GUIDE TO

MEASUREMENT OF
BUILDING WORKS
Abstract
This document introduces quantification of building works. It covers the
principles and practice of measurement for a fresh student. It covers the
following aspects: Evolution of Standard Method of Measurement; Functions
of bill of quantities; Process of BOQ preparation including: taking off,
squaring, billing and abstracting; Basic principles of measurement; Types and
formats of BOQ; Mensuration; Centre line girth; Units Conversion tables

Usman Sabo Nalado

Usmansabon@gmail.com
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO MEASUREMENT OF BUILDING WORKS ............................................................. 3
Data Required for Carrying out Measurement of Building Works ............................................................. 3
EVOLUTION OF STANDARD METHOD OF MEASUREMENT (SMM)................................................... 4
NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works ....................................................................................... 4
Symbols used for measurement ....................................................................................................................... 5
TAKING OFF ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Dimension paper ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Dimensions .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Timesing ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Dotting on ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Waste calculations ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Alterations ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Descriptions ................................................................................................................................................... 8
Deductions ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Bracketing dimensions/descriptions ............................................................................................................ 9
Anding-on ...................................................................................................................................................... 9
Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Abbreviation Table ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Entering dimensions ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Descriptions ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
BILL OF QUANTITIES .................................................................................................................................... 13
Functions of Bill of Quantities ....................................................................................................................... 13
Bill Preparation Process ................................................................................................................................. 14
Taking-Off ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Working Up ................................................................................................................................................. 15
Billing ........................................................................................................................................................... 16
Methods of Preparing bill of quantities ........................................................................................................ 16
Traditional Method .................................................................................................................................... 16
Non Traditional Methods ........................................................................................................................... 17
Formats of bill of quantities ........................................................................................................................... 17
Work section format ................................................................................................................................... 17
Elemental BOQ formats ............................................................................................................................. 18
MENSURATION ................................................................................................................................................ 19
Basic Shapes, their Areas and Perimeter/Circumference ........................................................................... 20
CENTRE LINE GIRTH .................................................................................................................................... 21
Methods of Computing Centre Line Girth ................................................................................................... 21
Worked Examples........................................................................................................................................... 22
UNIT CONVERSION TABLES ....................................................................................................................... 25
Most Commonly Used Conversions in Measurement of Building Works ................................................. 25
Metric – Metric ............................................................................................................................................... 26

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 NON METRIC TO METRIC ........................................................................................................................ 27
Examples ......................................................................................................................................................... 28
REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING .................................................................................................. 29

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INTRODUCTION TO MEASUREMENT OF BUILDING WORKS
Measurement of Building works can simply be defined as the process or act of measuring
quantity, size, volume, perimeter or area of any building.

Data Required for Carrying out Measurement of Building Works

1. Drawings
Complete and fully dimensioned drawings (i.e. plans, elevations, sections and other details) of
the building or work in question are required.

2. Specifications
Detailed specifications, giving the nature, quality and class of work, materials to be used,
quality of the material, their proportions, and method of preparation are required.

3. Rates
The rates of various of work, materials to be used in the construction, wages of different
categories of labor (skilled or unskilled) and cost of transportation charges should be available
for preparing an estimate of work cost.

4. Actual Finished Work

Quantities can be calculated from the actual work done in the project site.

The quantities mainly can be calculated as:

 Quantity = Length × Width × (Height or Thickness),
 Quantity = Area of cross-section × Length,
 Quantity = Length × Width,
 Quantity = Length.
 Quantity = Number of Units.
 Quantity = Weight.

In Quantity Surveying, before someone start to carry out any measurement of building works,
he or she is expected to have Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement
(BESMM 4) or New Rules of Measurement (NRM 2) so that it will serve as a guide.
Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (BESMM) and New Rules of
Measurement (NRM 2) are document which provides the various rules that could be applied in
the measurement of works for all major tasks, trades, sections and elements of any building or
construction works.

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 EVOLUTION OF STANDARD METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
(SMM)
Introduction
The Standard Method of Measurement (SMM) is published by the Royal Institute of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS). It was first published in 1922, superseding a Scottish Standard Method of
Measurement which was published in 1915. It is now in its seventh edition (SMM7), which
was first published in 1988 and revised in 1998.

SMM7 provides detailed information, classification tables and rules for measuring building
works. It is important that there is a uniform basis for measuring building works in order to
facilitate industry wide consistency and benchmarking, to encourage the adoption of best
practice and to help avoid disputes.

SMM7 is typically used in the preparation of bills of quantities, documents that provide
measured quantities of the items of work identified by the drawings and specifications in tender
documentation. Bills of quantities are issued to tenderers for them to prepare a price for
carrying out works.

SMM7 is accompanied by the Code of Procedure for the Measurement of Building Works (the
SMM7 Measurement Code). Whilst SMM7 can have a contractual status on a project (for
example in the JCT Standard form of Building Contract), the Measurement Code is non-
mandatory.

Work sections within SMM7 are classified according to the Common Arrangement of Work
Sections (CAWS). CAWS creates a consistent arrangement of work sections for specifications
and bills of quantities. It was first published in 1987 and was updated by the Construction
Project Information Committee (CPIC) in 1998 to align it with the Unified Classification for
the Construction Industry (Uniclass).

Phasing out
SMM7 has been replaced by the New Rules of Measurement volume 2 (NRM2) which was
published in April 2012 by the RICS Quantity Surveying and Construction Professional Group
and became operative on 1st January 2013. SMM7 should not be adopted on projects after July
2013.

NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works

This volume provides fundamental guidance on the detailed measurement and description of
building works for the purpose of obtaining a tender price. The rules address all aspects of bill
of quantities (BQ) production, including setting out the information required from the employer
and other construction consultants to enable a BQ to be prepared, as well as dealing with the

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quantification of non-measurable work items, contractor designed works and risks. Guidance
is also provided on the content, structure and format of BQ, as well as the benefits and uses of
BQ.

While written mainly for the preparation of bill of quantities, quantified schedules of works
and quantified work schedules, the rules will be invaluable when designing and developing
standard or bespoke schedules of rates.

These rules provide essential guidance to all those involved in the preparation of bill of
quantities, as well as those who wish to be better informed about the purpose, use and benefits
of bill of quantities.

Symbols used for measurement

ha Hectare
hr Hour
kg Kilogramme
Kn Kilonewton
kW Kilowatt
m linear metre
m2 square metre
m3 cubic metre
mm Millimeter
mm2 square millimeter
mm3 cubic millimeter
nr Number
t Tonne
wk Week

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TAKING OFF
The term ‘taking off’ refers to the process of identifying elements of construction works that
can be measured and priced. This is necessary to produce bills of quantities and requires that
the design is complete and a specification has been prepared. The traditional approach to
measurement of Building Works involves starting with Taking off i.e recording dimensions on
a paper called dimension paper or taking off Sheet.

Dimension paper
Traditional taking off uses dimension paper which is made of a series of columns. The columns
are:
1. The timesing column, which gives the factor of multiplication for the measurements in the
dimension column.
2. The dimension column, where the measurements are set down as taken from the drawings.
3. The squaring column, where the calculated volumes, areas, and so on, are set out.
4. The description column, where the description of the work item in relation to the
measurements is written.

COLUMN COLUMN COLUMN

COLUMN 4
1 2 3

T D S D
I I Q E
M M U S
E E A C
S N R R
I S I I
N I N P
G O G T
N I
O
N

Dimensions
The dimensions that are measured will be in one of the following forms:
Cubic measurements (e.g. 3 m x 3 m x 3 m).
Square measurements (e.g. 3 m x 3 m), also known as superficial measurements.
Linear measurements (e.g. 3 m).
Enumerated items (e.g. ‘Nr. 3’).
Item (e.g. ‘Testing’).
Dimensions are usually set down in order of horizontal length, horizontal width or breadth, and
vertical depth or height. It is important for the sake of consistency throughout the taking off
that this order is maintained.

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 3.00
2.00 CUBIC (M3 )
1.00

3.00
2.00 SQUARE (M2 )

1.00 LINEAR (M)

1 NUMBER (Nr)

Item ITEM

Timesing
This is a method in which several items that have the same measurements can be set down
without having to replicate calculations multiple times.
The number of times that the measurement in the dimension column is to be multiplied is set
down in the timesing column and separated using a diagonal stroke. The same item can be
timesed multiple times by setting down additional numbers in the timesing column.
In the first example below, the cubic measurement 3.00 x 2.00 x 1.00 is to be multiplied by 3.
In the second example below, the same measurement, once multiplied by 2, is then multiplied
by 4.

3/ 3.00
2.00 Example 1
1.00

4/2/ 3.00 Example 2

2.00

Dotting on
Dotting on is used to add dimensions together in the timesing column rather than multiplying.
The numbers are positioned diagonally in the column with the dot between them to avoid any
confusion with decimals.
In the example below, the cubic measurement 3.00 x 2.00 x 1.00 is multiplied by the sum of
(1 + 2) = 3.

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 3.00
2.00
1.00

Waste calculations
It is important that any calculations done to work out the dimensions that are entered into the
dimension column are written down as waste calculations on the right-hand side of the
description column. This is so that if someone reviews the taking off to check for accuracy, the
process by which the final figures have been calculated can be traced back.

Alterations
Where incorrect dimensions have been set down, they should be neatly crossed out with ‘nil’
written alongside in the squaring column. This indicates that the dimensions are cancelled. Care
should be taken to avoid confusion with the ‘nil’ label in terms of how many figures are to be
cancelled and which are still to be used in the calculations.
In the example below, the square measurement 3.00 x 2.00 has been cancelled.

3.00
2.00
1.00

3.00 NIL
2.00

Descriptions
The description of the item being measured is included in the description column alongside
the calculations. The contents of the description should correspond to the Rules of
Measurement i.e BESMM 4 or NRM 2.

3.00 Excavating topsoil for preservation

2.00 average 150 mm deep
5.00
3.50

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Deductions
When surface or solids are perforated by opening or their outline is indented, it is convenient
to first over measure by assuming either that they are un perforated or that they are regular
outline, as the case may be, and to follow with deductions to adjust for the openings or
indents. In such cases the symbol “Ddt” is added as a prefix to the item description attached
to dimensions which are to be deducted. See worked example below:

Apply 3 coat of emulsion paint

3/ 3.00 to the general surface of walls.
2.00

Ddt
0.60 Openings
0.60

Bracketing dimensions/descriptions
This is done when there is more than one set of dimensions relate to the same item description,
and vice versa, the dimensions/descriptions are bracketed as shown above.

Anding-on
This is where there are two or more descriptions that apply to the same measurement. The
descriptions are separated in the description column by ‘&’ so as to clearly distinguish between
them. They can also be bracketed together for clarity.
Where items are to be deducted or added, they are preceded by ‘Deduct’ or ‘Add’ in the
description column.

Excavating topsoil for

3.00 preservation
2.00 average 150 mm deep
&
Compact bottoms of excavations

Abbreviations
Many of the words entered in the description column are abbreviated in order to save space
and time in entering the item by highly skilled technical staff. Many abbreviations have become
almost standard and are of general application; for this reason, there is a list of the more
commonly used abbreviations in taking off. See table below:

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 Abbreviation Table
1 a.b as before 43 intl. internal
2 a.b.d as before described 44 jst. joist
3 adj. adjoining or adjust 45 jt. joint
4 agg. aggregate 46 kg. kilograme(s)
5 av. average 47 km. kilometer (s)
6 bk. brick 48 L&C levelling and compacting
7 bldg. building 49 m. meter (s)
8 B.S. british standard 50 matt. material
9 btw. between 51 max. maximum
10 bwk. brickwork 52 med. medium
11 blk. block 53 mm. millimeter(s)
12 blkwk. blockwork 54 m2. square meter
13 conc. concrete 55 ms. mild steel
14 constn. construction 56 m/s. measured separately
15 cu. cubic 57 n.e not exceeding
16 ddt. deduct 58 nr. number
17 dist. distance 59 ord. ordinary
18 ditto. that which has been said before 60 p.c. prime cost
19 div. divided 61 perm. permanent
20 dia. diameter 62 prep. prepare
21 dp. deep 63 proj. projection
22 d.p.c. damp proof course 64 rad. radius
23 ex. exceeding 65 r.conc. reinforced concrete
24 exc. excavate 66 reinft. reinforcement
25 excvtd. excavated 67 reinfd. reinforced concrete
26 excvn. excavation 68 sectn. section
27 extl. external 69 serv. service
28 ewk. earthwork 70 swn. sawn
29 fdn. foundation 71 soff. soffit
30 filg. filling 72 sprd. spread
31 follg. following 73 sq. square
32 fwd. forward 74 surf. surface
33 fmwk. formwork 75 susp. suspend
34 galvd. galvanised 76 swd. softwood
35 gen. general 77 t/s. topsoil
36 h.b. half-brick 78 tr. trench
37 h.c. hardcore 79 veg. vegetable
38 hi. high 80 vert. vertical
39 hor. horizontal 81 wd. wood
40 ht. height 82 wdw. window
41 hwd. hardwood 83 wk. work
42 incl. including 84 yd. yard

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Entering dimensions

a) Spacing of items
It is essential that ample space is left between all items on the dimension sheets, which may
so that is possible to follow the dimensions easily and to enable any item which may have
been omitted when the dimensions were first taken off, to be subsequently inserted without
cramping the dimensions unduly. The cramping of dimensions is a common failing among
examination candidates and does cause loss of marks.

b) Order of dimensions
A constant order of entering dimensions should be maintained throughout that is (i)
length, (ii) width or breadth and (iii) height or depth. In this way there can be no doubt
as to shape of the item being measured. It will be noted that dimensions are usually
recorded in meters to two places of decimals with a dot between the meters and fractions
and line drawn across the dimension column under each set of figures.

c) Adjustments for opening for voids

When measuring areas that have recess or void, the most convenient practices is usually to
measure the full area in the first instance, and subsequently adjust for any void openings.

d) Figured dimensions
When taking off, it is most desirable to use figured dimension on the drawings in preference to
scaling since the drawings are almost invariably in the form of prints which are not always true
scale. It is sometimes necessary to build up over all dimensions from series of figured dimensions
and this work must be set down in “waste” on the right hand side of the description column.

Descriptions

a). General requirements

Considerable care and skill is required to frame adequate, and yet at the same time, concise
description. This is probably one of the most difficult aspects of “taking off”. Work and one
which students should take great pain to master. In addition to covering up all the matters
detailed in the SMM, BESMM or NRM, the description must include all the information
which the estimator will require to build up a realistic price for the item in question.

b). Order of wording

The first few words of a description should clearly indicate the nature of the item being
described. The description is badly worded if the reader has to wait almost to the end of
description to determine the subject of the item.

c) Measurements of similar items

Where an entry of the dimension paper is followed by a similar item, the use of the word
“ditto” or” do “meaning that which has been said before, will permit the description of the
next items to be reduced considerably.

d) Preambles

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‘Preambles ‘are introductory clauses entered at the head of each section or trade in bills of
quantities, relating to matters which affect the contractor in pricing the bills of quantities and which
ought to be drawn to his notice.

e) Deemed to be included items ‘

The expression ‘deemed to be included’ is used in the SMM to indicate that this particular work is
covered in the billed item without specific mention.

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BILL OF QUANTITIES
The bill of quantities (sometimes referred to as 'BoQ' or 'BQ') is a document prepared by the
cost consultant (often a quantity surveyor) which provides the prices, complete descriptions of
materials, workmanships including quality, and the quantities of work identified by the
drawings and specifications.

Functions of Bill of Quantities

The following are the functions of Bill of Quantities.
i. Tendering Document
The Bill of Quantities documents enable the contractors to price the work on precisely the same
information with the minimum amount of effort.

ii. Valuing Progress Payments

BQ is used for valuation of works for progress payment for the issuance of interim certificates
including contractor executed work, unfixed materials or goods delivered to site for the
construction project.

iii. Valuing Variations

Bills of quantities is used in providing rates schedule that can be a basis to evaluate variations.
Variation means “a change in the contract document which necessitates the alteration or
modification of the design, quality or quantity of the works” that affects the contract sum.

iv. Ordering of Materials

BQ is useful for contractors to order and purchase materials. This is because BQ contains
complete information of quantities and descriptions of materials for construction projects to be
procured from local or imported suppliers.

v. Planning for Site Programme

BQ is a convenient document in planning for site program such as preparing resource
programmes, preparing work breakdown structure and critical path network analysis with
various activities and easier for monitoring progress of works at site.

vi. Final Account

BQ is practical for final accounting prior to completion of a construction project. Final account
is the final part of the audit way of all financial transactions relating to the contract by referring
to the BQ and the process of final account stage might consume time.

vii. Cost Information

BQ can be used in many ways by contractors, for instance, data collected during construction
can be cost information for estimators.

viii. Project Costing

BQ is mainly used for project costing which is to estimate or price the work on precisely.
Project costing covers the whole cost of construction project activities in starting from the
inception process until the final account agreement purposely to match the cost estimation with
the client’s budget.

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ix. Database
BQ is as a database for future estimation that has similar type of construction projects. A
database is “a collection of computer data that can be sorted or manipulated in various ways”.
The database that is provided by the BQ such as the detail description of materials,
workmanships, rates or prices of materials, quantities and unit of materials as mentioned in the
sub-heading definition.

x. Fee Calculation
BQ provides an absolute basis for the calculation of consultants’ fees. The consultant fees
include various expertise such as architects, engineers, planners, QS, Builders and many more.
The Consultancy fees refer to as a charge of services provided by the consultants to the client
depending on the factor of complexity, volume and duration of the project.

xi. Quality Analysis

BQ is also used for quality analysis by reference to the trade preamble clauses. The terms
“analysis” means a thorough investigation, “quality” is a standard of service or product and
“preamble” is information provided in the BQ on the rules of measurement and description of
trade.

xii. Quotations
BQ is also used to call for quotations from sub-contractors. Quotations are prices given to
undertake work. In the construction industry, the quotations are given by suppliers to supply
resources for construction projects such as materials, equipment, machineries and etc.

xiii. Fairest Competition for Tenders

BQ enables contractors to price the work precisely on the same information with minimum
amount of effort and promote for the fairest type of competition. The BQ gives fair competition
because all tenderers price the work on the same information of projects and the competition
among the tenderers can lead to lower price offer of the project.

xiv. Cost Control

BQ is helpful for cost control during the contract to ensure work is within budget. BQ provides
cost of the construction project during pre-contract phase, planning cost and cost target which
cannot be spiral out of control.

Bill Preparation Process

The traditional procedure for bill preparation involves:
1. Taking-off
2. Working up which consists of:
Squaring
Abstracting
Billing

Taking-Off
This implies reading off dimensions from drawings and setting them down in a specific order
on special paper known as “dimension sheets” and inserting an appropriate description.

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Working Up

1. Squaring

Squaring involves calculating and recording the areas, volumes and lengths represented by
dimensions. Results are written on the taking-off sheets in the squaring column. It is
traditional for the squaring to be checked independently by another quantity surveyor in the
office to eliminate errors.

2. Abstracting

Procedure
The descriptions are transferred to abstract paper where they are assembled in bill
order. Associated squaring results are inserted under their descriptions, repeat items
forming columns for subsequent casting. Addition and deduction columns enable final
results to represent net quantities.
The abstract sheet is usually a double sheet (A3 paper) ruled in columns about an inch
wide. Both sides of the sheet are used in each case working from the left to the right.
Every sheet should be headed with the project title and the section and subsection of
the work involved.
The full descriptions for each item is written across two columns and underlined with
the unit of measurement indicated beside the description. The order of abstracting is
strictly the order in which the items will appear in the BOQ.
Positive or “Add” quantities from the take-off sheets are inserted in the right column
while “Ddt” items are inserted into the left column. A reference to the page number
on the take-off sheet from where the quantity has been abstracted is written beside the
quantity on the abstract sheet.
As each quantity is abstracted it is run through on the take-off sheet with a line using
ink of a different colour to clearly show that that figure has been transferred to the
abstract sheet and should not be treated again
It is essential to leave enough space between items to allow for omissions to be
inserted and also to avoid confusion
When all the items have been properly abstracted from the taking-off sheets, the
columns of figures are totaled and the “Deduct” items subtracted from the totals of
the “Add” items to arrive at net quantities. The figure obtained is then rounded to the
nearest whole number and it is this figure that is transferred to the billing sheet.

SAMPLE ABSTRACTING SHEET

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Billing

Each description on the abstract is now transferred to standard bill paper, the format of which
is suitable for pricing by the tendering contractors.
The total reduced quantity for each item is transferred to the quantity column of the
bill and the appropriate unit inserted.
Each transferred item is cancelled from the abstract sheet to avoid an item being
transferred more than once.
Then, suitable trade and section headings are inserted.
Finally, preliminaries, preambles and other appendices are inserted and the bill is
ready for final proofing, printing and binding.

Items Description Unit Qty Rate Amount

1.14.1.2.2 Block wall m2 20 2,800.00 56,000.00

1.11.2.1.2 Concrete m3 5 30,000.00 150,000.00

1.14.16.1.3 DPC m 100 500.00 50,000.00

1.11.33.1.1 16mm diameter bar ton 0.30 320,000.00 96,000.00

1.24.1.1.1 Flush door size 900 x 2100 Nr 3 18,000.00 54,000.00

1.5.9.2.1 Disposal of excavated Item

material off site 10,000.00

Carried to Summary N 416,000.00

SAMPLE BILLING SHEET

Methods of Preparing bill of quantities

1. Traditional method
2. Non Traditional method

Traditional Method
This involves the application of the following steps:
i. Taking off
ii. Squaring
iii. Abstracting
iv. Preparation of Bill of Quantities

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Non Traditional Methods

a) Cut and shuffle method

This is a faster method than the traditional method. The q/surveyor takes-off quantities into
specially designed sheets in duplicate where the original sheet is perforated into strips which
can be separated from the book and collected together to form group of items. Squaring is done
immediately on the same sheets. The strips for similar items are put together and handed over
for billing.

b) Computer Billing

This involve the use of Computer applications such Spreadsheet and software for bill
production systems. It provides the facility to check accuracy, but care is needed in the
coding of dimensions and entry of data. Modern computerized billing systems can however,
print out errors in the form of tables. The coding can be double checked, although a random
check may be considered adequate.

c) Direct Billing

This method eliminates the abstract sheet and all collections are done on the taking-off
sheet. This method should be adopted where the number of similar items is not too extensive,
and the job is not too complex in character.

Formats of bill of quantities

1. Work section
2. Elemental

Work section format

In this format the items are arranged under their respective work sections. The work
sections are normally classified as follows:
a) Excavation
b) Concrete work
c) Block work
d) Roofing
e) Woodwork
f) Structural steel work
g) Metalwork
h) Plumbing and mechanical engineering installations
j) Electrical installations
k) Floor, wall and ceiling finishes
l) Painting and decorating etc.

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Elemental BOQ formats
In this format the works are grouped not in work section order but according to their
positions in building. Within each element, work may be billed in trade order or
grouped project management building sequence.
A typical element list for multi-story building as follows:
1) Substructure
2) Frame
3) Upper floors
4) Roofing
5) Stairs
6) Walls etc.

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MENSURATION
Mensuration is the branch of mathematics which deals with the study of Geometric shapes,
their area, volume and related parameters.

Some important mensuration formulas are:

1. Area of rectangle (A) = length(l) × Breath(b)

2. Perimeter of a rectangle (P) = 2 × (Length(l) + Breath(b)

3. Area of a square (A) = Length (l) × Length (l)

4. Perimeter of a square (P) = 4 × Length (l)

5. Area of a parallelogram(A) = Length(l) × Height(h)

6. Perimeter of a parallelogram (P) = 2 × (length(l) + Breadth(b))

7. Area of a triangle (A) = (Base (b) × Height (b) ) / 2

8. Area of trapezium (A) =

9. Perimeter of a trapezium (P) = sum of all sides

10. Area of a Circle (A) =

Where r = radius of the circle and d = diameter of the circle.

11. Circumference of a Circle =

r= radius of circle
d= diameter of circle

Where r = radius of the circle and d = diameter of the circle.

1
12. Area of a Semi Circle (A) = 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
2

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Basic Shapes, their Areas and Perimeter/Circumference

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CENTRE LINE GIRTH
Girths is one of the most frequently used techniques when booking dimensions. Most buildings
are based on a square or rectangular plan shape and it is often necessary to establish the
perimeter of individual rooms or whole buildings either internally or externally. Whilst the
drawings will show plan dimensions, before these can be set down and recorded on dimension
paper it will be necessary to build up perimeter lengths as waste calculations. This length is
required for foundations, walls and associated items. The length can be calculated by
determining:

 The total internal length of the wall

 The total external length of the wall
 The center line length of the wall

Methods of Computing Centre Line Girth

There are three methods of calculating Centre line girth:
1. Averaging method
2. Bit by bit method
3. Corner adjustment

 Averaging method: This is done by adding external girth with the internal girth and
divide the sum by 2.
 Bit by bit method: This is done by taking and adding the dimensions one by one at
Centre. It’s usually adopted when the plan given is irregular shape.
 Corner adjustment: This is done by adding the overall lengths and make adjustment
for corners i.e. if the dimensions are externally, the corners are to be deducted and if
the dimensions are internally then the corners are being added. This method is the
most commonly use because most of the buildings plans are usually rectangular or
square in shape.

Fig. 1

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 Worked Examples
Notes
Centre line calculations
are carried out on the
right hand side of the
description column.

This type of calculation is

known as a waste
calculation.

The corner adjustment

formula is 4 x 2 x 1⁄2 x W

Where Fig. 2
4 = Number of corners

2 = Number of
adjustments at each
corner

1⁄ = Half times
2

W = Wall thickness

As shown in fig. 3, the dimensions given

are externally and looking at fig. 2 the wall
thickness is given as 100mm. Therefore,
we are to start by finding the external girth
then we continue to adjust corners (ddt
since its externally) in order to find the
Centre line girth.

L = 10,000
Add W = 5,000
2/15,000
External girth = 30,000
Deduct 4/2/1⁄2/100 400
Center line girth = 29,600

Fig. 3

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 Internal girth

Fig. 4 Fig. 5

As shown above in fig. 5, the dimensions given are internally and looking at fig. 4 the wall
thickness is given as 100mm. Therefore, we are to start by finding the internal girth then we
continue to adjust corners (add since its internally) in order to find the Centre line girth.

L = 9,800
Add W = 4,800
2/14,600
Internal girth = 29,200
Add 4/2/1⁄2/100 400
Center line girth = 29,600

FIG. 6: SOLUTION
Length = 14,770
Add Width = 9,770
2/24,540
Centre to Centre Total Centre Line Girth = 49,080

FIG. 6

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 FIG. 7: SOLUTION
Length = 14,540
Add Width = 9,540
2/24,080
48,160
1
IN TO IN Add 4/2/2/ 230 920
Total Centre Line Girth 49,080

Fig 7

FIG. 8: SOLUTION
Length = 15,000
Add Width = 10,000
2/25,000
50,000
1
Ddt 4/2/2/ 230 920
OUT TO OUT
Total Centre Line Girth 49,080

Fig 8

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UNIT CONVERSION TABLES

Most Commonly Used Conversions in Measurement of Building Works

If you have this Do this To get this

millimeters (mm) Divide by 10 (mm/10) centimeter (cm)
centimeters (cm) Multiply by 10 (cm x10) Millimeters (mm)
Meters (m) Multiply by 100 (m x 100) Centimeters (cm)
Centimeters (cm) Divide by 100 (cm/100) Meters (m)
Millimeters (mm) Divide by 1000 (mm/1000) Meters (m)

Some terms to remember

Meter - Length Kilo – Thousand
Liter - Volume Milli - Thousand
Gram - Mass/Weight Centi – Hundred
Celsius - Temperature Deci – Ten

Measure of Lengths
10 millimeters (mm) = 1 centimeter (cm)
10 centimeters = 1 decimeter (dm) = 100 millimeters
100 centimeter = 1 meter (m) = 1000 millimeters
1000 meters = 1 kilometer (km)

Note that ‘meter and ‘liter’ (US spelling) have the same meaning as ‘metre’ and ‘litre’,
and their derivatives (European spelling).

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 Metric – Metric

When you Know Multiply by this

Length this unit number to Get:

100 Centimeters 0.01 1 Meters

1 Centimeters 10 10 Millimeters
100 Centimeters 0.00001 0.001 Kilometers
1 Meters 100 100 Centimeters
1 Meters 1000 1000 Millimeters
1000 Meters 0.001 1 Kilometers
1 Kilometers 1000 1000 Meters
1 Kilometers 100000 100000 Centimeters
1 Millimeters 0.1 0.1 Centimeters
1 Millimeters 0.01 0.01 Meters
Volume Know Conversion Factor New Answer

1000 Milliliters 0.001 1 Liters

1 Milliliters 1 1 Cubic Centimeters
1 Liters 1000 1000 Millilters
1000 Cubic Centimeters 0.001 1 Liters
1 Liters 1000 1000 Cubic Centimeters
45 Cubic Centimeters 0.001 0.045 Liters
Mass Know Conversion Factor New Answer

1 Grams 1000 1000 Milligrams

1000 Milligrams 0.001 1 Grams
1000 Grams 0.001 1 Kilograms
1 Kilograms 1000 1000 Grams
1000 Kilograms 0.001 1 Tonne
1 Tonne 1000 1000 Kilograms

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 NON METRIC TO METRIC

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 Examples:
if you have; Bui you want; Multiply by; You Have You want Answer:
centimeters inches 0.3937 a cm inches
Feet meters 0.3048 4 feet meters
gallons (U.S.) liters 3.7853 45 gallons liters
grams pounds 0.002205 0.5 grams pounds
inches millimeters 25.4 3.4 inches Millimeters
inches centimeters 2.54 7 inches Cm
kilometers miles 0.6214 65 kilometers Miles
liters gallons (U.S.) 0.2542 4 liters gallons
liters pints (liquid) 2.1134 3.2 liters Pints
liters quarts (liquid) 1.0567 6 liters Quarts
meters feet 3.2808 4 meters Feet
meters miles 0.0005214 400 meters miles
meters yards 1.0936 13.7 meters Yards
miles kilometers 1.6093 45 miles Kilometers
miles feet 5230 2 miles feet
millimeters inches 0.0394 1000 mm inches
pounds ounces 16 2 pounds Ounces
pints (liquid) liters 0.4732 4 pints Liters
ounces pounds 0.0525 12 ounces Pounds
quarts (liquid) liters 0.9463 4 quarts liters
yards meters 0,9144 12.7 yards Meters
yards miles 0.0005682 300 yards Miles

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REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING
1. Quantity Surveyors Pocket Book by Duncan Cartilage 2009
2. RICS New Rules of Measurement; NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works.
3. UNESCO TVE, Measurement of Building works
4. http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/
5. Willis’s Element of Quantity Surveying
6. Building Quantities explained by Ivor H. Seeley and Roger Winfield
7. Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (BESMM 4)
8. http://www.webmath.com/convert.html
9. http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/dildine/tcd_files/program15.htm
10. Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineering Works. 2010 Edition
11. QSdictionary.com
12.

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