Chapter 1 Qty

Contract, Specification and Quantity surveying Chapter 1
Chapter One
1. Introduction
Before starting any construction, one has to have a thorough knowledge about the volume of the
work and the probable cost that may be required for the completion of the project. Otherwise, the
construction will be stopped before its completion due to shortage of money or materials.
Quantity surveying may be defined as the process of calculating the quantities and cost of
various works required in connection with the project.
1.1.Definitions
Quantity surveying is the art of defining the works available in a given project, estimating the
quantities of those defined works using appropriate measurement techniques, and finally
estimating the probable cost of executing the works.
A quantity surveyor (QS) is a professional working within the construction industry concerned
with construction costs and contracts. Services provided by a quantity surveyor may include:
Cost planning and commercial management throughout the entire life cycle of the project from
inception to post-completion.
A person who is skilled at doing the above tasks is known as a Quantity Surveyor. A good
quantity surveyor is one who;
• Takes a clear image of the project in to his/her mind before starting the work
• Estimates the quantities of all works in the project without jumping anything
• Estimates the most probable cost of the project with very small variations
Note: No quantity surveyor can find the exact cost of the project during estimation stage. There
are a number of unforeseen expenses which arise during the course of construction, and no one
can fore see them ahead. The actual cost of the project is therefore known after the project is
completed.
Estimation: - Before starting any construction, one has to have a thorough knowledge about the
volume of the work and the probable cost that may be required for the completion of the project.
Otherwise, the construction will be stopped before its completion due to shortage of money or
materials.
A Professional Quantity Surveyor has a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of construction
and construction methods, as well as the laws relating to construction projects and accounting, in
order to provide cost and financial advice.
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Instructor: - Ayele Mandefro
A Professional Quantity Surveyor may specialize in mechanical or electrical disciplines, but all
Professional Quantity Surveyors must have a working knowledge of the practical aspects and
design features of both fields.
1.2.Purpose of Quantity Surveying
Why do we carry out quantity surveying? Why don’t we just go to our work without having any
time wasted on quantities?
These questions have often been raised by many clients. The problem is they don’t seem to
have understood the purposes of this process, and I have outlined for you here.
Quantity surveying is done:
• To calculate the probable costs of the project at hand so that the client will be aware of
the expenses due to arise in the course of the construction. If the money is not there,
the client can devise a mechanism for other sources of money or change the project
idea from the beginning.
• To fix the completion time of the project. This is usually done by breaking the works
in to smaller activities. The activities require materials, labour, equipment and some
overheads (generally called “Resources”). The project time is the total time required
by these small activities with some spare times made available.
• To prepare construction schedules, material schedules, labour schedules, equipment
schedules and payment schedules, which are very important to effectively utilize the
resources made available for the project.
• To get approval from the concerned authorities. The government office giving the
construction permit needs to be aware of the magnitude of the work you are going to
get in.
• To get loans or funds or budget for various projects. If you are working at a government
owned project, you may be required to present the budget detail for the works before
the work is commenced.
For solicitation purposes. In most cases bid documents are sold to prospective contractors so that
they can submit their offer for the works. Among the sold documents is a bill of quantities.
Generally, the purpose of quantity surveying can be summarized as follows: -
• To know the amount of money required.
• To know the quantities of material required.
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• To know the different workers to be employed.

• To fix up the completion period.
• To invite tenders.
• To know the tools and equipment required for the construction
• To draw up the construction schedule and program
• To obtain sanction of necessary funds from the concerned authority
• For valuation of an existing structure
Minimum Knowledge and Skills Required for this Course
• Basic Mathematics
• Reading and Interpreting Working Drawing
• Linguistic Skill (English)
• Basic Computer Skill
• Technical Sketching
• Technical Report Writing
Exercises (5%) write the answers on this page only.
1. Which components of PMBoK is related to Contract, Specification and Quantity
Surveying?
2. What are the construction specific PMBoK? Discuss.
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Contract, Specification and Quantity surveying Chapter 1

• To know the different workers to be employed.

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