Standard Methods of Measurement (SMM) of construction works: Evolution of SMM of

construction works, development of different editions of SMM and introduction to the use of

Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Fourth Edition Revised

(BESMM4R) in practice. Philosophy underlying the use of the tabulated format; exercises in

framing and coding typical descriptions. Introduction to the standard stationery used in manual

bill of quantities preparation: taking off sheet, abstracting sheet and billing sheet. The Bill of

Quantities: Purposes of the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), manual processes of preparation of the bill

of quantities: taking off, squaring, working up and billing – with simple illustrative examples;

and an appreciation of a model BOQ. Introduction to the use of MS Excel in BOQ preparation

with simple illustrative examples. Types of bill format and their uses. Components of bill of

quantities: preamble clauses, Preliminary items, measured items and the use of provisional and

prime cost sums.