All about quantity surveying measurement techniques

All about quantity surveying measurement techniques

1. Measurement (taking off) procedures

This article discusses the traditional techniques that Quantity Surveyors use to display the information annoted on drawings into a written format that can be used to agree a final budget and be used a pricing document and payment document.

A lot of these techniques have been superceded by computer technology but its interesting to look at how the approach these techniques followed.

Very few quantity surveyors will use pen and paper and a scale ruler to take off quantities now but they will probably still follow the same order of measurement.

In order words what quantity surveyors do on computers now, the computer software is based on these techniques.

• General rules
• Basic principles
• Tablulated rules
• Dimensions paper
• Measurement procedures
• Entering dimensions
• Spacing of items
• Waste
• Order of dimensions
• Timesing
• Abbreviations and symbols
• Grouping of dimension
• Deduction
• Measurement of irregular figures
• Alterations to dimensions
• Figured dimensions
• Number and titles of dimensions sheets
• Order of taking off
• Adjustment of openings and voids
• Descriptions
• Use of metric symbols
• Extra over items
• Deemed to be included items
• Accuracy in dimensions
• Falls
• Crossfalls and slopes
• Drawn information
• Use of schedule
• Take off lists
• Query sheets
• Preambles
• Prime cost items
• Provisional sums
• Work of special types
• Fixing
• Base and background
• Composite items
• General definitions
• Services and facilities
• Plant items
• Standard components

• Standard approach
• Standard methods of measurement
• The SMM7 measurement code
• Presentation of quantities
• Measurement practice