Page 207 - Civil Engineering Project Management, Fourth Edition

Measurement and bills of quantities
187
If the CESMM is not used, the supply and placing of concrete can be itemized
together, the grade of concrete being stated. This reduces the number of items
in the bill and simplifies measurement for valuation.
If holes in flat slabs have to be left open for some other contractor, such as a
separate plant contractor, then the bill should include items for the supply
and fixing of temporary covers to them to prevent accidents.
Brickwork
2
The standard method (CESMM) measures brickwork per m , the thickness
being stated. It does not classify brickwork according to height above ground,
nor separate out cavity walling in brickwork. It is therefore simpler to adopt
non-CESMM billing, that is, measuring external brick walling from footings to
d.p.c. level; and thereafter in one- or two-storey heights; separating cavity wall
brickwork (including provision of wall ties) from solid brickwork; and either
including provision of facing bricks and ‘fair-face jointing’ in the cavity walling,
or allowing this as an ‘extra over’. The specification must set out in detail what
is required in respect of type of bricks and blocks to be used, and wall ties,
surface finish and type of joint, etc. The bill item descriptions should also repeat
what is to be included in the price quoted. Where ventilators to walls are
required, these can be itemized inclusive of ‘building in’. Masonry or precast
concrete cladding needs to be billed separately, and angle supports, cramps
and dowels (often of stainless steel) should be included or itemized separately.
Other items separately billed will be d.p.cs, lintols, brick arches, etc.

15.8 Use of nominated sub-contractors

Some of the problems associated with the contractor’s use of sub-contractors
have been described in Sections 7.7 and 7.8. This section deals with additional
problems that can arise with the use of nominated sub-contractors.
When a sub-contractor is nominated in a contract it is important that the
specification sets out what services the contractor must supply to the nomi-
nated sub-contractor. These may include – providing access, off-loading mater-
ials, providing electrical power, scaffolding, cranes, etc. and permitting use by
the sub-contractor’s men of the contractor’s canteen and welfare facilities. It
will also be necessary to define how much notice the sub-contractor must be
given before he is able to deliver equipment or start work, when he can under-
take his work and how long it will take.
However, the actual terms of the sub-contract have to be decided between
the contractor and sub-contractor, and there can be instances where they can-
not agree. The sub-contractor may refuse to indemnify the contractor ‘against
all claims’ and costs, etc. as required by Clause 3 of the Form of Sub-contract
(described in Section 7.8) and the contractor may then refuse to place the