Quantity Surveying and Bill of Quantities Project: NRM2 Methodology

This project examines the preparation of a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) using the NRM2 methodology, crucial for tendering and contractual agreements in construction. It includes detailed calculations for both horizontal and vertical works, focusing on the frame and drainage systems. The project contrasts manual and software methods for quantity estimation, highlighting the advantages of software such as improved accuracy, speed, and consistency, while also acknowledging the associated costs and the need for training. It analyzes the role of BOQs in project costing, interim payments, and final accounts, emphasizing the importance of the BOQ in preventing ambiguity and ensuring proper cost control. The project includes detailed calculations for materials and a comparison between manual and software methods, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The project also covers drainage calculations and the importance of BOQs for the final project account.

Quantity Survey and Bill of Quantities
By:
Name of Student:

Task 1
Preparation of the Bill of quantities is an integral part in any tendering process. Nevertheless, it
has been noted that there is a need to ensure that there is standard form of preparation, such as
the NRM2 methodology. Standardizing the document preparation has been an integral part in
quantity surveying as it ensures that there is an easy understanding among different quantity
surveyors. It prevents ambiguity and misinterpretation among the various quantity surveyors and
contractors (Loosemore, Danity, & Lingard 2011). These standard methods, as such, eliminate
disputes that may arise in contractual and tendering agreements.
On the basis that the document preparation involves intense calculations, measurements and
taking off, the quantity surveyor needs to be well conversant with the material quantities, the
market price, the labor costs and the procurement framework. In this, the quantity surveyor needs
to take off the quantities that are project specific from the drawings.
In that context, the preparation of the document is pivotal as it ensures that the contractual
agreement is based on the best costing methodology. Besides this, the bill of quantities is
essential in ensuring that there is proper agreement between the client and the tender on the
proper sum of the contract. Moreover, because there is a need to ensure that the client
understands the valuation variation, the schedule of rates is essential. The bill of quantities has
also been regarded as a very important document when it comes to the analysis of the interim
payments to be allocated to the contractors and subcontractors. Finally, the document is essential
when it comes to the preparation of the final project account. This is to say that the document is
the basis for the project costing and the payments to be made to the various parties affiliated to
the project.

With all those factors put into context, the bill of quantities prepared has used the standard
NRM2 methodology to prevent any ambiguity and misunderstanding between different quantity
surveyors that may go through the document. The specifications and the format used by this
standard will be used in the preparation of the bill of quantities.
In such regards, the various plans and layouts will be essential in determining the quantity of
materials used in both the superstructure and the substructure, more so due to the fact that it is a
concrete building. This will be mainly achieved through the manual methodology. Manual taking
off is strenuous but it is the basics on which the bill of quantities is prepared.
Projec
t title
Ref Description Unit Quant Rate £
The building Frame
General
rates shall include all the works that are involved
In the construction of the foundation, the slabs
and beams.
The first floor slab has been neglected as per the
specifications that have been outlined in the
drawing plans.
The site engineer is supposed to make reasonable
assumptions when it comes to the actual field woirk
This is to mean that all the cost that have been
calculated in this document need to be reasonably
transferred as per the site conditions and any other
relevant constraints
1 Horizontal work(11.2.1)
The cast in situ frame consists of footings, beams and
slabs
Footings M3 3972
beams m² 81
slabs m² 2108.5
2 Vertical work(11.2.1)
The vertical work form part of the frame. In this,
the columns are the main vertical works that may be

used in the frame area estimation.
Total column area M3 5544
Drainage
general
The drainage calculations provided have been based
on the drainage schedule that has been outlined
The pipe diamater and lenghts form one component
Of the calculations.
Above ground drainage has not been essential in
the calculations as most of the drainage is below
ground level
Above ground Draimage(bill number 33)
Pipework diamter measured across the construction site
1 meter diamater- five pipes
1.5 meters diameter
1 meter diameter- 61 meters m 61
1.5 meter diamter pipe- 15 meters m 15
Drainage below ground(bill number 34)
Drain runs
RE-MH9 m 6.5
RE - MH10 m 22
MH9 -10 m 3.2
MH10 - 11 m 13.5
MH11 -12 m 15
RE - MH12 m 19
manhole maximum internal size(34.6.1)
MH9 nr 0.525
MH10 nr 0.55
MH11 nr 1.11
MH12 nr 0.7
The dimesntions of the cover slab(34.6.1.3)
MH9 nr 0.525
MH10 nr 0.55
MH11 nr 1.11
MH12 nr 0.7
main channel size(34.6.1.6) nr
MH9 nr 1
MH10 nr 1
MH11 nr 1.5
MH12 nr 2

Task 2(1150 words)
Introduction
The manual method of quantity estimation and bill of quantity preparation involves the taking off
procedure. In this case, the quantity surveyor observes the items from the construction that may
be measured. Each component of the construction that can be measured can thereafter be priced.
In such regards, the methodology involves a lot of estimation, measurements and calculations,
which ultimately culminate to the total price of the elements to be measured. This has been the
most common methodology. However, with the changes in technology and the specifications in
computer programming, quantity surveyors have established a more appropriate and accurate
computer platform that can provide the bill of quantities within minutes.
Advantages
One of the major advantages of using software in the preparation of bill of quantities and taking
off is the fact that the software can easily measure the materials to be used. Taking off may be
one of the most time consuming activities when it comes to the estimation of quantities manually
and as such, the use of the software speeds up the process. According to a study on Malaysian
firms, it was noted that almost 50% of the quantity surveying firms tend to prefer the use of
software as it speeds up the process of taking off (Keng & Ching 2012). More to this is the fact
that the software packages, as opposed to the manual methodology used in the estimation, enable
the quantity surveyor to group the homogenous tasks within the construction framework
(Bhattacharjee, Ghosh, & Young-Corbett 2010). All these are absent in the manual methodology
used, where the quantity surveyor has to do the manual search for the pricing as well as the
categorizing homogenous divisions (Beach, Rana, Rezgui, & Parashar 2013).

Moreover, research notes that the use of software in estimation has been found to be very
effective as it reduces the chances of human error when it comes to task entry. In such a context,
it has been noted that the use of these estimation software boosts the efficiency of a quantity
surveying firm and saves money (You-Jie & Fox 2012). The manual that has been used in this
case may be associated with human errors which may lead to improper estimations.
Thirdly, it has been noted that the use of software is essential as it improves the consistency of
the estimates. In such regards, it has been noted that the assurance of accuracy in the various
project bids may be a very fundamental aspect of the software (Burgess 2018). The concept may
be more essential when it comes to projects that may be similar, especially when it comes to
ensuring that there are cost-cutting methodologies.
It has also been noted that the software are essential when it comes to procurement and the
management of the various labor costs. It has been noted that the use of software is imperative
when it comes to the accurate estimation of the labour costs and requirements, the material
volume and the market prices. This is primarily because these BOQ software packages have been
equipped with various pricing libraries that assist the quantity surveyor in understanding the rate
build-ups across the construction industry (Dangerfield, Green, & Austin 2010). The accuracy of
the rates is essential in the preparation of the document. In such a context, the use of the software
improves the time that the quantity surveyor can schedule and manage the materials, and
determine the best market price for the project requirements.
Disadvantages
One of the greatest disadvantages associated with the use of software in estimation regards the
cost. As compared to the manual methodology of BOQ preparation, it has been noted that the

software, depending on the specifications, can cost thousands and hundreds of dollars (Blismas
& Wakefield 2009). The manual methodology may involve the use of excel sheets, such as in the
estimation used, and other files in the preparation which are relatively cheaper.
Moreover, the fact that the BOQ software may become out of date is a major disadvantage for
some quantity surveyors. Research notes that technology changes so fast and the fact that some
software providers may not regularly update their software may result to inaccuracies when
designing a bill of quantities. In the same context, the failure of a quantity surveyor to look for
regular update of the software may lead to redundancies within the system. Although the updates
are a necessity, in some instances, they may be very expensive for purchase, making the software
obsolete on software upgrade costing. In comparison, the manual method does not require any
sort of update as it is entirely dependent on the experience of the quantity surveyor and the
standards required. .
As research notes, the use of software in BOQ estimation may require training and proper
infrastructural investment. In this context, it has been noted that quantity surveying firms may
need to invest in proper training of the employees to ensure that they have the right skills and
knowledge to handle all the software demands. This is to say that a firm may need to invest in
proper time allocation for the training requirements..
Conclusion
In such a context, it is clear that the use of the software can provide significant advantages in the
productivity of a quantity surveying firm. The software improves the consistency of the
measurements, improves the accuracy of the results, reduces the time used in estimation and
provides a proper platform for procurement management. These advantages are as a result of the

fact that there are various tools and management devices. As such, they give quantity surveyors
an edge in comparison to the manual methods which do not have tools to check for such
specifications..

References
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