METHODS & UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS OF CIVIL WORKS

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The units of measurements (UOM) for civil engineering works are mainly categorised for their nature, shape and size and for making payments to the contractor and also. The principle of units of measurements normally consists the following:

a) Single units work like doors, windows, trusses etc., are expressed in numbers.

b)  Works consists linear measurements involve length like cornice, fencing, hand rail, bands of specified width etc., are expressed in running metres (RM)

c)Works consists areal surface measurements involve area like plastering, white washing, partitions of specified thickness etc., and are expressed in square meters (m2)

d) Works consists cubical contents which involve volume like earth work, cement concrete, Masonry etc are expressed in Cubic metres.

Table below shows units of measurement of various items of civil engineering works based on IS 1200.

S.no	Particulers of Item	Units of measurement	Units of Payment
1	Earthwork
	1.Earthwork in excavation	CUM	Per CUM
	2.Earthwork in filling in foundation trenches	CUM	Per CUM
	3.Earth work in filling in plinth	CUM	Per CUM
2	Concrete
	1.Lime concrete in foundation
	2.Cement concrete in lintels
	3. RCC in slab
	4.Cement concrete or RCC in chujja, sunshade
	5.Lean concrete in roof terracing (thickness specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	6.Cement concrete bed	CUM	Per CUM
	7.Reinforced concrete sunshade (specified width and height)	CUM	Per CUM
3	Damp proof course (DPC) - thickness mentioned	SQM	Per SQM
4	Brick work
	1.Brickwork in foundation	CUM	Per CUM
	2.Brickwork in plinth
	3.Brickwork in super structure
	4.Thin partition walls	SQM	Per SQM
	5.Brickwork in arches	CUM	Per SQM
	6.Reinforced brickwork	CUM	Per CUM
5	Stone work
	1.Stone masonry	CUM	Per CUM
6	Wood work
	1.Doors and windows frames or chaukhats, rafters, beams	CUM	Per CUM
	2.Shutters of doors and windows (thickness specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	3.Doors and windows fittings (like hinges, tower bolts, sliding bolts, handles)	Each	Per Each
7	Steel Work
	1.Steel reinforcement bars etc in RCC and reinforced brick work	Quintal	Per Quintal
	2.Bending, binding of steel reinforcement	Quintal	Per Quintal
	3.Rivets, bolts and nuts, anchor bolts, lewis bolts, holding down bolts	Quintal	Per Quintal
	4.Iron hold fasts
	5.Iron railing (height and types specified)
	6.Iron grills	SQM	Per SQM
8	Roofing
	1.RCC and RB slab roof (excluding steel)	CUM	Per CUM
	2.Lean concrete roof over and inclusive of tiles or brick or stone slab etc (thickness specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	3.Centering and shuttering formwork	SQM	Per SQM
	4.AC Sheet Roofing	SQM	Per SQM
9	Plastering, points and finishing
	1.Plastering - cement or lime mortar (thickness and proportion specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	2.Pointing	SQM	Per SQM
	3.White washing, colour washing, cement washing, (number of coats specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	4.Distempering (number of coats specified)	SQM	Per SQM
	5.Painting, varnishing (number of coats specified)	SQM	Per SQM
10	Flooring
	1)25mm cement concrete over 75mm lime concrete floor (including lean concrete)	SQM	Per SQM
	2)25mm or 40mm cement concrete floor	SQM	Per SQM
	3)Doors and window sills (CC or cement mortar plain)	SQM	Per SQM
11	Rain water pipe / plain pipe	RM	Per RM
12	Steel wooden truss	Each	Per Each
13	Glass panels (supply)	SQM	Per SQM
14	Fixing of glass panels or cleaning	Each	Per Each

Note:

•  SQM = Square meter

•  CUM = Cubic meter

•  RM = Running meter

Methods for Measurement of civil engineering works:

The rules for measurement of each item are invariably described in IS - 1200. However some of the general rules are listed below:

1. Measurement shall be made for finished item of work and description of each item shall include materials, transport, labour, fabrication tools and plant and all types of overheads for finished the work in required shape, size and specification.

2. In booking, the order shall be in sequence of length, breadth and height or thickness.

3.  All works shall be measured subject to the following tolerances.

•  Linear measurement shall be measured to the nearest 0.01m.

•  Areas shall be measured to the nearest 0.01 SQM

•  Cubic contents shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 cum.

4. Same type of work under different conditions and nature shall be measured separately under separate items.

5. The bill of quantities shall fully describe the materials, proportions, workmanships and accurately represent the work to be executed.

6.In case of masonry (stone or brick) or structural concrete, the categories shall be measured separately and the heights shall be described as:

•  From foundation to plinth level

•  From plinth to first floor level

•  From first floor to second floor level and so on.