Services and civil

measurement
CESMM 4 Revised

Ravindu Kahandawa
 Use the definitions when
reading this document if not
specified different in the
context
Work means work, liabilities,
obligations and risks
undertaken by the contract
1
Contract admin can be the
employer or his rep or agent

2 Expressly required means,

• included in the drawings or,
3 • Included in the
specification or,
4 • Instructions by the Contact
admin as per the contract
5 List of work with brief
descriptions, that should be
6 done according to the contract
Work categorisations
7 according to section 8

8 surface of the ground before

work starts
 final excavation surface
Definitions – CESMM 4 revised level according to the
drawings

Commencement level –
• Level before any work is
1 carried out
• If it’s a group of work
items, (example
excavation, bored, drilled
2 or driven hole in different
materials,) surface of the
ground before work
started by that set of
items

Excavated surface
3
• To the level that item
excavates to
• IF its group of items – to
the level all items
4 excavate to

“ – “ means including and exceeding A but not exceeding B,

• A≤X<B
Original Surface, Commencing surface,
excavated surface, and final surface
Excavation of top soil
maximum depth 5m -
10m

means

Maximum excavation
depth for topsoil is
between 5m and
10m
End of section
1
 Use the standard only for CIVIL work and
simple building work related to Civil work

1 Use Class Z for

building work. IF you
are measuring
complex work and
mechanical and
electrical work items
- describe the
2 method of
measurement fully to
support proper
measurement

Use the standard to

3 prepare, develop
quantities and price
the BOQ
 Objective of the BOQ
Section 2 - General Principles • To support tender
to be prepared
efficiently and
accurately
• In post contract –
valuation of work
1 executed

To gain these
objectives,
1. different BOQ
CESMM shows items should be
2 there for, Different
• How work
should be work classes,
divided into Different nature of
sections work, Or changes
3 in cost
• What details
should be 2. But make the BOQ
given in the as brief and simple
description as possible
• Unit 4
• How the Defined work should
measure the be covered by the BOQ
items
End of section
2
 Has 26 classes,
• Each class three divisions
which describes the work
• Each division has 8 descriptive
features of work
• Each item should only cover
one feature from each division
1
E.g. - Precast concrete (class H)
• Type of concrete unit (division
1). Dimension (division 2),
Mass (division 3)
2 E.g., Pipes
• division classifies pipes =
material (division 1), nominal
bore of the pipe (division 2),
3 and the depth Commencing
Surface (division 3).

Avoid lengthy descriptions,

4 • Identify what is need – e.g.
the component of permanent
work
How to write • not the task – not how to do it
• Plain round mild steel bar R/F to nominal size 20mm
• No – Supply, deliver, cut bend and fix plain round mild steel bars R/F
Section 3 - Application of the work Classification If the work in item does not
include all work, supply, deliver,
cut and fix. Mentions the limit
• E.g. Supply and delivery
1
If an item is divided into two
classes mention which part is
covered by each section
• Miscellaneous metal insert
2 1. Class G - casting inserts
2. Class N – supply inserts

Divided each items should only

3 include one feature from each
division

e.g. for class H, if its precast

includes only one type, one
4 dimension and one type of mass

Use the UOM stated and applies

all subdivisions
5
Measurement rules specify how
to measure and calculate the
6 quantities
Section 3 - Application of the work Classification
Definition rule – definition rule defines
the scope and limit of “word or an
1 expression” mentioned in that class

Coverage rule – specifies what is

included in that items – CLASS R C1-
2
• IT does not mention all items that
should be included
• ALSO it does not remove
construction method related costs
OR override the drawings and
specifications
3 • BUT might change BASED ON THE
CONTRACT

Additional description – additional

details that needs to mention
• Because of this the items might be
further divided
4 • Class H – A1 – mentioned
specification of each precast unit –
means more items

5
Section 3 - Application of the work Classification

The additional dimension might specify

things _ FOURTH UNCODED division
2 • So when you need specific detail in
additional descriptions and a range
in a division Do not mention both
• Class I, A1 mention the nominal
bore (250mm), division 2 bore 200 -
300mm. Then mention the nominal
3 bore

Any thing above double line applies to

4
the section
• Class A
• Class B

5
Format
 Format
A double line means
applies to below items

1 Italic for defined words

1 Italic for defined words

End of section 3
 Each item code has letter
and 3 numbers

* means the rest

H 1 3 * means H 1 3 1 – H
1 138

You can use the code to

number items

2 Code is note
• Its not part of the
3 description
• Do not use it to
interpret the contract
4
• Use the full description
the describe the item,
not the code
Section 4 - Coding and numbering items

Missing feature – use

number 9
1
Feature in the division
does not apply – use 0
2

If items change only

because of the additional
description
– add a suffix number

3
End of section
4
 These provisions apply for
completed work
measurement too

Each BOQ should have

sections
1

Give a list of principle

quantities with
approximate estimates
2
• For rapid assessments
• to understand the
proposed work
• Its not part of the
contract, so if its
3 different from actual
quantities it does not
matter
• No need to be long list
or divide into sections
• Limit to one page
The standardised sequence of contents of a
Bill of Quantities
List of principle quantities
 Preamble
Section 5 - Preparation of the Bill of Quantities • Specifies method of
measurement which are
different from CESMM 4
• These will be used for new items
1 or to change the CESMM
• Usually needed for abnormal
contractor-designed work, or
work that requires less details to
prevent variations
2
Some specification has alternatives, E.g.
road.
• Those items is grouped together so
that there will be no variation based
on the choice (e.g. type of paving)
3 The preamble can say -
• components of the work are the
subject of permitted alternative
specifications
• And provisions of the CESMM4
Work Classification are not to apply,
• And the defined non-standard rules
for measurement that are to apply.
Section 5 - Preparation of the Bill of Quantities

1 Define rock for excavation

items in preamble – for
Example minimum size of
a boulder

Link definitions between

method of measurement
and the Contract –
Contact and BOQ should
defined these items
3
1 Section 5
-
Preparation of the Bill
of Quantities

Contact should define

these items and mention
them again in the
preambles

If an item does not apply

– state Not Applicable
Section 5 - Preparation of the Bill of Quantities Daywork schedule
1. List of resources to be used to pay
in daywork rates
2. Use standard schedule of daywork
rate + adjustment according to
the contractor
For provisional sums measured
1 according to daywork sum,
• An adjustment can be used to
adjust daywork according to each
item needs

All items must be price and should be

contributing to the total

All the items in BOQ should be

1. Arranged according into
2
numbered part
2. Different items should be there
according to changes like location,
nature
3. Include general items in Class A as
3 a separate part

Items in each part should be arranged

according to the work classification
 Section 5
-
1 Preparation of the
Bill of Quantities

Each part of BOQ

2
• Should have heading –
part of the description
• Subheading to group
items – part of the
3 description
• Line after the group to
separate the items –
this means the
4 heading and
subheading no longer
apply to items below.
5 • Repeat the headings
and sub heading at
each page.
 Section 5
-
1 Preparation of the
Bill of Quantities

Divide the items further

2 if need

The description does not

contain all details
3
If you remove details
from the description,
4 mention where to look
for the details

If the description cannot

identify the work item
5
• give reference to the
location or other
details
Headings

Sub headings

Numbering
Example for
BOQ page
Line ending the
section to which
the headings and
sub headings
apply

Section ending
line
 Section 5
1 -
Preparation of the Bill
of Quantities
tenderers cannot be told
2 what is required, they
must not be asked to say
what it will cost.

Added contingencies to
provisional sums and
show in the grand
summary -
3
Measure –
• Net
• according to drawings,
unless mentioned
otherwise in CESMM 4
or Contract
• NO bulkage, shrinkage
or waste
 Section 5
1 -
Preparation of the Bill
of Quantities
1. Excavations
2 1. Original surface
not commencing
surface - Mention
the commencing
level
3 2. Final surface not
excavated surface
– mention
excavated surface
Give details about 3. Depth –
1. Total of each page – totalled Commencement
bodies of water and carried to summary of each
affecting the site surface to
section excavated surface
2. Total of each section – carried to
grand summary
1 Section 5
-
Preparation of the Bill
2 of Quantities
Tabulated summary of
3 sections

IF the employer says,

add an item for general
4
contingencies

Give adjustment item

after the total and
general contingency
allowance
Add part summaries, general contingency
allowance and adjustment items and show
the summary
End of section 5
 Add the rate in the rate
column
1
Total each part and carry
2 to the grand summary
Adjustment can be lump
3 sum amount

5
Adjustment item
• Rules do not explain what the Adjustment Item is for. It only explains what
they are used for
• Its object is to provide a convenient place at the end of a bill where the
tenderer can make an adjustment without altering rates and amounts
within the work items themselves
• Example
• You receive a supplier quote ( which lower than estimated) at the last minute for
earthmoving and no time to change the BOQ. So the adjustment is used to make the
change
• Final review by the senior staff, requires the OH/P to change in the whole BOQ
• Mainly helpful for the tenderer
• To clients only benefit is to eliminate irrational pricing of ordinary general
items.
Adjustment item
• For interim payments (6.4)
• Mainly for lump sum amounts
• adjustment item should also be adjusted for inflation.
• Changes made pro rate to the value of work done until calculation gives the full value
• Preamble should mention how its calculated
• If the full amount is not paid after completion of work, next interim certificate after
the completion should certify the full amount.
• If you want to limit the use of “the Adjustment items” mention them in his
instructions
• This amount of ADJUSTMENT ITEM would not change dues variations in
work.
• This will not be deleted even if the relevant item is removed. SO be careful
in use.
 Adjustment

Gets paid more

Gets paid less
End of section
6
 Section 7 -
Method-related
charges

Time related cost and

fixed cost items based on
construction method
1

Its not proportional to

the Qty and should not
be covered somewhere
else
2

Follow class A but can be

more
3
Describe fully, what is
covered by them,
resources used and
4 whether permanent or
temporary works
Method related charges
• Civil engineering contracts are prone to variation
• Some of the contractor’s costs do not vary in proportion to the
quantity but needed based on the method. These can be priced as
method related charges
• These are
• recurrent or time-related cost elements
• E.g.-maintaining site facilities or operating major plant
• charges for elements that are neither recurrent nor directly related to
quantities (fixed costs)
• E.g.- setting up, bringing plant to site and temporary works
• Contractor can decide to add these
 Section 7 - Method-related charges The contractor does not
have stick to that
method
1
These are not
remeasured – lump sum
2

But can change because

3 a change in another item
which impacts this item (
variation of another)

A Preamble should
mention show method
related charges are paid
4
Only changes due to
variations instructed by
contract admin
e.g. Variation of method-related charges
• Time-Related Charge for operating a batching plant
• A variation to work may increase the volume of concrete – not applicable
• variation produces a significant lengthening of the time of operation of the
batching plant – increase in Time related cost
Method related charges
• If there is a change in the Method related charges
• Reach an agreement on how to pay it
• if ready-mixed concrete is being used instead of a site batching plant – a batching plant
will be paid pro rata
• No agreement – it becomes an adjustment item
• Paid pro rata until the tender sum is reached
Method related charges
• Method-related charges are adjusted according to price fluctuations
• The Main contractor can ask the subcontractor can give their method-
related charges
• Sub contractor can include a normal rate to the main contractor
• Which the Main contractor can divide into method-related charges
• Sub contractor can include a method-related charges to the main contractor
• Contractor can use them as is
• Contractor can use them + add their mark up
• Include them in other rates
• Method-related charges most included –
• At the beginning of each bill with sub-sections or
• More convenient to - Keep them in Class A while describing which permanent work
it relates to
End of section
7