A Report On My Six Months Industrial Training Experience (Quantity Surveying)

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to Almighty God who gave me the strength, Health, knowledge and protection, from start to the completion of my Training.

I also dedicate this work to my parents Mr. and Mrs. Ugwoke Richard.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This six months training was completely a success and this would not have been without some people whose initial and constant support was the key to the success of my attachment. I hereby wish to acknowledge the following people for thier immense support through out the period of training.

I acknowledge firstly the support and help of my friend and my coursemate Mbonu Chukwuebuka through whose help I was able to gain placement for my training.

Secondly, My Training Supervisor Sir. Nwokoye Humphery (MNIQS) who did not stop helping me at proffesional level but was like a father to me. His patience, Will to teach, and understanding was key to a training full of valuable experiences. Our close relationship enabled me to ask questions regularly and get answers despite His very busy work schedule. His support was highly invaluable to my training and I pray that God will forever continue to bless Him.

Thirdly, All the workers I met at the various sites I worked, thier open mindedness and willingness to answer questions and explain terms was very helpul in understanding the building construction works, process and meaning of terms in construction as used by both proffesionals and non-proffessionals.

Finally, the entire staff of Emco Associates, and all my friends who were always encouraging and advising me, May God bless them all.

ABSTRACT

Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was established by Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 with the sole purpose of letting students gain pratical knowledge of the course of study and expose students to challenges and realities of the work environment, technological advancement as well as practice experience. In a concise term, generally the aim of SIWES program was to solve the problem of inadequate practical skills which prepares students for employment in industries by Nigerian graduates of tertiary institution.

This SIWES report gives details about all the work carried out and the relevant experience gained at Emco Associates, Onitsha. During my six months attachment at the company, I was involved in several activities.

Firstly, I was assigned to work in the different building sites and Later I worked in the office were i was involved in the taking-off of buildings and bill preparation.

This report gives concise information on all activities carried out, and defines clearly the experience gained. It also highlights some problems I encountered during the process of acquiring this experience, conclusion, and a few recommendations.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

o   Introduction ................................................................................ 1

o   Objective of attachment .............................................................. 2

o   Company information ................................................................ 3-6

CHAPTER TWO

o   Details of the training works ..................................................... 7-10

o   Training Experience ................................................................... 11

o   Benefits of experience ................................................................ 12

o   Problems and challenges ............................................................ 12

o   Building works and techniques observed during training ....... 13-23

CHAPTER THREE

o   The Bills of Quantities ............................................................. 24-33

CHAPTER FOUR

o   Conclusion and Recommendation ............................................. 34-35

REFRENCES ................................................................................ 36

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig 2.1            Pampam lane, main market onitsha

Fig 2.2            The site of the ongoing project at pampam lane

Fig 2.3            The ongoing project at federal housing estate onitsha

Fig 2.4            A typical trench excavation

Fig 2.5           Column pit excavation

Fig 2.6           Trench excavation for strip foundation

Fig 2.7           Fresh concrete out of a batch mixer

Fig 2.8           Concrete as oversite concrete

Fig 2.9            A concrete batch mixer on site

Fig 2.10         Formwork to columns and beams

Fig 2.11         Formwork to floor slab

Fig 2.12         Forwork to staircase

Fig 2.13         Reinforcement in floor slab

Fig 2.14         Reinforcement brought new to site

Fig 2.15         Blockwork on site

Fig 3.1           A sample of a priced bill of quantities

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

I was privileged to have an attachment with Emco Associates, the company had a lot of running projects hence a lot of tasks and responsibilities for a student learner.

This report is a comprehensive summary of  my six months training which was completed at the above mentioned organisation and also contains information about the company.

I officialy started my Industrial Training on 16th of june 2014 and worked on the construction sites in the earlier part of my training and worked more in the office at the later stage.

The office task and responsibilities included mainly taking-off and preparation of Bills of Quantities While the onsite task included work supervision, and payment of workers. I was also exposed to different quantity surveying and building construction works and techniques.

Tasks carried out, works observed and experiences gained are fully explained in the later chapters of this report.

OBJECTIVES OF ATTACHMENT

The industrial training is a training which forms part of the approved minimum accademic standards for the various degree programmes in Nigerian universities.

The programme is aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice in learning, and helps students to gain pratical experience in thier different fields of study.

The  training exposes students to work methods, work safety, and equipments in thier different fields. This experience also helps prepare the student for ready absorption into the labour market.

Objectives:

o   To enable students acquire industrial skills and experience in thier course of study so as to comprehend the knowledge already obtained in class.

o   To prepare  students for the work situation they will be facing after graduation.

o   To strengthen employers involvement in the entire educational process of preparing university graduates for employment in industry.

o   Gives students opportunity to appreciate what they have learnt in class by allowing them apply theoritical knowledge in real life.

o   Helps sttudents better understand different work methods and get insight about proffesional practice.

o   Enhance student’s understanding of organizational and group processe

o   Helping students to gain inter-personal skills, such as relationship with co-workers.

COMPANY INFORMATION

Emco associate is a construction firm established in mid-eigthys preciesly in 1987 by a group of young proffesionals who are accademically sound in thier different discipline.

The objective of setting up the establishment is not only to satisfy the need of people within onitsha metropolis and its environs but also Nigeria in general. The company was duly registered and incoporated.

The comapny has many fully registered proffesionals as staff and has six distinct departs which includes:

·        Land surveying

·        Civil  engineering

·        Architecture

·        Quantity surveying

·        Building

·        Administration

Each of the six departments is headed by Land surveyors, Civil engineers, Architects, Quantity surveyors, Builders, and an Administrative officer respectively and are assisted by thier surbodinate staff.

COMPANY PROFILE

COMPANY NAME	Emco Associates
HEAD OFFICE	16A Oguta Road Onithsa, Anambra state.
NAME OF BUSINESS	Construction firm
DATE OF ESTABLISMENT	1987
PHONE NO	City
E-MAIL ADDRESS	emcoassociates@gmail.com

Company mission and vision:

The mission of emco asscociate is to carry out construction works and deliver projects effectively and to give its clients, employees and the society maximum satisfaction. Emco associates is a company that understands its clients needs and delivers projects no matter the specification, environment and time.

The vision of the firm is to expand and diversify into more areas of construction in the near future, become a world class construction company and improve on her already set good standards.

Completed projects:

This company has succesfully completed many projects, some of the completed projects are:

·        The company surveyed the federal housing estate, trans-nkisi layout, at ontisha, anambra state.

·        The construction of all saints cathederal premises at onitsha.

·        The company carried out the construction of all the estates at Nkwelle-ezunaka in oyi local government area of anambra state.

·        The company also succesfully designed, quantified and constructed a banking hall at head bridge onitsha, anambra state.

·        The design and erection of multi storey plaza’s at onitsha main market.

·        The company has also designed, quantified and construction over 50 residential buildings.

COMPANY ORGANOGRAM

MANAGING DIRECTOR (CEO)

 

                                                             

ADMIN MANAGER

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

CIVIL ENGINEER

BUILDER

ARCHITECT

TECHNICAL OFFICERS

FOREMEN

LAND SURVEYOR

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ACCOUNT OFFICER

CLERICAL OFFICERS

MESSENGER

 

CHAPTER TWO

DETAILS OF THE TRAINING WORKS

During my six months training with Emco Associates, The projects carried out by the company are the construction of a three 3-storey warehouse/plaza at pampam lane Onitsha Main market and a residential duplex at Federal housing estate, 3-3 Onitsha, both in Anambra state, Nigeria.

The first project is the construction of three warehouses/plaza, 3-storey each. The project started in march 2014 and is expected to cost about N170million and last for about 20months. The ground floor of the buildings will be used as warehouse while the first, second and third floors will be shops.

Fig 2.1 Pampam lane, main market onitsha                             fig 2.2 The site of the ongoing project at pampam lane

The second project is at Federal housing estate, 3-3 Onitsha, Anambra state, Nigeria and consists of:

o   1-storey duplex

o   An external car pack

o   Boys quaters

o   Swimming  pool

This project is expected to be completed in 16months. The image in fig 1.3 shows the ongoing project mentioned above.

Fig 2.3 The ongoing project at federal housing estate onitsha

During my training, I worked with the quantity surveying department of the company where I had a registered quantity surveyor (Sir. Nwokoye Humphery MNIQS) as my supervisor, He also worked as the contractor in both projects.

I was introduced by my supervisor to the construction sites, site-foremen and workers on site who further exposed me to proper site work. Site work  involves the entire process involved in the construction of a building.

Activities carried out:

During training I was involved in both site works and actual quantity surveying works which included mainly taking-off and preparation of the bills of quantities.

Firstly, I was assigned to supervise works at the construction sites, this involved monitoring of all works bieng carried out on site, and I was obliged to give work report to my supervisor who is also the contractor when he comes to site, this helps him to accertain what happend in site so as to know how to address any issue.

I was also assigned sometimes to payment of workers at the end of each day, payments are normally done on site at the end of the day. Payments are done on the basis of either fixed (day pay) or per unit work completed.

At the later stage of my training I was transfered to the office where I was invloved in the process of preparing of bills of quantities, Exact tasks carried out included measurement of  building works, Squaring of  bills of quantities, entering of rates into unpriced bills and preparing of unpriced bill of quantities.

The works I measured included fence works, a bungalow and a one storey office block. In each case I was given the neccesary drawings and I was also required to prepare an unpriced bill of quantities for each one. Below are some of the works I measured and their corresponding units of measurement.

Site clearance........................m²

Oversite excavation .............m²

Trench excavation .................m³

Levelling and compacting......m²

Blockwork ..........................m²

Rendering ..........................m²

Reinforcement .....................m

Concrete works (concrete in foundation, blinding to pit, column, beam, floor slabs) .....................m³

Formwork ...........................m²

Roof trusses .............................m

Roof covering...........................m2

The tools I used in carrying out tasks both in site and office are:

o   Drawings

o   Measuring tape

o   Calculator

o   Pen and paper

o   Scale rule

o   BESMM

o   Meter rule

o   Files

TRAINING EXPERIENCE:

During the 6-months of my training I visited various construction sites and I learnt alot more about the reality of the construction industry. I was exposed to new techniques I didnt have much knowledge about previously like, the construction of strip foundation, setting of building, soil stabilization, and bill preparation.

My indusrtial training experience was very useful to me, beacuse it helped me in understanding better the building construction process which made measurement of  building works easier for me having been exposed to different building construction works.

Also having been regularly involved in the process of preparing the bills of quanties and preparing some myself with the guide of my supervisor, I learned new skills in measurement of building works and preparation of the bills of quantities.

Skills and Experience gained:

o   How to prepare a bill of quantities

o   How to measure building works that I did not know very well before like the measurement of roof works.

o   Having worked with the contractor, I was opportuned to know how works are bieng priced and also how rates are calculated for use in the bills of quantities

o   I learned the procces of Setting-out of a building

o   Understanding the techniques involved in supervision of building works

o   Identification of different qualities of construction materials.

Benefits of experience:

o   The  training socially shaped me and made me have an appreciation of the general industry situation. During my internship, I interacted with not only my workmates and colleagues but also various people of distinct professions in the construction industry, other industries and society at large. After my internship, I feel ready enough to go into the industry and perform well while adapting to different social challenges.

o   The training helped to observe some of the theories thought in school, thus understanding them better.

o   After acknowledging the construction industry, I am able to define what postgraduate studies to pursue if possible.

o   I learned great interpersonal skills during my training, as I interacted with many people, from my supervisor, to other proffesionals and workers on site. It helped me gain communication skills to be used when working with both proffesinals and non professionals.

Problems and challenges:

During my 6-months training I encountered some challenges and, below were the most significant challenges I encoutered during training:

·        Had less time to interact with my supervisor due to his busy schedule.

·        At site, safety was not adequately provided for training students

·        No formal orientation for training students

·        Transportation to different site of work was not easy

·        Lack of willingness of some labourers to answer questions

·        Taking-off of complex drawings which I have not done before was challenging

·        Accomodation was also a major challenge

Building construction works and techniques observed on during training:

During my 6 months industrial training I observed many building works and Some of the major building works carried out during my period of training are;

·        Site clearance

·        Oversite excavation

·        Setting out

·        Trench and pit Excavation

·        Levelling and compacting

·        Earthwork support

·        Strip foundation

·        Concrete works

·        Blockwork

Site clearance:

Site clearance involves the removal of trees, tree stumps and all rubbishes on the construction site before any excavation can commence. This can be done manually or mechanically. During my training site clearance was done manually using handheld tools such as cutlass, shovels and wheel barrows. Site clearance is measured in M².

Oversite excavation:

This is the removal of topsoil which includes plants, animals and decaying matter which makes the soil compressible, thus unsuitable to support building. Its depth can vary, but usually 150mm is the minimum used.

Setting out:

Setting out is the process of transfering what is on plan to the ground, this activity normally comes after all neccesary clearance, oversite excavation and reduce level excavation has been done. The contractor usually is the person who does setting out of a building using information provided by the designer/architect.

During my training, i was opportuned to withness the setting out of a building and the basic tools used are:

·        Purlins

·        Peg

·        Nails and hammer

·        Rope

·        Measuring tape

·        Cutlass

·        Set square

·        Drawings

The first process involved in the setting out of building is the establishment of a baseline to which all the setting out can be related.

Second is the setting out of trenches which is done to establish the excavation size, shape and direction and to establish the width and position of the walls. After this, the outline of the buildig is set out. Using this outline, profile boards is set up to control the width, and position of the proposed trenches.

The profile crossboard is set up 3m away from the trench position so as to avoid obstruction to excavation. The trench width is marked on the profile using nails. After the setting out process excavation of trenches will commence.

Trench and pit excavation:

Fig 2.5 Column pit excavation

Fig 2.4 A typical trench excavation

Trench excavation is the excavation done normally for strip foundation, its depth is always specified and its width is minimumly 3times the size of block. 150mm block for 450mm width excavation and 225mm block for 675mm width excavation. Pit excavation is done for column bases, its depth and width is normally specified in the working drawing.

Levelling and compacting:

This is the process of levelling the bottom of trench and pit excavation so as to make ensure that it is of a uniform level and to make it compact and ready to recieve concrete, this is done after the trench and pit ecavations has been completed.

Earthwork support:

Earthwork support  is the process of holding the sides of excavation to prevent sorounding earth from falling back into the excavation. This is normally done with hardwood boards placed at sides of excavation and held apart with struts atleast 2m opposiing faces, this support is removed after work has been completed in the excavation. Earthwork support is measured in m².

Strip foundation:

This type of foundation is used where the soil is of good bearing capacity. Strip foundation consists of a continoues strip, usually of concrete formed centrally under load bearing walls.

This continous strip serves as a level base on which the wall is built and is of a width that is necessary to spread the load on the foundations to an area of subsoil capable of supporting the load without undue compaction. The width of foundation must be three times the width of the supported wall and the depth of a strip foundation must be equall to or greater than the overall width of the wall.

Figure 2.6 Trench excavation for strip foundation

Concrete works:

Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, aggregate and water in a measured and controlled proportion, concrete can be of different mixes, the mixes used on site during training includes 1:2:4, 1:3:6, and sometimes 1:3:5. The most common used cement for concrete is portland cement. Both fine aggregate and dense aggregate are normally used. The water used for concerete is free from impurities so as not to affect the strength of the concrete, it must be water fit for drinking.

Fig 2.8 Concrete as oversite concrete

Concrete is used in many sections of the building, it is used in wall footings, (concrete in foundation), blinding to column pit, floor slabs, columns and beams.

Fig 2.7 Fresh concrete out of a batch mixer

Mixing of concrete can be carried out manually using only handheld tools or using concerte batch mixer. On site, Concrete is normally transported with simple buckets or headpans to where it is to be placed and Placing of concrete involves placing the wet concrete in excavation, Formwork, or mould.

The terms and works associated with concrete work includes the following:

1.     Concrete mixer:

Concrete mixers are machines designed to produce concrete without segregation, concrete mixers are of different sizes, ranging from small batch mixers with outputs of upto 200liters per batch, medium batch mixers with output range of 200 – 750liters and other larger mixers.

When choosing a concrete mixer many factors are taken into consideration, the factors considered are:

·        Maximum output required

·        Total output required

·        Method of transporting the mixed concrete

·        Discharge height of mixer

Fig 2.9 A concrete batch mixer on site

During training, the concrete mixer used on site is the small batch mixer with output of   0.6m³ per batch.

2.     Formwork:

formwork is a temporary mould in which concrete is casted and is removed after the concrete sets, the removal of formwork is known as stripping. Striped formworks can be re-used, Re-usable frmworks are called panel formworks while non reusable formworks are known as stationery formwork.

Timber is the most used material for formwork. The disadvantage of timber formwork is that it will warp, swell and shrink . Application of water impermable coats to the surfaceof wood mitigates these defects.

A good formwork should have the following qualities:

Ø It should be strong enough to withstand all types of dead and imposed loads

Ø It should be rigidly constructed and efficiently propped and braced both horizontally and vertically so as to retain its shape

Ø The joints in the formwork should be tight against leakage of cement grout.

Ø The material of the formwork should be cheap, easily available and should be suitable for reuse

Ø Construction of formwork should permit removal of various parts in desired sequence without damage to the concrete.

Ø It should be as light as possible

Ø The formwork rest on firm base

Formwork can be of timber, plywoood, steel, precast concrete or fiber glass used seperately or in situation where large numbers of re-use of the same forms are necessary.

Timber formwork:

Timber formwork is always the most economical type of formwork and is usually used for small works. Timber formworks should satisfy the following requirements

Ø Timber used for formwork should be well seasoned.

Ø It should be light in weight

Ø Should be easily workable with nails without splitting.

Ø Free from loose knots

Timber used for formwork for exposed concrete should have smooth and even surface on all faces which come in contact with concrete.

Plywood formwork:

Resin bonded plywood sheets are attached to timber frames to make up panels of required sizes. The cost of plywood formwork compares favourably with that of timber formwork and may be more cheaper in certain cases.

Steel formwork:

This consists of panels fabricated out of thin steel plates stiffered along the edges by small steel angles. The panel units can be held together thorough the use of suitable clamps or bolts and nuts. The panels can be fabricated in large number and in any shape or size. Steel formworks are  largely used in large projects where large number of re-uses of the formwork is possible. Steel formwork is considered the best for circular of curved structures.

Advantages of steel formwork over timber:

Ø Steel formworks are stronger, durable and have longer life than timber formwork and thier reuses are more in number.

Ø Steel forms can be installed and dismantled with greater ease and speed

Ø The quality of exposed concrete surface by using steel formworks is good and such surfaces need no futher treatment.

Ø Steel formwork does not absorb moisture from concrete

Ø Steel formwork does not shrink of warp

Fig 2.11 Formwork to floor slab

The images below shows timber formwork in different uses:

Fig 2.10 Formwork to columns and beams

Fig 2.12 forwork to staircase

                                                                

3.     Reinforcement:

Concrete has no useful tensile strength and is limited in its structural uses, this makes neccesary the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength and ductility. The reinforcement is usually steel reinforcing bars and is embedded pasively in the concrete before the concrete sets. Reinforcing schemes aregenerally designed to resist tensile stresses in particular regions of the concrete that might cause unacceptable cracking or structural failure.

Fig 2.13 Reinforcement in floor slab

Fig 2.14 Reinforcement brought new to site

For a strong, ductile  and durable construction the reinforcement needs to have atleast the following properties:

·        High relative strength

·        High toleration of tensile strain

·        Good bond to the concrete, irrespective of pH, moisture, and similar factors

·        Thermal compactibility, not causing unacceptable stresses in response to changing tempratures

·        Durability in the concrete environment, irrespective of corrosion or sustained stress.

Steel reinforcement bars are used in concrete columns, beams, and slabs. Reinforcement bars have various diameter sizes. They come in 12mm,16mm 18mm, 20mm 24mm 30mm and 32mmdiameter sizes.

4.     Casting:

Casting is the process of pouring concrete mix into a mould or form laid with reinforcement bars to form a solid mass structure.

Blockwork:

This is the process of laying concrete masonry units to form either external walls or internal walls as partitions. These masonry units are commonly hollow sandcrete blocks which are much economical per unit of wall area.

Sequence of laying of sand-crete block wall:

·        A bed of mortar is spread on the footing/floor.

·        The first course of blocks for a lead is laid on the mortar. The mortar for the head joint is applied to the end of each block with the trowel before the block is laid.

·        The lead is built higher. Mortar is normally applied only to the face shells of the block and not to the webs.

·        As each new course is started on the lead, its height is checked with either a folding rule or a story pole marked with the height of each course.

·        A line is stretched between the leads on line blocks.

·        The course between the leads are laid rapidly by aligning each block with the stretched line.

Fig 2.15 Blockwork on site

                  

CHAPTER THREE

THE BILLS OF QUANTITIES

Definition:

The Bill of Quantities is a document containing every single cost element in a construction project. Not only must the quantities for every item of labour and material be included, but so also must the items of plant and equipment, as well as any temporary work necessary, or expenses incurred by way of insurances, fees, provision of power and water supplies and such-like intangible expenses. The bill of quantities must contain every conceivable cost component implied by the project. The image in fig 3.1 below shows a sample of a priced bill of quantity.

Fig 3.1 A sample of a priced bill of quantities

                           

Basic components of the bill of quantities

1.     Preliminaries

2.     Preambles

3.     Prime Cost sums and Provisional sums

4.     Measured items

Preliminaries:

Preliminaries are general items of cost not related to any particular work section. E.g. Water and scaffolding. As a general rule, preliminary items since they are generalities and cannot be measured do not require quantities. The preliminary items are listed in a separate bill and lump sums are inserted against the items. The preliminaries bill is the first part of the BOQ.

Preambles:

These are described as non-measurable items each of which applies to a particular work section. They do not in themselves cost money but may affect the cost of the work sections to which they apply. They fall mainly into two classes:

·        Items specifying quality of materials and workmanship

·        Pricing instructions to tenderers

Preambles for each work section are grouped together and inserted either at the beginning of that particular work section or combined with preambles for other work sections and inserted after the preliminaries bill, but before the “bill proper”.

Example:

Preambles for concrete work will include items such as:

o   All cement used in the works shall be ordinary Portland cement complying with BS 12

o   Aggregate shall be obtained from an approved source and shall comply with BS 882

Prime Cost and Provisional Sums:

Prime cost (PC) sums are those sums provided in respect of work to be carried out by a nominated sub-contractor or statutory body or materials to be supplied by a nominated supplier.

The general contractor is allowed an item for attendance for the use of his facilities by the nominated contractor. The main contractor is also allowed some profit on PC Sums generally.

Provisional sums:

A provisional sum is defined as a sum provided for work or costs that cannot be entirely foreseen, defined or detailed at the time the tender documents are issued. General rule 10.2 of the BESMM3 states that where work cannot be described and given in terms of the normal rules of measurement it shall be given as a Provisional Sum either defined or undefined. Provisional Sums for defined work is provided for work which is not completely designed but for which some amount of information is available, such as:

·        Nature of the work and method of construction

·        Location in the building

·        Scope of work in terms of quantity

·        Any specific limitations

A Provisional Sum for undefined work covers work where none of the above information is provided.

The aim of including such items is to provide the estimator with a firm price for the work concerned, the amount being subsequently deducted from the contract sum and the actual expenditure added back. In this way, each initial bid by the contractors who are tendering is prepared based on the same data.

Measured Items:

The measured items make up what is known as the “Bill Proper”. These are items taken-off from drawings which have been squared and sorted. In the bill, each measured item will comprise:

o   A reference symbol

o   A prose description

o   An associated quantity

o   The unit to which the quantity has been reduced: m - Linear metre, m² - Square metre, m³- Cubic metre, Kg – Kilogram, and No. - Number

o   A cross-reference or code to facilitate computer  billing

Provisional Quantities:

Unlike provisional sums (for work which cannot be measured) provisional quantities are for work which can be defined as to description, but not as to extent. That is, the quantity cannot be accurately determined. The items are estimated as to quantity and marked as approximate or “provisional” to allow for it to be adjusted when work is actually executed. For example, work underground is usually measured and marked as provisional and is subject to re-measurement when work is actually carried out.

Bill Preparation Process:

The traditional procedure for bill preparation involves:

1.     Taking-off

2.     Working up which consists of:

o   Squaring

o   Abstracting

o   Billing

1. Taking-Off:

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

2. Working Up:

Ø 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.

Ø Abstracting:

The procedure used for abstracting includes the following:

o   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.

o   The abstract sheet is usually a double sheet 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.

o   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.

o   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.

o   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

o   It is essential to leave enough space between items to allow for omissions to be inserted and also to avoid confusion

o   When all the items have been properly abstracted from the taking-off sheets, the columns of figures are totalled 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

Ø Billing:

This is the final stage in the procedure required to prepare a bill of quantity and its procedures include:

o   Each description on the abstract is now transferred to standard bill paper, the format of which is suitable for pricing.

o   The total reduced quantity for each item is transferred to the quantity column of the bill and the appropriate unit inserted.

o   Each transferred item is cancelled from the abstract sheet to avoid an item being transferred more than once.

o   Then, suitable trade and section headings are inserted.

o   Finally, preliminaries, preambles and other appendices are inserted and the bill is ready for final proofing, printing and binding.

Direct Billing:

This method eliminates the abstract sheet and all collections are done on the taking-off sheet. This is possible where the project is small, the number of items are few and repeat items are also few. During training, this method of billing was the method bieng used.

Standard dimension sheets are may be used or special sheets that resemble an abbreviated BOQ may also be used. This sheet has dimension columns on the left and the usual bill pricing columns on the right

Collection of dimensions is done below the description of the item in the same way as on an abstract sheet and the net quantity is transferred to the quantity column while the associated unit of measurement goes in the appropriate column.

The draft bill is produced from these sheets. Other normal processes of billing follow.

Alternative bill formats:

There are various alternative bills formats that is aimed at securing greater value to the contractor by simplifying the pricing of the work at the tender stage and by providing greater benefits at the construction stage.

1.     Elemental bills:

An elemental bill of quantities is divided into appropriate building elements instead of normal work sections. Hence excavating and filling, mixing/casting/curing in-situ concrete and brick/block walling are replaced by such headings such as substructure, external walls, internal walls and floors. Within each element work may be filled in order of work sections or grouped in building sequence. The principal objective is to secure more precise tendering by making the location of the work more readily indentifiable and to provide a closer link with the cost plan.

In practice, this bill format was not well recieved, since it involved considerable repetition of billed items and where work was let to a subcontractor, it was necessary to prepare an abstract of items prior to obtaining quotations. In like manner an estimator had to examine the elements in some detail to collect together all like items before he could asses the total quantities of each activity and/or material. For example, there can be brick walls in both substructure and external wall elements.

2.     Operational bills:

 Operational bills is the bill which subdivides the work  into site operations as distinct from trades or elements. Labour and sometimes plants were desccribed in terms of the operations required, together with a schedule of the materials for each operation. Operations were defined as the works done by a man, or by a gang of men, at some definite stage in the building process. The sequence of operations was often illustrated in the bill by means of a precedence diagram, which showed thier interrelationship.

Operational biils were both bulky and costly to produce. On the other hand, typing and printing of the bills could be started at an earlier stage and there was a reduction in the amount of editing necessary. It also simplified the work of making interim valuations. They generally increased the the work of the contrator’s estimating department, athough the estimator obtained a more realistic estimates and also to ease considerably the task of obtaining quotations for materials.

3.     Activity bills:

The activity bill was a development of the operational form without the seperation of labour and materials. It was subdivided into sections based on activities and operations derived from a network analysis. The work was measured in accordance with standard method, although on-site and off-site activities were usually seprated and special equipment and components and the work of nominated specialists could be grouped in seperate bills.

4.     Annotated bills:

It is possible for the bill of quantities to give the contractor full details of the quantity, type and quality of materials and labour and for an accurateand complete set of drawings to show him pricesly where and how the work is tobe executed. Nevertheless. There are always some billed items whose location in the works is not readily identifiable and it is mostuseful to have a note against them in the bill giving thier location. This approach has resulted in the production of annotated bills.

Annotated bills may be prepared in a seperate document from the bill of quantities or they may be bound in the back of the bill, although either case must be carefully cross refrenced.

Importance of bill of quantities:

The bills of quantities has many importance and they include the following:

·        To supply each contractor with the information which will enable him tender on the same basis as his competitors

·        To provide a detailed list of every service to be performed

·        To describe in addition to description in the specification, the quality 0f the work and the method of carrying it out.

·        To become a contract document which will;

§  Be used extensively throught the building operation for the compilation of interim valuations, certificates and other final accounts.

§  Serve as a schedule on which all variations in the work may be measured.

§  Present disputes as to what is and what is not included in the prices and the value of any work or labour which has been omitted.

·        It can be used for cost investigation and cost planning information.

·        To provide a priced bill of quantities for use in the periodic valuation of works executed.

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

CONCLUSION

At the end of my 6-months training I have gained an invaluable experience both proffesionaly and socialy. The industrial training was very important to me in building of proffesional working ethics in quantity surveying, understanding more the building construction industry, shaping my career path, and understanding of the society at large having related with both professionals and non-professionals within and outside the construction industry.

My industrial training was very useful to me because I worked in a field strongly related to my course of study. Having completed my training in a construction company and working under a registered quantity surveyor as my supervisor I was opportuned to practice the theories I have been thought in school and appreciated how the industry works in real life.

The training enhanced so much my knowledge in meaasurement of builing works and also helped me learn how to profesionally prepare the bills of quantities. I learned new skills in measurement which was not fully covered in school such as meassurement of complex roof works. The training exposed me to many building works and helped me understand better the building construction process, how works are bieng carried out in an actual building site.

The training generally was interesting, educating, challenging and experiences gained are enermous. Am very happy to have completed the training.

RECCOMENDATION

After having an appreciation of the industrial experience, I would like to urge the Department of Quantity Surveying to keep on sending students to such industrial attachments as it helps a lot to build up students confidence on the practical aspect of their profession since the profession is of technical nature.

I am also of the opinion that the period of attachment should be made one year rather than six months, this will give students more time to learn all the neccesary skills they needed to learn. For instance in my case, had it been that the training is one year I would have had the chance to learn how to prepare a good competitive tender document.

The department should also make arrangements with the industry so that students do not have hassles finding an attachment place.

The money provided to training students by ITF should be increased and given within period of training, not after training, beacause expencies and running cost is too much during training.

Finally,the industrial attachment is very vital to the performance of students both in class and in the industry after completion of their studies. The students on thier own should take the training very serious and school should encourage the training maximully.

REFERENCES

o   Bill of quantities - Measurement of building works by: unesco-nigeria technical education.

o   Setting out of buildings, strip foundation, concrete works - Building construction handbook by: Roy chudley

o   Importance of the bills of quantities - www.thequantitysurveyor.com

o   Alternative bill formats – Building quantities explained by: Ivor H seeley and Roger winfield

o   Reinforcement - www.wikipedia.org

o   Sample of siwes report – www.scribd.com

o   Formwork – www.theconstructor.com