1 Measurement of walls and partitions

© University College of Estate Management 2017 P10564 V2-0

Contents
1 Walls and facings 3
1.1 Battering walls (14.1.1.2) 5
1.2 Curved walls (14.1.1 Note 3) 5
1.3 Projections (14.5) 6

2 Partitions 8
2.1 Block partitions 8
2.2 Stud partitions 10

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 Walls and facings

1 Walls and facings

Walls are measured above the damp-proof course (dpc) level. Walls
below dpc level are measured with the substructures. The major
divisions for taking off would be external walls followed by the internal
walls. Further sections include projections, either from the wall face,
such as piers or chimney breasts, or above top datum line such as flues
and chimney stacks. The measurements will be booked initially ignoring
openings, etc. unless there is good reason to adjust at this stage.

The NRM2 rules for measuring brickwork and blockwork are contained
in Section 14 of the tabulated work sections under the title of Masonry,
the generic heading used to cover stonework and glass block walling
as well as brickwork and blockwork.

Under NRM2, all brick and block walls are measured in square metres
stating the thickness — either half brick, one brick, etc., or exact
thickness, 102.5mm, 215mm (two half-brick thickness plus 10mm of
mortar), etc. The description of the walls covers the materials of which
they are constructed. These can be:

• Common bricks, which will in all probability be covered with

materials such as plaster, rendering, tiling, etc., and in consequence
no special finish is required.

• Common bricks finished with a ‘fair face’ where they are to be

exposed. The description must include details of that finish such
as pointing, etc.

• Special or ‘facing’ bricks where appearance is all important. Again

the description must include details of the finish.

The examples that follow show typical descriptions of brick walls

showing how the various alternatives can apply.

All labours on brickwork and blockwork are deemed to be included

except closing cavities.

With cavity wall construction both leaves will require measuring

separately (along their own centrelines multiplied by their height) and
a cavity will need to be formed. There may also be some insulation
required to the cavity. The external leaf may be of facing bricks and the
inner leaf would perhaps be of blocks. Depending on location, though,
some external leaves are built in blockwork and rendered; other areas
may require walls to be built of natural or reconstituted stone. Care
should also be taken when working out the height of cavity walls as the
inner leaf is often higher than the outer leaf. Inspection of detail drawing
at eaves is recommended to obtain accurate dimensions. An item of

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 closing cavities may well be required. This is measured lineally and the
width of cavity and the method of closing is included in the description.

The following differentiation is often made in brickwork:

• Common brickwork — walling which will not need any facings or

special pointing. This is normally subsequently covered, say with
render or plaster.

• Facework — walling that is built with an exposed face which will

require a neater finish or special brick to be used.

In descriptions it is normal to identify the type of brick, block or stone,

the mortar to be used, the bond being used and any particular pointing
that may be required.

When measuring walling, divide the building into manageable areas.

Assume, say, a box up to eaves level, adjust for any additional blocks
on the inner leaf and then measure any triangular areas in gable end
walls or details as may be shown. To relieve the appearance of large
areas of brickwork it is quite common to see different coloured band
courses used in a number of ways. These can be in line with the wall or
projecting slightly or even recessed. These band courses are measured
lineally, stating the width. These can be in line with the wall (flush), or
projecting slightly (depth of set forward stated), or even sunk (depth
of set back stated). A deduction of the original wall is required for the
area displaced by the band, as they are not measured as extra over the
original brickwork measured.

The following examples show the various options that you may come
across.

5.50 Walls facework one side, One brick thick wall built
3.20 215mm thick as before with facework one side
measured as an area.
5.50 Facework, ornamental The band course is
bands in mixed red flush with the wall and
facings, built flush, a contracting brick. As
horizontal brick on end it does not go through
band 215mm thick, flush the thickness of the wall
pointed there is no deduction
from the previous
item. As the material
is different it is also not
measured as extra over.

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 Walls and facings

5.50 Facework, ornamental Here the band course

bands, projecting, set projects from the face of
forward 50mm horizontal the wall but it is built in
215mm high, flush the same brickwork.
pointing to top and soffit
of projection

3.20 Facework, quoins, Where there are specific

vertical, in mixed red patterns called for either
facings, 318mm girth at quoins or jambs
bonded to buff brickwork then reference to a
as before, all as drawing drawing would be more
as/001 appropriate than long,
flowing descriptions.

The following sketches illustrate the method of measuring more

complex types of work and also repeat some of the more important
basic rules covered earlier.

1.1 Battering walls (14.1.1.2)

14.00 2B semi-eng bks in cm

3.68 (1:3) in English bond in
battering walls

1B
2B
2) 3B
avg 1.5B

10.00 Tapered wall avg 1.5B thi

3.75 of cb in cm (1:3) one side
battered.

1.2 Curved walls (14.1.1 Note 3)

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 ¼/π /2 3.00 1.5B wall of cb in cm a b d
2.00 curved to 3m rad

1.3 Projections (14.5)

1.3.1 Plinths

The wall would be measured its nominal thickness for the full height
and the additional brickwork in the plinth dealt with as follows — length
10m in each case:

10.00 Projections 600mm

high and 0.25B wide
a b d, horizontal

1.3.2 Piers

2.00 Bkwk a b d but in

projection 0.5B deep
and 450mm wide on
face, vertical

Attached piers are to be described as walls if the length is greater than

four times the thickness.

1.3.3 Projections on existing walls

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 Walls and facings

2.00 Half-a-brick in
projections of
attached piers
on existing walls
including cutting
away for and
bonding every fourth
course of new work
to old brickwork
680mm wide on face

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2 Partitions
The following example of measuring block partitions illustrates the
idea of collecting together quantities of work similar in several respects
(thickness, height, etc.).

Figure 1

Drawing No MBW1/4/2

2.1 Block partitions

Reference drwg MBW1/4/2 (Figure 1).

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 Partitions

Position 50 75 100mm
A to B 2.150 Collections should be made as often as
B to C 2.150 possible but must always be perfectly
A, B, C to E 4.725 clear and easy to follow at a later stage.

75
2.600 7.400
E to F, H 7.400
C, E, H to D 7.650
F to H 4.350
F to G 1.600

2.135
3.735
wants 2/.700 1.400
2.335
Splay 1.000 3.335
WCs 2/.900 1.800
2/50 .100 1.900
1.675
— 50
2/ 1.625 3.250
8.485 23.450 7.650

8.49 50mm Terracotta hollow blocks

2.50 300 × 225mm, keyed both sides
for plaster bedded and jointed in
gauged mortar (1:1:6) in walls

23.45 75mm Ditto

2.50

7.65 100mm Ditto

2.50

Partitions are measured under a group heading and the term is used to
denote those rather thin walls, usually of blocks (concrete or terracotta),
slabs or timber, which are intended to divide spaces in the structure
into smaller spaces. It could quite well be that these partitions are
formed of pressed steel units, compressed straw, laminated plastic,
bamboo canes or woven fabrics.

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 However, let us confine our attention in the first instance to blockwork.
The rules should be reviewed and will apply to blockwork generally.

The recommended routine for measuring block partitions is to group

together by means of a suitable schedule all those partitions which
are similar in thickness, type, finish and height. After the main overall
measurements, bonding if appropriate should be measured.

The other type of partition that may be encountered is that built of

timber. The timber members, including noggins and struts in partitions
are measured by length in metres, stating their size in the description.

Partitions formed of timber are referred to as stud partitions, where the

timbers generally are spaced vertically at convenient intervals between
a bottom member (sill) and top piece (head). Usually there are short
timbers horizontally to maintain a regular spacing (noggings); and
trussed partitions, where the arrangement of timbers is such that the
load is tranferred to convenient points of support.

2.2 Stud partitions

Where a partition is of timber the several members are measured in
linear form. The dimensions assume that the 100mm partition in the
last example is a stud partition. When a length is likely to be over 6m it
is normal to allow 150mm for a joint.

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 Partitions

Stud partitions.
7.650
Joint .150
7.800

(Sill and head

2/ 7.80 50 × 100 mm 16.1.1.7
Impregnated sawn
softwood in partitions
400) 7.650 The overall length is
divided by the spacing
19 + 1
and if one is then added
= 20 will give the number
of upright members or
studs.

2.500
-2/50 -.100

2.400
2/13 26
2.426
20/ 2.43 (Studs
2/ 7.65 (Noggings These are the horizontal
members that strengthen
structure.
2/23/ 0.05 Deduct When measuring net
ditto it is worth marking the
position of the studs on
(Intersctn. of studs and nogging
the drawing and making
allowance for additional
studs at door openings
if required. Put sketches
with your dimensions
to show what you have
measured.

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