STANDARD METHODS OF MEASUREMENT FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS

-basic PRINCIPLES-

Scope of civil engineering works

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the construction and design of public and private sector works such as bridges, roads, dams and buildings.

General civil engineers work closely with surveyors and specialized civil engineers to fit and serve fixed projects within their given site, community and terrain by designing grading, drainage, pavement, water supply, sewer service, electric and communications supply and land (real property) divisions.

Scope of civil engineering works (continued)

Construction engineers engage in the design of structures temporary, cost estimating, planning and scheduling, materials procurement, selection of equipment, and cost control.

Measurement for Civil Engineering Works

The civil works measurement referred to a document called 'Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement '(CESMM).

Before this document is produced, the party who responsible for the working measurement refers to the method adopted in the United Kingdom named ‘CESMM 2nd Edition or 3rd Edition’.

There are a large part of the measurement refer to methods used in building works or more unfortunate, they use their own measurement system. This led to inconsistencies in measurement procedures. As a result, contractors have difficulty to appreciate the tender.

The actual measurement work must take into account the level of complexity of work undertaken. Work measurement for any one item of work is also closely related to the methodology and construction activities

Malaysian Standard Method of Measurement for Civil Engineering

Works MALAYSIAN STANDARD METHODS

OF MEASUREMENT FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS is to be used in conjunction with the Conditions Of Contract for Civil Engineering Works.

Does not deal with the preparation of BQ for mechanical & electrical engineering work, building work or work which is seldom encountered in civil engineering contracts.

If any such work to be included in the contract, such work shall be measured in accordance with their respective SMM and shall be stated in the Preambles to the BQ.

Development Of Civil Engineering Codes Of

Measurement1933 – ICE provide the 1st time a standard procedure for drafting BQ for

civil engineering works – no uniformity of practice & engineers worked up their own systems.

1953 - Revised documents named Standard Method of Measurement of Civil Engineering Quantities

1963 – reissued with slight amendments 1968 – reissued with metric addendum 1976 – reappraisal of the civil engineering code of measurement by

consultation of the construction industry, relevant bodies & person produced Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement

Contract Documentation for Civil Engineering

1. Conditions of contract –a written agreement intended to be enforceable by law to bind the appointed contractor with the employer based on an agreed conditions.

2. Contract Drawings – technical / detailed construction drawings for measurement / costing by QS / engineers – prepared by architect / engineers.

3. Specification / Preambles - A concise description of materials and workmanship, standard or quality of workmanship. It must convey the architect and engineer’s requirements.

4. Bill of Quantities – prepared by Quantity Surveyor based on measurement from the construction drawings / building plans This document were itemized all the quantities for each categories of works applied in constructing the buildings. E.g. building works, mechanical, electrical works, civil, structural works, infrastructure works, etc. The contractor will priced /estimate all the works associated in completing the buildings during pre-construction stage.

Reasons for Bills of Quantities All tendering contractors base their prices on the same

information & therefore tenders are strictly comparable (even if an error exists in the Bill)

Contractors are saved the costly exercise of each having to take off quantities for themselves.

Bills provide a fair basis for valuing variations and adjustments for the final account.

Bills may provide a convenient basis for valuation of certificated stage payments during the contract, before the accurate re-measurement figures are available.

Bills provide an approximate checklist for the contractor to order materials and other resources.

Bills can provide data for cost analysis for use in cost planning of future projects.

Comparison of Civil Engineering and Building Methods of Measurement

CESMM SMM

provides a standard format, either in the form of items components and how they should be measured.

various stages of introducing CESMM classification or space for description of the work that can be developed.

CESMM measurement method using the concept of method-related charges to present the cost of construction at the site in more obvious, such as covering the cost of site

preparation and building machinery operating costs, labor force and so on.

The details of building works are more in precise stage at the time preparing BQ.

Building work covers more work sections in consequence subject to more detailed measurement.

Scope of measurement based on CESMM

Various civil engineering works including roads, railway, bridges, artificial channels, canals and drainage, shipyard, ports, bases, embankments, structure-breaking waves and drainage work.

Apart from that it also includes projects such as structural engineering among others, metal work, reinforced concrete work, stone work, wood work and brick work

Procedures and Practices of CESMM

Include the scope of most project management such as:

selection types of contracts, documentation, preparation of drawings, specifications, project information, contract terms and list of quantities, preparation of list of material requirements / quantities, Method statement - detailed list of detailed construction

work with short explanation with quantity measured by CESMM

Explanation on the scope of work that will be implemented by the contractor and then be the basis for pricing the tender.

Purpose of CESMM The main purpose of the

measurement based on CESMM is for coordinating and planning of the quantity list, to list the details of work to ensure consistency and systematic and to state the new techniques of construction clearly.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 1

Definitions A number of definitions are contained. Referring to words / expression that will

be defined in the CESMM and preparation of bill of Quantities.

Words and expression defined in the CESMM shall have the same meaning when defining the words / expression in the Conditions of Contract and the Specifications

Please refer to CESMM-Section 1: definitions.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 2General Principles

In this section , it clarify the following: The application and extent of

CESMM Objective of CESMM Objectives of the Bill of Quantities

Malaysian Standard Method of Measurement for Civil Engineering Works (CESMM) to be used in conjunction with the conditions of contract for Civil Engineering works.

Refer to CESMM-SECTION 2

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 3

Application of the Work Classification Work classification divides work into 18 main

classes; Class A- Class R Each class comprises up to 3 division which

classify work at successive level of detail. First division Second division Third division

Each division comprises a list of up to 8 descriptive features of work.

Each item description shall identify the component of work covered with respect to one feature from each division of the relevant class.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 4

Coding & Numbering of Items Each item in the work classification has been placed

with the code and numbering system that alphabetically and not more than three digits.

The letter corresponds to the class in the work classification in which the items occurs and the digits give the position of the item in the first, second and third divisions of the class.

E.g. Code F.3.1.0 identifies an item asClass F concrete works1st Division 3 precast concrete2nd Division 1 beams3rd Divison 0

Description: F.3.1.0 - Precast concrete, in beams

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 4

Coding & Numbering of Items Reasons:

It gives an advantage to the tendered contractors due to bills that have code.

Quantity surveyor feels that they are assisted by the code and numbering system and can be used as a brief reference to the file system and data costs.

Each class work contains a set of measurements, definitions, coverage, additional rules of measurement that expands and clarify all information and evidence.

Every classification of work explains every units for

each item of work, within the total allocation and numbering system for each item, the items in units of meters long, in units of square meters of area (hectares for cleaning site), unit volume and weight and metric units.

CESMM; SECTION 4(Code & Numbering of Items)

Applications for Bridge Work

CESMM; SECTION 4(Code & Numbering of Items)

Applications for Road works

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CESMMCESMM; Section 5

Preparations of the Bill of Quantities The preparation of BQ shall be started

prior to the completion of measurement works.

Section of the bill of Quantities: Preamble Work items – division of the BQ into

parts. Day work schedule Grand summary / tender summary