Production of Bill of Quantities

Cut & Shuffle Method Dimension paper is sub divided in to four or five separate sections which can subsequently be split in to individual slips. Only one description with its associated dimensions is written on each section. Dimension sheets are subsequently split in to individual slips and sorted in to bill l work sections or elements and eventually in to bill order. Following the intermediate process of calculation and editing, the slips form the draft for typing the final bill of quantities

 Taking off is usually carried out on A4 size sheets of dimensions paper, ruled vertically in to four sections and thus accommodating a maximum of four items per sheet. Dimensions are entered one side only of each sheet and each column is generally stamped with the project references number and numbered consecutively. Ditto items must include a reference to the column number of main item, where full particulars can be found. As sections of the taking off are completed, the side casts are checked and repeat dimensions are calculated. When a taking off section is complete, each column is marked with the work section reference and column number. A copy of each dimension sheet is obtained by photocopying or NCR, some systems operate without the need to produce a copy. The taker off retain the copy and original is cut in to four slips each containing one item.

Detailed procedure

Detailed procedure Contd

The slips are shuffled or sorted in to work sections such as Excavating an Filling and Mixing/Casting/Curing in-situ concrete. Similar items are collected together and the whole of the slips placed as near as possible in bill order. When all the slips for an individual work section have been sorted they are edited to form the draft bill, with further slips being inserted as necessary to provide headings, collections and other relevant items. Quantities are then squared, totals cast and reduced to the nearest whole unit, with the reduced quantity entered on the parent slip. The calculation process is then checked. Parent and children slips are separated. The parent slip form the draft bill and ready for typing. Any further checks on the draft bill are then carried out and final copies are made and duplicated. The children slips are then replaced to provide an abstract in bill order for reference purposes.

Merits
Time taking is shorter than the traditional method Dimensions and descriptions are written only once (three times with traditional system) and eliminate the preparation and checking the abstract. As soon as the taking off for each section of work is completed, it can be shuffled, edited, typed, read back and duplicated, so that only a short time after all taking off is completed.

Demerits
A comprehensive system of reference required on each slip and need to writ full descriptions without using abbreviations.

Elemental Bill
BOQ is divided in to appropriate building elements inserted if the normal work sections (06) Preliminaries (19) Substructure (21) External Walls (22) Internal Walls, Partitions (23) Floors, Galleries (24) Stairs, Ramps

Disadvantage
it involve considerable repetition of bill items, and where work is let to a subcontractor, it was necessary to prepare an abstract of items prior to obtain quotations. For example there can be brick walls in both Substructure and External walls.

Operational Bill
items are subdivided in to site operations as distinct from trades or elements Labour and sometime plant requirements were described in term of the operations required, together with the schedule of the materials for each operation Operations were define as the work done by a man or by a gang of men

Features
bulky and costly to produce increased the work of the contractors estimating department estimator obtained a clear picture of the work involved Easy to obtain quotation for materials need of a complete set of drawings prior to the preparation of the bills coupled with the delayed start on the site.

Activity Bill
subdivided in to sections based on activities or operations derived from a network analysis. Some activities need to be completed before others could be started. For example, foundation trenches need to be excavated before the concrete foundation can be laid.

Annotated Bill
full details of the quantity, type and quality of material, and labour and for an accurate and complete set of drawings to show him where and how the work is to be executed. Annotated may be prepared in a separate document from the bill of quantities or they may be bound in the back of the bill.