[BOQ PREPARATION FOR SUBSTRUCTURE]

Abstract
Building construction is a process of designing, estimating and erecting. Building is consists of
substructure and superstructure. In a building each and every component is having a value, and it
is approved by a standard method for evaluating its value. Therefore it is uniform for everyone
who used it.
The report first part will reveal about what is a bill of quantities and then it describes Use of The
Standard Method of Measurement (SLS 573) for BOQ preparation. Finally the report
concentrating on Practical problems faced by Quantity Surveyors when taking off quantities and
preparing BOQs for substructure.
Taking out the estimate of substructure, and certain issues arising when preparing BOQ and
giving out the solutions for preparing satisfied bills of quantity for substructure.

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[BOQ PREPARATION FOR SUBSTRUCTURE]

Acknowledgement
I present this report as Current Measurement Practice In The Industry comes under the
Term Paper 3
The knowledge which I gained from the College of Quantity Surveying was very much useful
for me in preparing this report. Information taken from the internet and several books relevant to
the quantity surveying field, were also used for this report.
First we very much thankful to Mrs B.A.K.S Perera, Miss Aparna Samaraweera,Miss
Chathuri Gunarathna, Miss Mthusha Francis who are our lecturer and the staff of the College
of Quantity Surveying for guiding me in this report.
I would like to remind our colleagues of the College of Quantity Surveying who help and
encourage us to complete this report.
I would like to express my gratitude towards my friends for their kind co-operation and
encouragement which help me in completion of this project and.
I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to my industry persons (National Housing
Development Authority) for giving me such attention and time.

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[BOQ PREPARATION FOR SUBSTRUCTURE]

Table Of Content

Abstract.............................................................................................................................................i
Acknowledgement...........................................................................................................................ii
Table Of Content............................................................................................................................iii
List Of Abbreviations.....................................................................................................................iv
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................1
2.0 Bills Of Quantities.....................................................................................................................2
2.1 Contents Of The Bill Of Quantities.......................................................................................3
2.2 Purposes Of Bills Of Quantities............................................................................................4
2.3 Production Of Bills Of Quantities.........................................................................................5
2.4 Divisions Of Bill Preparation.................................................................................................5
3.0 Substructure...............................................................................................................................6
4.0 Practical Problems Faced By Quantity Surveyor When Taking Off Quantities/ Preparing
BOQ For Substructure....................................................................................................................7
5.0 Solutions Developed Based On Method Of Measurement Of Building Works (SLS 573).......8
5.1 Site preparation......................................................................................................................8
5.2 Site condition.........................................................................................................................8
5.3 Bulking...................................................................................................................................9
5.4 Removal Of Top Soil.............................................................................................................9
5.5 Excavation over site...............................................................................................................9
6.0

Other Problems...................................................................................................................11

6.1 Excavation and Disposal of Earth........................................................................................11

6.2 Measuring Of Breaking Out of Existing Rock Materials.....................................................11
6.3 Problem In measuring Ground Beams. Intersection of Beams............................................11
7.0.Conclusion and Recommendation...........................................................................................12
24.0 Reference...............................................................................................................................13
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[BOQ PREPARATION FOR SUBSTRUCTURE]

List Of Abbreviations

BOQ -

Bills of Quantities

SLS

Standard Method of Measurement

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1.0 Introduction
The BOQ Preparation /Taking off quantities for Substructure is an important part of the Cost
estimate, To Prevent over Costing/ minimize the cost, It Should be Accurate as possible. In this
Particular Report Discuss about Problems which occurs when Preparation of Bill of quantities
for Substructure.
These Problems Raised As the result of Errors or conflict Situation of SLS 573 or Due to any
other Practical Problems.
The aim of this report is,

Use of the Standard Method of Measurement (SLS 573) for BOQ preparation/ taking
off quantities for substructure and find out Conflict Situations When Taking Off
Quantities/ preparing BOQs for Substructure.

Practical problems faced by Quantity Surveyors when taking off quantities/ preparing
BOQs for substructure.

Solutions developed for the problems encountered in preparing BOQs for

substructure. (Related to SLS 573).

Solutions developed for the problems encountered in preparing BOQs for

substructure. (Other Solutions).

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

2.0 Bills Of Quantities

A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a document used in tendering in the construction industry in
which materials, parts, and labor (and their costs) are item wised. It also (ideally) details the
terms and conditions of the construction or repair contract and item wises all work to enable
a contractor to price the work for which he or she is bidding. (Citing Wikipedia 2013, July 16)
Bills of quantities are prepared by quantity surveyors and building estimators, and Indeed the
bill of quantities was the raison deter for the development of quantity surveying as a separate
profession.
Bills of quantities are prepared by a taking off in which the cost of a building or other structure
is estimated from measurements in the Architects, Structural Engineers, and other building
consultants drawings. These are used to create a cost estimate such as in regard to the square
area in meters of walls and roofs, the numbers of doors and windows, and systems as heating,
plumbing and electrics. Similar types of work are then brought together under one item, a
process known as "abstracting".
Estimating books provide the relevant costs of the materials and labour costs of the operations or
trades used in construction. As the rates for materials and labour change due to inflation, these
books are frequently republished.
The practice historically of estimating building costs in this way arose from non-contractual
measurements, taken off drawings to assist tenderers in quoting lump sum prices.
There are different styles of bills of quantities, mainly the Elemental BOQ and Trade Bills

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

2.1 Contents Of The Bill Of Quantities

The principle use for the bills of quantities is to obtain competitive tenders and for this
purpose bills of quantities should be prepared to recognized Method of Measurement to
standardize the bills.
Bills of quantities, prepared in accordance with a Standard Method of Measurement, fully
describe and accurately represent the works to be executed and this provides a uniform
basis for competitive tendering. During the construction of the project the client and the
contractor use the bills as the basis for financial management.
Bills of Quantities may consist some or all of the following;
Bill Nr.1 - Preliminaries
Bill Nr.2 - Preambles
Bill Nr.3 - Measured works,
(a) Carcass

i. Foundations (substructure)
ii. Frame (columns and beams)
iii. External and internal walls
iv. Partitions
v. Floors
vi. Roofs

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

(b) Finishing

i. External & internal finishing

ii. Windows
iii. Doors including opening without joinery
iv. Fixtures & sundries
v. Stairs & lifts
vi. Plumbing & Engineering services

(c) External works

i. Drainage
ii. Roads, Paths, Site layouts, Outbuilding etc..

(d) Spot items

i. Alteration and repair items of a building

Bill Nr.4 Provisional quantities

Bill Nr.5 Prime cost & Provisional sums
Bill Nr.6 Contingency sums
Bill Nr.7 General summary

2.2 Purposes Of Bills Of Quantities

The bills of quantities are in use to the construction team for different purposes at different stages
and it is used in different ways. They are as follows;
a. Tendering
b. Valuation of interim certificates

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

c. Valuation of variations
d. Ordering of materials
e. Cost analysis for future use
f. Reference during the construction quality and cost
g. Construction planning and monitoring
h. Sub contractor quotation
i. Final accounts

2.3 Production Of Bills Of Quantities

There are several techniques of preparing Bills of Quantities. The most important
techniques in current use are as follows;
a. Traditional Method.
This system provides the taker off with a logical system of measurement designed
to promote accurate and efficient taking off. This method is also known as the Group
system or London Method.

b. Billing Direct.
This method involves taking off by trades, in order of billing, without the necessity
for an abstract and transfers the measured items from the dimension sheets to the bill
direct. This method is also known as Trade by- Trade system or Northern Method.

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

2.4 Divisions Of Bill Preparation

The traditional method of preparation of bills of quantities can be broken down into two
main processes.
a. Taking off.
This involves the measurement of dimensions, scaled or read from the drawings and
entered in a recognised form of specially ruled paper called Dimension paper and
the composition of clear and concise description sufficiently detailed to allow the
accurate pricing of the works.
b. Working up.
When the taking off is complete squaring the dimensions and transferring the
resultant lengths, areas and volumes to the abstract. Then squared dimensions are
arranged in convenient order for billing and reduced to the recognised units of
measurement. Also all the description and quantities are put in a logical order and
then the Bill is typed.

3.0 Substructure

The building can be dividing into two main categories as Substructure and Superstructure.
Bellow ground structure known as substructure and it is the base of the building. Below ground
is invisible, but engineer assume below ground condition according to soil report. Then he
decides what kind of foundation use for the building and he prepared detail drawing. Therefore
the main responsibility of Substructure is goes under a professional Engineer.

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

Upper ground structure known as superstructure and it is the Client and Architect imagining
output in the building. In Superstructure the main responsibility is goes to the Architect, as client
idea visuals in superstructure.
The quantity surveyors job applies to combine the two professional ideas into form of estimate.
Therefore taking out quantities from the sub structure and superstructure is varies due to its
condition, as superstructure is upper ground construction and it can be controlled as it is visible.
But the natural condition of the below ground is non predictable, and therefore additional
responsibilities is goes to the quantity surveyor to prepare the estimate to be satisfied with the
additional cost might rising due to the above reason.

4.0 Practical Problems Faced By Quantity Surveyor When Taking Off

Quantities/ Preparing BOQ For Substructure

Site preparation
the

- Clearing of site vegetation is measured as a superficial item and if

area to be cleared is not given,

Site condition

- Before commencing the taking off for foundation works,

drawings should be inspected to ascertain the existing ground levels and to determine the
average depths of excavations. If the levels are not given,

Bulking

Removal of top soil - When new buildings are to be constructed on natural ground,

Excavation over site - When a site is sloping,

Levels

- Commencing level,

Pit excavation

- Pit excavation is measured,

- Dimensions for volumes of excavation,

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

Trench excavation

Basement excavation- Basement excavation is measured,

Earthwork support - Actually required or not,

Disposal of water

Surface treatments - The bottom of excavations should be leveled and compacted

- The measurement of trench excavation,

- How to measured,

before commencing concrete or stonework foundation works and is measured as a

superficial item. Before filling to makeup levels,

5.0 Solutions Developed Based On Method Of Measurement Of

Building Works (SLS 573).

5.1 Site preparation

Clearing of site vegetation is measured as a superficial item and if the area to be cleared is not
given, the accepted area for clearing is 3.0 m away from all external faces of extreme external
walls. The clearing of site vegetation includes; bushes, shrub, under growth hedges and trees and
stumps not exceeding 500 mm girth is measured separately. The tree girths area measured at a
height of 1.0 m above ground level.
5.2 Site condition
Before commencing the taking off for foundation works, drawings should be inspected to
ascertain the existing ground levels and to determine the average depths of excavations. If the
levels are not given, the quantity surveyor is to visit the site to take a grid of the levels of the site.
In addition, he should ascertain the nature and location of existing buildings, details for
preliminary items and for the measurement of excavation works.
Other items to be noted are;

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

Site vegetation to be cleared,

Existence of topsoil or turf to be preserved,

Paving or existing structures to be demolished,

Nature of the ground,

Ground water level.

Site visit can be delayed until the general taking off is done, as notes can be made during the
taking off, of what must be looked at on the site. If the proposed works consists of mainly of
alterations, an early visit to the site is necessary, as most of the measurements have to be done at
site.
5.3 Bulking
Dimensions for volumes of excavation, disposal and filling shall be taken net as they are in the
ground. No account is taken for the soil increase in bulk after excavation in the bills of
quantities, but the estimator has to make due allowance in the unit rates of the item.
5.4 Removal Of Top Soil
When new buildings are to be constructed on natural ground, it is required to measure a separate
superficial item for removing vegetable or topsoil, where it is to be preserved. The measurements
are taken over the area of the whole building including the projection of the foundations beyond
the external faces of external walls. A separate cubic item shall be measured for the disposal of
the topsoil on site spoil heaps giving the location excavation for trenches pits, basements etc.,
shall than be measured from the underside of the topsoil excavation, which is called the
commencing level.
5.5 Excavation over site
When a site is sloping, a superficial item is measured where the average depth is less than
300mm or a cubic measurement is taken where the depth exceeds 300mm stating the maximum
Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

depth of the excavating to reduced levels, by cutting part of the site and filling the other part with
the excavated materials making the site leveled. The excavation to reduced levels should be
measured before any trench or pit digging, as it brings the surface to the reduced or formation
level, from which the trench or pit digging is measured.

5.6 Levels
The following three types of levels should be known before foundations are measured,
(a) Bottom of foundation,
(b) Existing ground level, and
(c) Floor level.
(a) and (b) above are required to measure pit or trench excavation and (a) and (c) above are
required to calculate the correct heights of column shafts, brickwork or other walling. If the
natural ground level varies, the levels have to be averaged either for the whole building or for
sections of it. The measurement of trench excavation is very easy, if the floor levels and the
bottom of the foundation levels are constant. In some buildings, both bottom of foundation and
the floor level may vary in different parts making the measurement of foundations very
complicated. Therefor it is useful to mark the existing ground levels on the plan.
(a) Pit excavation

- Pit excavation is measured as a cubic item and a separate cubic item of

disposal should be measured. The SMM requires stating the commencing level of excavation,
and the pits, whose area is not exceeding 1.0 m2 on plan, to be measured separately.
(b)Trench excavation

- The measurement of trench excavation is divided in to two

sections;

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

(a) Trenches, width exceeding 300 mm, and

(b) Trenches, width exceeding 300 mm.
Trench excavation, width exceeding 300 mm, shall be measured as a cubic item and a separate
cubic item of disposal is to be measured. Trench excavation, width not exceeding 300 mm shall
be measured as a linear item stating the width and the depth. The commencing level of
excavation should also be stated.
Internal walls to be collected up in groups according to the thickness of the walls, width of the
foundations and the average depths of excavations. Mean lengths of internal walls are taken and
adjustments are made in the length for overlaps (called T junctions), where internal walls abuts
external walls by deducting half the width of the foundation for each T junction, from the
internal wall lengths. A similar adjustment must be made, where internal walls intersect.
a) Disposal of water

- A separate item for disposal of surface and ground water

shall be measured as an item.

b) Surface treatments - The bottom of excavations should be leveled and
compacted before commencing concrete or stonework foundation works and is
measured as a superficial item. Before filling to makeup levels, a separate
superficial item shall be measured as leveling and compacting ground.

6.0Other Problems
6.1 Excavation and Disposal of Earth.
When Excavating Soil the SLS 573 Consider the Bulk Excavated = Bulk Disposal
No allowance for increasing of volumes

6.2 Measuring Of Breaking Out of Existing Rock Materials.

(Section D.4.1)
It is Difficult Measure Breaking out existing rock materials in volumes (m3)
Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

6.3 Problem In measuring Ground Beams. Intersection of Beams.

According to SLS 573 in Concrete Work Measurement rule M1, Concrete measured in
Net Volume, No Deductions are done for intersection of volumes. But practically if
ignored intersections the qty; increase highly and cost of BOQ increases for unnecessary
volumes.

7.0.Conclusion and Recommendation.

This section takes account of the standards and explains about the standards relating to present
situation. It creates arguments and questioning if the SLS 573 standards Suitable for current
construction industry? And according to the answer tries to find out what are the Problems
caused these situations, and what are the Solutions affecting to Prevent Conflict Situations,
negligence of the standard methods of measurements.
The quantity of material in a project can be accurately determined from the drawings. The
estimator must review each sheet of the drawings, calculate the quantity of material and record
the amount and unit of measure. Each estimator must develop a system of quantity takeoff that
ensures that a quantity is not omitted or calculated twice. A well-organized check-list of work
will help reduce the chances of omitting an item. The estimator must, also, add an appropriate
percentage for waste for those items where waste is likely to occur during construction. The
material quantity takeoff is extremely important for cost estimating because it often establishes
the quantity and unit of measure for the costs of labor and contractors equipment.
So, To Produce an Accurate Cost Estimate It is necessary to Change some of the Phrases,
Regulations and Rules of SLS 573 as Suitable to the Practical Situations. Though these revisions
Current Measurement Practice In The Industry

of SLS 573 is not done, Estimators can use their own Rules and Regulations for Conflict
Situations, But it would not give Uniform Comparable output due to these errors.

24.0 Reference
I.
II.
III.

Cost Estimating 21 Dr. EmadElbeltagi

ICTAD. (1999).Standard Method of Measurement of Building works.SLS 573.
SrinathPerera, GayaniKarunasena&ThileshFonseka, (2003) Built-Environment-Sri
Lanka -Vol. 03,A web-based user guide for Sri Lanka Standards 573: Standard
Method of Measurement of Building Works.

Current Measurement Practice In The Industry