Unit 10 Measurement & Estimating (T/618/8089) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 10 Measurement & Estimating Assignment Brief

Introduction

The techniques explored in this unit are essential skills in maintaining the competitive position of a construction firm in obtaining work through the procurement routes of construction. Mastering the skills of measurement and estimating is essential for the quantity surveyor and estimator.
The overall aim of this unit is to give students an understanding of the quantity surveying techniques of measurement and the estimation of rates for the compilation of tender information. This is a vital activity in achieving a successful outcome for a contracting company in tendering and winning work.

Topics included in this unit are: estimating techniques; standard methods of measurement; taking- off dimensions; preparation of bills of quantities; estimating data collection; the assembly of an estimate for a work package.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be in a position to take- off quantities from drawn information and to prepare estimates for work packages. Students will have the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to progress to a higher level of study.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

LO1 Define standard measurement techniques used for taking-off quantities for estimating purposes

LO2 Perform taking-off techniques in the production of a range of quantities for  a structure

LO3 Interpret the principles and techniques of estimating in compiling a final price

LO4 Prepare an estimate for a work activity.

Essential Content

LO1 Define standard measurement techniques used for taking-off quantities for estimating purposes

Techniques for quantifying budgets

Preliminary, intermediate and final estimates for clients’ budgets

Project Comparison Estimating using historical project cost data

Use of Building Cost Information Service (BCIS)

Square metre and cubic metre estimates

Elemental estimating

Approximate quantities techniques

Measurement using dimension paper

Measurement using software packages

Standard methods of measurement for taking-off quantities

Construction and Building Services (e.g., New Rules of Measurement (NRM),  NRM 1 – quantification of building works for the purpose of preparing cost estimates and cost plans, NRM 2 – preparation of bills of quantities and quantified schedules of works, NRM 3 – quantification and description of maintenance works)

Civil Engineering (e.g., Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 4

(CESMM4) – procedure for the preparation of a bill of quantities)

International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS)

International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS)

Standard Method of Measurement (e.g., (Legacy) SMM7 – detailed information, classification tables and rules for measuring building works)

Coding schemes

Measurement rules

Dimension sheets

Project stages

Client’s budget setting

Preliminary stages

Project comparison stages

Final design stage

Preparation of bills of quantities for the tendering for work (e.g., sub-contract and supply chain packages)

Final account

Maintenance and refurbishment works

LO2 Perform taking-off techniques in the production of a range of quantities for a structure

Measurement techniques and processes

Traditional (using dimension paper)

Abstraction of quantities

Associated working up processes

Preparation of bill of quantities pages

Computer aided systems

Use of digitisers

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Taking-off

Facilitating works (e.g., toxic/hazardous/contaminated material removal,  major demolition works, temporary support to adjacent structures, specialist groundworks, temporary diversion works, extraordinary site investigation works) Substructure (e.g., excavation works, standard foundations, specialist foundations, lowest floor construction, basement excavation and retaining walls) Superstructure (e.g., frame, upper floors, roof, stairs and ramps, external walls, windows and external doors, internal walls and partitions, internal doors)

Internal finishes (e.g., wall finishes, floor finishes, ceiling finishes)

Fittings, furnishings, equipment

Services (e.g., sanitary installations, mechanical and electrical installations) External works (e.g., site preparation works, roads, paths, pavings and surfacings, bridges, culverts, soft landscaping, planting and irrigation systems, fencing, railings and walls, external fixtures, external drainage)

LO3 Interpret the principles and techniques of estimating in compiling a  final price

Collection of data

Characteristics

Labour and labour costs

Plant rates data

Company data (on output levels)

Material costs (e.g., terms of supply, delivery, handling, wastage)

Processes and procedures for estimate

Factors affecting prime costs

Method statements (effect on estimating)

Use of standard reference documents

Coverage rules for units of work (e.g., SMM, NRM, CESMM etc.)

Calculation of unit rates in building up an estimate

Labour rates (e.g., direct, sub-contractors, labour-only sub-contractors [LOSC])

Materials (e.g., purchase price, delivery costs, wastage rate)

Plant (e.g., purchase or hire options, output and capacity)

Overheads and margin

Outputs (e.g., recorded historically, use of price books)

Adjustments to unit rates in building up an estimate

Historical rates adjusted for time

Inflation

Risk

Technology

Alternatives (plant, material, process)

Location (labour costs, material costs)

LO4 Prepare an estimate for a work activity

Estimating techniques for budgeting purposes

Preparation of approximate quantities for cost budgets

Elemental cost estimating from given historical cost data

Use of preliminary design drawings

Preparation of estimate using comparative cost data

Other forms of local cost data

Adjustments for time, size and quality, inflation and overheads

Estimating techniques

Application of all in rates to quantities

Total net value

Overheads and profit

Preliminary items

VAT

Calculating cost of risk (e.g., factors affecting risk)

Inclusion of sub-contracted elements

Effect of location

Contract period

Inclusion of provisional items

Use of standard templates and forms

Use of ISO 9000 company devised systems

Preparing a bill of quantities

Types of BOQ (e.g., approximate, elemental, work package, work section, ‘unpriced’ (Tender Pricing Document))

Standard forms of BOQ (e.g., New Rules of Measurement (NRM), Civil

Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM4), International

Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS), International Property

Measurement Standards (IPMS), Standard Method of Measurement (SMM7) – legacy)

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Recommended Resources

Print resources

BROOK, M. (2016), Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, Routledge
CARTLIDGE, D. (2019), Estimator’s Pocket Book Second Edition, Routledge

GREENHALGH, B. (2013), Introduction to Estimating for Construction, Routledge

OSTROWSKI, S. (2013), Estimating and Cost Planning Using the New Rules of Measurement, John Wiley & Sons

RICS (2012), Nrm 1 Rics New Rules of Measurement, RICS Books

SCHMID, K. (2011), Construction Estimating, Momentum Press

Links

This unit links to the following related units:

• Unit 7: Surveying, Measuring & Setting- out
• Unit 8: Mathematics for Construction
• Unit 12: Tender & Procurement
• Unit 25: Quantity Surveying Practice
• Unit 29: Contracts & Management
• Unit 36: Value Engineering & Cost Control
• Unit 43: Advanced Surveying & Measurement
• Unit 54: Advanced Quantity Surveying Practice.