What Is Taking Off Process - Essay Example

Number Taking Off Process Taking off list happens to be a procedure for analysing of technical drawings as well as specifications for the identification of elements. The lists have to include each building element right from the largest to the smallest. Nowadays, the growth of computerised measurements as well as billing systems has made this typical process less common, but it is still under application. The document used in tendering process within construction projects is the Bill of Quantities. In this document, parts, labour and materials are itemized. In addition, the document details conditions and terms of a construction contract as well as itemises the whole work of sub-contractors to price. This paper looks at all possible uses as well as purposes of the taking off process within the administration of all phases of a proposed development or construction project. First, it will look at the manner in which taking off process is represented within the Bill of Quantities as well as where it may be utilized. This involves measurement dimensions as well as descriptions compilation from drawing and specification. Secondly, the paper looks at taking off process in bill preparation, which includes squaring dimensions, entering descriptions and abstracting, and billing. Taking off list happens to be symbiotic with the new measurement rules of RICS. RICS new measurement rules is a document that provides some guidance on the qualification on works of building cost estimation and cost planning purposes. IT details specifications as well as method of the manner in which every item within the industry of construction is supposed to be measured. In addition, it covers every phase within a proposed building project. Information presentation is done within classification tables that give information on a specific item that is to be taken off. Using RICS new measurement rules ensures that every construction project is taken off within a similar standard order as well as facilitates consistency throughout the construction industry. Quantity surveying has come to be more and more involved with financing of projects. A quantity surveyor has the ability to quantify dimension as well as later come up with a bill of quantities from some good taking off list (Construction Chat, 2013). Where drawings are not clear, a quantity surveyor will enter whatever questions on the question sheet for the designer. In a typical query sheet, the questions of the surveyor happen to be on one side while the answers of the architect are on the other. Bill preparation This may as well be termed as working up. It is subdivide into 3 categories, which include: 1. Volumes, areas, etc. calculations (dimensions and squaring) dimension’ squaring as well as entering the resultant lengths, volumes and areas in the squaring or third column of the paper of dimension (Vertigraph Inc, 2015). 2. Entering square dimensions and the dimensions on an abstract or abstracting, transfer of the dimensions to abstract, within which they are written in some order that is recognized, ready to be billed under a correct work heading. 3. Billing or collecting together items as well as presenting in a bill order that is recognized. The work items that make up the entire building get to be listed within the suitable work section heading that provides the items’ description as well as that of recognized measurement units, as per the RICS new measurement rules layout. In addition, the bill comprise an empty rate as well as a price column. A client hands over a bill of Quantities to a contractor who in turn adds his price as well as rate while tendering for a project (Packer, 1996, P. 5). The bill’s purpose that is most recognized is that it could be directed to contractors willing to apply for a contract for construction and it makes it possible for them to base their prices on similar information. Taking off happens to be quite significant as it gives an accurate measurement for a construction work, which is to be undertaken. Construction costs In the estimation of construction costs, taking off costs are quite useful because a contractor’s pricing is based upon the work within the bill of quantities. The quantity surveyor of the client, (typically private practice or professional quantity surveyor) creates the bill and the quantity surveyor of the contractor completes it. Taking off process is part of a bill and it has to be exact so that the correct pricing can happen. A bill of estimates main use is assisting a contractor in the preparation of the tender estimation. A priced bill gets to become part of contract documents, proving some work evaluation basis. For a bill of quantities, taking off list happens to be an integral part since it makes it possible for a quantity surveyor to utilize the bill in evaluating completed work that in turn enables him to determine stage payments required within a particular contract. The quality surveyor of a contractor could as well determine each stage payment price of a project for every individual subcontractor (professionaltakeoffservices, 2011 ). Client’s perspective A client’s key concern I that the project comes to completion in time, to the quality required and on budget. On the other hand, a client requires adequate information about the project, which could be give through taking of process. This includes cash flows, cost variations and periodic project accounts (Vernon, 2003). Contractor’s Perspective While a contractor is estimating costs, a taking off list happen to be quite significant for them. The reason is its utilization in costs calculations for tender preparation. A bill is founded on a taking off list. Every firm utilizes its own tables for standard work outputs designed for different construction work types. That they enter within the unpriced bill. Upon completion of this the bill may be termed as priced, and can then be send back to client. Within a bill of quantities, the contractor while preparing new projects’ pricing as an estimation for construction costs may utilize taking off list. Reviewing of this may be don often upon the beginning of construction. In working out target costs, take off list is quite essential. Adoption of estimated costs is done based on onsite construction operations costs. Budget costs attempt to relate to actual tasks taking place on site. Within the bill, an estimator will use average output for a particular item. Such costs get be separately analysed, depending on work type as well as the difficulty. Budge cost utilize estimator’s average rate as basis, however, this will vary relatively towards actual expected achievement. Estimated costs happen to be slightly higher compared to target costs because of involved unforeseen risk and contractor’s incentive scheme (Donald, 2023, p. 2.6.2). Subcontractors A main contractor could utilize a taking off process to support in separation of a bill of quantities to trade segments for different subcontractors. Separated estimated priced segments are sent to numerous subcontractors who exercise their price then sent it back to main contractor to compare. Materials On obtaining material quotations for use onsite, taking off process is utilized. Common materials, which may be required by the contractor, could be acquired through a local supplier. Material pricing may be influenced by several factors, for instance, delivery cost, size of order, as well as exchange rates. According to RICS new measurement rules, bill of quantities will be split to ordered sections. It makes it possible for easy identification and carrying out of material ordering. Plant In a proposed development project, taking off process is quite useful when receiving quotations for lease, purchase and hire of equipment and plant. A choice between purchasing and renting is determined financially normally to see its viability. This is founded upon a given plant’s expected use. Taking off process must be precise while the correct information needs to be sent (Construction Chat, 2013). Labour In the forecasting of labour costs, taking off process can assist. Such costs usually are determined using all-in labour rate, which may include basic rates as well as guaranteed bonus in addition to items such as sick pay, extra payments (for instance, risk responsibility or skill), weather and trade supervisions. Most common approach for estimation of construction work costs is unit rates, which the contractor may, utilized in measuring the bill of quantities. It is through this way that items like materials, labour, subcontractors as well as plant may be measured. Operational work as well as project management Takin off process is not only a valuable information source within tendering process but can as well be utilized throughout the a construction project’s operational work. Accuracy as well as the manner within which drawing up of a taking off process is done happens to quite significant in a project management. In a case where the site team has a good understanding of what a taking off process says exactly, then this may result to a very effective management of the project as well as the given trades. Work items list together with their quantities within the bill provides a contractor with the project’s work breakdown structure that is detailed such information is extremely useful in the sense that it assists in the planning of the project as well as the work plan and programme preparation. It might be utilized in the organization of activities in some logical arrangement for various subcontractors as well as in the estimation of duration of an activity. Estimated costs within the bill may as well be used in monitoring as well as controlling finances of the project. Cost management within a project, which is the balancing of demands, happens to be an integral part in project management. Information happens to be essential for financial management to be successful. In case there lacks sufficient reliable and accurate cost information, the cost management exercise with a project would be not effective. The indication of this is the significance of a taking off process. Taking off process may as well assist in project development. On the other hand, all this is dependent on kinds as well as emphasis of the project, for instance, where cost happens to be the project’s significant emphasis while funds are limited, then it would be paramount to utilize the bill in the sense that it encompasses high detail levels for project cost items. Such may be utilized for detailed accounting for the project as well as financial reporting (Construction Chat, 2013). In using taking off process to assist with costs related to a project, an estimator does estimation of the work to be performed cost basing on bill of quantities. Where a contractor happens to succeed by winning the tender, the work may be put into practice. Site management team that can be in turn likened with taking off process may monitor the costs of the project. Cot comparison may then be sent back giving information on work as well as time spend on every operation. Such could be recorded and utilized across the project. Law In a construction project, taking off process happens to be part of contract documents. This means that at a time when one is signing the document of the contract then they are willing to accept to that it is precise hence can be held liable to all in it. Many standard contract forms exist, which could be followed, for instance, the Joint Contracts Tribunal 2005 that contains a section of bill of quantities as well as has the legal obligations with regard to it set out (Construction Chat, 2013). Conclusion As aforementioned, taking off process may be utilized in with many administration stages for a proposed development or construction project. Due to the fact that the bill of quantities happens to be a contract document then it happens to be quite useful within a project’s legal side. On the other hand, the bill may not be useful necessarily within all kinds of procurement methods. Apart from taking off process within the traditional sense, modern procurement methods such as first tracking procurement that includes, design, documentation as well as design, is parallel to this and does not require the bill of quantities. On the other hand, a contractor will have to prepare a cost document that is proper for the bidding. In spite of the new genre emergence for procurement within the international construction industry, taking off process still remains viable to be utilized as a main cost document. References Construction Chat. (2013). What is quantity takeoff? Retrieved from constructionchat.co.uk: http://www.constructionchat.co.uk/articles/taking-off-process/ Donald, T. (2023). Construction Quantity Surveying: A Practical Guide for the Contractors QS. Chichester : John Wiley & Sons. Packer, A. D. (1996). Building Measurement. New York: Routledge. professionaltakeoffservices. ( 2011 ). Welcome to Professional Takeoff Services. Retrieved from professionaltakeoffservices.com: http://professionaltakeoffservices.com Vernon, J. E. (2003). Competitive Processes in Government Contracting: The FAR Part 15 Process Model and Process Inefficiency. Retrieved from wifcon.com: http://www.wifcon.com/anal/analcomproc.htm Vertigraph Inc. (2015). What is the taking off process? Retrieved from Automating the Takeoff & Estimating Process: http://www.constructionchat.co.uk/articles/taking-off-process/ Read More