Production of Bill of Quantities

Cut & Shuffle Method

Dimension paper is sub divided in to
four or five separate sections which can
subsequently be split in to individual
slips.
Only one description with its associated
dimensions is written on each section.
Dimension sheets are subsequently split
in to individual slips and sorted in to bill
l work sections or elements and
eventually in to bill order.
Following the intermediate process of
calculation and editing, the slips form
the draft for typing the final bill of
quantities

Detailed procedure

Taking off is usually carried out on A4 size sheets of

dimensions paper, ruled vertically in to four sections and
thus accommodating a maximum of four items per sheet.
Dimensions are entered one side only of each sheet and
each column is generally stamped with the project
references number and numbered consecutively. Ditto
items must include a reference to the column number of
main item, where full particulars can be found.
As sections of the taking off are completed, the side
casts are checked and repeat dimensions are calculated.
When a taking off section is complete, each column is
marked with the work section reference and column
number. A copy of each dimension sheet is obtained by
photocopying or NCR, some systems operate without the
need to produce a copy.
The taker off retain the copy and original is cut in to four
slips each containing one item.

Detailed procedure

Contd

The slips are shuffled or sorted in to work sections such as

Excavating an Filling and Mixing/Casting/Curing in-situ
concrete. Similar items are collected together and the whole
of the slips placed as near as possible in bill order.
When all the slips for an individual work section have been
sorted they are edited to form the draft bill, with further
slips being inserted as necessary to provide headings,
collections and other relevant items.
Quantities are then squared, totals cast and reduced to the
nearest whole unit, with the reduced quantity entered on the
parent slip. The calculation process is then checked.
Parent and children slips are separated. The parent slip form
the draft bill and ready for typing.
Any further checks on the draft bill are then carried out and
final copies are made and duplicated.
The children slips are then replaced to provide an abstract in
bill order for reference purposes.

Merits
Time taking is shorter than the traditional
method
Dimensions and descriptions are written
only once (three times with traditional
system) and eliminate the preparation
and checking the abstract.
As soon as the taking off for each section
of work is completed, it can be shuffled,
edited, typed, read back and duplicated,
so that only a short time after all taking
off is completed.

Demerits
A comprehensive system of
reference required on each slip
and need to writ full descriptions
without using abbreviations.

Elemental Bill
BOQ is divided in to appropriate
building elements inserted if the
normal work sections
(06) Preliminaries
(19) Substructure
(21) External Walls
(22) Internal Walls, Partitions
(23) Floors, Galleries
(24) Stairs, Ramps

Disadvantage
it involve considerable repetition of
bill items, and where work is let to a
subcontractor, it was necessary to
prepare an abstract of items prior to
obtain quotations. For example there
can be brick walls in both
Substructure and External walls.

Operational Bill
items are subdivided in to site operations
as distinct from trades or elements
Labour and sometime plant requirements
were described in term of the operations
required, together with the schedule of
the materials for each operation
Operations were define as the work done
by a man or by a gang of men

Features
bulky and costly to produce
increased the work of the contractors
estimating department
estimator obtained a clear picture of
the work involved
Easy to obtain quotation for materials
need of a complete set of drawings prior
to the preparation of the bills coupled
with the delayed start on the site.

Activity Bill
subdivided in to sections based on
activities or operations derived from
a network analysis.
Some activities need to be
completed before others could be
started.
For example, foundation trenches
need to be excavated before the
concrete foundation can be laid.

Annotated Bill
full details of the quantity, type and
quality of material, and labour and
for an accurate and complete set of
drawings to show him where and how
the work is to be executed.
Annotated may be prepared in a
separate document from the bill of
quantities or they may be bound in
the back of the bill.