4.0 STANDARD M E T H O D O F MEASUREMENT O F BUILDING W O R K S SLS 573.

4.1 Introduction

As stated in Chapter 2 , SLS 573 was published by Sri Lanka Standards Institute in 1982 as
Standard M e t h o d s of building works. Ratnayake,etal(1991) compared SLS 5 7 3 with S M M 7 .
T h e r e he has pointed out some differences between these two documents regarding format,
demolition, excavation, concrete work, masonry work, structural steel w o r k s , and j o i n e r y .
T h e r e is n o difference the way ironmongery is specified in SLS 573 and S M M 7 . It is given
under building fabric sundries (P) in S M M 7 . General conditions and preliminaries are m o r e
c o m p r e h e n s i v e and a r e given in separate sections in S M M 7 . In SLS 5 7 3 , Preliminaries are
given in the appendix. T h e rest of parts of SLS 573 are included as sub sections under various
w o r k sections in S M M 7 . T h e following work sections are present only in the S M M 7 compared
with SLS 5 7 3 .

1. Lining/sheathing/dry partitioning(K)
2. F u r n i t u r e equipment. (N)
3. Paving/Planting/fencing/site furniture(Q)
4. Mechanical heating/cooling/refrigerating systems (F)
5. Ventilation/air conditioning systems.(V)
6. Communications/security/control systems. (W)
7. Transport systems. (X)
8. Mechanical and electrical services measurement. (Y)

In every section of S M M 7 , there are a large number of sub-sections. Only a few of such sub­
sections are specified in SLS 5 7 3 . Even in such sub sections there are vast differences.
(Ratnayake etal 1991).

Therefore, it is evident that SLS 573 didn't cater for all the work sections. Also it has started
to receive complaints from the industry due to the discrepancies of which are often encountered
during the measurements. As such I C T A D decided to revise the present SLS 5 7 3 in 1991.
I C T A D formed a working committee which comprised the professionals from the industry to
revise the SLS 5 7 3 . After the revision this document was put forward to an advisory committee
which also consisted the professionals from the industry. N o w this d o c u m e n t s is ready for
publishing in the n a m e of SLS 573 revision: 1994. But it has not been still decided whether to
get the industries c o m m e n t s before publishing or to from a committee and get the approval of
that committee and then make it a legal document and publish it.

As such this research has been undertaken to review, compare and to survey the c o m m e n t s from
the industry. It is important to know the response of the industry for the change before the
document is published officially. If not the industry may claim that the revised document was
enforced on then to accept without their concern.

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 4.2 T h e s t r u c t u r e of S L S 573:1982 a n d S L S 5 7 3 revision:1994

T h e revised edition of Sri Lankan standard method of measurement (SLS 5 7 3 Revised) has been
prepared in a tabulated format similar to that used in standard method of m e a s u r e m e n t of
building w o r k s ( S M M 7 ) . When the document is first opened the tabulated format appears
unfamiliar when compared with the prose of the SLS 5 7 3 . However, after a relatively short
period the presentation was found to be straight forward and logical. T h e rules are set u p with
a five column classification table with adjacent columns for measurement rules, definition rules,
c o v e r a g e rules and supplementary information. General information to b e provided is always
set out at the start of a section and horizontal lines are used between various classification to
inform the user which items should be zoned together.

As previously stated the classification tables are set out in five columns. T h e first column gives
a brief description of building works frequently encountered. T h e second and third column gives
further b r e a k d o w n s of the building activity and additional items can be added if the lists detailed
in SLS 5 7 3 revised d o not show the precise requirement of the item to be m e a s u r e d . T h e fourth
column sets out the unit of measurement. The fifth column details additional information that
should also b e stated if it applies. It is noted that more than one of the features listed in this
column could apply and all of the features that do apply should be stated.

M e a s u r e m e n t rules detail how the work item shall be measured and the method by which the
quantities shall be calculated.

Definition rules to find the extent and limits of the work are represented by a word or expression
used in the rules. If those words or expressions are used in Bills of Quantities that the definition
rules also define them in that context.

C o v e r a g e rules draw attention to items of work which are deemed to be included. It is

important to note that w h e r e coverage rules include materials they shall b e mentioned in item
descriptions.

T h e supplementary information column details further information which shall be given w h e r e

a particular item is being described.

T h e main headings under which the building works have been classified in SLS 5 7 3 and SLS 5 7 3
revised are given in Table 4 . 1 .

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T a b l e 4 . 1 M a j o r w o r k sections in S L S 573;1982 a n d S L S 5 7 3 r e v i s i o n ; 1 9 9 4

SLS 5 7 3 SLS 573 Revision: 1994

Part Section
1 General rules and recommendations A General rules

2 Demolitions B Preliminaries

3 Excavation and Earth works C Demolitions/Alterations/Repairs and

maintenance
4 Concrete work D Excavation and earth w o r k

5 Piling E Piling/Diaphragm walling/under

pinning
6 Masonry work F Concrete works

7 U n d e r pinning G Masonry works

8 Asphalt w o r k H Water proofing

9 Structural steel w o r k I Structural metal works for steel in

form structures/Aluminium formed
10 Metal w o r k structures/metal w o r k in unformed
structures
11 Roof covering and roof plumbing
J Metal work
12 Carpentry K Wood work
carpen try /j oin ery/iron m on gery
13 Joinery L Cladding
M Partitions/Linings/suspended ceilings
14 Iron mongery P Roof covering/Roof plumbing
Q Plumbing/Sanitary installations
15 Plumbing R Mechanical installations
S Electrical installations
16 Drainage w o r k T Floor/Wall/Ceiling finishes
U Glazing/In fill panels
17 Wall and ceiling finishes V Painting

18 Electrical installations W Drainage systems(Surface / b e l o w

ground/agricultural)
19 Painting
X External works
Appendix A: Preliminaries

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 U n d e r general rules and recommendations of SLS 573:1982 w e r e 18 rules listed relating to
general conditions such as measurement units, deductions, billing units etc.

A c c o r d i n g to SLS 5 7 3 "Bills of Quantities shall adequately describe material and w o r k m a n s h i p

and shall accurately represent the quantities of work to be executed".

U n d e r preliminaries in the Appendix there were nine sub items which include n a m e s of parties,
description of site etc.

F o r general rules of SLS 5 7 3 revision: 1994, there are ten sub headings. It enables the user to
follow it conveniently.

A c c o r d i n g to SLS 5 7 3 revision: 1994, it provides a uniform basis for measuring building w o r k s

and e m b o d i e s the essentials of good practice. "Bills of Quantities shall fully describe, and
accurately represent the quantity and quality of the works to be carried out. M o r e detailed
information than is required by these rules shall be given where necessary in order to define the
precise nature and the extent of required work".

General rules of SLS 5 7 3 revision: 1994 are provided with respect to scope, use of the tabulated
rules, Bills of quantities, measurement, Descriptions, Drawn information, Provisional or P r i m e
cost S u m s , work of special types, work to existing buildings and symbols and abbreviations.

4.3 C o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n S L S 573:1982 a n d S L S 5 7 3 r e v i s i o n : 1 9 9 4

A thorough study of SLS 573:1982 and SLS 573 revision: 1994 was conducted in this research
in order to find the differences between the documents. In SLS 5 7 3 : 1 9 8 2 , carpentry, j o i n e r y
and i r o n m o n g e o r y c o m e under three different sections where is in the revised one all "these
three c o m e under one work section - wood work".

T h e following work sections/items were not previously specifically covered by SLS 5 7 3 : 1 9 8 2 .

(a) Repairs and maintenance

(b) D i a p h r a g m walling
(c) Water proofing
(d) Cladding
(e) Curtain walling
(0 Suspended ceiling
(g) Mechanical installation
(h) F l o o r finishes
(i) Glazing
(j) External w o r k

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M o s t of the sections in the SLS 573:1982 have been undergone for a revision related to
m e a s u r e m e n t units and deductions. According to the revised edition dimensions used in
calculating quantities shall b e taken to the nearest 10 mm where as in SLS 5 7 3 : 1 9 8 2 it w a s to
the nearest 2 0 m m . Hoisting is a new item in the preliminaries of the revised edition. As p e r
the SLS 5 7 3 revised edition there will be any one rate for concreting above ground floor and d u e
to this hoisting item has been introduced in the preliminaries. So the contractor has to rate for
hoisting item as well as to the concreting item, where as he has to rate only for concreting in
the SLS 5 7 3 : 1 9 8 2 since that gave floor by floor rates. In SLS 573:1982 all diameters of the
reinforcements to be given separately where as in the revised edition there are only three
classifications.

Most of the differences between SLS 573:1982 and the revised edition are given in the Appendix
A of this report for reference.

4.4 M a j o r differences b e t w e e n S L S 573:1982 a n d S L S 5 7 3 r e v i s i o n : 1 9 9 4

After taking out the differences between both the documents as given in Appendix A , it w a s
decided to concentrate only on the major differences due to the time restriction in this study.
Based on this study, future research can be undertaken to obtain the industries opinion about the
other c h a n g e s . Another point to be noted here is, if tried to put forward all the differences for
the industries opinion at one time, then the industries response will be poor due to the time they
have to spare on this with their other organisational work. Therefore, in this research, only the
major differences w e r e studied in detail.

In order to identify the major differences, all the differences in the Appendix A have been put
forwarded to the professionals who were in the working committees of SLS 573:1982 as well
as in the revised edition. After a series of discussions with those professionals it was decided
to consider twenty three differences as major differences, and to obtain v i e w s / c o m m e n t s from
the industry on these major differences. Table 4.2 illustrates the twenty three differences which
was put forward to the industry for their comments.

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T a b l e 4 . 2 M a j o r differences in S L S 573:1982 a n d S L S 5 7 3 R e v i s i o n : 1 9 9 4

SLS 5 7 3 : 1982 SLS 5 7 3 Revision: 1994

General

1. F o r m a t is in the form of paragraph Format is in tabulated form.

2 . M e a s u r e m e n t before calculation shall be Dimensions used in calculating quantities

taken to the nearest 2 0 m m ( 0 . 0 2 m) shall be taken to the nearest 10 mm(O.Olm)

Preliminaries
3 . N o provision for hoisting in Hoisting is an important section in
preliminaries. preliminaries.

Excavation
4 . Excavation in various classes of N o such soil classification.
materials a r e given separately.

5 . It p r o v i d e s working space with It does not provide working space with

excavation excavation.
Working space allowance is a separate item
and limited to 600 mm from the face of
form work, rendering,tanking or protective
walls.

Concreting
6. Concreting formwork, R / F & brick Fixed one rate above ground floor
w o r k rate is floor by floor

3
7. N o deductions for openings in walls N o deductions for voids of 0 . 0 5 m or
2
floor and roof slab & the like of 0 . 4 m or less.
less

Form work
2
8 N o deduction for openings of l m 2
or N o deduction for openings of 0 . 5 m or
less in form work. less.

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 SLS 573 SLS 5 7 3 revised

Reinforcement

9. Each size of R / F to b e given separately Only three classification

Diameter < 10 m m
10 - 16 m m
Piles > 16 m m .

10 Piles other than sheet piles are classified Total pile length and depth stated
under six categories for different length.

Masonrv

2
11 N o deductions for openings of 1 m 2
or N o deductions for openings of 0.1 m or
less. less.

U n d e r Pinning

12 T e m p o r a r y supports for structures to be Temporary supports to be given as item

given in m e t r e .

13. T h e width of preliminary access 13. The width of preliminary access

excavation vary with depth as follows. excavation vary with depth as follows.
1 m width for depths < 1.5 m 1 m width for depths < 1 m
1.5m - d o - 1.5m to 3 m 1.5m - do - l m to 2 m
2 m - do - > 3m 2 m - do - > 2m

Structural Steel

14 Purlins are measured in meters. Purlins are measured in tones

Carpentry & Joinerv

15 L i n e a r dimensions shall be measured to Linear dimensions shall be measured to the

the nearest 0.1 m. nearest 0.01m

16 Structural timber > 5 m to be given N o such requirement

separately

2
17 D o o r s & w i n d o w s are measured in m measured in numbers
1

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 SLS 5 7 3 SLS 573 revised

18 F o r cubical partition dimensioned Dimensioned diagram to b e given &

diagram is not there & measured in m 2
measured in N o .

Roof covering and Roof Plumbing

2
19 N o deduction for openings of; N o deduction for openings of 0.1 m or
Tile roofing < 0 . 5 m ' less
2
Sheet lead roofing < 0.5 m
2
Others sheet metal roof < 1.0 m
2
Corrugated roofing < 1.0 m

Plumbing

2 0 P i p e sizes are specified by internal Nominal diameter as per table 1 of SLS

diameter & thickness 147, second revision 1993.

21 Description include excavations for Excavation is a separate item. Width of

pipes laid in ground. excavation is given with m i n . of 5 0 0 m m .

22 Piping to include all joints in the Joints are extra over items for pipes > 5 0
running length mm diameter.

Electrical

23 C o n d u i t s , wires etc. are given in Conduits, wires, etc. are measured items.
description and paid in points form.

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