Introduction to Measurement of Building Works

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. Understand the evolution of SMM of Construction works; 2. Understand the developments from different editions of SMM up to BESMM4R; 3. Know the philosophy underlying the use of tabulated format; 4. Apply BESMM4R to taking off using standard stationery for manual bill of quantities preparation; and 5. Understand the purpose of bill of quantities.

Standard Methods of Measurement (SMM) of construction works: Evolution of SMM of construction works, development of different editions of SMM and introduction to the use of Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Fourth Edition Revised (BESMM4R) in practice. Philosophy underlying the use of the tabulated format; exercises in framing and coding typical descriptions. Introduction to the standard stationery used in manual bill of quantities preparation: taking off sheet, abstracting sheet and billing sheet. The Bill of Quantities: Purposes of the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), manual processes of preparation of the bill of quantities: taking off, squaring, working up and billing – with simple illustrative examples; and an appreciation of a model BOQ. Introduction to the use of MS Excel in BOQ preparation with simple illustrative examples. Types of bill format and their uses. Components of bill of quantities: preamble clauses, Preliminary items, measured items and the use of provisional and prime cost sums.