Bill of Quantity (BOQ): Benefits, Types and Process in Construction

A construction project is a complex process whose planning and management has to be done with precise execution and great efficiency. The most important aspect of any construction project is to make an accurate estimate of the cost. Without a clear understanding of the cost, budgeting cannot be done, due to which no project can be started. And if the project is started without accurate understanding, then its success is very challenging and there is no guarantee whether it will be completed or not. And this is the situation where the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) plays an important role.

What is Bill of Quantities (BOQ)

BQ or BOQ is a bill of quantities prepared to specify the cost incurred in the construction industry. Labour and material cost bills are documents prepared for a construction project. Which acts as a communication tool between the clint, consultant and contractor. The task of creating a BOQ is usually done by a cost consultant or surveyor.

There are 2 types of BOQ documents and both of them are important for a construction project

1. Bill of Materials

2. Bill of Labor

To create a BOQ, the design and specifications have to be prepared. The BOQ is a list of the quantities measured in terms of number, length, area, volume, weight, and most importantly time as per the requirement of the project. Remember that BOQ is very important for large projects. On the contrary, for small projects, suppliers can measure the cost quantity of their projects from the drawings and work schedule.

From this blog of rksvkam construction, it must have become easy for you to understand what is BOQ, now let us also know about its objectives and its contribution in the success of the projects.

Basic Format of Preparing BOQ

The draft of BOQ includes Tender Form, Information,Requirements, Pricing Schedule, Provisional Amounts and Day’s Work. These are the 5 main factors of Bill of Quantities which are considered while starting the construction of any construction project.

Item Description
Unit
Quantity
Rate per Unit
Total Amount

Procedure for preparing BOQ for RCC

BOQ Example Page

Process of creating BOQ:-

Step 1:- These 6 main components act as the pillars for BOQ. Which must be there in any construction project:

Item Number
Item Description
Unit of Item
Unit Rate
Total Amount
Major Sections/Parts of Standard BOQ

A standard BOQ consists of the following sections.

Preliminary Works
Schedule of Day’s Works
Provisional Quotations
Measured Works
List of Main Quantities
Pricing Preamble
Rate Breakdown of Each BOQ Item
Measured Works Sections
Excavation and Earthwork (Foundation including Ground Slab)
Concrete Work
Masonry Work (Brick Work and Rubble Work)
Roof and Roof Plumbing
Waterproofing and Termite Treatment
Metal Work
Carpentry and Joinery Work
Finish (Floor, Wall Ceiling Finish including Plastering)
Painting and Decorating
Plumbing and Sanitary Installation
Air Conditioning and Ventilation
Electrical Installation
Safety and Security System Installation

Calculation of Materials for Reinforced Concrete Construction

For the construction of RCC we mainly need four things.

Cement
Sand (Fine Aggregate)
Coarse Aggregate (CA)
Steel (Steel Reinforcement)

Calculation of Materials for 1m³ Reinforced Concrete

Let us assume the standard quantity of 1m³ cement mortar and a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3 (1 part cement, 1.5 parts sand and 3 parts coarse aggregate). There are two methods of calculating the quantity.

1. Volume Calculation Based on Weight

2. Volume Method of Calculation of Volume

Let us consider the volume method for reinforced concrete construction.

Determination of Total Dry Volume

The dry volume of the total materials is equal to 1.54 times the volume of wet concrete. So we take the volume of cement mortar as 1.54 m3.

Quantity of cement

The formula to calculate the quantity of cement is as follows: (1.54×1)/(1+1.5+3)=0.28 m^3

Since cement is available in bags, the volume of 1 cement bag is 0.0347 m3.

0.28/0.0347=8.07 cement bags

Quantity of sand

The formula to calculate the quantity of sand is as follows: (1.5×1.54)/(1+1.5+3)=0.42 m^(3 ) sand

Quantity of coarse aggregates

The formula to calculate the quantity of CA is as follows: (3×1.54)/(1+1.5+3)=0.84 m^(3 ) CA

BOQ of Steel Reinforcement

The percentage of steel reinforcement depends on the type of components used. The values of the percentage of steel vary from structure to structure. Some of which are mentioned below:

Slab = 1.0% of concrete volume
Beam = 2% of concrete volume
Column = 2.5% of concrete volume
RCC Road = 0.6% of concrete volume

Assuming 2.5% requirement for steel reinforcement, the formula to calculate steel is:

2.5/(100×1)×7850=196.25 kg steel

Labor Estimation for Reinforced Concrete

The labour required for the specified work quantity is as follows:
Mason:- 0.37 days
Unskilled Labour:-3.5 days
Water Carrier:-1.39 days
Bar Bender (per 100 kg steel):-1 day
Mixer Operator:-0.0714 days
Vibrator Operator:-0.0714 days

Additional Contractor Profits and Miscellaneous Costs

Contractor profits and miscellaneous costs vary depending on the location, organization, and nature of work. Generally, they range between 10% – 20%.

For this case, we assume:

Contractor profits: 10% of total material, labor, and equipment costs

Miscellaneous costs: 7% of total costs Adding these components helps determine the total construction cost.

Benefits of Billing of Quantities

Preparing for Challenges in Advance

Whether the project is big or small, it is important for us to write a brief description of the work to complete it. So that the problems and obstacles in its construction can be easily assessed at once. All these obstacles can be dealt with in advance. Quantitative management of quantities, which we call BOQ, is necessary to deal with these problems. By using it, we can allocate our time, energy and resources in the right way. Along with this, we can also save a lot. Big companies definitely engage BOQ experts to build most of the projects. And for this, rksvkam Construction is always with you so that you do not have to face any kind of difficulties and problems in building the project.

Plan to organize the work

It is very easy to plan a construction project in a best way if the project budget is prepared at the beginning by keeping in mind the drawings and specifications. BOQ is more like a list of equipment and materials required than a technical term. It gives a picture that helps the engineers involved in the project to quote the work appropriately.

BOQ finalizes the construction estimate.

BOQ gives a shape to our entire project construction process estimation which can save us from the situation of missing small details. Starting the work without drafting BOQ on the basis of estimate only can land us in time tackling situation like making an independent list for small details again and again. Hence it keeps everything transparent, hence there is no possibility of corrupt practices by tenderers or contractors.

Construction is completed quickly and at a lower cost

If the materials are available on time as per the specifications mentioned in the BOQ, the construction time can be effectively reduced. This helps us to procure the materials at reasonable prices and at the right time. This prevents the cost of our construction project from increasing.

Utility and Limitations of BOQ

Bills of quantities are prepared as per a standard procedure and if there is any possibility of error in it, it can have a negative impact on our scheduled budget. If you are getting a bill of quantities prepared for your construction project, then it must be ensured that it does not contain wrong measurement of quantities, arithmetical errors, errors due to various changes made during the project, wrong assumptions, counting the same item twice or omitting an item, and change in currencies or units and it must be analyzed properly.

conclusion

Meaning of BOQ: Bill of Quantities (BOQ) plays a vital role in construction projects by providing a detailed list of quantities and prices for materials, components and work activities. Despite the challenges involved in BOQ preparation, strategies such as early involvement, thorough documentation, continuous coordination, technology adoption and regular reviews can help overcome these obstacles.

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