DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.

Chapter One

1. Specification

1.1. Introduction

Specification is defined as the designation or statement by which written instructions are given
distinguishing and/or limiting and describing the particular trade of work to be executed. In short
specification is a statement of particular instructions of how to execute some tasks. Specification is
one of the contract documents.

Specifications are written based on the prepared design, drawings, general and scientific trends of
workmanship, quality expected, equipment involved and materials to be used for the particular
trade of work. The specifications should clearly specify: -

 Design and drawing

 Labor employment
 Materials to be used
 Construction method
 Equipment used

Specifications should be clear, concise, and brief descriptions of what is required to execute the
proposed trade of work. The information that is needed for building construction is usually
conveyed by two basic communication lines. They are: -

 The drawings (pictorial)

 The specifications (written)

In doing so, the methods of communication should compliment each other and neither should
overlap or duplicate the other. Specifications are devices for organizing the information depicted on
the drawings and they are written descriptions of the legal and technical requirements forming the
contract documents.

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Their difference is that the drawings should generally show the following:

1. Dimensions, extents, size, shape, and location of component parts

2. Location of materials, machineries, and fixtures
3. Interaction of furniture, equipment and space
4. Schedules of finishes, windows and doors

Specifications generally describe the following: -

1. Type and quality of materials, equipment, labor or workmanship

2. Methods of fabrication, installation and erection
3. Standards, codes and tests
4. Allowance, submittals and substitutions
5. Cost included, insurance and bonds
6. Project records and site facilities.

1.2. Purposes of specifications

Guide the bidder at the time of tendering to arrive at a reasonable cost for the work
Provide guidance for execution and supervision of works.
Guide the contractor for the purchase of materials
Serve as a part of contract document to limit and describe the rights and obligations of each
contracting parties.
Guide the bidder to identify his capacity to execute the work.
Serve as fabrication and installation guide for temporary and permanent works.
Guide the contractor for the purchase and/or hiring of equipment.
Serve for the owner to know what he/she is entitled to receive
Serve for the manufacturers of construction materials, equipment, tools etc. to grade,
classify, and improve qualities of their produces.
Indirectly, the specifications are very much related to the legal considerations, insurance
considerations, bidding requirements, alternates and options, rights, obligations and
remedial measures for the contracting parties.
In the events of conflicts between specification and drawings, the specification governs.

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1.3. Types of Specifications

In general, specifications can be broadly classified into four categories as follows

a) Manufacturer’s specification: Manufacturers prepare specification of their product for the

guidance of their users, which may include property description and installation guide lines.

b) Guide Specification: Specifications prepared by an individual or group of individuals based on

manufacturer’s specifications, established trends of workmanship, service and laboratory tests
and research findings to be used as guide lines for preparation of contract specifications.

c) Standard Specification: Specifications which are intended to be used as a reference standard in

the construction of a project. The guide specification which has been standardized by a
recognized authority is considered as standard specification.

d) Contract (Project) Specification: the specification prepared for a particular project to

accompany the drawings and other contract documents.

The specifications described above can be prepared following the format which has general and
specific parts (general specification and specific specification).

In the general part of the standard specifications the following items are included: -

Administrative and Procedural Requirements

Scope, definitions
Reference organizations and Standards
Project description, site facilities
Submittals and quality assurance
Delivery, storage and handling
Project records
Insurances
Other general requirements

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In the specific part of the standard specifications, detailed description of the quality of items to be
used is given. In addition to this, preparatory actions and methods of incorporating the items into
the project are indicated.

Specifications could be written in several ways, with the prime emphasis given to either the
producer company’s brand or the performance capacity of the material and so on. Accordingly,
there are the following types of technical specifications.

1. Proprietary Specifications: These specifications call for desired materials, producers, systems, and
equipments by their trade names and model numbers. For detailed descriptions reference should
be made to manufacturer’s specifications. They are of two types; closed (sole) source and open
or equal source.

2. Performance Specifications: specifications which define products based on desired end results
which are performance oriented; most appropriate when new or unusual products or systems
are required or when innovation is necessary. Describing the problems or conditions under which
the products or systems must operate, and the parameters for the acceptable solutions is difficult
and challenging. Testing methods and evaluation procedures for defining the required
performances must be explicitly specified.

3. Reference Specifications: Specifications which refer to levels of quality established by recognized

testing authority or standards set by quality control authorities. These specifications are also used
in conjunction with other types of specifications.

4. Descriptive Specifications: Specifications which describe all components of products, their

arrangements and methods of assembly, physical and chemical properties, arrangement and
relationship of parts and numerous other details. The specifier shall take total responsibility for
the function and performance of the product.

5. Cash Allowance Specifications: Specifications meant to direct bidders to set aside a specified
amount of money to be applied to the construction work at the direction of the specifier.

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1.4. Specification writing

Basically, specifications are not to be created; they are prepared based on existing standards, codes,
guidelines, and laws.

Specification writing embodies certain methods of presenting information and instructions. When
specifications are to be written, the following shall be taken into consideration: -

a) Specification writing require

1. Visualization (having clear picture of the system)
2. Research (to know the legal impact correctly)
3. Clear thinking (understanding things directly without misleading)
4. Organizing (organizing what we know to write the specification)
b) Specification writing require professional ability to read drawings
c) Specification writing require wide knowledge of construction materials, various levels of
workmanship, different construction equipment and method of construction to be employed
d) Specifications use simple and clear language such that it can readily be understood.
e) Specifications shall be brief and short as much as possible (avoid long sentences without
punctuations)
f) Specifications shall include all items affecting the cost of the work
g) Specifications shall be fair and do not attempt to throw all risks and responsibilities on one of
the parties signing the contract, the employer or the contractor.
h) Specifications shall avoid repetition of information shown on drawings to avoid mistakes and
duplications within the specifications and drawings
i) Specifications shall not include inapplicable text and do not specify the impossible or anything
not intended to be enforced.

What are the useful references in specification writing?

The following are useful references in Specification Writing: -

Codes and ordinances of governments, cities, or municipalities. For example, EBCSs

Standards prepared by distinct societies and government agents. For example, ACI standards,

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ASTM standards, BS, ES.

Standards or model specifications prepared by manufacturers, professional societies, and
government bodies.
Master specifications and previously written specifications.
Information or experience acquired by personal observation and contact with trained or
experienced people in the construction industry.

Specification language

The specification writer should present his instructions regarding the particular work under
consideration in such a manner that: -

1. The drawings are more clearly interpreted, not duplicated.

2. Rights, obligations, and remedial measures shall be designated without ambiguity or prejudice.
3. Clearly express the extent of works under consideration; therefore, the phraseology used in this
regard shall be: -
i) Judged by its quality not its length
ii) Should be concise and short and written with commonly used words
iii) Punctuations are important but their usage shall be limited to few
iv) Capitalizing the first letters is mandatory for the following expressions: -
a) Parties to the contract; e.g. Employer/Client /Contractor/ Engineer /Architect
b) Space within the building; e.g. Bed Room, Toilet, Living Room
c) Contract documents; e.g. Bill of Quantity, Working Drawing, Specification
v) Minimize pronouns, better to repeat nouns
vi Minimize the use of symbols
vii Do not use foot notes, do not underline within a sentence for emphasis
vi) Words shall be used as follows: -
 Shall in place of must; use “shall” for the duties of the contractor or the consultant to
represent the word “must”
 “Will” is used for the duties of the employer to represent the word “must”
 “Must” –avoid the use of the word “must” and substitute by the word shall to prevent
the inference of different degrees of obligation

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 Avoid the use of words which have indefinite meanings or limitless and ambiguous in
their meanings. For example, any, either, same, similar, etc.

Chapter Two

2. Quantity Surveying

2.1. Introduction

Quantity surveying is a term or process used in the construction industry to take measurements of
civil works, prepare specifications, and estimate the cost of works either for each trade of work or
for the whole project.

The following tasks are covered in quantity surveying:

a) Preparation of specification.
b) Taking measurements of civil works (Taking off quantities and preparing BOQ).
c) Preparation of approximate (preliminary) cost estimate at the very early stage of the
project.
d) Preparation of detail cost estimate at different stages (taking as built measurements and
preparing payment certificates or approval of payment certificates prepared by taking
measurements).
e) Preparation of tender documents and examining tenders (tender – an offer in writing to
execute a contract).
f) Preparation schedule of prices to negotiate with pre-qualified bidders (labor rates, material
supply rates, equipment rental rates).
g) Determination of values of works (executed works) and preparation of payment
certificates.
h) Preparation of final accounts on completion of all of the works.
i) Valuation of property

2.2. Measurement of civil works

Measurement of civil works includes the billing of each trade of work either from drawings or the

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building itself for defining the extent of works under each trade. The standard book, which is used
here, is standard technical specification & method of measurement for construction of buildings by
BaTCoDA, March 1991.

Specification worksheet (BOQ form)

It is the format which is used in a bill of quantity to list (include) a short description of the
specification along with its measuring unit, quantity and unit prices to determine the total cost for
each trade of item.

Project
Item Description Unit Quantity Unit price Total price

There are four clearly defined steps in preparation of Bill of Quantities:

1. Taking off
2. Squaring
3. Abstracting
4. Writing the final Bill

1. Taking off

This is the process of preparing / defining a detailed list of all labor and materials necessary for the
work and entering the items on properly dimensioned paper. The standard form used for
entering the dimensions taken or scaled from drawings to determine the accurate quantity in each
trade of work, except reinforcement steel, is called take off sheet or dimension paper. The
dimension paper used for taking off is usually double – ruled as shown below (A4 size).

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Title

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

page page

Column 1 is used for stating the number of times an item occurs and is called the timising column.
Column 2 is called dimension column as it is used to enter the dimensions of the items of works.
The dimensions are entered in the order indicated below.

Length
Width
Height or thickness

Column 3 is called squaring column

Column 4 is called description column. The following tasks are part of the taking off (used to
facilitate defining the quantities). Describing the item, bracketing (relating the description to the
quantity), timising, dotting on (adding to the timising factor), the ampersand (ditto), waste
calculations, deduction of items, correction of dimensions (nullifying).

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2. Squaring:

The dimensions entered in column2 are squared or cubed as the case may be, multiplied by the
timising factor, and the result entered in column3. This task is called squaring. All squared
dimensions should be carefully checked by another person before abstracting, and if correct the
item should be ticked with red.

3. Abstracting:

The squared dimensions are transferred to abstract sheets and all similar dimensions are collected
in the same category to obtain the total quantity of each item.

4. Writing the Final Bill

After the abstract sheets have been completed and checked, the final bill of quantity is written.
The dimensions are copied from the abstracts, and as each item is transferred it should be ticked
by a vertical line from the abstract sheets. The description of each item in the final BOQ should be
short, precise and descriptive as per the specification.

Bending Schedule: - Is the format used to define quantity of reinforcement bars.

Project: Bending schedule to:

Location Mark Shape Diameter Length(m) No ∑ L for each diameter

Total
W/m
∑W

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Basic principles in taking off

Drawings shall be fully understood clearly and detailed.

During discrepancies in detailing, dimensioning or if missing items exist obtain clarification
from the designer.
The BOQ shall accurately represent the works to be executed.
Works, which cannot be measured accurately, shall be expressed as provisional quantity
(PQ) and will result in provisional sum (PS) and lump sum (LS).
Prepared in such a way that discrepancies or mistakes in taking off will not result in
excessive variation in the project cost which directly affect the budget allocation for the
project.
With the understanding that measurements are taken to the nearest cm.
Built items shall generally include all possible entrants which will make labor, materials
(including storing, loading, unloading and handling), fixing, use of plant and equipment,
wastage of materials, equipment establishing charges and profit; otherwise, it shall be
stated specifically.
With the understanding that there is a standard paper format to carry out measurements of
civil works, namely take off sheet or dimension paper, bending schedule and specification
worksheet.
Prior knowledge of the regulations is necessary (For e.g. roofing is measured in horizontal
projection).
Measurements of civil works shall be carried out in such a way that it can be easily checked
and audited.

 Mensuration: – the calculation of geometric quantities such as length, area, and volume, from
dimensions and angles that are already known.
 Girth (perimeter) computation –linear measurement: - There are various methods of taking off
quantities for computation of girth.
 Centre line method –suitable only when the cross sections of all walls are
symmetrical. In this method center line length is found and same is used for taking
off quantities (therefore only width and depth vary).

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 Crossing method – lengths and breadths of walls as shown in plan are taken for
working out various items and this method is useful only if the offsets of footings are
symmetrical.
 In- to- in and out- to-out method –some wall lengths are taken out to out and others
in to in (offsets are added to out-to-out lengths) and same are deducted from in -to-
in lengths; used for any type of measurement irrespective of condition of symmetry.

Chapter Three

3. Technical Specification and Method of Measurements

A. SUBSTRUCTURE

Any structure below the ground floor slab level including the basement, retaining walls, ground
slab, grade beam, and foundation is called a substructure.

In most of the cases, substructure work can be categorized as follows: -

 Excavation and earthworks (mandatory)

 Concrete works (can be neglected sometimes)
 Masonry works (mandatory)

3.1. Excavation and earthworks

What types of works are included in excavation and earthworks?

3.1.1. Site clearance

Carbonatious elements are not good in concrete, steel and timber works. In soils under structures
even 5% of these elements will damage the structure. Therefore, these materials (including trees,
bushes and the top 20 to 30 cm soil), termite hills, any other obstruction, too, have to be cleared.
A working space of 1m is required on each side.t is sometimes necessary to prepare separate
specification for obstructions (demolition works) because reusable items like doors and windows
are there.

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3.1.2. Excavation (bulk excavation)

Excavation to get reduced levels of every structural element below the ground level is called bulk
excavation.

Working space for bulk excavation is 25 cm (not used for shallow masonry).

Depth of excavation less than 30 cm – measured per m 2, depth > 30 cm per m 3

They are subdivided as follows depending on the subsurface condition: -

Ordinary soil - with boulders and without boulders

- can easily be removed by shovel without problem.
Weathered rock – it can be divided easily without blasting
Rock - bedded rocks that cannot be dug without blasting (requires using explosives)

3.1.3. Fill /embankment

Measured in m3 of net volume to be filled.

We need fill because the reduced level of every structural element above the structure has to be
covered.

N.B. Excavation and embankment should not be added at a time in computing their volume,
because their costs are different.

The subdivisions under fill are: -

Backfill: - filling of the excavated soil onto its excavated place

- excavated material taken from below top soil
- selected excavated material (selecting coarse particles)
Borrow fill: - filling of soil by bringing the fill from another place when there is
shortage of fill or when better quality material is required.

The major consideration under embankment is compaction. Compaction is done usually at 20 cm

lift thickness.

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Disposal - cleaning the building area including cart away.

Sundry items – application of termite proof solution, providing hard coring, dust blinding,
expansion joints, etc. are itemized as sundry items; measured in m 2

3.2. Concrete work

3.2.1. Concrete

Cast in situ concrete – formed on site

-Requires formwork and reinforcement

Prefabricated concrete –fabricated (manufactured) in a factory and brought to the site

- joined to make a building
- does not require formwork
- needs a special care when connecting the different elements
- fast to construct a building, though the different elements may lack
homogeneity.
Pre tensioned (Post tensioned) Concrete
- Bending up the concrete itself to make it ready for the downward bending
due to load.
- In bending due to load the beam or the slab comes to its neutral axis.
Concrete ancillaries- windowsills, lintels, expansion joints
- permanent and temporary embedded material
- measured in ml or enumerated

Testing of concrete

Destructive and nondestructive tests

- Cylindrical/ cubical compressive tests to check the grade of the concrete.

- Slump test
- Structural tests (e.g. Non-destructive test)
- Ingredient Material test
- Constructed elements shall be evaluated for verticality and horizontality.

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Accordingly, levels of floors slabs, beams, lintels, etc., intended to be

horizontal shall not slope in more than 6mm in 3mm. Errors in plumbing
(vertical elements) shall not be more than + 6mm in 3m.

Curing of concrete

Concrete shall be protected from premature drying and excessively hot temperatures and loading
for at least 28 days starting from the date of casting. The importance of this is to protect the
concrete from shrinkage and creep. Creep is usually due to load, and it may cause poor bond b/n
reinforcement bars and the concrete.

 The concrete surface shall be kept continuously wet by application of water for at least
seven days to maintain constant temperature. But the watering of concrete shall continue
until the concrete has achieved its design strength.

Grades of Concrete

 C5 - lean concrete, to protect the structural concrete from damage, which is usually caused
by dust. Thus, dust blinding is required.
 C15- for totally supported structural elements
 C20- used for slabs; the mix proportion is 1:2:4
 C25 – Commonly used grade of Concrete (1:2:3)
 C30 –Used for chemical stores and nuclear plants

Cast in situ concrete shall be measured by volume except in ribbed slabs and grouting.

3.2.2. Formwork – measured in m2

A temporary structural element, which supports slabs, beams in casting concrete. It shall be
designed and erected to safely support, vertical and lateral loads that might be applied until such
load can be supported by the concrete structure.

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Period of removal (minimum)

1. Vertical formwork to columns, walls and beams 16 hrs.

2. Soffits formwork to slab 21 days
3. props to cantilever slabs 14days
4. Soffits formwork to beams 21days
5. Props to cantilever beams 14 days

Formwork Classification

 Normal finish

 Fair face Finish

 Patterned Finish

3.2.3. Reinforcement

Tests

The following tests shall be made on the reinforcement bar

- Ultimate tensile strength/ stress, yield point stress, elongation, cold bent
- The reinforcement bars are tied in 1.6 mm mild steel wire
- no concrete shall be cast until reinforcement is checked and approved by the
engineer(supervisor)
- measured in kg

3.3. Masonry Works

Masonry works are works that are executed by laying building material units of specified
dimension by providing a binding material such as mortar.

Stone obtained from quarries shall be hard and sound, free from vents, cracks, fishers,
discoloration or other defects that will adversely affect strength or appearance.

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Stone chips to be produced shall not be less than 450 mm average and 380 mm in individual
length.

Stone for various masonry works shall be selected and shaped as follows:

a) stone for facing works shall generally be selected for consistency in grain, color and texture,
throughout the work
b) stone for below ground work shall be chiseled from natural stone

Stone wall is measured by volume, whereas stone pavement is measured by area specifying
thickness.

B. SUPERSTRUCTURE

3.4. Concrete works

Mostly as discussed in substructure

Concrete Mixing, transporting, casting, and vibration in elevation columns, beams, staircases,
slabs, shear walls, landings. Curing of the cast concrete, strength and workability requirements
are crucial issues to be checked.

3.5. Formwork:

Specify the type of material used and where to use (zigba or steel)

3.6. Reinforcement

Differentiation is made as to the diameters and where they used or placed (sub and super
structure).

Weight per unit length for Ф6 is 0.222 kg/m; for any other diameter d2, with weight per unit
length w2:

w2 = (d22/62) * 0.222

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3.7. Masonry works

They are various types

i. Stone masonry works

Measured by Volume

Classified as the followings: -

1. Stone wall concealed from view or to be left for further finish (cheaper)

 shall be built in stone sizes of not less than 300 mm per course (one lay) and 400 mm
wide per stone
 Faces of stone walls to receive further finish shall have horizontal and vertical joints raked
out to form adequate key for further finish.

2. Roughly dressed stone wall (expensive)

 Shall be built in stone sizes of not less than 300 mm per course and 400 mm wide.
 The joints of the fair chiseled natural stones shall be finished slightly proud (aesthetical) and
cleaned off flush at completion
 The joints shall be raked out to a depth of 15 mm as the work proceeds and prepared for
jointing

3. Dressed stone wall facing (more expensive)

 the pattern type and size of the stone units shall be as detailed on drawings
 the joints of dressed stone wall shall be finished good and raked out to an approximate
depth of 15 mm.

ii. Hollow and solid concrete block Masonry Wall

Measured by area specifying the thickness

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The ingredients are cement, either pumice or red ash, water and aggregates (0.1mm)

Blocks shall be manufactured from cement, aggregates, red ash, or pumice with no fine
volcanic dust.

Trial mixes shall be prepared to attain the average minimum compressive strength after casting
and curing for 28 days.

There are different classes of HCBs

 Class A = 42 kg/ cm2 (for light loads)

 Class B =35 kg /cm2 (for external walls)
 Class C =20 kg/cm2 (for partition walls)
 Class AA=70 kg/cm2 (for load bearing sub structural works)
 Class A-AA= 50 kg/cm2 (for load bearing super structural works)
 Class AA and A-AA shall be obtained from 0.1 aggregate not from pumice or red ash

Blocks shall be uniform in texture, size, and shape and free from any cracks and defects.

The surface of blocks shall have a good key for plaster and rendering.

The standard thicknesses of HCBs are 10cm, 15cm, and 20cm

Since there are no stones, bricks of these sizes one should know, based on the given wall thickness
whether HCB wall is used or not.

iii. Brick Masonry Wall

Bricks are fire resistant, watertight and can also resist compressive action of up to 200 kPa

Bricks can be used for external, internal, retaining and load bearing walls.

Bricks shall be well made and adequately burnt, free from cracks and particles of lime.

Bricks exposed to weathering shall be selected for least in absorption, high durability, uniform in
color and texture.

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The thicknesses of bricks are 25 cm (for double layer) and 12 cm (for single layer)

iv. Adobe walls

It is a mixture of clay, water and ‘hay’ with high resistance to drying shrinkage and cracking

It shall be dried gradually; ordinary type of masonry wall, and used for very low-cost houses.

v. Stabilized soil block wall

It is a mixture of soil, water, and Portland cement, used for low-cost houses

 Building mortar (binding material)

Ingredients of mortar are: -

- Cement: - usually Portland cement

- Sand: - crushed or river sand with diameter less than 4.75 mm
- Lime: -hydrated lime

The mix proportions are

a) Stone masonry: -1:3 mix

b) Brick and block masonry: -1:4 mix
c) Compo mortar (lime): -1:2:9 mix

 Construction

Any surface to receive masonry walls should be free from earth dust and wetted before mortar is
laid on the surface. Laying is possible on concrete surface or lean concrete which is at least 50 mm
thick, selected fill.

Walls separated by concrete or other material shall be built (straight) plumb and with deviation of
not more than 3mm in 3 meters.

Walls shall be constructed with no portion higher than 1000mm above the adjacent wall at any

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time.

Wall below grade shall be built with cement mortar only (compo mortar decreases in strength
because of dampness)

During measurement, no deduction is made for opening up to 0.25 m2 in area

3.8. Roofing and wall cladding

a) Galvanized corrugated iron sheet (CIS)

- Galvanized CIS for roof and wall cladding shall be of the required size and thickness
- CIS less than G32 cannot be used for roofing and wall cladding of permanent structures but for
temporary works e.g. fence works, for provisional works
- G26 G28 G30 G32 and G35 G26 is the thickest

 Galvanized plain steel sheet (GPSS)

GPSS is used for wall cladding, ridge cup, gutter, down pipes, flashing, copping, edge trimmers
etc.; shall be to the size, thickness and galvanization required; shall not be less than G28; G24 is
usually used for gutter, down pipes; Overlaps at edges shall be minimum 15 cm

 Galvanized ribbed sheets (EGA sheets)

- Usually used for factory, hall etc.

- Shall comply with the requirements of the manual ‘KASI’ or other standards acceptable to the
Engineer to the sizes, thickness and distance to ribs.

 Aluminum corrugated sheet for roofing and cladding

- The minimum thickness shall be 24 SWG (SWG = standard wire gauge)

- Corrugated sheets shall have uniform corrugation parallel with the sides of the sheets.

 Aluminum plain sheet accessories

- Used for ridge cap, gutter, down pipes, flashing, copping etc.

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- The same as that of 4.6.2 but aluminum made

 Roof clay tiles

- Tiles shall be manufactured in wet weather and prepared from clay.

- Clay tiles shall show clean fracture when broken and shall not be less than 10 mm thick
- Clay tiles shall be fixed to timber using roof, nails, the holes in clays shall be pierced (using
embedded in clay tiles)

 Fixing accessories of roofing

Fixed to timber using chiseled or diamond edge and convex head galvanized nail drawn from
mild steel

Washers shall be diamond or flat pattern produced from rubber or bitumen coated fiber
homogenous and free from porosity (to prevent from leakage)

 Hooks, bolts, nuts and screws

Shall be fixed to steel structures; the sizes of fixing accessories shall be as recommended by the
manufacturers and match with structural drawing.

 Hangers and brackets

Used to fix gutters and down pipes; Formed from mild steel not less than 2 mm thick and 10 mm
wide; Hangers and brackets shall always be primed (coated) with anti-rust paint.

 Construction

Shall be given sufficient slope for drainage; Holes for bolts shall be 5 mm larger (greater) than the
diameter of bolts and the hooks and 40 mm far from the edges of the sheets

Sufficient overhang or other means shall be produced as weather protection for walls

Shall be laid with end laps not less than 15 cm and side laps not less than one and half
corrugation; Vertical cladding with end laps not less than 10 cm and side lap one corrugation

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

 Gutter and down pipe

Gutters shall be laid to slopes as indicated on drawings not less than 0.05 percent

Gutter and down pipes shall be overlapped min 15 cm and joints welded

 Method of measurement for roofing

Roof cover, side cladding, and the like shall be measured by area (m 2), flat over the projection
area without addition for slopes and laps.

Ridges, flashing, down pipes etc. shall be measured by length stating girth (development length)
and without addition for laps, passing angles etc.

Rain water spout shall be enumerated stating the sizes and length. The same is true for most of
prefabricated items.

The following shall be understood as included: perforating, sealing, nailing, bolting, screwing,
battens, joists, wedges, spillers, covering lists, back supports, brackets, cutting, bracing, trimming,
jointing, boring, etc.

3.9. Carpentry and joinery work

Carpentry: -work on timber intended for structural purposes e.g. columns, beams, slab, truss etc.

Joinery: - work on timber intended for finishing purposes e.g. floor finishes, wall claddings, doors
and windows, ceilings etc.

 Carpentry

Truss, rafter, beams and columns:

- Shall be made from eucalyptus, kerero, zigba, tid, or other equivalent posts
- Shall be fabricated as per the detailed drawings
- Posts shall be uniform in diameter and free from cracks
- Posts shall be peeled off and allowed to season until the acceptable moisture content is achieved,

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

i.e. 20 % (seasoning = drying up to a certain moisture content)

- Eucalyptus and kerero posts to be exposed to weather or buried below ground shall be pressure
impregnated
- Trusses and rafter shall be tied with 6 to 8 mm diameter mild round steel

Purlins

- Purlins shall be produced from eucalyptus or zigba or other equivalent posts

- Purlins shall be in the sizes shown on drawings (standard dimension 5*7cm)
- The splices of purlins at joints shall be minimum 60 cm
- Shall be securely nailed to trusses and rafter

 Joinery

Ceiling

- Ceiling shall be built to types, size and thickness on drawings

- The face of the panels to be exposed to view shall be smooth enough to receive further finish
- Soffits nailed to supporting ceiling buttons.
- Soffits are made of chip wood, plywood, hard board, soft board nailed to timber buttons
- Minimum size of buttons is 4*5 cm and maximum spacing is 60 cm in both directions
- Button shall be fixed to the truss or rafters in 4*5 cm sawn timber suspenders
- The joints of ceilings to wall shall be covered with moulded corner lists not less than 50mm and
joints of panels be covered with mild timber and moulded lists not less than 30 mm wide.

Suspended ceiling Soffits

- Cheap wood, plywood and other ceilings suspended from supports by wire, chains and steel
profiles and materials resting on the metal profile.

Milled timber Soffits

- Made of zigba or kerero

- Minimum thickness is 15 mm
- Minimum panel width is 60 mm

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

- Timber boards shall be grooved and tongued

- Buttons shall be 50*50 mm and c/c 50 cm spacing

Milled timber accessories

- Fascia board shall have minimum thickness of 20 mm

- Edges shall be chamfered
- Milled timber cladding
- Use a smooth joint that is without tongue and grove
- Cladding to wall shall be to the size, shape and patterns as on the drawings.

Milled timber floor

- Floor boards that of tongue and grooved shape

- Having a thickness not less than 20 mm and minimum width of 70mm and shall be tongued and
grooved
- Width of 70mm and shall be tonged and grooved
- Nailed to sawn timber joists
- Minimum size of joists 60x100mm c/c 50 cm
- Joists shall be accurately embedded in concrete

Skirting

- Machine smooth finished with minimum thickness of 20 mm and width 80mm

- Edges shall be chamfered

Doors windows and wall panels

- Wall panels partition wall in buildings

- Fully solid wall panels
- Partly glazed wall panels, fully glazed

Doorframes

- Shall be notched to receive iron mongery (hinge, lock and handle)

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Lists of cover joints between frame and wall shall be milled timber not less than 50 mm wide

a) Glazed wooden doors - the side, top bottom and intermediate rails shall be mortised and
tenoned rails shall be single width timber

b) Panel wooden doors- Plywood or other panels are used in place of glazing
c) Flush wooden door

 Finished thickness of flush doors not less than 40mm

 Face panels on either face shall not be less than 8 mm
 Cover panels if tongued, boards shall not be less than 15mm
Windows
- It is the same as that of doors
- Sills for windows shall be in full width timber and extending beyond the face of the wall

Wall panels

- Tongued and grooved milled timber boards not less than width of 80 mm and 15 mm thick
- If open jointed milled timber is used, width=100mm and thickness=15mm
- Block board with specified plywood exposed surface of less than 20mm thickness

Cupboard and counters

Built in cupboards:

- Shall be constructed from milled timber and paneled boards. It has frames of 40x40 mm milled
timber, fixed to wall
- The bottom part is made up of 20mm thick edge lipped block board with exposed faces covered
by plywood
- Rear, side and top part of the cupboard shall be lined with 6mm exposed face smooth finish
plywood

Drawers

- shall be built in 20 mm thick milled timber

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

- bottom of drawer shall be blocking board not less than 6mm thick
- shall have milled timber plastic or metal guide rails to each other

Shelves

- 20 mm thick block board with upper face finished smooth and be supported on hardwood
metal or plastic support securely screwed or nailed to the cupboard frame

 Methods of measurement for carpentry and joinery

 Structural members other than truss shall be measured by length stating size (e.g.
columns, beams)

 Roof trusses shall be enumerated stating type and referring drawings (sometimes
measured in meter length)

 Boarding, flooring, partitions, Soffits (ceiling), curtain walls are measured by area and
shall be understood as including frames, corner lists and hard wares (hinge, handle,
lock)

 Fascia boards, eaves, skirting shall be measured by length stating girth

 Built in furniture and boards shall be enumerated stating sizes

3.10. Steel Structural Work

Steel can resist compressive, tensile, bending and Torsional stresses

The material shall be mild steel

Profiles (shapes)

- The shape of the steel structure is determined by the Structural Engineer.

- The sizes and shape shown on drawing shall be specified in description column
- Steel is used for constructing: -
 Beams, columns, suspended slab, truss, rafter, purlin

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

 For the roof structure up to 15m span we can use timber trusses, but for span
greater than 15m, we have to use a steel structure

Bolts and nuts

- are used to connect (fix) structural steel with concrete or other material
- welding is usually not recommended for steel structures because it does not allow movement
- Normal type of connection between a column and truss
- Function of slotting (widening) truss connection holes is: -
 to correct mistakes in fixing
 for ease of access of mounting
 for expansion joint (to allow movements)
- Steel plates (steel to steel connection)
 used for splices of joints
 used for bearing plates

 Fabrication

 shall follow sequences which are suitable for assembling and erection
 cutting shall be sawing, shearing (steel cutter), copping or flame cutting (oxyacetylene
cutter)
 holes shall be drilled or punched
 holes shall not be more than 3mm larger than diameter of bolts

 Assembling erection

 adequate care shall be taken to ensure that components are not bent or twisted
 bolted connection shall be drawn together
 washers shall be provided where slot holes are oversize
 anchors and embedded connection shall be set and grouted before mounting

 Method of measurement

 Beams, trusses, columns and purlins, bracings, rails, etc. shall be measured by weight

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

(Kg), identified by profiles and type of structures

 Connection plates, base plates, angle iron ties, brackets shall be measured by weight or
enumerated stating profiles and dimensions respectively
 Anchor bolts enumerated stating size and development length

3.11. Metal works

- Metal door window frames

- Steel profiles produced from standard grade of steel
- Black steel to be primed during fabrication and surface treated after installation
- Aluminum profiles: - wrought aluminum and alloys are used.
- Nuts, bolts, screws and fasteners are coated or produced from nonoxidizing metal.

 Fabrication

 Formed accurate to required profiles and sizes

 Erection

 be placed accurately in position aligned, plumbed, and leveled

 they are usually door and window frames and hence no assembling of parts except
fabrication and erection

 Classification

1) Casement doors and windows

- side, bottom, and top hinged

- LTZ frame (iron made)
- SECCO profile (steel)
- RHS frames (refer KASI manual)
- SECCO profile is more expensive than LTZ (Fig)

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

2) Heavy duty sliding door

- Guide and roller trucks shall be in mild steel in the sizes specified
- Rollers shall be heavy duty and produced from stainless steel and be provided at top

3) Louver window

4) Security grills

- Produced from mild steel galvanized or precoated solid plates or hollow profiles of patterns as
shown on drawings

5) Guard rails

- Fastened to support securely embedded in concrete or welded

6) Wire netting and fly screen

- netted wire produced from steel

- mesh for flag screen shall not be more than 10 mm

7) Corner protection

- not less than 30 mm

- shall be securely screwed and embedded to angle of materials for protection

 Method of measurement

- Doors and windows enumerated stating sizes (the glazing work shall be measured separately)
- Curtain walls by area
- Balustrade rails, corner protection by length stating development length
- Security grills fixed to windows and doors by area
- Louvers enumerated in size stating number of blades (louver jamb sets)
- The following shall be understood as included:
 chiseling, cutting, welding, riveting, shaping, grinding, drilling, assembling,
fixing, protective treatment, decorative paint, frames, beads, lining,

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

anchors, hard wares etc. (hard wares include hinge, lock, handle

3.12. FINISHING WORK

1) Plastering and pointing works

The ingredients are:

 Cement (ordinary Portland cement), Lime

 Gypsum (such as plaster of Paris)
 Aggregate (fine or crushed aggregates), water

- Surfaces to receive plaster, pointing or screed shall be thoroughly cleaned and wetted.
- The surface should be raked out to a minimum depth 10 mm to form proper key.
- (If the thickness of plastering is greater than 2.5cm, it may crack).
- The surface should be rubbed with cement slurry (cement +water).

Plaster

First coat:

- mix proportion 1:2.5(cement: aggregate by volume)

- minimum thickness of 5 mm
- spread by trowel, stretched off level and allowed to cure for 24 hours before applying
the second coat
- function of first coat:
o acts as a bondage between the masonry wall and the second coat
o

Second coat:

- mix proportion 1:1:6 (cement: lime: aggregate by volume) and or 1: 4 (cement:

aggregate by volume)
- max thickness of 12 mm
- dried for 21 days

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

- function of second coat:

o for minor adjustments on plumb (level) and receiver surface for the smooth
finish (fine coat)

Fine finish or fine coat cement plaster:

- mix proportion 1:2 (cement +fine sand)

- max thickness of 3 mm
- shall be finished truly and level
- We use fine sand for smooth finish as final coat
- the fine finish coat shall be cured for seven days and allowed for 28 days before further
finish is applied
- function of fine finish coat:
o for aesthetical value and preparation for painting

Fine coat lime plaster:

- mix proportion 1:2 (lime: fine aggregate)

- max thickness of 3 mm
- further finish up to 28 days

Fine coat gypsum plaster

- mix proportion 1:3 (gypsum: lime putty)

- max thickness of 3 mm
- cured for 28 days

Render coat

- mix proportion 1:2:5 (cement: lime: fine aggregate) or mix proportion 1:3 (cement: fine
aggregate)
- shall be manual or machine sprayed, wetted for 7 days

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Float finish (Fare faced)

- Shall be applied to concrete surfaces that are to receive no plaster coat

- It is applied to only concrete surfaces not to masonry
- A rendering coat of one cement with two fine aggregates shall be applied and surface
floated.
- Cement dust or cement paste shall be applied to the floated surface

Cement pointing

- mix proportion 1:2 (cement: fine aggregate)

- can be flush or recess pointing
o Flush pointing: finished level and even to the wall
o Recess pointing: depth not less than 5mm
- Pointed surface shall be cement dusted or cement pasted to form smooth surface and
wetted for seven days

 Method of measurement

- plaster and pointing works shall be measured by area. Internal and external works shall
be measured separately.
- The following shall be understood as included: preparing background, hacking out
joints, grouting, jointing, recessing etc.

2) Floor and wall finish

Terrazzo tiles:

- used for floor finish and skirting

- shall be precast or cast in situ elements
- shall have a minimum topping of two parts of marble or granite chipping from an
approved quality with one part cement
- the minimum grading of the chip shall be 5mm
- usually have a thickness of 2 cm

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

- shall be applied onto 3 cm thick cement screed bedding (specified thickness)

Precast cement tiles

- produced from crushed aggregates (0.1 mm gravel) and sand mix

- minimum thickness shall be 20mm
- shall be applied on 3 cm cement screed bedding
- cheaper than terrazzo tile

Marble tiles

- shall be in accordance with quality, color and texture as shown (specified)

- shall be straight edged and smooth surfaced
- cement mortar backing for walls and cement screed bedding for floors
- recently techniques of binding the marble with wall leaving space between them (for
expansion) is practiced.

Marble chips

- flooring thickness shall not be less than 20 mm and does not exceed 50 mm
- chips shall be irregular shape and the smallest dimension shall not be less than 100mm
- the exposed surface of mortar finish to marble chip shall not exceed 1:3 proportion

Ceramic and mosaic tiles

- ceramic tiles shall be glazed type of approved color, texture and size
- ceramic tiles shall be 6mm thick for walls and not less than 15mm for floors
- mosaic tiles shall be in regular square or hexagonal sizes not exceeding 25mm in
dimension of each size

PVC tiles

- usually, thermoplastic
- the tiles and skirting shall be resistant to household oil and acids
- the glue (adhesive) for fixing PVC tiles and skirting shall be in accordance with

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

manufacturer’s instruction
- usually, 2mm thick PVC tiles and 48 mm cement screed is used

COPPING, SILLS, STEPS, RISERS

- can be from marble, terrazzo, concrete, stone etc. and shall be laid as per the drawing

Stone and concrete pavements

- dressed or roughly dressed sand stone or precast concrete shall be laid on compacted fill
of 10 mm sand or red ash bedding and joints pointed with cement

 Method of measurement

- The following shall be measured by area specifying material, size and thickness:

o all finishes to floors and walls except skirting, copping and sills
o all finishes to risers, treads, and landings to stairs

- The following shall be measured in length specifying material, size and thickness:

o skirting, sills and copings, dividing strips in floors

- The following shall be understood as included:

o preparing background, hacking, raking, grouting, bedding, jointing, rubbing and

priming

3.13. GLAZING

Transparent glass

- Sheet glass (clear glass)

- Transparent glass shall be clear or tinted, transmitting light and capable of showing
objects

Figured glass

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

- have sufficient imprinting of texture or pattern totally or substantially obscure vision

Opal glass

- vision from inside but not from outside

Wired glass

- shall be in wire mesh, transparent, translucent or figured

Putty

- used for fixing the glass to the frame

- shall be quick, hard setting, tropical putty specially manufactured for glazing works

 Method of Measurement

- glazing shall be measured by area

- glazing to louvers and special fixing may be enumerated by stating size and thickness
- The following shall be understood as included: Bedding, mastic, fixing, beading, cleaning
etc.

3.14. PAINTING WORKS

Oil based priming paints

- (Priming coat initial or preparatory coats) applied to surfaces readily mixed or base
paints

Aluminum priming paints

- for wood work

- shall be for brush application

Metallic zinc rich priming paints

- shall be applied to iron and steel surfaces

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Oil Paints

- water proof
- shall be applied in accordance with manufacturers instruction
- can be applied for walls, wood work, metals

Plaster Emulsion Paints

- normal and usual type of painting

- shall be selected for interior and exterior works

Synthetic Enamel Paints

- used for metals with manufacturers instruction

 Method of Measurement

- painting shall be measured by area

- special application to edges shall be measured in length stating the girth
- internal and external surfaces shall be measured separately
- The following shall be understood as included: Trimming, cutting, matching patterns,
cleaning, priming

3.15. SANITARY WORKS

- It includes all works on building in connection with supply of potable water and
removal of solid and liquid wastes

 Classification of Sanitary Installations

Pipes

- Galvanized steel pipes: used for distribution of water (pipes for cold and hot potable
water internally and externally installed having plain or threaded ends.
- Pipes are measured by length stating diameter taken along the centerline over all fittings

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Valves

- Flanges used to connect pipes and for controlling

- Check valves, gate valve, service valves
- shall be in specified material and size at positions indicated in drawings
- Enumerated stating diameter

UPVC (unplasticized pvc.)

- rigid thermoplastic conduit

- can be used for cold water distribution
- usually used for solid waste and surface drainage with vent pipe in horizontal and
vertical stacks
- shall be measured in length stating diameter and understood to include accessory joint
fitting like Y, T, joints

Precast concrete pipes

- for solid waste and surface drainage

o Solid pipes –surface drainage and sewage
o Perforated pipes – subsurface drainage
- Manholes: - shall be in precast concrete C- 20 quality or class A hollow brick as
indicated and detailed in the drawings.
o shall be laid on a minimum concrete bed of 150mm
o enumerated stating size and depth including all related earthwork
- Manholes are used for inspection, reduction of number of pipes, change of directions at
angles
- Trench excavation and cutting:
o carried out after full supply of pipes has been made
o bottom excavations trimmed and level to the requirements
o minimum width for pipes of 200 mm is 600 mm and not less than 600.
o greater than the diameter of the pipe for pipe sizes over 1000mm
- Pipe laying checked for true straight, and gradient shall be given concrete bed or

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

granular bed
o concrete bed
o granular bed - max grain size 20mm
 the granular fill and concrete in layers not exceeding 20 cm
 no mechanical compactor is used up to 1000mm above the fill for
granular and 600 mm for concrete bed
- Concrete pipes shall be measured in length, stating the diameter and understood as
including: setting out, trench excavation, pipe laying, jointing, bedding and backfills

Septic Tanks, Soak away Pits and Percolation Ditch

Solid and liquid waste concrete pipe _ ( manhole septic tank

- Measurement shall be done in accordance with the method of measurement for each
item of works
o May be specified on lump sum for costing

Sanitary Fixtures

- Shall be manufactured of standards acceptable for the intended purpose

- Appliances shall be supplied with mounting and plugging devices, valves, chains, waste
plug, traps, handles, flexible pipes, bolts, nuts screws, hinges etc.
- WC units – they are of different types:

o White Vitreous China WC

 Low flush cistern, plastic seat and cover, inlet and drain connecting and
complete with fixing devices
 Ditto as above but high flush cistern

o Enameled White Cast Iron Pedestal Pan WC unit

 Concealed flush and cistern, plastic seat and cover, inlet and drain
connector, trap and complete with fixing devices

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

 ditto as above but high flush cistern

o Precast terrazzo squatting pan WC unit with high level flush cistern, inlet and
drain connector, trap and complete with fixing devices

- WC units are enumerated items

HWB (hand wash basin)

- white vitreous China, standard white wash hand basin of specified size, with pair of
white painted cast iron screw to wall, brackets 32 mm slotted basin waste and overflow,
chromium plated basin chain and rubber plug, 32 mm chromium plated bottle trap and
connector, flexible pipe connector, complete with fixing devices, and chromium plated
cold water valve only.
- ditto as above but chromium plated cold and hot water valves.

Urinals

- white vitreous China urinal bowel supported on concealed wall hangers, 9-liter
capacity level cisterns with automatic siphon, flexible pipe connector, drip tap, stainless
steel exposed flush pipes, 38mm waste strainer and bottle trap
- Ditto as above but with two-unit divisions

Shower units, water heaters and sinks

Other accessories

Toilet roll, soap dish, towel rail

- Method of measurement – enumerated stating size

3.16. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

- It includes supply, erection, installation, testing and commissioning of electrical wares as

generally shown on electrical drawings
- Materials shall be fully in accordance with qualities, tolerances, tests, recommendations,

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

method of workmanship as described on specification

- All accessories shall be fixed at the following heights above finished floor level unless
specified on the BOQ or drawings
o Distribution boards 1700 mm
o Lighting switches and push buttons 1400 mm
o Lighting switches and push buttons above beds 1000mm
o Sockets in general 300 mm
o Sockets on benches 1500 mm above bench top
o Sockets in workshops 1100mm
o Telephone outlets 300mm
o Bells 2100 mm

1) Underground cable ducts

- made of precast concrete pipes or galvanized steel pipes for protection of power and
telephone outlet cable
- it shall be the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that the underground duct is
installed correctly according to each party’s requirement
- precast concrete, galvanized steel upvc are used (similarly as given for sanitary
installation)
- Manholes – similar to the requirements for sanitary installation

2) Distribution boards (DB)

Main distribution boards (MDB) and sub distribution board (SDB)

- The contractor shall supply and install medium voltage MD panel as shown on the
drawings. Arrangement of the panel shall be as to permit the ready incoming and
outgoing cables.
- Sub distribution board (SDB) shall be surface flush mounted and DB shall be of the type
fully enclosed sheet steel cabinet and hinged cover
- DBs shall be enumerated stating the power and voltage supply including all related

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

works

3) PVC cables

- underground cables shall be pvc insulated steel wire and pvc served overall and all
cables shall have copper conductors
- measured in meter linear

4) Light points, power and socket outlets

- outlets are either of bell, fan, telephone, TV or antenna

- outlets shall be enumerated and understood as including all related works

Light points

- Fed through specified size pvc insulated conductors of thermoplastic conduits of 13.5
mm diameter for surface installation including junction boxes with cover and insulating
caps
- Ditto as above but in steel conduits of 15 mm diameter

Socket outlets

- same as light points

Bell points

- fed through pvc insulated conductor of 2mm by 0.8 mm2 inside thermoplastic conduits
including junction boxes with covers

Fan outlets

- fed through pvc insulated conductors inside thermoplastic conduits of 13.5 mm up to

16mm diameter for surface installation thermoplastic conduit is used for recessed or
internal surface installation

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Power outlets

- ditto as above

Telephone outlets

- ditto as above but wiring done by ETA

- Measurement: - enumerated and understood to include related works

TV antenna outlets

- 20 mm diameter thermoplastic conduit for recessed installation

- 20mm rigid thermoplastic conduit for surface installation
- 20 mm steel conduit for surface installation
- outlets are enumerated and understood to include chiseling, laying conduits and
installing wires providing junction box and insulating cups

Electrical fixtures

- Light fixtures –shall be enumerated stating type of fixtures

- Air conditioners
- Fans, Bell systems
- Shall be enumerated stating type of fixture

C. EXTERNAL WORKS, SERVICES

- maintenance

- pavements

- parking

- landscaping and gardening

- fencing

- Excavation and earthworks for slope stabilization or drainage ditches

Contract, Specification and Quantity Surveying.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

Chapter Four

Cost Estimation

General

Project cost estimation is the process of valuing on monetary expression, including the cost
of all possible entrants necessary for the planning, implementing and monitoring stages of
the proposed project under consideration.

If the available financial capacity is smaller than the estimated cost, it is important to
redefine the scope of the work by either changing the specification or size of the work.

The possible entrants of project cost are:

o Preliminary Investigation (Project Appraisal Costs)

o Design and Supervision (Consultancy Cost)

o Construction Works (Contractor’s Cost)

o Land Owning Cost

o Monitoring Costs

Purposes of Estimation

The main purposes of costing or estimating are to:

- know the volume of work in reference to the fund available

- determine actual cost per unit of item
- identifying engineering estimate of the work for bidding purpose
- work out economical use of materials, labor and equipments
- in cases of variations to determine the extra cost to be incurred
- when changes in cost due to legislation happens, to work out the escalation in cost

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Factors Affecting Cost Estimation

1. Type and documentation of the project

2. Construction scheduling
3. Bidding environment
4. Quality and availability of material and labor (given in specification)
5. Strength or grade required. E.g. C15, C20, C25 concrete
6. Construction facilities /tools and method of construction
7. Location of the site
8. Transportation charges
9. Proper management
10. Land charges (lease)
11. Nature of subsurface condition (and the foundation that is being used)

The Following Information is Required to Define Cost Per Unit of Work

a) Correct information of the market price of the materials at the time of need to be
used as a prime cost

b) Correct information of the rates of various categories of skilled and unskilled

laborers as wage rates to be used for daily work rate

c) Output of laborers per day for various types of items (productivity)

d) Correct information of the rates of various categories of equipments and tools as

rental rates to be used for major items of rates

e) Up-to-date knowledge of the construction methods.

Types of Costing or Estimating

Estimation can be broadly classified as preliminary (approximate) and detailed (refined). But it is
also possible to classify estimation into four categories as follows:

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1. Preliminary /Approximate Costing

This type of cost estimation is required to know the financial position of the client before costly
detailed designs are carried out. Such estimates are based on practical knowledge and cost of
similar previous works. Examples of approximate cost estimations are as follows:

 Cost per functional unit

 Hospital =cost per bed

 Dormitory = cost per student
 Cinema or Theatre = cost per seat
 Road Works = cost per kilometer length, etc.

 Plinth area method

 (Plinth area means built up (covered) area measured at floor level of the storey.
 cost per m2 of a building.
o Social Buildings – not aesthetic but functional, 1000 – 1500 Br/m 2
o Industrial Buildings – Profitable but aesthetics is not the main quality, 1300 –
2000Br/m2
o Monumental Building – Aesthetics is the main quality, e.g. Palaces, museums
2000 – 3000Br/m2

 Cubical Content method

 cost per m3 of the building

 Elemental/parametric Estimate

 Roughly grouped quantities or elemental bill

 In this approach the project is first divided into functional systems/elements and rough
quantities are taken off.

 The cost of each element is obtained by multiplying the quantities obtained by

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established unit prices, and the elemental costs are added to get the total construction
cost.

Example:

 Slab =.... Br/m2

 Beam (Specified size) = .... Br/meter linear

2. Detailed Estimate or Item Rate Method

- This is the most reliable and accurate type of estimate.

- The quantities of items are carefully prepared from the drawings and the total cost
worked out from up-to-date market rates.
- Detailed estimate is accompanied by a detailed report, detailed specification for the
execution of the work, and detailed drawings, etc.

3. Revised Estimate

- A detailed estimate prepared a fresh when the original detailed estimate is beyond
an acceptable range.
- It should be accompanied by all the papers as in the case of the detailed estimate and
also should include the comparative statements of variations in each item of works.

4. Supplementary Estimate

- When additional works are there, a fresh detailed estimate is prepared to

supplement the original work.

Rate Analysis

- Rate Analysis is the process of fixing cost per unit of measurement for the different
item of works.

- Cost due to construction (contractor’s cost) is given special attention here.

- Total cost per unit of work (TC) may be grouped into two components; direct cost

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and indirect cost.

 The direct cost (DC) includes cost due to material, cost due to labor, cost
due to equipment.

 Indirect (IC) cost covers overhead costs, and contractor’s profit.

o Overhead costs are expenses for general office facility, rents, taxes,
electrical light, water, and other miscellaneous items.

- In order to facilitate estimation of cost due to material, it is important to know the

quantities of various materials involved in construction of various parts of the
building or construction work. i.e. material break down is essential.

Material Breakdown

1. Quantity of materials required for brick masonry laid in 1:4 cement mortar

 Qty of brick masonry =1m3 (4m2 for 25cm thick brick wall)

 Size of one brick =24x12x6 cm (common in Ethiopia)

 Size of one mortared brick= 25x13x7 cm;

 Volume of each mortared brick = 0.25x0.13x.07 = 2.275x10 -3m3

 Number of bricks required =1/ 2.275x10 -3m3 = 440 mortared bricks per m3

 Add 2% for breakage (Wastage) =9

 Take 450 bricks per m3 or 450/4 = 112.5 bricks/ m2; take 115 bricks/ m2

 Volume of one nominal (unmortar) brick = 0.24x0.12x0.06 = 1.728x10 -3m3

 Volume of 440 unmortar bricks = 440x1.728x10 -3m3 = 0.76032m3

 Volume of wet mortar in 1m3 of wet masonry = 1 - 0.76032 = 0.23968m3

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 Percentage of wet masonry in 1m3 masonry work = (0.23968/1) *100 = 23.96% (can be
taken as 25%)

 Factor of conversion of wet mortar into dry mortar (quantity for dry base analysis)

Volume of wet mortar in 1m3 of wet masonry = 0.23968m3

Add 10% for wastage = 0.023968m 3
Sum Total = 0.263648 m 3

 Assume 20% voids in sand (Note that cement fills the voids b/n sand particles)

Volume of dry base analysis = wet mortar volume + increment because of voids in sand
= 0.263648 m3 + 20/100* 0.263648 m3
= 0.31638m3; nearly 30% of the volume of construction

 Factor of conversion = volume of material required on dry base/ volume of wet mortar
= 0.31638m3 / 0.263648 m3 =1.2
 Cement mortar of 1:4 mix by volume (1+4 =5)

 Qty of cement required = 1/5 * 0.316 = 0.0632m3/m3 of construction

 Number of bags of cement = 0.0632m3/ 0.035 m3per bag =1.81 bags per m3 of
construction; 1.81/4 = 0.45 bags per m2

 Qty of sand required = 4/5 * 0.316 = 0.253m3 per m3 of construction = 0.063m3/m2

Exercise: define qty of materials required to construct 1m2 HCB wall laid in 1: 4 cement mortar;
Take nominal size of blocks as 40x20x20 cm, 40x20x15cm, or 40x20x10 cm.

2. Quantity of materials required for C -25 cement concrete (1:2:3)

Cement concrete is a heterogeneous mixture of cement, fine, and coarse aggregates; cement fills
the voids in sands also while sand fills the voids in the coarse aggregate.

Water acts as an agent so that the paste of cement can coat all the particles of the aggregate.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

The hydration of cement results in solidification of entire mass and thus binds the different
particles together.

Because of the voids in aggregates and wastage, 1.4 to 1.6 times dry volume of the materials are
required to get 1m3 of compact dense fresh concrete mix.

Materials required for 1:2:3 cement concrete mix - a commonly used grade of concrete for
structural works.
 Wet (fresh) concrete mix ………… = 1m 3
 Quantity for dry base analysis…… = 1.5*1.0m3 = 1.5m3
 Volume of cement………………….= 1/6*1.5 = 0.25m 3 = 0.25m3/0.035m3 per bag
= 7.1 bags of cement
 Sands ………………………………..= 2/6* 1.5 = 0.5m 3 of sand
 Coarse aggregate………………….. = 3/6 *1.5 = 0.75m 3 of coarse aggregate

Exercise: Do similarly for C 20 and C 30 concretes

3. Quantity of Materials required for stone masonry laid in 1:3 cement mortar

 Quantity of stone masonry work …. = 1m 3

 Quantity of undressed stone ………= 1.1m3 (taken 110%)
 Quantity of mortar required………. = 0.35m 3 (taken 35%)
 Quantity of cement ………………. = 1/4 *0.35 = 0.0875m 3 = 0.0875/0.035 = 2.5 bags
 Quantity of sand required …………= 3/4 * 0.35 = 0.263m 3

4. Materials required for 12mm thick cement plaster in 1: 4 cement mortar

 30% more mortar is required to fill up joints and uneven surfaces.

 This total wet mortar is increased by 20% to convert to dry mortar (for the effect of
voids).

 Thus, wet mortar is multiplied by 1.55 to define quantity of material required on dry base.

o Area to be plastered = 1m2

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

o Thickness of plaster = 12mm

o Volume of the mortar = 1*0.012 = 0.012m3
o Volume for dry quantity = 1.55 * 0.012 = 0.019m3
o Cement required = 1/5 * 0.019 = 0.0038m 3 = 0.11 bags of cement
o Sand required = 4/5 * 0.019 = 0.015 m3

5. Materials required for pointing in cement mortar of 1:2

 Area to be pointed = 1m2 [total wall area]

 In 1m2 wall area, number of mortared bricks of 25x13x7cm size (assuming 25cm thick
double brick wall) = 1/ (0.25*0.07) = 57

 Face area of the 57 nominal bricks = 57*0.24*0.07 = 0.82m 2

 Area covered by joints (pointed) = 1 – 0.82 = 0.18m 2

 Average thickness of pointing = 20mm

o Volume of wet mortar = 0.02*0.18 = 0.0036m 3

o Volume for dry quantity = 1.55* 0.0036 = 0.006m 3
o Cement required = 1/3 *0.006 = 0.002m3 = 0.05 bags
o Sand required = 2/3 * 0.006 = 0.004m3

Exercise: Do similarly for tiling works using mortars

Calculation of Unit Price (rate)

I. Cost per m2 of 25cm thick brick masonry wall, laid in 1:4 cement mortar

 Total cost (TC) = Direct cost (DC) + Indirect cost (IC)

 IC = 25% to 35% of DC; Equipment cost (EC) = 5% to 10% of TC

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1. Material cost

 Brick: Purchasing Cost + loading Cost + unloading Cost

= 115 pc*0.85Br/pc + 115(50Br/1000pc) + 115(350Br/3000pc) + 115(80Br/1000pc)

= 126.12Br/m2

 Cement: Purchasing Cost + loading Cost + unloading Cost

(Provide 10% allowance for wastage by wind, = (1.81/4) *1.1= 0.5 bag/m 2)

= 0.5 bag/m2*55Br/bag + 1Br/bag* 0.5bag + 2Br/bag* 0.5bag + 1Br/bag* 0.5bag

= 29.5 Br/m2

 Sand: Purchasing Cost + loading Cost + unloading Cost

= 0.063m3/m2 *120Br/m3 = 7.56 Br/m2

Total material cost = cost of (brick +cement +sand)

= 126.12 + 29.5 + 7.56 = 163.18 Br/m2

2. Labor cost (LC)

 Crew = a group which is directly involved in a similar job

 A crew for brick masonry work consists of a mason, an assistant mason and two
labors

 Utilization Factor (UF) = 1/ the # of crew or people under supervision

 Forman, to guide/control masonry work, UF = ¼, when controlling four crews

 Site Engineer/Manager, UF = 1/10 (assumed to control 10 foremen)

 Indexed hourly wages

 Site Engineer/Manager 4000Br/month = 4000Br/(22days*8hrs/day) = 22.70Br/hr

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o For a utilization factor of 1/10 (for 10 foremen under him)

= 22.70*1/10 = 2.27Br/hr

 Forman daily wage = 40Br/day = 40/8*(1/4) = 1.25 Br/hr, for 4 crews

 Mason daily wage = 30Br/day = 3.75Br/hr, UF = 1

 Assistant mason daily wage = 20Br/day = 2.5 Br/hr, UF = 1

 Daily laborers, daily wage = 10Br/day =1.25Br/hr, UF = 1

 Labor output (productivity) for the work = 4m 2/day = 0.5m2/hr

 Labor cost (LC) = Cost per unit time/ productivity

= [2.27 + 1.25 + 3.75 + 2.5 +2*1.25] Br per hr / [0.5 m2per hr]
= 24.54Br/m2

 DC = MC + LC +EC; take EC = 0.05TC

DC = 163.18 + 24.54 +0.05TC; but TC = DC + IC, take IC = 0.25DC; thus

TC = (187.72 + 0.05TC) + 0.25DC

TC = (187.72 + 0.05TC) + 0.25(187.72 + 0.05TC

TC = 234.65+ 0.063TC

TC = 250.30Br per m2

Thus, the unit price for 25cm thick brick masonry wall laid in 1:4 cement mortar is estimated to
be 250.30Br/m2

Exercise: Similarly fix unit price for HCB masonry walls laid in 1:4 cement mortar making use of
most recent market prices.

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 DILLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 2016 E.C

II. Unit price for C -25 concrete per m3 of work (formwork and reinforcement m/s)

1. Material cost

 Cement = 7.1bags/m3* 50Br/bag = 355Br

 Sand = 0.5m3*120Br/m3 = 60 Br

 Coarse Aggregate = 0.75m3*120Br/m3 = 90 Br

o MC = 505 Br/m3

2. Labor cost

 The crew consists of a mason, two assistants, and four daily laborers at the wage rates
given above for brick masonry work.

 Site Engineer/Manager 4000Br/month = 4000Br/(22days*8hrs/day) = 22.70Br/hr

 For a utilization factor of 1/10 (for 10 foremen under him)
= 22.70*1/10 = 2.27Br/hr

 Forman daily wage = 40Br/day = 40/8*(1/4) = 1.25 Br/hr, for 4 crews

 Mason daily wage = 30Br/day = 3.75Br/hr, UF = 1

 Assistant mason daily wage = 20Br/day = 2.5 Br/hr, UF = 1

 Daily laborers, daily wage = 10Br/day =1.25Br/hr, UF = 1

 Labor output (productivity) for the work = 2m 3/day = 0.25m3/hr

 Labor cost (LC) = Cost per unit time/ productivity

= [2.27 + 1.25 + 3.75 + 2*2.5 +4*1.25] Br per hr / [0.25 m 3per hr]
= 69.08Br/m3

 DC = MC + LC +EC; take EC = 0.05TC

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DC = 505+ 69.08 +0.05TC; but TC = DC + IC, take IC = 0.25DC; thus

TC = (574.08 + 0.05TC) + 0.25DC

TC = (574.08 + 0.05TC) + 0.25(574.08 + 0.05TC)

TC = 717.6+ 0.063TC

TC = 765.8Br per m3

Exercise: Revise the above unit price making use of the most recent market condition for all
factors affecting the cost.

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