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Smm7 Questions & Answers: John Davidson FRICS
Smm7 Questions & Answers: John Davidson FRICS
by
and
Acknowledgements
The authors and publishers wish to thank the Standing Joint Committee for the Standard Method of
Measurement for the use of material from the SMM7 Standard Method of Measurement of Building
Works and the SMM7 Measurement Code.
John Davidson would also like to thank his employer, Cyril Sweett Ltd, for their support during the
writing of this book.
Contents
page
Introduction
General Rules
Preliminaries/General conditions
C Existing site/buildings/services
D Groundwork
11
23
Masonry
37
G Structural/Carcassing metal/timber
45
H Cladding/Covering
55
Waterproofing
65
Linings/Sheathing/Dry partitioning
67
Windows/Doors/Stairs
75
M Surface finishes
77
N Furniture/Equipment
93
95
Q Paving/Planting/Fencing/Site furniture
99
Disposal systems
101
103
iii
Introduction
This book SMM7 Questions & Answers is a companion volume to the seventh edition of the Standard
Method of Measurement (SMM7) and the SMM7 Measurement Code. It has been written to try to assist
in the interpretation of some of the more complex areas of measurement and work description.
The authors hope that it will eliminate many of the arguments and disputes, and explain some of the
more common misunderstandings which can arise on construction projects due to differences of
interpretation. This text uses questions sent to the Standing Joint Committee (SJC) and their
responses on live issues. For ease of understanding by the reader, questions and responses have been
paraphrased and, where appropriate, combined with other similar questions.
This book utilises diagrams in certain cases to clarify the question or the answer in relation to
identify with the Standard Method of Measurement text.The book follows the structure of SMM7 and
its component chapters. However, because the book is based on actual questions submitted to the
SJC for SMM7, not all sections are covered here.
It is also important to recognise that SMM7 and this book both deal with the measurement and
description of construction work. Among the queries received by the SJC there are a number which
do not fall within the committees remit; such as queries on landfill tax, on valuation methods for
variations, or on actual rates set for jobs.These issues are not discussed in this text.
MEASUREMENT
RULES
DEFINITION
RULES
COVERAGE
RULES
SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION
CLASSIFICATION
TABLE
The questions and answers in this section are referenced as F20.1.1.1.1, Measurement Rule F20.M1,
etc., for simplicity even if they may be specific to the other headings (i.e. F21, F22). Where detailed
numbers such as F20.1.*.1 are used they refer to the numbered items in the Classification Table.
(Note that .*. corresponds to a blank column.)
Occasionally a question is included in more than one section, typically where the Work Section in the
answer is different from that raised in the question.
SMM7 Q & A
Important notes
Some SMM7 Work Sections and subsections were renumbered and new Work Sections introduced in
the 1998 Revision.These were Work Sections C, D, E F, G, H J, K, l, M, Q, and R.
All SMM7 references refer to the current edition, i.e. the Seventh Edition Revised 1998, incorporating
Amendments 1 and 2.
The interpretation of the rules of SMM7 are those of the authors but are based on replies made
under the auspices of the SJC.
All answers given in this book assume strict interpretation of the rules of measurement contained
within SMM7.This may mean that some answers appear to be extremely pedantic. Surveyors are free
to measure any item of work in any other way they may think appropriate provided they insert an
explanatory note or qualification in the Bill(s) of quantities clearly describing their intentions.
NOTE: No work can be deemed included, irrespective of what the measurement rules say, unless it
can be seen on the drawings or understood from the specification or by reference to a catalogue or
other standard specification, such as a British Standard, that can be easily obtained by the estimator
when pricing the Bills of quantities.
vi
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architects instruction
Bill(s) of quantities (other common abbreviations are BofQ and BQ)
builders work in connection
damp-proof course
damp-proof membrane
extra over
earth work support
hour
kilogramme
metre
square metre
cubic metre
millimetre
National Building Specification
not exceeding
number
overall
prime cost sum
provisional sum
quantity surveyor
tonne
exceeding
equal to or exceeding
not exceeding
less than
percentage
blank column
Introduction
The book references rules using the Work Section and Rule number, e.g. Measurement Rule F10.M1.
Classification Table Rules are referenced by the Work Section then column numbers from left to
right, e.g. F10.1.1.1, H10.3.*.1,Y10.9.1.
Publications referred to regularly in this book are abbreviated as follows:
SMM7
Measurement Code
CAWS
vii
General Rules
1 Introduction
4 Descriptions
Yes.
SMM7 Q & A
9 Composite items