Introduction To CESMM4

Introduction to
CESMM4
Ashinsana Ilangakoon
BSc. (Hons.) in Quantity Surveying
University of Moratuwa
Learning Outcomes
• Identify the difference between building works and civil engineering

works.
• Have an understanding on the Civil Engineering Standard Method of
Measurements (CESMM).
• Understand the classification tables, measurement rules, definition
rules, coverage rules, and supplementary information.
Civil Engineering Works
What are the

examples of civil
engineering
works?
• Roads
• Railways
• Irrigation systems / Dams
• Bridges
• Power plants
• Tunnels
• Water and Sewerage treatment plants
• Water distribution systems
• Sewerage disposal systems
• Ports and Airports
Difference between building works and civil
engineering works
Factors Building Works Civil Engineering Works
Shape/movement
Elements
Complexity
Aesthetic
appearance
Land utilization
Construction
sequence
engineering works
Risk
Client
Funding
Quantities & Rates

of work items
Method of
measurement
engineering works
Shape/movement Vertical movements Horizontal movements
Elements Typical elements Multiple elements
Complexity Comparatively simple Complex Massive construction
Aesthetic Good aesthetic appearance Function oriented

appearance
Land utilization Less land area requires Higher land area requires
Construction In a sequence Section by section

sequence
engineering works
Risk Low Risk Higher Risk
Client Individual Clients Mostly the government
Funding Mostly self funding Mostly foreign and non-

governmental
funds
Quantities & Rates Less quantities with higher rates Bulk quantities with lower rates
of work items
Method of NRM2 / SLS573 CESMM4
measurement
How to divide the work into two categories?
Development of CESMM4
• 1st Edition – 1976

• 2nd Edition – 1985
• 3rd Edition – 1991
• 4th Edition – 2012
• Currently, CESMM4 is used.

Sections of CESSM4
• Section 1 - Definitions
• Section 2 - General principles
• Section 3 - Application of classification
• Section 4 - Coding and numbering
• Section 5 - Preparation of BOQ
• Section 6 - Competition, pricing and use of BOQ
• Section 7 - Method related charges
• Section 8 - Work classification
Definitions
• Work - Labour, materials, and services to achieve the objective

and to cover the liabilities, obligations, and risks to be
undertaken by the contractor
• Expressly required - Shown on the drawings or described in the
specification or an order by the contract administrator pursuant
to the contract
• Bill of Quantities - A list of brief descriptions and estimated
quantities
• Day work - Method of valuing work on the basis of time spent by
the workmen, the materials used, and plant employed.
Definitions
• Original Surface - The surface of the ground before any work has
been carried out
• Final surface - The surface shown on the drawings at which the
excavation to finish
• Commencing surface - Starting level of an item in a BOQ
• Excavated Surface - In relation to an item in a BOQ, the surface to
which excavation included in the work covered by the item is to be
carried out
Definitions - Different Surfaces
L1
GL
Activity A L2
Activity B L3
Activity C
L4
L1- Original Surface

GL
Activity A L2 - Excavated Surface of Activity A /

Commencing Surface of Activity B
Activity B L3 - Excavated Surface of Activity B /

Commencing Surface of Activity C
Activity C
L4 - Final Surface
Topsoil excavation will be executed under Contract 1 and trench

excavation will be formed under Contract 2 which is a different
contract)
Definitions
• Hyphen between two dimensions

Range of dimensions
Excess of the first number but including the second.
Eg. 100 – 350 mean 101 to 350mm inclusive (100 < thk < 350)
• Other words
Shall - mandatory
Should - optional
May - optional
Given - stated in the tender documents
Inserted - included by the contractor
General principles
• Title: Civil Engineering Standard method of Measurement Fourth

Edition
• Abbreviation: CESMM4
• Intended to be used only for Civil Engineering Works
• Class Z: Simple building works incidental to civil engineering
works
General principles
CESMM4 defines
• How work to be divided into separate items in the BOQ
• The information to be given in item descriptions
• The unit of measurement of each item
• How the work is to be measured for calculating quantities
• Rate coverage
Applications of Work Classes
• The rules are given in tabulated form.

• There are 26 work classes.
• Class A is “General Items” ( Preliminaries).
• Class Z is “Simple building works incidental to civil engineering
works”.
• Each class comprises up to three divisions as first division,
second division and third division.
• Unit of measurement is given first division/ second division / third
division.
• Measurement rules - Prescribe when and how work shall be

measured
• Definition rules - Define the extent and limits of the work
contained in the rules
• Coverage rules - Draw attention to incidental work that is deemed
to be included in approximate items
• Additional description rules - Contains rules covering any
additional information that is required
• Description writing should use first-division, second-division,

third-division, and additional description rules.
• Additional description rules are the governing rule.
Eg: DI pipe fittings bend 150mm nominal bore….. (Refer Class J)
• Description shall provide necessary information for pricing.
• Descriptions shall be clear and concise.
• Normally an item covers provision and laying/ fixing.

• But if the scope of the work to be carried out is less than that
normally covered then that limitation must be clearly defined.
▪ Supply only….
▪ Laying only…..
• Avoid subjective phrases in descriptions
▪ To the satisfaction of Engineer
▪ To the accepted quality
▪ To the latest BS standard
• The work classification is prefaced by an ‘Includes’ and

‘Excludes’ which defines the scope of the class.
• All rules above the double line refer to all work in the class.
• Rules below the double line refer only to the work contained
within the same horizontal ruling.
Coding and Numbering of Items
• Each item is allocated four basic symbols to produce a four-unit

code.
• Precast concrete column length 10-15m mass 2-5T
Class H - precast concrete
First division 4 - column
Second division 4 - length 10-15m
Third division 5 - mass 2-5T
Item code (H 445)

• Additional description rule A1 of Class H,requires that additional

description be given for precast concrete units stating their
position
Precast concrete column length 10-15m mass 2-5T from G.L.
to roof slab - (H 445.1)
Precast concrete column length 10-15m mass 2-5T in

underground reservoir - (H 445.1)
• Where a component of an item is not listed in the descriptive

features, next digit shall be used.
150mm dia sluice valve (J 891)
• The digit 0 can be used for divisions that are not applicable.
Clay trapped gullies (K 320)
• The symbol * is used in the rules to the Work Classifications to

indicate all numbers in the appropriate divisions.
E72* means the group of code numbers form E 721 to E 724
inclusive (Page 36)
L 1*5-6 means L 115, L 125, L 135, L 145, L 155 and L 116,

L 126, L 136, L 146, L 156 (Page 57)
Preparation of the BOQ
• The Bill of Quantities shall be divided into the following sections.

❖ List of principal quantities
❖ Preambles
❖ Day work schedule
❖ Work items (grouped into parts)
❖ Grand Summary
Preparation of the BOQ
• Quantities should be computed net using dimensions from

drawings.
• In BOQ, quantities measured in tones shall be given to two
decimal places.
• All other quantities shall be given to nearest whole unit.
List of principal quantities
• Work with approximate

quantities
• To assist tenderer in making a
rapid assessment of the work
Preambles (Pricing Information)
• Describe the material to be used

• The standard of workmanship to be achieved
• Give details of any test which have to be carried out.
• Use preamble clauses where there is a deviation from standard
rules in CESMM.
Day work schedule
• A schedule which consists a list of labour, material, plant and

equipment.
• Contractor is paid based on the cost of labour, materials, and
plant plus an agreed percentage for overhead and profit.
• Usually reserved for items that cannot be measured and priced in
a normal way.
Work items
• Work items are grouped into work sections in a particular order

Demolition and site clearance, In-situ Concrete, Precast
Concrete
Grand summary
Provisional Sum
• A sum provided for work to be carried out, but scope of work

cannot be completely foreseen or defined at the time of issuing
the tender documents.
Allocate a provisional sum Prov. Sum 300,000.00
of Rs. 300,000 for cleaning
and applying all exposed
pipes to the air with special
two coats of enamel paint
after completion of laying.
Prime cost Sum
• A sum provided for work or services to be executed by a

nominated sub-contractor, or goods to be supplied by a
nominated supplier.
Allocate a prime cost sum PC Sum 800,000.00
of Rs. 800,000 for ceramic
tiles
Add for profit %
Attendance Item
Thank You…..

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Introduction to

• Identify the difference between building works and civil engineering

What are the

Quantities & Rates

Elements Typical elements Multiple elements

Complexity Comparatively simple Complex Massive construction

Aesthetic Good aesthetic appearance Function oriented

Construction In a sequence Section by section

Client Individual Clients Mostly the government

Funding Mostly self funding Mostly foreign and non-

• 1st Edition – 1976

• Currently, CESMM4 is used.

• Work - Labour, materials, and services to achieve the objective

L1- Original Surface

Activity A L2 - Excavated Surface of Activity A /

Activity B L3 - Excavated Surface of Activity B /

Topsoil excavation will be executed under Contract 1 and trench

• Hyphen between two dimensions

• Title: Civil Engineering Standard method of Measurement Fourth

• The rules are given in tabulated form.

• Measurement rules - Prescribe when and how work shall be

• Description writing should use first-division, second-division,

• Normally an item covers provision and laying/ fixing.

• The work classification is prefaced by an ‘Includes’ and

• Each item is allocated four basic symbols to produce a four-unit

Item code (H 445)

• Additional description rule A1 of Class H,requires that additional

Precast concrete column length 10-15m mass 2-5T in

• Where a component of an item is not listed in the descriptive

• The symbol * is used in the rules to the Work Classifications to

L 1*5-6 means L 115, L 125, L 135, L 145, L 155 and L 116,

• The Bill of Quantities shall be divided into the following sections.

• Quantities should be computed net using dimensions from

• Work with approximate

• Describe the material to be used

• A schedule which consists a list of labour, material, plant and

• Work items are grouped into work sections in a particular order

• A sum provided for work to be carried out, but scope of work

• A sum provided for work or services to be executed by a

Add for profit %

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