HANDBOOK re m7 india eee eee ee ee eee ee eee ee eee eee ee re (oR eer eee re eee r rrr CO ee te ete ee leaded PI eee ee ddd lltaiatahe PO Te Ye Je Me Ihe Pecd tachechatesia saat PP delete Pe ee ee dd PP ike rere POGOe ahha GP FLY Sahat PT ets aaaeee OP ead aaa er Peed wanes oe 4 our Martin BarnesCESMM3 HANDBOOK Aguidc to thofinancial contral nf contracts using the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement MARTING: HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY ™"” _SAMPUS LIBRARY. You should brin= i ‘elastdate on sie cs, ret Pig 0 02k “wet GO) tal | uy y persbated for ine tution of CivilEnginsers by Thomss TllordServics Ltd, Thomas Telford Nowe, Hewn Quay Landon 8140. Fret difon 1906 ‘Secend sion 1982 Feprntes 2000, 2002 Terms usecin thisbookincudaarmewhich re dafinedin helCE Conditions oj Contract andi {the GvilEnyincerng Standard Methocof Measurement. trdaion (CESMM third eon, ‘Those terms are printed thiniial ettersinespiatstovileatetat ie dafined mean {cendod, paragraph numoe:s and los letter eferto rose nthe CESNML ied eons eules ‘othe CESNM thideditin, reveled toby their dass and nurbor The Interpretation ete 1CEContiionsof Contract ardt the Caitengineoring Standavd Wothodol Mosearamant third ‘ion. oferedinthisbookis not an oticialitarpreation and chouldnot bese as auch nthe Settlement of dsputesarsing nina couret ofcvt enginceringcontracs, “Thisauide and:hestatemante mada arnpinions nvproscecihorsinis plished an the understancingthal th atharissolalyresporsite forthe opinions expressed init nda ite publication does not receansrlyimply!hat euch taninante and or opnienaorecrreteet the ‘views oropinions ot ICE CouncilorICE commatees. © Thotnerinution af Gil Engienrs 1008 ern Caanergn heaton de 3405 y2) Fitna isinecem ion ‘Mio minnie ar sao py sepeenyatintennaeepeensaonegFOREWORD By the President of the Institution of Uivil Engineeis When the Civil Engincering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM) woe fea published in 1976, the practice of preparing and using bills of quzaties on civil engineering projects. was Weofucionized. ‘The practical structure which the CESMM Fnereduced and the sharonah analysis apon which its details, were based led to its rapid and effective adoption. It was copied widely and influenced quantity surveying practice in many sccvors beyond eivil tnginccting, Martin Barnes, who designed and draughted the CESMM, wrote a handbook to go with it Fifteen years later, its pleasure to welcome this third edition of the handbock, published to coincide with publication of the third edition of the CESMM itself. Much of the original text is still here and will continue to instruct young engineers coming freshly to the use of bills of quantities, The jew material explaining the new features of CESMM3 will help to ensure the smooth and uncontentious adoption of this method of measurement inthe tradition of ts predecessors. Mastering of financial contcol isan essential skill for the rounded civil engineer, [commend Martin Barnes’ CESMM3 handbook as an important help in acquiring the skill. Rubin Wiljou, Bag, FICE London, 1991 TaPREFACE ‘This isthe third edition of the handvook for use alongside the Civil Engineering Stamlad Mcthod of Measurement, third (CESMM) itself. [n content it differs from the second only in tha it explains the changes and additions made in producing CESMMS. Tere are a number Of mine Hapwoveusaats avd derailed chongeo which are introduced either to keep CESMM3 up to date or to climinate-difficuties-which-have-beenexperienced-in-practice—A— Sighificant addition is the new class Z which covers building work incidental to civil engineering projects. acknowledge the help of various members ofthe Institution of Civil Engineers specialist committees who have helped with advice, and pay my thanks to the staff of Thomas Telford Services for their patience and assistance. Iacknewledge principally the help of my colleague John McGee. who thas contributed a high proportion of the text for the changes made in this third edition of the handbook. ‘Marin Barnes London, 1991 voreprpenresSTR Roe iH it ae 4 {it CONTENTS Ununan 1 ‘Section 1. Definitions 7 Secon 2, venerai paneipies " Section’, Application ofthe Work Gassifeaton ” Section, Coding and numbering titers s Section. Preparation ofthe Billf Quantities 2 Section. Completion andpricingoftheBillofGuantiesbyatenderer section? Method: Related Gharges $1 Section®. WorkClassitcation n casa ams n Class®Groundinvestgnion = Class Gooteshnesandoterspecilistprcesses 2 Claws; Demoltonand siteclenrance = Cis Eathwons, = ‘lass instuconeret m Class: Conereteanciarios v0 Case Precastconcrate 1 Claret: Pipawork—pipes ww - ‘love. Piponerk—Atingeandalae vt Close: Pipoworkmenholosancpipaworkanlries wa ClossL. Pipework -eupparandgrotectionancilaiesto Aayingandexcavation us Class: Svucural metalwork 189 Class: Miscalaneous matabwork 189 Class0: Timber at CloeeP: Pile m4 (Class: Piinganclaries aot Giese: Roads ard pavings ‘90 Geses: Rallwosk ww GussT: Tunnels wt less U: Brickwork blockworkandmasonry an “Glasses Vand W: Peintiagand Wotoiprecting 06 lace) Migcllanecusivork am Class: Sewer and watermain rexovation and snctiay mocks as Chasez: Smpletulangworksinsideneltociviengivaeringwerke 226 tngex “a aINTRODUCTION Financial control means control of money cianging Mands. Since money almost always changes hands in the opposite direction from. hatin which gnnds or services aresupplied, jtean beconsidered asthe Control of who provides what and at what price, This thought ESablishes a priced bill of quanities as the central vehicle for the Gnancial contre] of a civil angsneering contract. The Bill of Quantities: isthe agreed statement of the prices which will be psid for work done bby-the Contractor for the Employer and it shares wich the Drawings ‘and the Specification the responsibility for defining what has been ‘agreed shall be done. Control is usually based on a forceast, The difficulty of conteolting something is proportional to the difficuley of predicting its behaviour. ‘The points, finer and coarser, of the financial control of civil engineering contracts revolve around the diffieuley dhe Employer hes §n forecasting and defining co a Contractor precisely and immutably what he is required to do, and the difficulty the Contractor has in forecasting precisely what the work will cost. To achieve effetive control it is necessary to limit these difficulties as much as possible within reasonable limits of practicality. This means using as much precision as possible in defining the wock to the Contractor and in Enabling him to forecast its cost as precisely as possible. These are the twsential functions of bills of quantities. Iris the essential function ofa method of measurement to define how bills of quantities should be Compiled so that they serve these two essential functions Itisclear from this consideration that abill of quantities works best ifit is a model in words and numbers of the work im 2 contract. Such a niet oul! Ue hagey intricately detailed andl repracnring, the ‘Workings ofthe teal thing in an exact representation, Alternatively, it could beas simple as possible while still seproducing accurstely those Specs ut ike Deluavivur vf dhe original which are eelevant to the purposes for which the model is constructed, she nist purpose of bill of quamiies in faulivats she Z. fs aus ‘ases it will usually be necessary to give amending preambles. There is dearly no point in using CESMMB if the work in a contracts not prlucipally made up of te things wich CESMIMI covers MICE conditions of cor for round vwestigation. Thomas Telford, London, 1983 GENERAL Pal INCIPLES. " i yeParagraph 2.2 deals with the problem of identifying and messucin ‘work whic 1s not covered by CESMM3, either because itis Wot outside the range of work which CESMM3 covers or because i is work not sufficiently common (6 justify its measurement being standardized in CESMMB3. Wark which is not covered by CESMM3 includes mechanical or electrical engineering works or building works ther th ation, description or measurement of such work but principles ate given which should be followed. Ifthe work needs to be measured, that ie to cay 4 quantity caleulated, any special couventions for ac doing which it is intended shall be used should be stated in the Preamble to the bill tee thor envored by elace 7 Nin niles see. gi ‘The last sentence of paragraph 2.2 says that non-civil engineering work outside the scope of CESMMS which has to be covered shall be ‘with in the way which the compiler or the bill chooses, governed only by the need to give the itemization and identification af work in item descriptions in sufficient detail to enable it to be priced acequately. Paragraph 2.2 does not imply a standard method of measurement because for this type of work there is no necessity for there to be 2 stindard method. Thus, an entry in the Preamble ‘0 the bill which complies with this paragraph might refer to another standard method of measurement, such as the standard method of measurement for building,» or ic might stare 2 measurernent convent particular work component. An example of thi measurement of large oil tanks associated with oil refinery installations. These are not mentioned in CESMMS bat chey might haveto be measared within «civilenginecring contract, Insucha caze the compiler ofthe bill would probably decide to measure thetanks by their mass of stecl and might need to state related measurement conventions in the Preamble to the bill. These conventions aight include the rales by which the mass of steel in the oil nk was to be calculated for payment, There is no need for non-standard measurement rales to be complicated or indeed to be given atall in many cases. The function of a bulfitem is to wenuly work and (o enable aprice to be Set agaist If, for example, on item description read: ‘The thing described in Specifiation clause 252 and shown in detail D of drawing 137/65" and ‘were given as a sum to be priced by the Contractor it would be 3 satisfactory item from all poines of view. It would not sequite any measurement conventions, No method of measurement is required forany seli-concained component atthe work which does not have a particular quaniicy as @ useful parameter of iv cost. It might be a plaque on the wall by an enteance. or 4 romplicited pine af manufactured equipment peculins to theuse to be made ofthetinished project. Only if it something which may be changed and the nie el aaeesl ee cost-related quantity i it quantity for it in the bill, ton of Charteed Surveyors sed Bulline Emipla ere Contre rol of measnement of uling works, Goh ed. Royal Fastiuion of rveyors ant Natsnal Federation of Building, Tralee Employers, Stand Chireeeed London, B88,GENERAL Paik “Usually these items are something like others which are covered by —.TEESMMMSand related measurement rules can be used. It is good practice to keep away from non-standard measurement conventions for tunusual work as much as possible becuse they can become contentious in preparing final accounts. eis better to make sea thar tho work erqnired tes provide the wnusaal thing is clearly defined in the Contract and for it to be priced as a sum, If there are several items they can be counted and measured by number. Paragraph 5.18 of CESMM3 provides + general convontion af measurement, namely that quantities are measured net using — dimensions fom the Drawings. Special conventions ate needed for non-standard work uuly whet his y inappropriate petal one ecitivis is Stmple building works maidental to cvil engineering works are dealt with in CBSMNI3 through the introduction of dass 2. This isheeanse compilers of bills were often reluctant to use the building standard method of measurement for a simple incidental bunlding such a8 2 —gatchouse,-valve house, or a simple superstructure in a water of sewerage treatment works. Although use of another standard leads to inconsistency between pars of bill nd some proolems of mismatch with the Conditions of Contract, it should be considered when the huilding work is sabseantial or complex. When the building work is self-contained and uncomplicated. it may be controlled most effectively by being teeated as specialist work. A provisional sum in the main bill can then be used appropriate to the circumstances. There should be few problems ifit ean be priced on 2 complete and well thought out design which docs not have to be changed. Effort is better applicd so achicving stable design than to setting up contractual arrangements and drawing upa detailed bill of quantities for something ill-defined which may no be what is eventually wanted. The scope of CESMM5 is referred to in general terms in paragraph 2.2. In detail i can be judged by examination of the various dasses of work and the lists of classified components of work which each class includes. It should be noted that CESMMB only provides procedures — for measurement of work which is normal new construction. > Maincenance and alterations to existing work are mentioned only in— relation ta sewer and water main renovation. Extraction of pilesis not mentioned, noris any other work which involves removal of previous work unless that work is classed as demolition. Any such acivity schich ie to be inchded in a Coneraee mst he inclndee inthe Rillaf Quantities. Itis suggested that the itemization and description of such work should follaw. the principles of the appropriate cass of CESMM3 for new work, with the face that the itemo are for extraction tr removal stated in descriptions or applicable headings. Class Y — dealing wih sewer and water main renovation is an exception to the igeutcia principle that CESMIMD uly prvvisis (or nom voustiaction itdoes not indicate thatthe general principle has bron abandoned. When the compiler of 2 bill is faced with a drawing whlch shows a companent of work not mentioned in CESMM3. he will occasionally be in doubt as to whether it is outside the scope of CESMM3 or ~ whether itis within tts scope but not mentioned becausea separate bi item forit is not required. No standard method of measurement ould avoid this dilemma entirely as there will always be some itemsof workwhose nature is just outside the normal understanding of che terms used to name work items in the method. CESMMS should yield few tances of this dilemma, bat where ic does arise, the eeaunent should always he to. inghrt noncetandard items which desert the work dearly and preferably also to state the location ofthe work. The resulting bill cannot be held to be in error as this treatment is precisely chatintended by: paregraphe 2.2 and 6,15. ‘The objects of the Bill of Quantities are set down in_ paragraphs 2A-2.7, Pasaynaph 2.5 encapsulates the-theme of tis book. Ie important co the financial control of civil engineering contracts that the people who influence it should concern themselves with the Practieal realites of the costs to contractors of constnicting vil neering Works. Paragraph 2.5 establishes an overriding peinaiple that Bills of Quantities should encourage exposure of cost differentia arising from special circumstances. It is the application of this principle which puts flesh on the standardized skeleton of a bill of ‘quantitiesand makes the descriptions and prices partienlar ta rheja’ in hand. Its importance is hard to over-emphasize. Differences in construction costs due 6 the influence oflocstion and other factors of methods af canerniction are often much greater than the whole cost of the smaller items of permanent work which are itemized separately in bill The items dealing with pipe laying and drain laying provide an example of this, Many bills used to include a schedule of trench depths for dain laying s0 that an appropriate slightly different rate cvuld be for excavating and backfilling renches whose depths were ily different, perhaps 100. mm’ shallower, than that originally billed. in practice the cost of the work is so dependent on whether or nnot the trench can be battered, whether or not it is through boulders, whether or not there is room to side pile the spoil, whether oF not ajacensbuilfings prevent a backater swinging round and soon that dierences in depth make File impact on the ciflerence between the actual cost and the bill rate ing the work ideale with separate items to ‘Thas cost significance is the all-important faetor in di tn eeqarate hl teme ie demnnctrater hy hour this matter. Lengths of pipe hying are given indicate citteren toric by TetereCE TO THe Drawings (rule At of ac hieun bussed Geom ele er yee depth ranges. Thappl fin cher deed wks aed dee geonedl brcple iu peuapnei ls 2.5 zhe bill compiler is required to think abone construction costs and todivide up the work so that the likely influence of location on cost is exposed in the bill, rie will noe be sable to read the minds vf bie contractors who will price his bill, who will noc in any case be of one mind as to what is or is not cost significant. Paragraph 2.5 conferson the compiler the obligation to use his. best judgement of cost significance while protecting him from any consequence of his judgement being less than perfect. It achieves this by saying that he ‘should’ itemize the bull n'a Way which discnguisies work which may have different cost considerations. If he dote not foreree cost differentials perfectly, as he cannot, a contractor cannot claim that the bill isin error and ask for an adjustment to payment, Paragraph 2.5 ends with an exhortation to steve for brevity and simplicity in bills Bills of Quantities ate noc works of lcerature: they are vehicles ofGENERAL PRINCIPLES technical communication: They should convey information clearly = and, in the interests of economy, briefly. An engineer writing a bill of f ‘es should sim to carry the load of communication safely but pihee Geena: Ti Mic aweie imag arin he aicaget he aims to carry physical load safely with minimum use of resources. A general prinsipli nse sented Ss CEEMMAI isthe primsiple chan not mandatory. Whether or nota standard method of measurement = isamandacory document used to be a favourite discussion topic, and atl view had sro, allies, When using ce (CE Conditivas of Contract the method of measurement applicable tocach contractis the one the title of which is inserted in the Appendix to the Form of Lender: now normally the Civil Engineering Standard Method ot Measurement. Such an insertion brings clause 87 of the Conditions of Contract into ply, giving a warranty (subject to the condition given in the opening words of the clause) thatthe Dill of Quantities shall be ‘dccmed to have been prepired and measurements shall be made according to the procedure set forth’ in the Civil = Standard Method of Measurement. In order co relate clause the ules of CESMM3 arcexpressed in authoritative teri they = say. for example, that ‘separate items should be given’ and ‘descriptions shall indude ‘The Employer or Engineer is free to decide not to use CESMM3, but ‘he decides that he will use it, he must do what st says that he shall unless he expressly shows in che Bill of Quantities that he has done otherwise. — There are a few instances where CESMM3 says that decails of the procedure ‘should’ or ‘uiay" be followed In these instances there iso infiinge;ent of CESMMSif ie procedure isnot followed, Tiaese less imperative details of procedure are of two types. One type concerns the procedure for bill layout and arrangement, which has no contractual significance whether followed oF net; paragraphs 4.3 and 5.22 are examples. The other type is where the bill compiler is = encouraged to use his judgement of likely cost-significant factors to decide on such matters an the subdivision of the bill into. parts (paragraph 5.8) or the provision of additional item. description 5 vagraph 5.10). Since the compiler cannot accurately make such judgements wit oar taimable- foreknowledge oF-the-factors— Which would actually influence the Contractor's cst, he eam ely hn Sehwtilanhangocin PERNA encouraged todo his best, secure inthe knowledge that isnot having 4, Newly sttod prep at paragtooh s0¢ it quite sight will no entitle the Contractor % have the bill» 26. corrected Istor hy an applicarinn af clnce S8(9) This shure i iy the 2 Faemer naragranh 2 8 ie background of all the uses of the words ‘may’ and ‘should’ in cmp nee Z = CESMMS.1f, for example, paragraph 5.22 had sad ‘the work items shall he vot ue in oolunine ruled as follows . + Contractor could have asked for a bill to be corrected ifthe rate column on a particular 1, Paragraphs 2.1. and 2.2 mato _ Page were only 19 mm wide, Whetherornot the Engineer wouldthen __seterenee t0 class 2 lo Aocide thor this affected cally untied vat" iy nacional ermal another matter. It would obviously have been pedantic to have made MOR ig eidental to thisa rule instead of a suggestion aimed at helpful standardization, Schade nl changoein PEMA che value uFdie wrFOEpEPETETSD OS ero Tf [APPLICATICN OF THE WORK CLASSIFICATION. 4 tale SECTION 3. APPLICATION OF THE WORK CLASSIFICATION “The Work Claceification is the Framework and etrcture of CESMM3. Itis the main instcument of CESMM3 by which co-ordination of | various financial control functions is fostered. [tis a basic chssification Of the work included is civil crginceting concracta which can be used for all purposes where itis helpful. | examples or use oF me Work Classification ouside CEBMMD itll are’ as the basis of contractor’ allocations in cost control, a an index for records of prices to help with pre-contract estimating and ax an l index to Specification clauses, he classification is a list of all the commonly occurring components of civilengineecing work. Istarts with the contractual requirement to provide a performanc: bond and | ends wih renovation of sewer manholes ‘The Work Classification is not a continuous list. It is divided into | Heels of anaes which have generic ames, Fis dhe whole lit divided into 26 clastes from ‘Class A: General items’ to ‘Class Z: Simple building works incidental to civil engineering, works’. In between are classes for main operations, like cast E for earthworks [and dass P for piling. Each class is divided into three divisions. The fitst division is divided into up to cight of the main types of work in the cass, the second divides each of these up to eight times, and the F0.3. Classica table forizesin l process is repeatedinto thethird division, Class for pipesis illustrated og GRb sora ines deaiehioe te In Fig. 3. The first division classifies pipes by die material of which — Froegwatons of Gasafcoton com they aremade, the second by chenominal bore ofthe pipeandthethiré bine to pradvoebriotdoseitins [___bylbecepth below the Commencing Sorcear whith hey clit, aden yuri bx weaeel onants of eri engnearing works. ‘his cose the bref descriptions ae ‘The entries in the divisions are called ‘descriptive features’ because, Areas tas a eee when three are linked together — one drawn from each division | beeween the same pair of horizontal lines — they comprise the more Seclekierescn cet Acscription of a component of work in the full list of work in ‘descriptor rules n dase 1 CLASS I: PIPEWORK—PIPES Includes: Proviso lying andjointing ct pipes Festa tirdaon he 1 cetutes: Wiikindacodinsiawer3/ara eee aan J mesrnsen stcownnaon rsootsen 1 eres 2S nara gicererer ee a ei [jee al: mere i ae & Palvwnyichleride pipes mis 806-1200 nim 3 team Linens Slt pei an : zt aoa |S teShatwhole clos ‘Thus lass Vcan gee aR eo pert i the list, from “Clay pipes nominal bore not exceeding 201) mm not in trenches" to ‘Medium density polyethylene fines nominal bore ‘cussing, 1000 un jv wenelies depub exceeding + All components canbe identified by their position inthe dassiic list the numbers ot the descriptive teatufes are also linked together. Thue the components mentioned in the previous paragraph are pambers | 11 and888 respectively of dass L When a class letter is put infront ofa number, code number which identifies the component produced. Thus 1234p. unigue reference numer for iron pipes of hominal here SWANN sum Ili renchrs a depuhs 22 Sn 7 The Work Classification does not subdivide to the finest level of detail at which distinctions might be needed. It docs not, for cxampley subdivide pipes according to the eifferent ty pes of joints whith can be tised or diferent specifiestions of pipe quality. Also the method of tsenching is noe clastic nits is de ty of eeieain eli usuaae ‘The reison for this is that the Work Classification and the cade numbers which go with icare intended tb be adopted as the core of wider ranging classification systems used for other purposes and not necessarily Standard among different users. This is the main importance of the Work Classification, Linked as itis to the items in the Hill af Quantities, makes the use of logical data handling much more worthwhile chan hitherto on both sides of the contract, When bill items arising from any Employer or Enginecr fit into the same classification, tie use of an expansion of tha cassification by the Contractor a4 a framework for systemaricestimating, cost recording, ‘output recording and valuation becomes possible and justiiable. Also bill preparation with the aid of computers, estimating for the Employer linked to prices and esealation factors stored within the Work Clacsification are nnade simpler Coded classi ns in che Bill of Quamtities is the key to the development of moder data handling arrangements ascd in civil engineering contracts. It makes possible computer assistance across the whole spectrum of financial concrol, The person taking off om a drawing could begin a process which was wholly computer aided up to the point where a draft-analysed estimate for consideration by a venderer's estimator was produced. Itis not fanciful fo foresce that, it 2 isc of the Hil. oF Quantities were tO be sent out with the invieation to tender, this could be uscd by the recipient contractors to produce immediately an analysis of che job with tentative prices falculated Irom output figures and current init costs : drown from Giles held on thelr own computers. The estimator's job would then be to convert these average prices into prices approprince to the specific job for which the tender was required. Clearly. sophistication of that order is not necessary. desirable or procticable in all eases and the usefulness of the Work Classification does nox depend on suc at eng atianed, The dscptine of compiling CESMM} for paesible ce in that way mrane shoe all procedures related to it could be made simple and logical. This bas ore immediate benefits to organizations that do nor aim to be in the fami af eyetnime saved the Fact thas bulle compiled using CESMMG list items within the chsses of CESMM3 means that contractors are able to sct up simple arrangements, for sleepy see healt contatied Fi benese : paneres st © comparison with wah eis ire Gaightforward, and can be achieved without requiring a small company to use or obtain the help. OF Specialise. pa Teeetgeroean ess Tie chssifcation provides for contractors’ indirect srhwad costs to, bye allocated 10 class AJ Also two ofits eight fxs division features are leit unused to provide room lorany sch Costs which do novappest 35 Prices in the Bill of Quantities and whieh weld not became t subject of Method-Related Charges. “The application ofthe Work Classification the preparation of Hills ‘of Quantities is explained in section D of CESMM3, Paragraph 3.1, requires that each item deseription should identily the component of work covered with respect 10 sate faost each division of the = Fala ees pie : le “Claes H. (peceait @BRerete) contains three divisions of class fication, ‘The firse classifies different cypes of precast concrete units, Tee ciate aiteear units bY thoi aniicenions ad the tied cesnias hand setae! Exch tom bere pion foe preeat ance ans aT Chercone WGN Tie OMIpOCNT OT WOT AT terms ofthe ype of uni, es ditnensions and nas jot say that the item descriptions shall use precisely the words whieh are stated in dhe Work Classification. Dill Compilersare therefore not bound to use the words given in the Work ‘lassification; they should use judgement to produce descriptions winch comply wich paragraph 3.1 without duplicating informa, ‘This is particularly noteworthy where more detail of deseription is required by a rule in the Work Classification than is given in the tabulated and classified lists themselves. For example, a joint it concrete may be measured which comprises a “plastics waterstop average width 219 mm”, That is an adzquate description which docs not have to be preceded by a statemene that the waterstop is made of “plastics or rubber" or that it is in. the size range “20-300 nan Paragraph 3.1. does Compile Ils of quantities will need to exercise this type of judgement instances, mest commionly when a rule requires particular definition to be given in addition w dhe geaetal detiision thr mureeides the : by the Web Clhscifirasiaes taht tabulated classification so that the latter merely indi approprarecode numberfortheitensconceried Hulten Another example will serve to emphasize this important point iffcarion can be siephtie nd without infringing he ined V section ditch 21-13 me would ateeily a iam clearly derived fiom the descriptive features for item K 4.6.5, It is not nneeessary to add to the description the words from the firat division of the dassitiaion at (4 == Preneh dratns, rubble drains, eliches and trenches’ "This is becatse the word ‘elitel” appears i the second vision descriptive feature and itis irrelevant «© point out in the vem eserpaon th wel ads French atya tlie ty rrynsling wdes Worle C inom descriptions without losing os 3.1. The text most common types noe ea eho notAiOF ERG cused Tin OER ae wiaitlsnorameng ie cight listed. i. Paragraph 3.2 deals with the question of style mn stem descriptions. Its point is that the i it is dealing with Permanent Wor, should identify the physical measurable things and not attempe to list allche stages of activity which the Contractor will have to go through to produce them. There are good reasons for this apart froin brevity, However careful the bill compiler might he in listing the nececeory tasks there will always be at least one more he could have added, The risk of listing tasks inconsistently from one item to another is chmcidorahle, and if it acenee the Contractor may eabeequendly lege that he had not allowed for the thing in the item that was incomplece. Ie i betier and contractually proper to rely on the wording of the Specification, Draw Conditions of Comesse uv eaniblise dhe ‘overriding assumption that the Contractorknew what he bad to doco. achieve the defined result and either did or did not allow for it in his prise, cminely at his own riph. Fur eaatuple, suppuse a bill item wer worded: ‘Supply, deliver. take into store. place in_ position. temporarily support, thoroughly dearrand erst onto in situ concrete ‘mild steel channels a8 specified and in accordance with the Drawings all to the satisfaction of the Engineer and clear away all rubbish on completion rate to allow for all delays and any necessary cutting of formwork and making good.” This descripion is much less informative than ‘Mild steel channels in pumphouse roof beams a3 detail E on drawing. 137/66," ‘The latter description is much fess dangerous to financial control ifthe work on behalf of the Employer than the fist. not just bersine something may have been left out of the first, bur because the fist invites comparison with other item descriptions. fit is not stated that some ather component isto be cleaned, the Contractor may contend that he has not allowed for cleaning, despite the fact chat it would be unreasonable for him to expect not to have o. Phrases like ‘properly cleaned’, ‘to a good finish’, and ‘well rammed" should be avoided like the plague, They are usually masks for sloppy spseifivation, “Ty she saistaesion of the Engineer” is « pariculan'y abhorrent phrase to use in a bill of quantities. ‘The Contractor is under a general obligation to ‘construct and complete the Works in strict accordance with the Contract to the satisfaction of the Engineer 18Q)). Adding these phrases toa bill item description is inisguided on two farther counts, First the Specification, not the Bill fol Quanaities, 1s the place to dehine workmanship requirement. Sccand ifthe Engineer knows whai standard of work will bring hit satisfaction he should describe it in the Specification; if he does not know what standard he requires, the Contractor assuredly cannot know and cannot estimate the cort of reaching it. Paragraph 3.2 refers to item descriptions for ‘Permanent Works’. CESMN3 also sets out rules for temporary works such as formwork and temporary supports which should also he described in accordance ‘with paragraph 3.2. In the cantect nf paragraphe 1? and 1.4. it chon be noted that rhe general ease, assumed unless otherwisestated, i thatitem descriptions \Wencify new work which is to be constructed by the Contractor using ea age bac sige saeco aaa sl eer fecig agsen thts assumption’ additional doferiprion is needed to i for underpinnine and related work £0 work which involves the usc of relocation of existing erect ie The first example in parageaph 3.3 uses the expression ‘excluding, supply and delivery to the Sie” ( illustrate an item deseniption for sre which is apociicaly bills of quanities should note that this expression is not defined in CESMMB as its exact scope may vary from ane contract to another, Forexample, pipework Supplied by Uke Eanphoyes may be for collection by de Comrerar fiom a depot or may be delivered 10 the site for the Contractor. Compilers of pills of quantities should therefore ensure shat, Whenever the scope of an item Is specifically lirica indi way, ane precive lication ix stated and ehat, ifan abbreviated expression such 4s “fic only" is used, a definition of tis term is given in the preambles io bills or wa heading to the appropriate ems. uended, Tor exumpleg items for extracting, piles; ‘sting, struct ing mtr T second cxample ws induded Th panpRapy SST fe antenctet or (sary how work divided beeween wo bill feneshouldhedescried This often occurs when additional description ismecessary to make t lear how the coxt of supply and fix are divided between two items. ‘The principle to be followed in bills prepared using, CESMM3 is bless otherwise stated, all items are assamed foincludeboth fof the work they cover Whenever this is not intended, additions description must he yiven to idewify whether the item is intended to cover supply oF to cover fixing. Paragraphs 3.4 and 3.9 which deal with separate it a they directly gover against which diflerent components of work te will beable (o insertdifferent prices, There bi no absolute ssuirciient 10 level of detailed subdivision is complete or 1, are imporeane Number | [tem description | Unit | Quantity } Rate 1 Mowrway | m | 23128 Ip ral dates earn raed coporate items foreach piece of reinforcing stee! of a different shape in each different bridge, for ntly shaped formwork stirfie, for each deta of water nnd jenerally Tor nates tine ony fectable dissimilarity. Such a bill would contain several thousand itemsand would be as useless due to ts over-complexity a5 the single ie Vall cul Ue o's S Aetna In practice effective financial control ts s * simplicity. Real cost differentials should beesposed by cividiny into separate items which itis helpfil to price differently init cune uifTerescals are ign! win she ul ids docs notafisify the cost of fie procesdaaf estimating and ved by usin Restog prewar fer nis ihies, wrth balance theHom The offact SA BMegeoph 2.4 ie that no two, ixcms fom the Wore Classification! Teeny be put into one item. Hence formwork may not be included with concrete, lined and unlined ditches may nct be sovceed in lie sunt ite, aind 50 ot. Thus the Work Classification, ‘coupled with paragraph 3.4, has the effect which is achieved in other rethods of measurement by many different rules of the general fora, Separate items shail be given lor limed ditches or tor any othet distinctive component of work Paragraphs 3.63.11 ate therules which establish the function ofall the material which appears on che right-hand pages of the Wotk Classifiestion. The rules v te whether they refer to measurement itself, definitions of terms used in the Work Classification coverage to. be assumed for particular items and doccription to be given in addition t0 that which is derived from the main classification tables in accordance with paragraph 3.1. These four types of rules are set out m columns. Generally, each rule is primed alongside che aedon of the clatsificaive WUke wu die left-hand page to which it refers. Fig. 4 is a reproduction of the first group of right-hand pagerutes from class C of CESMM3. Paragraph 3.6 is the definition of the first type of rule, the measurement rule. Measurement rules either say something which ailects how a quantity against a parnicular tem oF group of items wll be calculated or say something about the circumstances in which particular work will or will not be measured. The measurement rules exemplifiedin Fig, 4 show these different functions. Rules MI and M2 are rules affecting the quantity calculated for such items as the depths of holes in exrrying out geotechnical processes. Rule M3 is a ‘measurement nule stating the cireumstancesin which work associated with drilling peout holes shall be measured. M4 is an example of a le using the expression ‘expresely required" All nses of this expression in the Work Classification are contained in the measurement rules. Paragraph 3.6 refers co paragraph 5.18, The logical connection between the two demonstrates that the measurement rules are quite Aleaily aad cousiseutly die enccpiivus 1 uke general rule of calculation of quantities set ut in parageaph 5.18, Pur another wa) this means that i there is no measurement rule alongside a particulae IOUP OF items in the Work Liassineation the genera nate ot meaiirentent in paragraph 5.18 applics. This isthe principle, but i des nor apply enctely It has to be qualified because there may be measurement rules that are applicable (9 the whole of one class which appear at the head of the dase a illusteated by Fig, 4.* Paragraph 3.7 establishes the Lunetion of definition nutes. The phases for words for which definitions are given in the definition rules are assumed to have the same meanings when they are used in bills of quantities. Most of the definition rules cover matters which it i helpful to-define in order to avoid ambiguity in bills of quantities. Foe cexaraple, definition rule D8 in class Fsays chata wall less than | m lone {sta decalled a column. [tis followed by definition ule D9 which says, what in micant by a “special beam section’. A particular fanction of some definition rules is to enable bill ikem descriptions to be abbroviated. The example which appears in Fig. 4 is of this type, Ie says that drilling and excavation for geotechnical processes shall be rial ofber than rock or artiTer ne rusruneen tine West par anthongestid fetes banat, tanless otherwise stated in item descriptions. The effect ofthis rule is nothing more than (0, permit the words “material other than rock or dimaterial’ to be omitted fe a number of places in CESMMS to allow the words which would establish the general case to be omitted from bill item descriptions leaving oaly special casesto beexplicitly mentioned. Parayraph 9 ¥ ican important rule in CESMM3 which establishes the finction af coverage niles. Work included by virtue of acoveraye rule docs not nced to be itemized separately in the Bill of Quantities, For example, coversy {in class of CESMM3states that ites the chss which involve in situ concrete shall be deemed to include formwork seaph 3.8 includes 4 very important provision’w the effect that Wrerge rules do wot sate all the work covered Dy Te Tem conceried, This mwvans, cakiny dhesame example agai, hac ie bills of quantities for concrete carriageway slabs do cover. and the rates entered against such items in 2 Bill of Quancites are deem to anduce, tormvork. Faragraph 3.8 1 worded caremilly 30 that the cstitence of this toveraye tule cannot lead ta an argument that any work other than formwork is not inchided in the item becaase itis not inentioned in de rule. It follows that coverage rules only draw ar clennents oo cost oehin a bill teas wich are cerainly deemed co be covered. ‘They Fave the majority af the erred from the deseription used in the Dill of overage aule docs not. of cu that if, for example, iriageway slab the face so formwork iesge hit A sottild Gah Coline te piarmally mension work whieh ibe ine mires. Occasionally this cpesivon fs The lopout ofthe cussified CESIAMG: note the afferent nek tha fone typo tl, thohotzental akgnment andthe use of the dovble horizontal ne separate rules of qaneralappleation loledass,ahd have ft senionen of paragraph 3.8 pointe out thas the Contesctae pay lowed for the work referred to in a coverage rule in a Method-Related Charge. This is quite permissible and indeed ito be enouraged whet die cose of ne work referred the severageeuk is either independent of the quantity required or relzted to time. varagraph 3. in CESMIMD establishes the function of the addtionat 2 ules in the Work Classification. The importance of the if auldivional description rules should be emphasized. Paragraph 3.9 is very explicit, In simple terms, it should be classification tables on the left-hand pe the descri inderstood that the cin CESMM3 only generate ic subdivision of civileneincerine work into items and the basic tions which will be used. Further description and further subdivision imio itemsis very often tequitedas a result of applying the additional derceiption milae ‘Tha min elacciicarion tablee a into three divisions. It ma be helpful to think of the additional description rules as providing a fourth uncoxted division, Paragraph 3.10 makes it ex cic that addtional description rules can override-the-maity classification table- Ir-refers in- particular” to dimensions mentioned in itera descriptions. There are a number of cs in CESMM3 where an additional description rule sequitesa particular dimension to be stared in an item description alchough the related port of the Work Chssification table only requires a range of dimensions to be stated. The most well known example of this is the one which is used as an example in CESMM3. Additional description cule A2 of els I requires that he nominal bor ‘of the pipes shall be stated in item escripeions. The range of nominal bore taken from the second division of the clasification of hiss! shall not also be stated. “The rule in parageaph 3.11 is ilustraced in Fig. 4. To reduce repetition of the rules sn CESMM3. any rules which apply to the whole ofa class are printed at the head of the frst right-hand page above a double horizontal 1, Ifthe clase rune over anta a second page, a reminder that there are rules of general application is printed at the head of the following right-hand page. In someclasses, rules are repeated once or number Tbccause chey «pply to more than one sostion of es the rule is printed more than once but the ept the same. ‘The pheases printed in talicsin the rules on the right-hand pages of the Work Classification are those which are taken directly from the classheation fable on the left-hand page. Thts Nas no contractuat significance: i is adopted merely 28a eonvenienc to enable users of CESMMS to ecognie very quickly the rpe of work 10 which the Th sumbering of the rules in CESMMB reflects the categorization, Rules ofeach type are numbered consceuitively within each lass with a pretis letter identifying the type as follows uw D c icasuremen: rule Definition rule Coverage rule ‘Additional description tule ls in dhe Satne class have the same number, Some classeso optionsopen ve jantities; they are noc rales Which must be followe jchsses ALG, KN, RT| WoW, Y and 2, Stier rfisceotdance wiih the fester), prnciplen she buomesiert of Sihdividiny civil enginecrine work is to derive a sct ofMRehns which Hhlost realistically represents those different aspects which influence ; bi = the total cost of what is to be done. This pursuit of realssn istempered Voy the need eo limit the niimlwe af items to cane which will not erate clerical work out of proportion to the resulting precision of the estimating for and valuation of dhe work. “The introduction of Method-Related Charges takes one significant pressure off this process of diviging work into separate items, Since = Method-ieelated Charges are provided w urvet, alum wid dn Engineer's general izems, all the elements of the cost of the work #3 which are not directly proportional to the quantities of the Permanent — Works, it follows thatthe classiticatton of the Permanent Worksnecd concern itself only with dietinetions of these costs which are proportional to the quantities of messured work This 1s why, for example, there are no items in the Work Classification lor bringing items of plant to and from the Site. Where the cost of such transport of plane is mnt, the tenderer may, and should, enter it asa Method-Related Charge Ap important point about the Work Chissifiation is that the Comractor is assumed to i _ required by the Contract somewhere in hisset of prices ag subject only to the provision for correction of stars and 0 from the bill provided by clause 35(2). Neither CESMM3 nor the Bill ‘of Quaniitics attempts to tell the Contracior precisely how he shall Sciodule of chongesin CESMIM2 7 (¢ his expected vosis between the prices inserted agaitt the 1 Work epi between tan clvsen is jens, There is only a gener: thottiecosts of felertad ton parsaraph 33. 2, Fes forthe use ofthe right hand Tie tompousreaaf hee fe bevatea by darters ces ip ae the vaca the ith FN ane tes iiaies tie eatin am cer a=. RON Cee Denes Sets pic nacclapi in cacy ca poses ean deat Paragraph 3.5 is the nile which gives elect t the way m which the Mork: Classification presenbes she units in which the varions work components are o be measured. eof changes in CESMM3 HoneSECTION 4. CODING AND NUMBERING OF ITEMS Scction | of CESMM3 explains how the coding of items in the Worle ‘Classification can be used as the basis of item numbering in bills of quantities. It is not a requirement of CESMM3 that code numbers , should be ued as em numbers, Ic is cleatly helpful wy eounaivrs using the CESMM3 classification structure ia connection with estimating or cost control ifbills arrive ready coded by means of the item numbers. 1he other advantage of using tiem mambers based on code numbers ic that it encourages uniformity of zequence of items in bills: Items should not be listed rigidly in ascending order of code number as there are some places where this would prevent useful headings being provided, but it is of great assistance to estimators, planners and buyers if bills arriving from various sources all have items presented in the same sequence. Ie can take a long time for an estimator of for the buyer responsible for sending out enquiries to develop the necessary. familiarity with the document ifitis noc set out inthe order which has. become familias through standardization There is a tenacious view held by many who are not directly concerned that estimators ike to see work billed inthe orderin which iis done on the Site, o see the formwork with the concreceor to-see ths large value items listed fist. Most of these ideas are based on a mental image of the estinate Leing compiled by oue yeisou who works through the bill from page one to the end, considering each item separately and sweiting in its price before reading the next. This ‘mage is quite ut or date ane was probably ever near the truth only 8 the building sector. Estimating generally begins with sepanting the smuterials and sub-contracted elements for obtaining quotacions. Then the vanous operations of plant and labour are planned information being token from she Drawings, Specification and Bill of Quancites. Unitestimared costs emerge firs, in blocks of iteras which may befor any part of the bill. Gaps are gradually filled and itis only a avery late stage in the process that any prices are fixed based on these estimated costs, The sequence of items is largely unimportant. but it is of significant convenience if it always the sume, Bills are nsually diviced into parts to di phases ofthe work or different structuces, or for other costsigniicant purposes. Where Separate ‘bills’ were formerly the normal way of dividing up a bill, she tepleced by *perit, The torn in ends pay ere arranged inthe general order of tke Work Classification. This means that there can be items with the same code number in different parts of the bil. Whore itome are refereed 40 outside she bil their nuber ie prevoded by the nub of dhe part from which they are taken 59th no evo itemsinone bllhavethe sume completerelerence aumber. Thus, fan Jka 196 sere in swe parts of « movorerey bil sine of whieh wae