MODULE 4:
Super Structure
FOR QSU150S/QSU150X
Measurement of Super Structure
◦ Brickwork measurement has already been covered when we worked on
foundations:
◦ Measured in m2
◦ Remember to also measure brick reinforcement
◦ Refer to Standard System of Measuring Building Work 7th Edition 2015
◦ Masonry Trade (page 34-45)
◦ Clauses 1-7, 14, and 19 are the relevant clauses we will be dealing with
◦ Refer to the General Preambles for Trade 2017
◦ G. Masonry (pg. 18-22), clauses G.1.1 – G.1.3
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
◦Collections are already done when measuring
foundations – no need to repeat the process
◦The superstructure brick work is the same length
◦All you need to do is determine the required height
◦Super structure brickwork is measured from the top of the
surface bed (which is the level the foundation brickwork is
measured up to), up to the underside of the wall plate
Measurement of
Super Structure
Cont…
◦ A wall plate is a
timber load-bearing
structural member
laid horizontally along
the top of a wall to
support and distribute
the load exerted by
the roof structure
down through
the walls
Beam Filling
◦ “Beam filling” is a filling of brick that runs from the underside of the
wall plate to the roof covering, to prevent the entry of birds and
vermin and to help keep the wall weather tight.
◦ It is the closing-in of the outer skin of a hollow wall (this means that
it will only run on one skin of the brickwork of the cavity wall, that is
the outer skin of the wall hence the width will be e.g. 110mm if the
cavity wall is a 270mm cavity wall for example)
◦ It is usually about 3 courses high (3/85 = 255mm)
◦ It is measured in m2
◦ The Standard System Clause 6, page calls for beam filling to be
measured separately
Beam Filling Cont…
◦Need to consider the type of roof that has been
designed:
◦If the roof has hip ends and has “open eaves” (where the
ends of the rafters are exposed/visible) then “beam
filling” will be required all the way around.
◦If the roof is pitched with no hips i.e. has gabled ends,
beam filling will only run from the back of the gable wall
at one end to the back of the gable wall on the other
end
Beam Filling Cont…
◦If the roof has a combination of gable ends and hip
ends, then the extent of the actual beam filling
required needs to be carefully considered.
◦If the design shows “closed eaves”, then beam filling
will not be required and should not be measured
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
◦Where gable walls occur with double pitched roofs,
the brickwork needs to be measured for the full
height
◦By using the “brickwork collection” length x height
from the underside of the wall plate, we can
establish the area of the external brick work –
HOWEVER, this does not take into account the
additional brickwork in the “gable walls”
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
◦There is an area of brickwork – usually referred to
as a “band” of brickwork, which occurs on the gable
walls and is equal in height to the height of the
beam filling i.e. about 3 courses high (255mm)
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
◦ The triangular area above the “band” of brickwork also has to be accounted for
◦ The gable walls can be calculated as follows:
◦ ½ base x height x no. of gable walls.
◦ The brick work for the gable walls is not separated into new items but is simply grouped
together with the brickwork measured – for ease of referencing, just call it “Gable walls”
◦ Note: Beam filling starts behind the gable walls
◦ Note: The height of 2 courses (i.e. 2/85 = 170mm) should be added to the total height of
the internal walls (we do not add 3 courses as the 3rd course will restrict movement around
the roof when work needs to be done in the roof which will have to be accessed via the
trap door)
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note:
◦ Bricks are cut at an angle on the gable walls to create the triangular look (square
cutting, raking, splay cutting etc. are cutting methods that can be used)
◦ The Standard System does not make specific mention that rough square cutting,
rough raking or rough splay cutting is measured but it is implied.
◦ Only “fair cutting” cutting such as fair raking cutting, fair splay cutting, fair steeped
cutting etc. is measured
◦ This means that cutting to face brick only is measurable, and no cutting is
measured for rough brickwork
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note continued:
◦ When measuring superstructure brickwork, we measure straight through as
if there are no door or window openings
◦ Later when we get to measure doors and windows, we will make the
necessary adjustments to the brickwork by deducting brickwork for the size
of the actual openings required
◦ Face brickwork will be covered when we get to measure “external finishes”
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note
continued:
◦ Brickwork in piers and mass
brickwork (such as in
chimneys etc.) is measured
in m3
Measurement of Super
Structure Cont…
Other things to note continued:
◦ You need to study the plans, elevations and
details provided on the drawings to see if
there are any “parapet” walls
◦ “Parapet” walls are walls that extend above
the height of the roof also need to be
measured
◦ These are usually where the roof has to be
concealed from view
◦ The additional height of these walls must also
be considered
◦ The area in m2 must be added to the relevant
measurement items such as a 270mm cavity
walls or one brick wall as the case may be
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note continued (Circular Brickwork):
◦ Circular brickwork needs to be kept separate from straight brickwork
◦ The Standard System states that it is not necessary to state or give the radius or to keep
different radii separate
◦ All circular brickwork can be grouped together in one item (obviously different types of
walls such as 110mm walls, 230mm walls etc still need to be kept separate
◦ Examples:
◦ “110mm wall built circular-on-plan”
◦ “230mm wall built circular-on-plan”
◦ It is measured in m2
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note continued:
◦ Mass brickwork:
◦ E.g. chimney stacks, piers etc. is measured in m3
◦ Irregular shaped piers such as L-shaped or H-shaped piers are kept separate
from rectangular piers
◦ Where a hollow pier is built as a half brick skin, the core is filled with
unreinforced concrete and the brickwork is measured in m2 describing it as a
half brick lining in forming 340x340mm concrete filled pier for example
Measurement of Super Structure Cont…
Other things to note continued:
◦ Closing Cavities
◦ Brickwork in closing cavities of hollow walls is measured in m
◦ Separate horizontal, vertical and raking
◦ This will be explained in more detail when we get to measure doors and windows
◦ But where the gable wall is a parapet wall, then the cavity needs to be built solid
for two courses on rake:
◦ “Build cavity of hollow wall solid horizontally for two courses”
◦ “Build cavity of hollow wall solid on rake for one course” etc.
The End