Quantity Surveying Orientation

Orientation

• The Department of Quantity Surveying's primary goal is to ensure students graduate as knowledgeable, proactive professionals who can respond to the challenges of the international construction industry.
• The department focuses on secondary goals to achieve this, including acquainting students with basic principles of the Quantity Surveying Profession.
• Secondary goals aims to develop critical, creative, intellectual, and analytical abilities in students, enabling them to evaluate market conditions and offer solutions.
• Students are encouraged to relate academic studies to the profession's practicalities, develop communicative skills, and gain a broader vision for roles beyond traditional quantity surveying.
• Students are encouraged to continue studying and engaging in research post-graduation, so to participate in future markets and address changing community needs.

Relationship between Qualification and Module

• The module relates to the BSc Construction Economics/Studies qualification.
• It provides a practical knowledge of quantifying building work, which is a key skill for quantity surveyors or construction managers.
• The module helps achieve the primary and secondary goals of the Department of Quantity Surveying at NMMU.

Module Aim

• The module aims to equip the student with basic knowledge of the quantification of building work.
• It refines the processes used for accurate quantification.
• The module focuses on accurately quantifying various elements of building work encountered in the industry.
• The module is profession-oriented, following a practical approach.
• The module furthers personal development by focusing on the development of critical, creative, intellectual, and analytical abilities.
• The module strives to develop communicative skills and awareness of professionalism in the quantity surveying profession and construction industry.

Module Purpose

• To demonstrate to students how to analyze prescribed content using scientific and technical methodology.
• To encourage the analytical process through critical evaluation and creative thinking.
• To introduce basic principles with their application to elementary concepts in the first year.
• To demonstrate the use of traditional and contemporary building construction and materials for application in related modules.
• To demonstrate the practical application of construction and principles of measurement, following the guidelines of the current "Standard System of Measuring Building Work".
• To develop the student's ability to quantify the material and labor content from drawings, schedules, and specifications by architects and engineers.
• To develop ability to prepare dimensions and descriptions that show the practical application of construction and quantification for preparing bills of quantities in accordance with guidelines.
• To develop critical thinking abilities and communication skills.
• To foster professionalism.

Module Outcome

• Post module, students can analyze drawings, schedules, and specifications, in preparation for quantifying labor and material for construction projects.
• Students possess working knowledge of traditional and contemporary construction techniques and materials
• Students possess necessary skills and knowledge to accurately quantify the labor and material, following guidelines of the current "Standard System of Measuring Building Work".
• Students possess ability to prepare dimensions and descriptions illustrating the practical application of construction and the preparation of bills of quantities.
• Students to can act professionally according to expectations.

Module Administration- Module Details

• Module presented is Quantities I / Production Analysis I.
• Module code is QQHV110/KPAV100.
• NMMU's BSc Construction Economics and Honours in Quantity Surveying Qualifications are currently accredited by the South African Council of the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP).
• The Module is presented to students at NQF Level 5 in their first year of study.
• The Module makes provision for specific competencies (unit standards) required for accreditation by SACQSP.
• Competencies/Unit Standards include skills such as: interpreting construction drawings and specs, compiling price determination documents, and preparing price determination documents for small structures.

Module Administration- Lecturer Details

• Lecturer: Miss S. Xulaba.
• Qualifications: B Sc (CE) (NMMU), BSc (Hons) QS (NMU), MSC (BE).
• Position held at NMMU: Lecturer.
• Contact details: Tel: 041-504 2023, E-mail: [email protected].

Module Administration- Teaching Methods

• Teaching methods lectures provide an introduction to the Module, insight into practicals, and explain processes involved in material/labor quantification.
• Teaching methods include worked examples in class, practical exercises with assistant guidance, and self-study for preparation.
• Teaching aids include whiteboard, projector, and a laptop with data projector for presentations, worked examples, and images.

Module Rules

• Students must refer to the current "Departmental Guide" and the "General Prospectus" for rules that apply to the module.
• In case of discrepancies, the rules included in the "General Prospectus" will apply.

External Examiners and Moderators

• The external examiner for the Module QQHV110/KPAV100 is Mr M. Jonas (Practitioner).
• The external Program Moderators are Mrs K. Le Jeune (Academic) and Mrs C. Crone (Practitioner).

Lectures and Lecture Schedule

• Lecture details involves 3 x 35min lectures per week, with venue and times in a time table
• Lecture details involves 3 x 35min practical sessions per week, with venue and times referenced in a schedule
• Tutorials per week will be incorporated during normal lecture periods.
• Refer to "Annexure A - Work Schedule" for the module program.

Assessment Details

• Assessments consist of formative and summative assessments.
• Formative assessments: 4 tests during the year, with practicals.
• Test Weighting: T1 = 16%, T2 = 22%, T3 = 22%, T4 = 20%.
• Practicals: 20%.
• Summative assessments: 1 x Exam at the end of the year (Duration = 4 hours).
• Formative Tests and the summative exam are closed book assessments.
• Final Mark = (Class Mark / Year Mark x 40%) + (Exam Mark x 60%).

Module Content

• Module outline is described in section 3.3.
• Prescribed literature: the Standard System of Measuring Building Work (7th Edition 2017), and "Measuring Building Work - Worked Examples" by Prof F Buys.
• Additional prescribed literature includes Model Preambles of Trades 2008, Class Notes QQHV110/ ΚPA101/KPAV100, and Model Bills of Quantities.
• Essential stationary: Red, blue & black pen, 12 colouring pencils, Scale ruler (1:10; 1:20; 1:50; 1:100; 1:200; 1:500) and a Calculator with mathematical functions.
• Recommended reading: 'Building Construction & Graphic Standards' by André Grobbelaar, 'Quantity Surveying Practice' by Ivor H Seeley, and 'Willis' Elements of Quantity Surveying' by Sandra Lee, William Trench & Andrew Willis.
• Additional Recommended reading includes 'Building Quantities Explained (Building Surveying)' by Ivor H. Seeley.
• Module consists of Unit 1 - Introduction to Quantity Surveying; Unit 2 - Mensuration; Unit 3 - Measuring Siteworks, Unit 4 - Collects, and Unit 5 - Measuring Foundations.
• Additional module units includes Unit 6 - Measuring Ground Floor Construction; Unit 7 - Measuring Superstructure Brickwork; Unit 8 - Measuring Finishes - External & Internal finishes.
• Internal finishes covers Walls, Floors, and Ceilings.
• Module includes Unit 9 - Adjustment for plain openings.

Unit 1- Introduction to Quantity Surveying

• This unit to introduces the role of the Quantity Surveyor to the student.
• Students to be able to demonstrate that they can identify the role of the Quantity Surveyor.
• Student to be able to identify various tendering methods.
• Student to be familiar with various concepts and terms with regards to measuring.

Quantity Surveyor

• The Quantity Surveyor is a professional consultant appointed by the client to advise on financial and contractual matters from inception to completion of a building project.

The Purposes of Measuring Builders Work

• Providing a schedule of items representing the work to be done and the materials to be used on a particular contract.
• To provide a basis for calculating the tender price.
• Provide a system whereby all tenderers will tender on the same information.

The Contractors advantage to have work measured

• Contractor can now use the building work for tendering to obtain realistic accuracy, material scheduling, and variations.
• Information use can be used for contract instructions, programming of labor and materials, bonussing, costing the work, and production control.

Methods of Analysis

• The method for analysing cost depends on the unit to be costed, unit is either square metre, area or a cubic metre(volume).
• For the unit, it usually contains all relevant items of the building, superstructure, roof, ceiling, and floor finishes.
• A unit can also contain doors and windows.

The Standard System

• Parties like the Architect, Quantity Surveyor, and the Contractors agreed on a system that would be used in the preparation of the schedule of items.
• This document is called the "Standard System for Measuring Building Work"
• It lays down general principles and items to be measured as well as the units in which they are measured.
• This uniform system allows tenderers to tender on the same basis and on the same system.
• The Standard System is amended from time to time to keep abreast with developments.
• The "Standard System" is intended to be a guide to measurement, and not as an inflexible set of rules.
• Quantity Surveyor and the Building Surveyor require a working knowledge, because the document will form the basis of all negotiations along with the function providing a uniform basis in Bills of Quantities.
• (Read the "General Instructions" section of the Standard System.

Preparing Bills of Quantities

• Is the traditional system used in the preparation with several steps that are identified as the main steps:Taking off, Squaring Checking, Abstracting, Billing and Checking, Typing, Duplicating the Bill.

Taking Off

• Involves recording dimensions from the drawings, reading, scaling, and entering them in the dimension column, against the relevant description.

Squaring

• A arithmetical function of calculating the sum or the product of the dimensions entered on the dimension paper which is a cubic volume, a superficial area, and a linear length
• When checking for squaring, you calculations in the description column must be checked first.

Systems Used When Measuring

• There are other systems being used to cater for specific needs.

Group System (Southern system)

• Building is measured is divided into several components like, foundations, structure, disposal, ect.
• This system is widely used and measuring can be completed completed much earlier.
• Disadvantage: is an abstract must be done which entails time.

.Trade-for-trade System (Northern system)

• Each trade is measured complete before the next trade is measured.
• Advantage: each bill can be billed depending on the trade and pricing.
• Disadvantage: one can measures the work leading to a larger period.

Cut and Shuffle System

• It adapts the group or trade systems.
• Measuring is done on dimension paper but in four or more sections.

Computer System

• Using Various packages to measure building, each package has models Bills and the program allows for process the dimension as well.
• Once input the data, the computer produces the Bill in its final format.

Formats for Bills of Quantities

• The main purpose of the bill of quantities must be clear ensuring a appropriate format chosen.
• The traditional of quantities is done according a standardized method and refers to a standard specification such as Model Preambles.

Items, Order, and Units

• The work items are grouped specific order and the item of work is in a predetermined measurement follow the Generals instructions.

Dimension Preparation

• Follow the Methods of writing down dimensions with to the "Standards System" and adhere to the following principles:

Accuracy

• Calculating a dimension the dimension from the drawing always takes preference above using as scaled dimension.

Neatness

• The dimensions show be recorded leaving know doubt and avoiding any crossing out or overwriting.

Processing of Drawings

• The drawings to be checked to ensure all requirement are signed by a receiver check the dimension with a Dimension check List.

Query List

• Quantity Surveyor will request the information from the relevant consultant and sheet.

Guidelines

• The guideline must here to for taking measurements that include measurements full with adjustment and there in for waste.

Dimension Paper

• With Column A: Binding margin -Dimension column, and Squaring column. - Reference column and every will have the A and B and indicators.

Headings and Sub-Headings

• To clarify the items measurement and provide measurements for month if any queries are to be answer promptly.

Schedules

• Is a number of similar character such as beams to prepare a scheduled and avoid measuring every sizes.

Collects

• Sometimes dimensions of the same item reoccur several times.

Standard System Items

• There is reasons has this should be consider the " Standards The measurer is made aware.

Preambles

• Give information in the preambles avoiding to repeat the information.

Measuring Lists

• Measuring lists are a list of items that needs to be measured and element but does not follow.

Description

• The Bills of Quantities are Model figures in the building and it should show all of the facts.

Abbreviation

• Where possible words are abbreviation in description to save time and space.

Measurements

_ "Standard System" stresses on measurements and follows two decimal places with dimensions on each set

Method of Taking Off

• All work must be orderly and must following the Generals Instruction but dimension may vary.

Deductions

• Abbreviation to write is "Ddt" in red if any certain parts but also is not necessary to place word Add.

Similiar Items

• It's is better the work ditto for items that may repeat.

Prime coat and Amount

• Provide coast with profit amount.