Preparation of BQ & Taking-off Sheet

1. BQ is a document which lists all the items

necessary for the complete construction of
works.
2. Each item includes a description and quantity.
3. Function of BQ:
a. enables all contractors tendering for a contract to price on
exactly the same information
b. to set down the various items of work in logical sequence for
easily priced by the contractor
c. provides a good basis for the valuation of “variation” if any
changes of design
d. a good basis for the preparation of cost analyses for cost
planning usage
4. BQ is built up in three stages
i) First stage – Taking off
Taking off is to calculate the quantity in
each item of work which is sometimes
called a dimension sheet as shown
below:
A B C D A B C D

Table 1 – Taking off Sheet / Dimension Sheet

* Columns A, B, C and D appear twice on each sheet.
 Column A : “timesing column” - used if the
quantity is to be multiplied / divided

 Column B : “dimension column” - the dimensions

of the item are entered one below the other in
this column. Dimensions should always be entered
in the following order, length, breadth, depth and
thickness.

 Column C : “squaring or cubing column” – result

column

 Column D : “description column” of the item and

for any additional calculations.
ii) Second stage – Abstracting
transferring the description quantity from
the taking-off sheet to the abstract sheet
and collecting together items, which can be
billed under one item
Item Summary Quantity

Table 2 – Abstract Sheet

 iii) Third stage – Writing a bill quantities

Rules for Taking-off Quantities: concise, accurate and well

 Descriptions - Each item should be described in enough detail
 Order –
i. Excavation - cubic, linear then square meter
ii. Mass concrete and reinforced concrete - cubic, then square
meters.
iii. Reinforcement - largest diameter first
iv. Brickwork - cubic then square items
v. Steelwork - nearest item first.
 Accuracy - re-measure civil engineering works when they are
completed to determine the exact value of the work
 Numbering - All items should be measured consecutively page
by page
 Abbreviations - The following
abbreviations are often used on the
dimension sheets:
B‟wrk - brickwork
C.I. - cast iron
Ex. - excavation
M.S - mild steel
P.C. - prime cost
R.C. - reinforced concrete
The traditional method of preparation of a BQ can
conveniently be broken down into two main processes:
• Taking off
• Abstracting / Working up

This traditional method was very lengthy and tedious. As

such, “The Direct Billing System” was developed. It is to „bill
direct‟, by transferring the items direct from the dimensions
paper to the BQ, thus eliminating the need for an abstract.

The quantity take-off is set down in the standard form of

BQ, that by adding together the prices listed will give the
“contract price” or “tender sum”.
Concrete
Concrete is the most important material in
construction because its cost is cheap and easily
obtained compare to other materials. The
following tables show the appropriate unit of
measurement for those items included in the
above section of work. Reference should be
made to the Standard Method of measurement
(Clauses 5278) for more detailed information on
the preparation of bill of quantities as shown
below :
Table 4.1 : Concrete-Method Of Measurement

Item Unit Remarks

Mass concrete } Separate items are to be provided for
Reinforced concrete } cu m (i) Different quantities of concrete
Prestressed } (ii) Beams, columns, slabs, etc.
(iii)Concrete 300 mm thick or less.
Thickness to be stated.
Reinforced concrete not sq m or cu m Thickness to be stated
exceeding 300 mm thick
Precast concrete (e.g. beams, lin m, cu m or No.
columns, etc.)
Precast concrete (e.g. pavings, Sq m Thickness to be stated
landings etc).
Precast prestressed concrete Separate items are to be provided for units
of differing cross-sections and lengths
Includes the cost of the moulds
Factory-made pre-tensioned lin m, cu m or No. Include supply, delivery and steel
members
Site-made pre-tensioned lin m, cu m or No. Steel to be measured separately
members
Post-tensioned members lin m, cu m or No. Includes supply and delivery
Table 4.1 : Concrete-Method Of Measurement

Item Unit Remarks

Assembly and post- no. of assemblies Steel measured separately
tensioning of post-tensioned
members
Erection of pre-tensioned no. Includes jointing
members and assembly of
post-tensioned members
Concrete blockwork (e.g. cu m Size and weight of the blocks are to
quay walls, breakwaters, be stated.
etc) Only the area of the concrete, which
requires support during the
deposition of the concrete, is to be
measured.
Shuttering Rough and wrought shuttering are to
be measured separately
Vertical, horizontal, sloping, sq m Separate items are to be provided
curved, domical and other for each
types of work
Table 4.1 : Concrete-Method Of Measurement

Item Unit Remarks

Shuttering 300 mm wide or lin m Separate items are to be provided
under for vertical, horizontal, sloping and
curved work
Fillets and splays, over 50 lin m Width to be stated
mm wide on the splay
Forming holes for pipes, no. Diameter of hole to be stated.
etc. No. Deduction to be made to
shuttering measurement.
Facework (e.g. granolithic sq m Measurement extra over concrete.
facing, etc.) Thickness to be stated.
Steel Mg
Rails or steel sections Mg
Bar reinforcement Mg Separate items for bars 25 mm
diameter and less, also bars 12 m
in
length and upwards in steps of 1.5
m
Table 4.1 : Concrete-Method Of Measurement

Item Unit Remarks

Fabric reinforcement sq m, Mg or lin m Weight in kg per sq m to be stated
Steel wire or cable for
prestressing on site
Forming holes lin m, no.
Anchorage, including fixing no. of wires Includes ducts or sheathing
tensioning
Grouting of cables lin m Thickness to be stated
Pneumatic mortar sq m
Bringing plant to site and Lump sum
removing on completion
Pre-tensioning on site no. of wires
Tensioning, including
anchorage
Bedding and grouting base- sq m
plates
Pockets for bolts and no. Separate items for pockets nor
grouting exceeding 100 mm deep, 200 mm
deep, and 300 mm deep, thereafter
in steps of 300 mm.
• The items for concrete include supply, placing in
forms or shuttering vibrating and curing.
• Shuttering is measured by the area of concrete,
which requires support during setting.
• The items for shuttering include supply and erection,
including all necessary struts and bearer, treatment
before concreting and removal when the concrete
has set.
• The items for reinforcement includes supply, bending
to the shapes shown on the bending schedules and
fixing the reinforcement in the works.
• Usually it is not possible to give the precise quantities
of reinforcement in the bill of quantities, as the
detailed drawings are not available when the bill is
prepared and the quantities must be estimated.
The weights of reinforcement for various components of
a structure can be expressed as the weight per unit
volume of concrete, and these “factors,” as shown below,
used for estimating the weights of reinforcement.

Slabs 0.5 - 0.10 Mg per cu m

Main beams 0.25 - 0.35 Mg per cu m
Secondary beams 0.15 - 0.25 Mg per cu m
Columns 0.10 - 0. 37 Mg per cu m
Water retaining structures 0.08 Mg per cu m

When the total weight of reinforcement has been

determined for a component it is necessary to divide the
total weight arbitrarily into separate weights for each
diameter of bar that is likely to be used.
Anchorage (Hooks) and Bending Of
Reinforcement
Types Anchorage (hooks) Bends

Mild steel (R)

H = 9d H = 5d
N = 3d N = 3d
d = diameter of bar d = diameter of bar
L = length L = length

Min. limit for hooks = H = 9d Min. limit for bends = H = 5d

Length of hooks = H + N = 12d Length of bends =H+N
Example : = 8d
Total length of bar = L + 9d Example :
Total length of bar = L + 5d
High tensile H = 11d H = 5.5d
steel (T or Y) N = 4d N = 4d
Min. limit for hooks = H = 11 d Min. limit for bends = H = 5.5d
Length of hooks = H + N = 15d Length of bends = H + N = 9.5d
Reinforcement Detailing
Beam
Slab
Stirrups
Concrete cover
Pad footing
 Formwork
A number of activities involve in the formwork operations are: -
• fabricating
• erecting
• stripping
• moving
• cleaning
• oiling

In the pricing of the forms all the above activities and the materials involved are allowed. It is the
surface area of the concrete, that is the contact area that will be measured. At the time of take-off, the
design of the forms does not have to be concerned since only the area of formwork is measured, thus,
the formwork shall be measured in square metre of contact area. For narrow strips of formwork, that
in less than 0.3 metre wide is normally measured in linear metre. It should be noted that the bulkheads
i.e. where wall is to be continued shall be measured separately. Also the forms to slab edges are
measured separately from forms to beams and forms to walls.

If in a form system there is an opening, and if the size of the opening is less than one square metre,
therefore no deduction is made from the total area of the forms.

Grooves, chases, chamfers in formwork that are linear in nature are measured in linear metre.

Forms to circular column are measured in linear metre to the height of the column and are described
by giving the diameter of the column.
Formwork
EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION FOR
CONCRETE WORK,
REINFORCEMENT & FORMWORK
FOR SLAB
SLAB

Prepare taking off sheet and bill of for the slab shown in figure below with the thickness
of slab 300 mm. The dimension sheet shall include concrete work (mass concrete for
slab) and reinforcement (bottom only). Concrete cover = 25mm.

T10-100

T12-200
SLAB – TAKE OFF SHEET
SLAB

Concrete Work
Mass concrete
4.3
3.5
0.3 4.52 m3

Reinforcement Reinforcement (bottom –

Reinforcement (bottom – X direction)
Y direction)
T10 -100
T12 -200
Length = 3.500
Length = 4.300 Less (-) cover
Less (-) cover 2 x 0.025 = 0.050
2 x 0.025 = 0.050 3.450
4.250
Add (+) Add (+)
bend 2x5.5d = bend 2 x 5.5d =
Steel length = slab
length (-) cover
2 x 5.5 x 0.012 = 0.132 Steel length = slab 2 x 5.5 x 0.010 = 0.275
4.382 length (-) cover 3.725

Total length required steel Total length required steel

(3500 – 25 – 25) = 3450 (4300 – 25 – 25) = 4250

No. of steel No. of steel

3450 = 17.25 4250 = 42.5
200 100

Say, 18 Say, 43

18/ 4.38 78.84 m, T12 43/ 3.725 160.18 m, T10

SLAB - BILL OF QUANTITIES

Item
Description Quantity Unit Rate RM
No.

Concrete Work
1 Mass concrete for slab, mix grade (to be
determine) 4.52 cu. m

Reinforcement
2 T 10, 160.18m (3.14 x 0.0052 x 160.18 x 7850)
98.71 Kg

3 T 12, 78.84m (3.14 x 0.0062 x 78.84 x 7850)

69.96 Kg

(Density of steel bar, assume = 7850kg/m3)

Total Bill RM
SLAB

Based on drawing as shown in Figure 5.4.1, calculate the amount of formwork

required (prepare taking off sheet) and bill of for the slab.

3500mm

4000mm

Figure 5.4.1: Side Elevation and Plan View of Slab

 SLAB
Sawn timber of
Sawn timber of 38mm thickness
38 mm thickness For soffit of slab
4.00 for side of slab
2/ 0.25 2.00 Length (Y)=4.00
m2
Less (-) column
3.50 2 x (0.4) = 0.40
2/ 0.25 1.75 2 3.60
m2
Length (X)=3.50
Less (-) column
3.75 m2 2 x(0.18) = 0.18
1/ 3.60 2 3.32
3.32 11.93
m2
Item
Description Quantity Unit Rate RM
No.

Formwork
1 Sawn timber of 38 mm thickness for side of slab 3.75 sq. m
2 Sawn timber of 38 mm thickness for soffit of slab 11.93 sq. m

Total Bill RM
EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION FOR
CONCRETE WORK,
REINFORCEMENT & FORMWORK
FOR BEAM
Beam
The following example illustrates the method of preparing a taking off sheet and BQ
for the reinforcement of the r.c beam (6 units) as shown in Figure 4.2.3.

2T12 2T18

Figure 4.2.3 – GROUND BEAM

(Concrete cover = 25mm)

Cross-Section Of Beam
 BEAM Reinforcement (top) Stirrups
Reinforce 2T12
ment Length = 2.600
Add (+) column
(+) 2/1/2/0.125 375 R6
= 0.125
125
= 2.725
(-) Less (-) cover
2 x 0.025= 0.050 Length = 0.375
2.675 (-) Less (-) cover
Add (+) 2/0.025 = 0.050
bend (2 x 5.5d) 0.325
2 x 5.5 x 0.012 = 0.132
2.807 Length = 0.125
6 unit Say, 2.80 (-) Less (-) cover
12mm dia. m.s 2.0.025 = 0.050
0.075
6/2/ 2.80 33.60 33.60 m, T12 0.325 + 0.075 = 0.400

Reinforcement (bottom) 2 x 0.400 = 0.800

(+) add (+)
2T18 anchorage 24d
Length = 2.600 24 x 0.006= 0.144
(+) Add (+) column 12d + 12 d 0.944
2/1/2/0.125 Total length,
= 0.125 say, 0.94
= 2.725
Less (-) cover No. of stirrups
(-) 2 / 0.025= 0.050 Length = 2.600
2.675 (-) Less (-) column
Add (+) 2/1/2/0.125=0.125
(+) bend 2 x 5.5d = 2.475
2 x 5.5 x 0.018
= 0.198 (2475/150)+1
2.873 = 17.5
Say, 2.87 Say, 18
18mm dia. m.s 6 mm dia. m.s
Stirrups
6/2/ 2.87 34.48 34.48 m, T12
6/18/ 0.94 101.52 101.52 m,R6-150
Beam
Based on drawing as shown in Figure 5.4.3, calculate the amount of formwork required, thus
prepare taking off sheet and bill of for the beam. The column is 200 x 200mm.

Figure 5.4.3 :Side Elevation And Plan View Of Beam

BEAM – TAKE OFF SHEET (FORMWORK)
BEAM

Sawn timber of Sawn timber of

38 mm thickness 38 mm thickness
to outer sides of to outer sides of
beam 1/A-B and beam A/1-2 and
2/A-B B/1-2
Length =4.500 Length =4.000
Add (+) column Add (+) column
2x (0.2/2) = 0.200 2x (0.2/2) = 0.200
4.70 4.700 4.20 4.200
2/ 0.35 3.29 m2 2/ 0.35 2.94 m2
Sawn timber of
Sawn timber of 38 mm thickness
38 mm thickness to inner sides of
to inner sides of beam A/1-2 and
beam 1/A-B and B/1-2
2/A-B Length = 4.000
Length = 4.500 Less (-) column
Less (-) column 2x (0.2/2) = 0.200
4.30 2x (0.2/2) = 0.200 3.80 3.800
2/ 0.35 3.01 4.300 2/ 0.35 2.66 m2
m2 Sawn timber of
38 mm thickness
Sawn timber of to soffit of beam
38 mm thickness A/1-2 and B/1-2
4.30 to soffit of beam 3.80
2/ 0.20 1.72 1/A-B and 2/A-B 2/ 0.20 1.52 m2
3.29
m2 3.01
1.72
2.94
2.66
1.52
15.14
Item
Description Quantity Unit Rate RM
No.
Formwork

Sawn timber of 38 mm thickness for beam

1 15.14 sq. m

Total Bill RM