By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

CONTENTS

Quantity
Surveying
By : Ajay Kumar Singhal
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

DEFINITION
OBJECTIVES
WHY QUANTITY SURVEYING IS REQUIRED
SCOPE OF WORK
QUANTITY SURVEYING SERVICES
a)
b)

6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

PRE-TENDER PHASE
POST-TENDER PHASE

METHODS
TAKING OFF QUANTITIES
ABSTRACTING
BILLING
METHODS OF MEASUREMENT OF WORKS IN ACCORDANCE TO IS:1200
a)
b)
c)
d)

EARTHWORK
CONCRETE
FORMWORK
STEEL REINFORCEMENT

11) ANALYSIS OF RATES , USE OF COST DATA IN ESTIMATION

12) TIME COST RELATIONSHIP
13) LIST OF IS CODES FOR MEASUREMENT OF VARIOUS CLASS OF WORK

WHY QUANTITY SURVEYING IS REQUIRED

DEFINITION

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Quantity Surveying is basically the estimation of quantities of

different items of work to be executed in a Project. At the conceptual
stage such estimation is done on the basis of conceptual drawings or
in case of any non-availability of such drawings, it is done on thumbrule basis utilizing expertise and experience of specialists. At the
execution stage the quantities are calculated based on the
construction drawings.

To ascertain the
Commercial
Viability of such
project
if implemented

Preparation of
Initial
Estimated Cost
of Project

Data bank for future

similar Project

SCOPE OF WORK
Project Viability Study / Evaluation Stage

Derivation of the
Final Project
Cost

Comparison of Estimated
vis--vis
Executed Cost

OBJECTIVES
To train personnel involved in Quantity Surveying work to be more
effective and to achieve better standards / results in the preparation
of Bill of Quantities and Estimates.

Certification of
Execution
Cost of
Project

Analysis of reasons
for Variation

DURING DESIGN STAGE

Designer

Issue of Planning
Drawing

Review
Feedback

Quantity
Surveyor

Owner / Employer
Architects

Quantity Take Off

From Drawing

Check with
Initial Estimate

No Variation

Identify Variation,
if any

Variation

Report
To

Review

Employer /
Engineer

Financers
Engineers / Consultants

Quantity Surveyors

Contractors / Subcontractors

Issue of
GFC Drawing

Feedback
To

Insurers
Solicitors

For Execution

Nodal Agencies
Statutory Authorities

Decision

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

QUANTITY SURVEYING
SERVICES

DURING CONSTRUCTION STAGE

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Quantity Take Off from Drawing

To Planner for
Initial Project
Planning

Procurement
Action

Material
Identification

Identification of
Variation in
Quantity and in
Contract Value

Purchase
Department

Client
Billing

Sub-Contractor
Billing

Reconciliation

Identification of
Non-scheduled
Item / Extra Item

Scheduled
Item

Material

Analysis of
Rate

Submission to
Employer / Engineer

Quantity Surveying
services
availed into two phases namely :

are

Pre-Tender Phase
Post-Tender Phase

Quantity
(Client bill versus
Sub-contractor
Bill)

Approval of Rates by
Employer / Engineer

Post-Tender Phase

Pre-Tender Phase

Soliciting of competitive bids and offers with technical proposal.

Feasibility and market studies.

Optimization of superior technical proposal, capability of bidders and

Preliminary cost planning.

price evaluation.

Procurement advice at concept design stage.

Preparation of selected panel of preferred bidders.

Cost management during design development.

Negotiation with preferred bidders.

Value Engineering.

Clients benefit from accurate interim valuations of the work in progress.

Life cycle costing.

Settlement of rational interim payments to contracts for progress of

Preparation of tender documents.

work.
Projection of Timely financial statements.

Schedule of materials.

Estimation of final revised cost to completion.

Contract administration.

Settlement of the final account of contractors.

METHODS

Taking Off Quantities

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.

QUANTITY SURVEYING

Booking of Dimensions
Use of method from
Experience /
Knowledge / Data Bank
by Quantity
Surveyor during
Feasibility study stage

Advise the Owner about

the way for fulfilling
the objectives at
Optimum Cost /
Technology

Estimation

Cost-in-use
Studies

Project
Budget
Proposal
Cost
Management

Comparison of
Actual vis--vis
Proposed Cost

Cost
Analysis

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

Cost
Planning

Project
Implementation
Actual
Cost
Study

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

There are as many as seven distinct forms of measurements :-

Taking Off Quantities

1.

Cubic Items
Example : 0.32 Cum RCC 1:2:4 with 20 mm graded stone aggregate in column below
grounded level.

2.

Square Items
Example : 30.00 Sqm half brick wall in cement mortar 1:4 in super-structures in ground
floor.

3.

Linear or run items

Example : 90.00 Running Meter 900 mm dia NP3 RCC Hume pipes.

4.

Numbers or enumerated Items

Example :
(a) 10 Nos Telephone connections with STD facility.
(b) 3840 Vehicle Days of ESTEEM-LX CAR .
(c) Providing 1 wireless system .
(d) 32 set Months for maintenance of wireless system.

5.

Provisional sum
Example : Allow provisional sum of Rs. 2000/= for site clearance .

6.

Lump sum :
Example : Mobilization / Demobilization of Plant and Accessories : Rs.50,00,000/- lump
sum.

7.

Prime cost sum

Example : Provide prime cost sum of Rs 2,000/= for electrical tube light fittings to be
provided by specialist firm . Add for overhead and profit (15%).

PRINCIPLES & PROCEDURE OF TAKING OFF

Abstracting

OWNER / CONSULTANT / ARCHITECTS

The process by means of which the quantities of items of identical character and description are
collected from take off sheets, totaled and deduction made in order to arrive at the net total
quantities of respective items and in trade-wise order is called abstracting.

Decision
Issued Drawings from Owner / Consultant / Architect
Incorporate
in drawings

Discuss in
Clients
local
office

Study of Issued Drawings

Review

Evaluation of nature of job

Refer to

Tallying of dimensions from various drawings

Consultant /

Owner /

Architect
Note discrepancies, if any, in various drawings

Discrepancies of
minor nature

Discrepancies of
serious nature

No Discrepancy

Ready for Quantity

take off

Take off of Quantity from

corrected drawings

Billing
It is a claim for the amount of work done or supply. It consists of :a) Work Order or Agreement Number.

b) Item Number.

c) Complete Description of Item.

d) Unit of Item.

e) Quantities of Item executed.

f) Rate of Item (as per BOQ).

g) Total Amount of Individual Item.

h) Total Billed Amount.

i) Standard Deduction, as applicable.

Principles and Procedure of

Billing
While transferring the quantities from abstract
to bill the total of quantities of the respective
items shall be ticked, so as to ensure that
quantities of all items are transferred to bills.

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

Earthwork

Method of
Measurement of
Works in
Accordance to
IS : 1200

Earthwork

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

The materials to be excavated shall be classified as follows, unless

otherwise specified :
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)

Soft / Loose Soil.

Hard / Dense Soil.
Mud.
Slush.
Soft / Disintegrated Rock.
Hard Rock (Requiring Blasting).
Hard Rock (Blasting Prohibited).

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

Each dimension shall be measured to nearest 0.01 mtr, where any

dimension is more than 25 mtr it should be measured to nearest 0.1 mtr.
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 in trench or borrow
pits is being done in fairly uniform ground.
Where the ground is not uniform, pre & post work levels shall be taken at
regular grid pattern and the quantity of excavation in cutting computed
from these levels.

Earthwork

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

In case of the following works, authorized quantities (calculated on the basis

of authorized working space and excavation profile) or those actually
excavated, whichever are less, shall be measured :

In work which requires form work;

Trenches which are to receive post tensioned concrete ground beams;

In work which will be covered externally with a damp proof covering or protective
masonry work of brick , stone etc.;
Special works like guniting etc, and
In work which required workmen to operate from the outside.
ACTUAL
EXCAVATION
LINE IN
SLOPE

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-accepted deductions for voids. From the total quantity of
the mixture, the quantity of hard rock excavated shall be deducted to work
out the quantity of soft soil.

EXCAVATION
PAY LINE

FOUNDATION

Authorized working space shall be specified in each case. Where authorized

space is not so specified the following shall apply :
60 cm measured from the face of structure (including protective measure, if
any) at lowest level. For post tensioning activity below ground level a space of
1.5 mtr at each end may be required from the face of the concrete.

Earthwork

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

Dimension shall be measured to nearest 0.01 mtr except for the thickness of slab
which shall be measured to nearest 0.005 mtr.
Unless otherwise stated all concrete work shall be measured in cubic meters.
Unless otherwise stated formwork and reinforcement shall be measured
separately.
Columns shall be measured from top of column base to underside of first slab
and subsequently from top of slab to underside of 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 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 :
Opening up to 0.1

m2

or as specified;

Volume occupied by reinforcement;

Earthwork

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

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-out 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.

Volume occupied by pipes, conduits, sheathing etc. not exceeding 100 cm2 each in
cross-sectional area or as specified.

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

Earthwork

Concrete

Formwork

Reinforcement

Bar reinforcement shall be measured by weight in kilogram

and shall include cutting to lengths, hooked ends, cranking
or bending (straight or spiral). Authorized overlaps, chairs /
separators shall be measured.
When welding of joints is authorized it shall be described;
joints butt welded shall be measured in numbers and lap
welded shall be measured in running meters of length
welded.
Binding wire for fixing reinforcement shall not be measured,
but shall be included in description of item.

ANALYSIS OF RATES, USE OF COST DATA IN ESTIMATION

Estimation

Quantity

As per
drawing

Rate

Amount

Actual as
per Site
Material

Equipment,
Plant &
Tools

Least of
the two
or as per
Contract
condition

Labour

Others

Piece rate
basis

Supply
basis

Overhead,
Profit &
Contingency

Agency
Commission
Misc. Expenses

Material
Ingradient A

Ingradient B

PURPOSE OF RATE ANALYSIS

Ingradient C

Coefficient / Unit

Main purpose of rate analysis are the followings :-

Equipment

Quantity / Unit
+

Wastage as visualized / Unit

=

Requirement of Quantity / Unit

Cost of
Hire
Charges /
Depreciation

Cost of
Operator
& Helper

Cost of
P.O.L.
+

Cost of
Maintenance
& Spares
+

a) To determine the current rate per unit of an item at the

locality.
b) To examine the viability or rates offered by the contractors .

+
X

Rate / Unit

Duration of Deployment

c) To calculate the quantity of materials and labour strength

required for project planning .

Basic rate + Packing

Forwarding Charges +
Taxes, Duties etc

Cost of
Foundation and
Mobilization &
Demobilization

HOW TO FIX UP RATE PER UNIT OF AN ITEMS

The following sub-heads are estimated and a summation of these is
the rate per unit of an item

d) To fix up labour contract rates.

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 22 : 1982
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Method of
measurement of Materials.
IS 1200 : Part 1 : 1992
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Earthwork (Fourth Revision).

a)

Quantity of materials and costs,

b)

Labour costs,

c)

Cost of equipments or tools and plant (T & P),

d)

Contingencies,

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Pile

Foundation (Fourth Revision).

e)

Different heads of indirect Expenses to be considered in

estimation,

IS 1200 : Part 24 : 1983

Profit.

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Well

Foundations (Third Revision).

f)

IS 1200 : Part 23 : 1988

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009

By : Ajay Kumar Singhal

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 2 : 1974
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Concrete
Works (Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 3 : 1976
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Brickwork
(Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 4 : 1976
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Stone
Masonry (Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 5: 1982
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Formwork
(Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 21 : 1973
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Woodwork and Joinery (Second Revision).

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 8: 1993
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Steel
Work and Iron Work (Fourth Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 7: 1972
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Hardware (Second Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 14 :1984
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Glazing
(Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 11: 1977
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Paving,
Floor Finishes Dado and Skirting (Third Revision).

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 6: 1974

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Refractory Work (Second Revision).

IS 1200 : Part 13: 1994

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Whitewashing, colour washing, distempering and painting of building
surfaces (Fifth Revision).

IS 1200 : Part 9: 1973

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Roof
Covering (including cladding) (Fourth Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 10: 1973
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Ceiling
and Linings (Fourth Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 12: 1976
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Plastering
and Pointing (Third Revision).

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 20 : 1981
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Laying of
Gas and Oil Pipelines (Third Revision).

IS 1200 : Part 15: 1987

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Painting,
Polishing, Varnishing etc (Fourth Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 18: 1974
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Demolition and Dismantling (Third Revision).
IS 1200 : Part 19 :1981
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Water
Supply, Plumbing and Drains (Third Revision).

LIST OF CODES IS:1200 PART-1 & PART-2 : SP : 27

IS 1200 : Part 25 :1971
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Tunneling
(Third Revision).

IS 1200 : Part 27 : 1992

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works :
Earthwork done by mechanical appliances.

IS 1200 : Part 26 : 1987

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Acid
resistant lining.

IS 1200 : Part 16: 1979

Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Laying of
Water and Sewer Lines including appurtenant (Third revision).
IS 1200 : Part 17: 1985
Method of Measurement of Building and Civil Engineering Works : Road
Work including Air Field Pavements (Third Revision).

Quantity Surveying
AKS/TRG-NR/QSG/Rev-0, dated 18-Jan-2009