ENGINEERING

MEASUREMENT AND

EVALUATION CEC214
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR

DUTIES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS

Professionals in the Nigerian context and in civil engineering

are individuals with expert knowledge in an aspect of
engineering coupled with the requisite skills and experience.
There are many of them in the civil engineering industry
they are primarily employed by project owners for expert
advice on how to go about executing their proposed project.
A project cannot be executed by a single professional; it
must be through two or more professionals working together
in anharmonious relationship to achieve the client’s desires.
It is a relationship amongst equals, but for the purpose of
administration a lead professional isalways appointed by the
client to coordinate the activities of the professionals.

DUTIES OF PROFESSIONALS TO THE CLIENT

They jointly perform the following responsibilities to the client:

a) To translate the ideals of the client into reality

b) To make sure the money spent by the client produce a
commensurate value
c) To recommend contractors, subcontractors and suppliers to
the client through the tendering process
d) To recommend the appropriate tendering procedure and
contractual arrangement relevant for the project at hand,
e) Engage in contract administration on behalf of the client
f) Be an arbiter between the client and contractors,
subcontractors and suppliers
g) To protect the interest of the client at all times
 BEME AND BOQ

Beme: Bills of Engineering measurement and evaluation. This is

a document prepared solely to determine the cost of a proposed
engineering project before contract is entered into. To achieve
this purpose a schedule of the items of work to be done to
execute a proposed project are prepared with their quantities and
descriptions with columns created for their pricing. Therefore
bills of engineering measurement and evaluation is a document
showing clearly the several items of works to be done in
executing a proposed engineering project, with their respective
quantities and descriptions, ready to be priced. BEME is meant
for engineering projects. It can only be prepared by Engineers
and Quantity surveyors.

BOQ means Bills of quantities. It is all encompassing and can be

bed for both building and engineering projects. It is similar to the
above in several aspects, except one is only meant for engineering
project.

OBJECTIVES OF BEME/BOQ

The objectives of BEME and BOQ are:

a) To provide sufficient information on the quantities of work

to be done to enable bids to be prepared efficiently and
accurately
b) When a contract has been entered into, to provide a priced
BEME/BOQ for use in periodic valuation of works
executed.
 USES OF BEME/BOQ

a) As part of bidding documents, during tendering

b) When contract is entered into, they become a contract
document
c) They provide in details the itemised lists of works necessary
in executing a proposed project
d) They provide a basis for the determination of quantity of
materials labour and plant to be used for the execution of a
proposed project and their ordering (or purchase),
e) They provide a basis for the valuation of work done to date
and for the valuation of variations
f) They provide a basis for the production of cost analysis of
an executed project and cost planning of a future and
similar project

METHODS OF PREPARING BEME AND BOQ

1. Traditional method
2. Billing direct
3. Cut and shuffle
4. Computer

Traditional method is made up of two parts:

a) Taking-off
b) Working-up

Taking-off had been properly discussed elsewhere in this note.

What we need to discuss now is working-up. Working-up is made
up of:

(a) Squaring (b) Abstracting (c) Billing

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF BILL PREPARATION

The traditional bill preparation method can be a lengthy and time

consuming exercise, unnecessarily so for simpler projects. A
numbers of ways shortening this process can be adopted. The
project engineer or the project Q.S should decide on and follow
the procedures for, the method most suited to the particular
project in hand.

TAKING-OFF

This is the procedure by which dimensions of the works are

calculated or scaled off drawings and entered into dimension
papers, or others similar computerised formats.

a b c d a b c d

Dimensions paper: this is a specially ruled paper divided into two

equal parts with four columns each to receive dimensions, waste
calculations, descriptions, squaring etc.

Column A (timesing column): Multiplying figures are entered

where there is more than one of the particular item being
measured

Column B(Dimension column): this where the actual dimension

read or scaled from drawings are entered. Dimensions are also
obtained from waste calculates

Column C(squaring column): this is where the product of

columns A and B are entered ready for transfer to the abstract or
bill.

Column D(Description column): this is the column where the

written description and codes of each item work are entered. The
right hand side of this column is known as the ‘’waste’’ area. It is
used for preliminary calculation build-up of lengths, explanatory
notes and related matters. All steps that have been taken in
arriving at dimensions, no matter how elementary or apparently
trivial, should be entered here, as this will neatly aid
measurements, valuing the works done for interim certificates,
and answering any queries regarding the measurement which
may arise.

Entering Dimensions into Dimensions Paper

A constant order of entering dimensions must be maintained

throughout, that is (1)length, (2) Breadth or width and (3) depth
or height, so that there can be no doubt of the shape of the item
being measured.

Dimensions should usually be recorded in metres to two decimal

places and a line drawn across the description Column under
each sets of measurement.

Very often when measuring a number of dimensions for one item

of work it is necessary to deducts some dimensions from the
total. To ensure this is done clearly, it is good practice to enter
such dimension in the timesingcolumn when under the heading
DDT (i.e. deduction).

Many of the words entered in the description when can be

abbreviated to save both space and time.

Ample space should be left between items of work on the

dimension papers so that it is necessary to follow the dimension
with ease and to enable any items, which may have been omitted
when the dimensions were first taken off, to be inserted
subsequently.

All entries in the dimensions sheet should be made in ink (blue

or black). If it becomes necessary to amend any dimensions that
have been entered on the dimension paper, this should never be
done by the use of correction fluid, or by altering the actual
figures. The correct procedure is to write NIL in the squaring
column against the dimensions to be amended, and to write new
dimensions in the normal manner under the last dimension
listed for that items.

Each dimension sheet should be headed with the contract

numbers, and the abbreviated contract title, section of the job
and the drawing numbers to which the taking-off sheet referred
at the head of each sheet. Each sheet should be numbered
consecutively at the bottom.

At the top of the first dimension sheet for each main section of
works the list of drawing from which the measurement is taken
should be entered. Revisions to the drawings used should be
precisely be stated so that in the event of any change being made
to work as originally planned it can be clearly seen what was
measured in the BOQ.

Dimension sheet should be punched in the top left hand corner

on completion and fastened together with treasury tags.

STANDARD METHOD OF MEASUREMENT (SMM)

It is important to establish a considerable degree of

standardization in the method of preparing BOQ and BEME and
the units used in them.To achieve this aim, a standard method of
measurement is used, the purpose of which can be summarized
as follows:

a) To facilitate pricing by standardizing the layout and content

of the BOQ and BEME.
b) To provide a systematic structure of bill items, leading to
uniform the itemization and descriptions.
c) To provide a rational system of billing suitable for both
manual and computer operations.
d) To simplify the measurement of works and the
administration f contracts
e) To provide a uniform basis for measuring the works so as
to avoid misunderstanding and ambiguities.
f) To assist in the financial control of the works.
For the purpose of this class, we shall be using CESMM4 and
BESMM4 as our standard methods of measurement.

Civil engineering standard method of measurement (CESMM) is a

document produced by Institute of civil Engineers, in United
Kingdom, and has produced so far four volumes of CESMM,
while BESMM4 is produced by Nigerian Institute of Quantity
surveyors (NIQS). Four volumes had been produced so far by this
body with the present one known as Building and Engineering
Standard Method of Measurement Volume 4. BESMM 4 can be
used also for civil engineering works. They both can serve all the
purpose earlier mentioned above

CESMM

It means Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement.

The CESMM is intended to be used in conjunction with the
conditions of contract and only in connection with works of Civil
Engineering construction the CESMM does not deal with the
preparation for, or the measurement of, mechanical or electrical
engineering work, building work or work which seldom
encountered in Civil engineering contracts.

Where any such work is to be included in a contract for Civil

engineering work, it shall be itemised and described in the bills of
quantities in sufficient detail, taking into account its significance
to the works as whole, to enable tenderers to price it adequately.
If such work is to be measured the method of measurement shall
be stated in the PREAMBLE to the bills of Quantities.

OBJECT OF THE CESMM

The object of the CESMM is to set forth the procedure according

to which the bills of quantities shall be prepared and priced and
the quantities of work expressed and measured.

KEYS.

1. Identify the works to be done to execute a proposed project.

2. Itemise them in a recognised manner
 3. Obtain their quantities (or measure their quantities).
4. Get descriptions for the works itemised.
5. This will enable pricing from tenderers.

BESMM 4

INTRODUCTION

It came as a result of reviewing BESMM3 and correcting all the

errors, text or context i.e. typographical, inserting any omission,
removal of unnecessary features, rearrangement of contents and
features and incorporating additional rules deemed necessary
serve its purpose more effectively.

Secondly, BESMM 3 was reviewed with other similar

international standards of measurement and a completely
updated document appeared in the form of BESMM4, along the
same principles of NRM2, CESMM4 and ISMM with some
adjustments to suite the main contracting culture in the Nigerian
Construction Industry.

OBJECT OF BESMM4

1. Contractually, BESMM4 is neutral hence is in suitable for

any measure and value form of contract.
2. It provides fundamental guidance on the detailed
measurement and description of building, engineering and
industrial works for the purpose of obtaining a tender price,
valuation for interim payment as well as a veritable basis for
the valuation of variations for building, Engineering and
Industrial project.
3. The rules therein addresses all aspect of bill of quantities
production, including setting out the information required
from the employer and other constructions to enable a bill
to be prepared, as well as dealing with the quantification of
non-measurable work items and risks.
4. Guidance is also provided on the content, structure and
format of BOQ, as well as the benefits and uses of bill of
quantities.
 5. While written for the preparation of Bills of quantities,
quantification schedule of work and quantified work
schedules, BESMM4 will be invaluable when designing and
developing standard or bespokeschedule of Rates.
6. It provides essential guidance to all those involved in the
preparation of Bill of quantities, as well those who wish to
be better informed about the purpose, use and benefits of
bills of quantities.

TIMESING

It is an operation done during taking off. This is done, to show

clearly the frequency which a dimension appears in taking-off.
Instead of rewriting dimension at the rate at which they appear,
the frequency figure is struck against the particular dimension.

DOTTING ON

Similar to the above operation. When timesing is completed, and

it is discovered that the rate at which a particular dimension
appears in not properly account for the remaining balance in
added on the existing figure with a dot.

WASTE CALCULATION:

These are preliminary calculations done to calculate for lengths

that cannot be obtained from drawings and schedules directly.
All steps that have been taken in arriving at dimension, no
matter how elementary or apparently trivial, should be entered,
as this will neatly aidremeasurement, valuing the works done for
interim certificate, and answering any queries regarding the
measurements which may arise. This activity in done in the
description column

AMPERSAND

It is represented with this symbol &. It is used during taking –off

to join two or three or more descriptions together which have
similar dimension. It saves space and time, and ultimately
resources spent on stationaries.
 UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

1. M - Metre
2. M2 - Square Metre
3. M3 - Cubic Metre
4. Mm - MilliMetre
5. Nr or No - Number
6. Kg - Kilogramme
7. Kn - Kilonewton
8. T - Tonne
9. Ha - Hectare
10. Km - KiloMetre
11. P.C Sum - prime Cost Sum
12. Pro. Sum - provisional Sum
13. Sum - Lumpsum
14. > - Exceeding
15. ≥ - Exceeding or Equals
16. < - Less than
17. ≤ - Less than or Equal to
18. % - Percentage
19. - - Hyphen

SPECIFICATION
Drawing cannot completely say or explain clearly what that the
client wants. There is a need for further explanation. This is
provided for by specification. To execute a proposed project, there
will be need for Labour, plant and materials. What specification
does is to explain in clear terms the right kind of Labour, plant
and materials needed to execute a proposed project. Specification
defines what the client wishes to buy and consequently what the
contractor in expected to supply,Specification is used during:
A. Tendering, to help the Estimator to price the work that is
required to be carried out.
B. Construction, by the designer in order to determine the
requirements of the contract, legally, technically and
financially and by the contractor to determine the work to
be carried out on site.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR SPECIFICATION WRITERS.

(a) From the past experiences of designers and technology

specialist.
(b) National construction specification/National building codes.
(c) Client’s requirement
(d) From reports (e.g. Site investigation, Site survey etc.)
(e) Manufacturer’s catalogues
(f) Trades Associations Manual
(g) Scientific and technical Journal.
(h)Professional journals produced and published by
professional bodies e.g. NIA, NIQS, NIOB, NSE, etc.
(i) Research Institutes journals

TYPES OF SPECIFICATION

The two main types of specification used are:

a. Prescriptive.
b. Performance.

1. Prescriptive specification

This type is always in a written form it is written directly

from the designers/technology specialists to the contractors
to further clarify the quality of materials and workmanship,
the written specifications are used to supplement the
drawing. The instructions are clear and straightforward and
cannot be overruled by the contractor except by a variation
order by the client.
2. Performance: this is tied to performance this is closely related
to the object to which the structure will be used for after
completion. This type of specification is performance driven.