Taking Off Quantities g

Abstract

The role of the quantity surveyor is changing rapidly and he is now expected to provide project and financial management services in addition to his traditional expertise. But whatever new skills are acquired, he must still possess a sound knowledge of building construction and the ability to take-off quantities from drawings. CESMM 3 Explained was published in 1992 and was described as the definitive work on civil engineering measurement. Since publication, discussions have taken place with quantity surveyors, engineers, academics and students and it appeared that there was a need for a book containing examples of civil engineering taking-off only. This book, Taking-Off QuantitiesÐCivil Engineering, re-presents the appendices from CESMM 3 Explained together with the first two chapters which deal with general principles of measurement and how CESMM 3 works. Although it is expected that civil engineering and quantity surveying students will form the major part of the readership, interest has already been expressed by practising engineers and surveyors on the need for a book providing examples of civil engineering taking-off accompanied by a commentary on the measurement techniques being used. Despite the reduction in the number of disputes since Dr Martin Barnes produced CESMM 1 in 1976, disagreements over the definitive way to measure engineering work continue. It is hoped that this book can play a part in reducing this number even further and also save time and money in expensive litigation and arbitration proceedings. I am indebted to Rona Harper, Neil Harper and Nikki Lark for their calligraphic skills, Paul Spain for presentation and Gil Nicholls who prepared the drawings. I am also grateful to Stephen Booth and the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors for permission to reproduce some of the information in Chapter 9.Finally, I would particularly like to thank Len Morley for the major role he played in the preparation of the taking-off examples. I would welcome constructive criticism of the book together with suggestions for improving its scope and contents. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this publication, neither the