• Computation carried out in duo decimals

Long wall - short wall Method

• The quantities of items of works are determined in the sequence of measurement.

• Grouping of items are carried out
• Possibilities of missing some of the items of work
• Method is simple, easy &takes less time
• Computations are in decimals

For the calculating quantity of various construction item, long wall and short wall method is
used. For measuring the long wall and short wall the external out-to-out length of walls
running in the longitudinal direction generally is considered as “long wall” while the in-to-
in internal length of walls running in the transverse direction is called as “short wall” or
“cross wall”. For calculating quantity multiply the length into the breadth and height of the
wall. As shown in the figure we indicate long wall and short wall and centre line is
indicated with red line. For finding out the length of long wall, simply add centre length of
wall to the two times half breadth on one side of the wall which gives the out-to-out length
of long wall.

Length of Long Wall = Center to Center Length of wall + Half Breadth on One Side + Half
Breadth on the Other Side = Center to Center Length of wall + One Breadth

For finding out length of short wall or cross wall subtract from the center length, so the one
breadth of the wall, which gives the length of the short wall (in-to-in) (instead of adding).

Length of Short Wall = Centre to Centre Length – One breadth

Note: The length of the long wall usually decreases from earthwork to brickwork, and the
length of the short wall is increased.
Sample of long wall and short wall method.

Using the above image, you can first find the length of long wall and short wall.

Centre to Centre length of long wall = 5+ (1/2×0.30) + (1/2 x 0.30) = 5.30 m

Centre to Centre length of short wall = 4+ (1/2 x 0.30) + (1/2×0.30) = 4.30 m

After finding out the length of the long wall and short wall, now find the quantity of the
various items which are used in construction.
You can calculate the quantity of various construction items using the above method for
different building dimension. Long wall and short wall method is used for finding out the
quantity and cost of materials. This method is simple and accurate, so there is may be no
chances of any mistake. But correctly choose long wall and short wall for finding out
accurate quantity.

Other methods of taking out quantities.

C. Centre line method

This method is suitable only if the offsets are symmetrical and the building is rectangular in
shape. The center line of the building is determined carefully after doing deductions for
repeated measurements (as explained in the next problem). This center line acts as length
for the complete calculations of the estimate. If the deduction is not cared for the results of
estimates may be wrong. All the walls should have the same section.

D. Crossing Method
In this method, lengths and breadths of the masonry walls at plinth level are taken (internal
dimension of the room + thickness of the walls) for calculating quantities. The symmetrical
offsets are a must as in the case of centerline method.

E. Out to out & in to in Method

This method is most practicable under all circumstances and is generally followed in the
P.W.D. for computing the quantities of various items. The estimation in this book has been
done using this method.

F. Bay Method

This method is useful and is generally followed in case of building having several bays.
The cost of the one classroom is worked out and then multiplied by the number of bays in
that building. The extra cost of the end walls and difference in framing. If there is any,
should be made, to arrive at the correct cost.

G. Service Unit Method.

This method is followed in cases such as school building where there are so many
classrooms. The cost of one classroom worked out and then multiplied by the number of
classrooms to be constructed. In case of Hospitals, the service unit is a bed, in case of
Water Tank, it is a liter and in case of Cinema Hall, the service unit is a seat.\

PROBLEM: I

Calculate the quantities of the following items from the given figure, 3.12 up to G.L.,
using
(a) Centre line method

(b) Crossing method.

1. Excavation for foundations.

2. Cement Concrete in foundations.

3. Brick work in cement mortar (1:4)

Solution:

(a) BY CENTRE LINE METHOD ESTIMATES

By Crossing Method
ESTIMATES & COSTING

As already discussed, in this method, the length of center line is fixed once for
all and this is used or calculating quantities of various items. The only
requirement for the uses for this method is that the section of walls should be
symmetrical throughout.

How to Fix Centre Line.

The Centre line of the given plain marked and center to center distances of walls
are added. Refer given figure 3.12, the total length of center line, room-wise is
as under from top right corner.

All horizontal – 4.60 + 4.90 + 4.90 + 4.60 + 4.90=23.90

All vertical – 3.90 + 3.90 + 3.90 + 4.0 + 4.0=19.70

But there are hatched rectangles showing that these portions have been added twice i.e. this
portion is part of both the lines meeting at rt. Angle to each other. So this portion is to be
added only once.

The deductions to be made are as under:-

1. At L-junction Walls

At L-junction, two squares P & R are formed. The hatched portion R‟ comes twice, whereas
portion „P‟ does not come even once. So „P‟ is compensated with „R‟ coming twice. Thus
in the case of L-junction, no deduction is to be done from the total length of center line.

2. At L-junction Walls.

In this case, the hatched rectangular portion „Q‟ comes twice. So the deduction in

this case is ½ of thickness of wall for each T-junction.

2. At Cross Walls.

In this case also, the hatched square portion „S‟ comes twice. So, for correct calculations, it
is to be added only once. Thus, for a cross wall, the deduction is thickness of wall.
Form above lines we have found out this conclusion that to get the correct length of the
center line, the following deductions are to be made: -
½ * thickness of the wall at T-junction * No. of junctions

+ 1 * thickness of wall at cross-junction * no. junctions

=1/2 *.40*2+1*.40*1 =0.80m.

=43.60-0.80=42.80m.
All the quantities shall be calculated using 42.80m. as length of centre line.

Problem 2:

Calculate the quantities using center line method and in and out method

Item Description of Item Unit No. Length Breadth / Height / Quantit

Number Width Depth y

BY CENTRE LINE METHOD

Total Length M 2 6.23 12.46

M 2 3.23 6.46
M 18.92

1 Excavation in Cum 1 18.92 0.80 1.00 15.14

Trench
2 PCC (1:5:10) Cum 1 18.92 0.80 0.20 3.03

3 Brickwork in CM Cum 1 18.92 0.23 0.80 3.48

1:6

IN and OUT METHOD

1 Excavation in Cum 2 7.03 0.80 1.00 11.25
Trench
Cum 2 2.43 0.80 1.00 3.89
 15.14

2 PCC (1:5:10) Cum 2 7.03 0.80 0.20 2.25

Cum 2 2.43 0.80 0.20 0.78

3.03
3 Brickwork in CM Cum 2 6.46 0.23 0.80 2.38
1:6
Cum 2 3.00 0.23 0.80 1.10
3.48

Part 1: Method of Measurement of Works

1. EARTHWORK

 Each dimension shall be measured to nearest 0.01 m, where any dimension is

more than 25 meter it should be measured to the nearest 0.1 m.
 The measurement of earthwork shall be done in cubic meters, unless otherwise
mentioned.
 ‘Dead men’ or ‘tell-tales’ may be left at suitable intervals to determine the
average depth of excavation, where the excavation is in trenches or from borrow
pits is being done in fairly uniform ground.
 Where the ground is not uniform, levels shall be taken before the start, after site
clearance and after the completion of the work and the quantity of excavation in
cutting computed from these levels.

The materials to be excavated shall be classified as follows, unless otherwise specified ;

a) Soft / Loose Soil.

b) Hard / Dense Soil.
c) Mud
d) Soft/ Disintegrated Rock.
e) Hard Rock (Requiring Blasting).
f) Hard Rock (Blasting Prohibited).
 Where soft soil and hard rock are mixed, the measurement for the total quantity shall
be made. The hard rock excavated shall be stacked and measured in stack. The
quantity of the hard rock excavated shall be arrived at by applying pre-acceppted
deduction for voids. From the total quantity of hard rock excavated shall be
deducted to work out the quantity of soft soil.

 In case of the following works, authorized quantities (calculated on the basis of the
authorized working space) or those actually excavated, whichever are less, shall be
measured.

a) In work which requires from work;

b) In work which will be covered externally with a damp proof covering or protective
masonry work of brick, stone etc; And
c) In work which required workmen to operate from the outside.

 Authorized working space shall be specified in each case. Where authorized space is
not so specified the following shall apply;
o 60 cm measured from the face of structure (including protective measures, if any)
at lowest level. In addition for item ‘c’ above the extra length at each end shall be
1.50 m.

2. CONCRETE WORKS

 Dimensions shall be measured to nearest 0.01 m except for the thickness of slab
which shall be measured to nearest 0.005 m.
 Unless otherwise stated all concrete work shall be measured in cubic meters.
 Unless otherwise stated formwork shall be measured separately.
 Unless otherwise stated reinforcement shall be measured separately.
 Columns shall be measured from top of column base to underside of first floor slab
and subsequently from top of floor slab to underside of floor slab above.

 Beam shall be measured from face to face of columns and shall include haunches, if
any, between columns and beams. The depth of beams shall be measured from
bottom of slab to bottom of the beam except in case of inverted beam where it shall
be measured from top of slab to top of beam.

 No deductions shall be made for the following

a) Opening up to 0.1 m2 or as specified;

b) Volume occupied by reinforcement;
c) Volume occupied by pipes, conduits, sheathing etc. Not
exceeding 100 cm2 each in cross-sectional area or as
specified;
3. FORMWORK

 Formwork shall be measured in square meters as the actual surfaces in contact with
the concrete or any other material requiring formwork.

 No deductions shall be made for opening up to 0.4 m2. No deduction shall be made
for any opening / cut-outs when slip form technique is used.

 Formwork to secondary beams shall be measured up to the sides of main beams, but
no deduction shall be made from the formwork of the main beam, where the
secondary beam intersects it.
 Formwork to beam shall be measured up to sides of column, but no deductions shall
be made from the formwork to stanchion or column casings at intersections of beam.

4. MASONRY WORK

 Shall be measured in sqm

 CHB 1 block thick (4”) or more shall be measured separately in sqm

No deduction shall be made if;

a) Opening up to 0.1 sqm in area

b) CHB blocks for holdfast and holding down bolt

Deduction shall be made for;

a) Doors, Windows Opening

b) Lintels or arches above doors/ opening
c) Deduction for diff. shapes

-Cornice shall be measured in LM

- Partition wall measured in sqm
- Reinforced masonry work shall be measured in cum under separate item the steel
Reinforcement shall be taken in kg.