BASIC DESCRIPTIVE QUANTIFICATION

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Student should demonstrate an understanding of:

1. Take-offs of basic geometric shapes

Quantity Surveying

Contents
ENTERING DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................................................... 2
NUMBER / ENUMERATION ...................................................................................................................... 3
LENGTHS .................................................................................................................................................. 3
AREAS ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
VOLUMES................................................................................................................................................. 4
TIMESING ................................................................................................................................................. 4
SQUARING THE DIMENSIONS .................................................................................................................. 5
USE OF THE DESCRIPTION COLUMN ....................................................................................................... 5
ANNOTATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 6
WASTE CALCULATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 7
DEDUCTIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 7
ALTERATIONS TO DIMENSIONS ............................................................................................................... 8
REPEAT DIMENSIONS .............................................................................................................................. 8
LONG CALCULATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 8
NUMBERING AND TITLES OF DIMENSION SHEETS .................................................................................. 9
GEOMETRIC SHAPES ................................................................................................................................ 9
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................... 12

ENTERING DIMENSIONS
The four principal units of measurement are number (No.), length (m), area (m2), and
volume (m3). Occasionally standard methods of measurement require the insertion of
an ‘item’. This is an item of work without a measured quantity, i.e. disposing of surface
water in excavation work, labours on brickwork, testing the drainage system, etc.

A particular focus here is to explain how measurements are prepared for inclusion in
bills of quantities (BoQ) compiled in accordance with standard methods of
measurement. These stipulate that ‘Work shall be measured as net as fixed in position
and each measurement shall be taken to the nearest 10mm (i.e. 5mm and over shall
be regarded as 10mm, and less than 5mm shall be disregarded).’ This rule requires
measurements to be entered in the dimension column in metres to two places of
decimals with the decimal point between the metres and fractions. For example, where
the length of a skirting is 5994mm it would be entered as 5.99m. If, however the length
is 5995mm it would be entered as 6.00m.

Note that dimensions are always entered to two places of decimals even where it may
not appear to be entirely necessary. I.e. if the length of the pipe is 7000mm precisely,
it would still be entered as 7.00m. rather than just 7! Figured dimensions should always
be used in preference to scaled dimensions, which should only be used as a last
resort.

NUMBER / ENUMERATION

Many items in building work are counted, i.e. prefabricated roof trusses, joinery items
such as doors, and windows, electrical and mechanical fittings such as lights, radiators
and pumps, sanitary fittings such as baths, etc. Where items are counted they are
entered as whole numbers in the dimension column with a line drawn horizontally
across the dimension column below each entry. Note that the actual dimensions of
enumerated items are stated in millimetres in the description.

LENGTHS
Linear measurements (lengths) are taken for items such skirting, details such as bands
and capping on brickwork, runs of pipe, etc. Linear measurements usually state the
cross section size of the item in the description.

AREAS

Items such as walls, roof coverings, flooring, and most finishes are measured by area.
These are sometimes referred to as superficial measurements. The description usually
states the thickness of the item of the work. The measurements comprise two
dimensions; a length and width when the item is on plan, or a length and a height
where it is vertical. Dimensions are arranged in pairs in the dimension column with the
horizontal line appearing under the second dimension.

VOLUMES

Excavation, earthwork and concrete work are typically measured by volume. These
items contain three dimensions which ideally are arranged in the order of length by
width by depth. Again, the sets of three dimensions are identified by the horizontal line
under the third dimension of the set.

TIMESING

Quantity Surveyors use the term ‘timesing’ rather than ‘multiplication’ to refer to the
number of times a particular item occurs in the course of measurement. The timesing
factor is entered in the timesing column and is registered by a backslash mark across
the border between the timesing and dimension columns. Timesing techniques is used
to speed up the measurement process by avoiding the needless repetition of identical
dimensions. This technique is particularly useful when measuring work of a repetitive
nature such as housing schemes and hotels or multi-storey buildings with repetitive
floor layouts.
The measurement of the concrete foundations demonstrates a technique called
dotting on. This technique is not encountered frequently in practice, but there may be
occasions where a further item or items have been discovered after similar work has
already been measured. The process is signified by inserting a conspicuous large ‘dot’
behind and above the timesing factor while entering the number of the additional items.

SQUARING THE DIMENSIONS

The squaring column is used to calculate the quantities of work and represents the
products of the timesing and dimension columns. The squaring process figures out the
quantities of work by multiplying the dimensions by the timesing factor. There are a
number of conventions to note: In situations where there are multiple dimensions for
enumerated items or linear dimensions which are not timesed, these may be totalled
and the result entered in the squaring column to the right of the final number /
dimension. Enumerated items are entered or totalled as whole numbers in the
squaring column. Squared dimensions are entered in the squaring column to two
places of decimals and are totalled alongside or below the final dimension entry. Note
that there is no underlining in the squaring column until the totalling process is carried
out. Totalling is usually signified by double underlining. Totals are usually rounded off
to the nearest full unit and transferred to the right hand side of the description column
immediately below the description. This accords with standard practice: ‘Where the
unit of billing is the metre, quantities shall be billed to the nearest whole unit. Fractions
of a whole unit less than a half shall be disregarded and all other fractions shall be
regarded as a whole unit.’

The quantities are transferred either directly to the measurement document or to an

abstract as part of the billing process.

USE OF THE DESCRIPTION COLUMN

As its name suggests, this is where descriptive information is entered. The description
of the items to be measured is written within this column. Then, complete set of
dimensions relating to the item are presented below the description before starting to
measure the next item.

The ‘Southern method’ groups related work items with common dimensions, such as
blockwork plaster and paint, and measures them together simultaneously using
brackets and a technique called ‘anding on’. Measurements and adjustments relating
to the particular work items are gathered from the various sections of the take off and
aggregated in an abstract to produce the final quantities prior to final billing.

Work descriptions in the ‘group’ approach are contained within the description column
and are heavily abbreviated and copied using the word ‘ditto’ to save time and space.
This allows a number of descriptions to be written in the description column. The full
descriptions of the work items are only produced at the final billing stage.

ANNOTATIONS

Taking off building work can be a lengthy process and it is common for a team of
Surveyors to take off the work when producing a bill of quantities. It is essential that
the take-off notes can be understood and followed by others, such as the project
Quantity Surveyor, during the construction and final account stages of the project. If
the take-off cannot be followed it becomes useless, and the effort spent in trying to
figure it out can, in effect, be a further waste of time. It is important, therefore, that the
Quantity Surveyor annotates the dimensions to show where and how they have been
made and calculated. A well signposted set of dimensions ultimately saves time and
money in the event that the take-off has to be referred to, such as where the final
account has to be adjusted as a result of variations.

Annotations should be kept as brief as necessary; and often a single syllable can
identify the measurement logic or an item’s location on the drawings. It is common
practice to align the annotations on the left hand side of the description column beside
the dimensions to which they refer. It is not necessary to annotate something that is
obvious.
WASTE CALCULATIONS

Ideally dimensions can be read directly from the drawings and entered directly into the
dimension column. However, direct transfers are not always possible as some
calculation or adjustment may be required to the dimensions on the drawing before
they can be correctly booked.

The right hand side of the description column is commonly referred to as the waste.
The waste is used to build up dimensions and to carry out other preliminary
calculations. Quantity Surveyors call these ‘waste calculations’ or ‘side-casts’ and they
are worked out in millimetres alongside the item to which they relate. Once the
dimension is calculated, it is transferred into the dimension column in metres to two
decimal places.

A key principle of taking off is the elimination of mental arithmetic. All steps that have
been taken in arriving at a dimension should be included in the waste calculation. This
enables the dimensions to be checked and will reduce doubts and misunderstandings.
There may be a temptation to scribble these or carry out simple arithmetic in the head.
Both should be avoided as it is important to be able to identify the process by which
the dimensions were established. Double underlining in a waste calculation usually
indicates that the result has been transferred to the dimension column.

DEDUCTIONS

After measuring an item, it is sometimes necessary to deduct for voids and/or

openings. Standard system of measurement set out rules governing the deduction of
openings within the boundary of the work. Openings or wants at the boundaries of the
work are deducted irrespective of their size.

The abbreviation ‘Ddt’ in the squaring column stand for the word ‘deduct’.
One of the key techniques used by surveyors in measuring work ‘the golden rule of
measurement’ is to measure in full in the first instance and subsequently adjust for the
detail; this process frequently involves deduction.
ALTERATIONS TO DIMENSIONS

It is sometimes necessary to substitute amended dimensions in place of those, which

have already been entered on the dimension sheet. Do not alter the original figures.
The better procedure is to write ‘NIL’ in the squaring column beside the incorrect
dimensions and re write the new dimensions immediately above or below depending
on the space available.

REPEAT DIMENSIONS

To save time and reduce the possibility of transcription errors it is good practice to
repeat totals from previously measured items. For example, block walls are generally
plastered and painted on both sides. Some additions and/or adjustments are usually
required to the repeated quantity when measuring the subsequent item, therefore,
additional care is need when using this technique.

The procedure is to label or tag the total for the blockwork, say TOT ‘A’ and repeat this
full quantity to two decimal places in the dimension column of the plaster
measurements identifying the unit of measurement used. A side note should be made
identifying what the repeat total refers to and the page on which it originates. This
process corresponds to the ‘anding on’ technique noted above.

LONG CALCULATIONS

On many occasions it will not be possible to complete the measurement without

continuing onto the other side of the sheet or onto a further sheet. In these instances,
the squared dimensions should be sub-totalled at the bottom of the column and
brought forward to the top of the following squaring column, before recommencing the
measurement. It is often convenient to start deductions on the right hand side of the
sheet where there is not enough room to complete the measurement on the left side.
NUMBERING AND TITLES OF DIMENSION SHEETS

Each dimension sheet should be suitably headed with the job and page reference at
the top of each sheet. A dated and initialled cover sheet identifying the job, stage,
element and total number of pages used in the take-off is good practice. This cover
sheet should also contain a list of drawings used for the take off. The take-off should
be suitably fastened to prevent loss of sheets.

GEOMETRIC SHAPES

The annexure below shows the formulae of various geometric shapes and how it’s
written in the dimension paper.
 FORMULAES OF BASIC GEOMETRIC SHAPES J-BELLMOUTH/FILLET

Refer to the figures 'Geometric shapes' R

Area = (RxR) - ¼πR²

R

A-SQUARE

Ddt
¼/π/ r
2/ L r ( )
2/ H

Area = L X H
Girth = 2L + 2H

L
H B-RECTANGLE 1/3/

Area = L x H

L
K-PYRAMID
B
H Volume = 1/3 (LxBxH)

L L-CONE
2/ H 1/3/π/
2/

R
R
L H
H

Girth = 2L + 2H

Volume = 1/3πR²H

C-PARALELLOGRAM M-SEGMENT
L Area = L X H Area = (3H²+4L²) xH÷L÷6

L
B
Girth = 2L + 2B

N-CYLINDER
2/
2/ π/ r Volume = πr²H
½/ D-TRIANGLE r
H

Area = 1/2 x L x H
L Girth = Length of 3 sides
H L
 O-CUBOID

Volume = L x B x H
π/ E-CIRCLE B
2/π/ H
Area =πR²

R Girth = 2πR F-
R ELLIPSE

P-SPHERE
R
4/3/π/ R Volume = 4/3πR³
¼/π/ L Area = ¼ x R
H πxLxH

½/π/
½/π/ Girth =
½xπ(L+H)

L G-SECTOR OF CIRCLE
H

R
R

4/π/ Area = 4πR²

R Q-TRIGONOMETRY

¼/π/ Area = a÷360xπR²

R i.e. a ÷ 360 = 1/4

R sin a = O/S
Girth
=a÷360x2πR i.e. cos a =
a ÷ 360 = 1/4 A/S tan a =
O/A
¼/2/π/
H-TRAPEZIUM

Y Area = ½ (L+B)xH

i.e. ½(L + B) = Y
Girth = Sum of 4 sides

②
REFERENCES

Cunningham, T. 2014. An Introduction to Taking Off Building Quantities: An Irish

Approach. Dublin University of Technology. School of Surveying and Construction
Management. Dublin.

Maritz, M.J. & Siglé, H.M. 2012. Quantity Surveying Practice in South Africa. 1st Ed.
Construction Economics Associates. Pretoria.