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Quantity Surveying and Measurement for Building Works

Two contractors price the same bill of quantities and arrive at figures that differ by a third. Measurement discipline is usually the reason. Taking off from drawings, standard measurement conventions, bills of quantities and the pricing decisions behind a competitive tender.

What you will be able to do

  • Read architectural and structural drawings accurately enough to measure work from them.
  • Apply recognised measurement conventions when taking off substructure, superstructure and finishes.
  • Compile a bill of quantities with clear preambles, preliminaries and trade sections.
  • Build up unit rates from labour, material, plant, wastage and overhead components.
  • Price provisional sums, prime cost amounts and contingency allowances correctly.
  • Value work in progress for interim payment certificates and reconcile it against the bill.

Course outline

  1. 01Drawing interpretation and scaling for measurement
  2. 02Taking off substructure and earthworks
  3. 03Measuring superstructure, roofing and envelope
  4. 04Finishes, joinery and services provisional allowances
  5. 05Preparing preliminaries and the priced bill
  6. 06Rate build up, wastage and escalation allowances
  7. 07Interim valuations and payment certificates
  8. 08Final account reconciliation exercise

Who should attend

Junior and candidate quantity surveyors, estimators, contracts administrators and site engineers who prepare or check measurements. Procurement officers and project accountants who must interrogate a contractor's priced bill will also benefit.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
17 to 21 Aug 2026Kigali5US$1,800
24 to 28 Aug 2026Nairobi5US$1,800
31 Aug to 4 Sep 2026Durban5R18,000
7 to 11 Sep 2026Johannesburg5R18,000
21 to 25 Sep 2026Mauritius5US$1,800
28 Sep to 2 Oct 2026Dubai5US$1,800
5 to 9 Oct 2026Lagos5US$1,800
12 to 16 Oct 2026Harare5US$1,800
19 to 23 Oct 2026Kampala5US$1,800
26 to 30 Oct 2026Dar es Salaam5US$1,800
2 to 6 Nov 2026Pretoria5R18,000
9 to 13 Nov 2026Cape Town5R18,000
23 to 27 Nov 2026Online5US$900
30 Nov to 4 Dec 2026Mozambique5US$1,800
7 to 11 Dec 2026Cairo5US$1,800
14 to 18 Dec 2026Accra5US$1,800
21 to 25 Dec 2026Lusaka5US$1,800

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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