A comparison between CESMM3 and MCHW as methods of measurement for civil engineering work

Robert Eadie; Phillip Millar; Nigel Harte

A comparison between CESMM3 and MCHW as methods of measurement for civil engineering work

Robert Eadie, Phillip Millar, Nigel Harte

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The paper compares the two most popular methods of measurement (MOM) for civil engineering work for the first time. Using structured interviews and a LimeSurvey questionnaire it determines that Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3 (CESMM3) was the most widely usedMOM for civil engineering work and the preferred option. Four MOMs were identified as being used for civil engineering work: CESMM3, Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work (MCHW), Standard Method of Measurement 7 (SMM7) and National Roads Authority (NRA). The use of SMM7 for civil engineering work could point to a deficiency in CESMM3 class Z for minor building work. The research highlighted for the first time that CESMM3 is considered more user friendly than MCHW. MCHW is mainly used on government road projects with CESMM3 containing provision within the document for a wider scope of civil engineering works. MCHW was considered more cost effective but the wider use and scope of CESMM3 has resulted in greater working knowledge. The study demonstrates a desire for a single MOM for civil engineering work but practitioners were divided on which one. This paper highlights the necessity for provision of bespoke MCHW training.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	523-543
Journal	International Journal of Procurement Management
Volume	6
Issue number	5
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 27 Jun 2013

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Adnan, H., Nawawi, A., Akhir, S., Supardi, A. and Chong, H. (2011) ‘Bills of quantities: perspectives of contractor in Malaysia’, Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp.863–873.
Aouad, G., Wu, S. and Lee, A. (2009) ‘nD modelling, present and future’, in Brandon, P. and Kocatürk, T. (Eds.): Virtual Futures for Design, Construction and Procurement, Chapter 12, pp.158–170, Blackwell Publishing, Oxon.
Best, E. (2008) ‘The development of a BIM based building measurement learning tool’, Proceedings of Australian Universities Building Education Association Annual Conference (AUBEA) 2008 Conference, July, Auckland, New Zealand, pp.21–24.
Brook, M. (2008) Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, 4th ed.,Butterworth-Heinemann, USA.
Eadie, R., McKeown, C. and Anderson, K. (2013) ‘The impact of recession on construction procurement routes’, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.24–38, in press.
Eadie, R., Millar, P., Perera, S., Heaney, G. and Barton, G. (2012) ‘E-readiness of construction contract forms and e-tendering software’, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.1–26.
Hazlett, S., Mcadam, R. and Beggs, V. (2008) ‘An exploratory study of knowledge flows: a case
study of public sector procurement’, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, Vol. 19, Nos. 1–2, pp.57–66.
Highways Agency (2009) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works [online]http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/mchw/index.htm (accessed June 2011).
Hunter, R. (1997) Claims on Highway Contracts: Under the 5th Edition of the ICE Conditions of
Contract and the 7th Edition of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, 5th ed., Thomas Telford, England.
ICE (1951) Standard Method of Measurement of Civil Engineering Quantities, Telford, London.
ICE (1976) CESMM: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Telford, London.
ICE (1985) CESMM2: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 2nd ed., Telford,
London.
ICE (1991) CESMM3: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 3rd ed., Telford,
London.
ICE (2012) CESMM4: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 4th ed., Telford,
London.
Kirkham, R. (2007) Ferry and Brandon’s Cost Planning of Buildings, 8th ed., Blackwell Science,
Oxford.
Kwon, O., Son, J. and Lee, S. (2010) ‘Study on the application of 3D-based BIM for school facilities to increase cost management efficiency’, Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp.49–60.
Lee, S., Oh, S., Hong, M. and Choi, J. (2010) ‘An investigation of an image processing application
for measurement of a quantity estimate of Euro form installed in construction sites’,
Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Technologies and
Applications (CUTE), 2010, 16–18 December 2010, Sanyo, pp.1–5.
Marrero, M. and Ramirez-de-Arellano, A. (2010) ‘The building cost system in Andalusia:
application to construction and demolition waste management’, Construction Management
and Economics, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.495–507.
Martins, J. and Monteiro, A. (2013) ‘LicA: a BIM based automated code-checking application for
water distribution systems’, Automation in Construction, January, Vol. 29, pp.12–23 [online]
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580512001495.
Matipa, W. (2009) ‘A strategic perspective of ICT supported cost management for green
buildings in the quantity surveying practice’, Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference
Liverpool BEAN – Built Environment and Natural Environment, 19–20 May 2009, Liverpool,
pp.87–101.
Money, B. and Hodgson, G. (1996) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works: A Users
Guide and Commentary, Thomas Telford Publishing, London.
Moon, H., Kim, H., Kang, L. and Kim, C. (2012) ‘BIM functions for optimized construction
management in civil engineering’, Gerontechnology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.67–71.
Odeyinka, H., Kelly, S. and Perera, S. (2009) ‘An evaluation of the budgetary reliability of bills of
quantities’, Proceedings of RICS COBRA 2009, 10–11 September 2009, University of Cape
Town, pp.435–446.
Olatunji, O., Sher, W. and Gu, N. (2010) ‘Building information modeling and quantity surveying
practice’, Emirates Journal for Engineering Research, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.67–70.
Osiowy, D. (2006) ‘Brand names’, QS News, 24 February [online]http://m.building.co.uk/brandnames/3063380.article (accessed June 2011).
Penttilä, H., Markus, P. and Elger, D. (2008) ‘Evaluating VBE and BIM-frameworks, a cost
estimation case study and reflections to environmental issues’, Proceedings of the 13th
International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia –
CAADRIA 2008, 9–12 April 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand, pp.81–88.
Rubin, A. and Babbie, E. (2009) Essential Research Methods for Social Work, Cengage Learning,
USA.
Seeley, I.H. and Winfield, R. (1999) Building Quantities Explained, 5th ed., Palgrave, Hampshire,
England.
Stewart, J. (2010) ‘The UK national infrastructure plan’, European Investment Bank Papers (EIB),
Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.28–32.
Williams, T. (2008) ‘10 Years since Egan’ – G4C Brainstorming Evening [online]
http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/membership/strategicreview/g4c_egan_report.pdf
(accessed December 2011).
Willis, A. and Trench, W. (1998) Willis’s Elements of Quantity Surveying, 9th ed.,
Wiley-Blackwell, UK Oxford
Yusuf, G. and Mohamad, S. (2012) ‘Identification of the potentials and barriers of adopting
standard method of measurement for mechanical and electrical services in Mal

Keywords

Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works
MCHW
Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3
CESMM3
method of measurement
MOM
claims
finance
pricing accuracy
BIM.

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Cite this

@article{8fb4fdf696a848b0bfed8ef1ec3f0b0f,

title = "A comparison between CESMM3 and MCHW as methods of measurement for civil engineering work",

abstract = "The paper compares the two most popular methods of measurement (MOM) for civil engineering work for the first time. Using structured interviews and a LimeSurvey questionnaire it determines that Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3 (CESMM3) was the most widely usedMOM for civil engineering work and the preferred option. Four MOMs were identified as being used for civil engineering work: CESMM3, Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work (MCHW), Standard Method of Measurement 7 (SMM7) and National Roads Authority (NRA). The use of SMM7 for civil engineering work could point to a deficiency in CESMM3 class Z for minor building work. The research highlighted for the first time that CESMM3 is considered more user friendly than MCHW. MCHW is mainly used on government road projects with CESMM3 containing provision within the document for a wider scope of civil engineering works. MCHW was considered more cost effective but the wider use and scope of CESMM3 has resulted in greater working knowledge. The study demonstrates a desire for a single MOM for civil engineering work but practitioners were divided on which one. This paper highlights the necessity for provision of bespoke MCHW training.",

keywords = "Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, MCHW, Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3, CESMM3, method of measurement, MOM, claims, finance, pricing accuracy, BIM.",

author = "Robert Eadie and Phillip Millar and Nigel Harte",

note = "Reference text: Adnan, H., Nawawi, A., Akhir, S., Supardi, A. and Chong, H. (2011) {\textquoteleft}Bills of quantities: perspectives of contractor in Malaysia{\textquoteright}, Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp.863–873. Aouad, G., Wu, S. and Lee, A. (2009) {\textquoteleft}nD modelling, present and future{\textquoteright}, in Brandon, P. and Kocat{\"u}rk, T. (Eds.): Virtual Futures for Design, Construction and Procurement, Chapter 12, pp.158–170, Blackwell Publishing, Oxon. Best, E. (2008) {\textquoteleft}The development of a BIM based building measurement learning tool{\textquoteright}, Proceedings of Australian Universities Building Education Association Annual Conference (AUBEA) 2008 Conference, July, Auckland, New Zealand, pp.21–24. Brook, M. (2008) Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, 4th ed.,Butterworth-Heinemann, USA. Eadie, R., McKeown, C. and Anderson, K. (2013) {\textquoteleft}The impact of recession on construction procurement routes{\textquoteright}, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.24–38, in press. Eadie, R., Millar, P., Perera, S., Heaney, G. and Barton, G. (2012) {\textquoteleft}E-readiness of construction contract forms and e-tendering software{\textquoteright}, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.1–26. Hazlett, S., Mcadam, R. and Beggs, V. (2008) {\textquoteleft}An exploratory study of knowledge flows: a case study of public sector procurement{\textquoteright}, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, Vol. 19, Nos. 1–2, pp.57–66. Highways Agency (2009) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works [online]http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/mchw/index.htm (accessed June 2011). Hunter, R. (1997) Claims on Highway Contracts: Under the 5th Edition of the ICE Conditions of Contract and the 7th Edition of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, 5th ed., Thomas Telford, England. ICE (1951) Standard Method of Measurement of Civil Engineering Quantities, Telford, London. ICE (1976) CESMM: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Telford, London. ICE (1985) CESMM2: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 2nd ed., Telford, London. ICE (1991) CESMM3: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 3rd ed., Telford, London. ICE (2012) CESMM4: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 4th ed., Telford, London. Kirkham, R. (2007) Ferry and Brandon{\textquoteright}s Cost Planning of Buildings, 8th ed., Blackwell Science, Oxford. Kwon, O., Son, J. and Lee, S. (2010) {\textquoteleft}Study on the application of 3D-based BIM for school facilities to increase cost management efficiency{\textquoteright}, Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp.49–60. Lee, S., Oh, S., Hong, M. and Choi, J. (2010) {\textquoteleft}An investigation of an image processing application for measurement of a quantity estimate of Euro form installed in construction sites{\textquoteright}, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Technologies and Applications (CUTE), 2010, 16–18 December 2010, Sanyo, pp.1–5. Marrero, M. and Ramirez-de-Arellano, A. (2010) {\textquoteleft}The building cost system in Andalusia: application to construction and demolition waste management{\textquoteright}, Construction Management and Economics, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.495–507. Martins, J. and Monteiro, A. (2013) {\textquoteleft}LicA: a BIM based automated code-checking application for water distribution systems{\textquoteright}, Automation in Construction, January, Vol. 29, pp.12–23 [online] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580512001495. Matipa, W. (2009) {\textquoteleft}A strategic perspective of ICT supported cost management for green buildings in the quantity surveying practice{\textquoteright}, Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference Liverpool BEAN – Built Environment and Natural Environment, 19–20 May 2009, Liverpool, pp.87–101. Money, B. and Hodgson, G. (1996) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works: A Users Guide and Commentary, Thomas Telford Publishing, London. Moon, H., Kim, H., Kang, L. and Kim, C. (2012) {\textquoteleft}BIM functions for optimized construction management in civil engineering{\textquoteright}, Gerontechnology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.67–71. Odeyinka, H., Kelly, S. and Perera, S. (2009) {\textquoteleft}An evaluation of the budgetary reliability of bills of quantities{\textquoteright}, Proceedings of RICS COBRA 2009, 10–11 September 2009, University of Cape Town, pp.435–446. Olatunji, O., Sher, W. and Gu, N. (2010) {\textquoteleft}Building information modeling and quantity surveying practice{\textquoteright}, Emirates Journal for Engineering Research, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.67–70. Osiowy, D. (2006) {\textquoteleft}Brand names{\textquoteright}, QS News, 24 February [online]http://m.building.co.uk/brandnames/3063380.article (accessed June 2011). Penttil{\"a}, H., Markus, P. and Elger, D. (2008) {\textquoteleft}Evaluating VBE and BIM-frameworks, a cost estimation case study and reflections to environmental issues{\textquoteright}, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia – CAADRIA 2008, 9–12 April 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand, pp.81–88. Rubin, A. and Babbie, E. (2009) Essential Research Methods for Social Work, Cengage Learning, USA. Seeley, I.H. and Winfield, R. (1999) Building Quantities Explained, 5th ed., Palgrave, Hampshire, England. Stewart, J. (2010) {\textquoteleft}The UK national infrastructure plan{\textquoteright}, European Investment Bank Papers (EIB), Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.28–32. Williams, T. (2008) {\textquoteleft}10 Years since Egan{\textquoteright} – G4C Brainstorming Evening [online] http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/membership/strategicreview/g4c_egan_report.pdf (accessed December 2011). Willis, A. and Trench, W. (1998) Willis{\textquoteright}s Elements of Quantity Surveying, 9th ed., Wiley-Blackwell, UK Oxford Yusuf, G. and Mohamad, S. (2012) {\textquoteleft}Identification of the potentials and barriers of adopting standard method of measurement for mechanical and electrical services in Mal",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

day = "27",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "523--543",

journal = "International Journal of Procurement Management",

issn = "1753-8440",

publisher = "Inderscience Publishers",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A comparison between CESMM3 and MCHW as methods of measurement for civil engineering work

AU - Eadie, Robert

AU - Millar, Phillip

AU - Harte, Nigel

N1 - Reference text: Adnan, H., Nawawi, A., Akhir, S., Supardi, A. and Chong, H. (2011) ‘Bills of quantities: perspectives of contractor in Malaysia’, Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp.863–873. Aouad, G., Wu, S. and Lee, A. (2009) ‘nD modelling, present and future’, in Brandon, P. and Kocatürk, T. (Eds.): Virtual Futures for Design, Construction and Procurement, Chapter 12, pp.158–170, Blackwell Publishing, Oxon. Best, E. (2008) ‘The development of a BIM based building measurement learning tool’, Proceedings of Australian Universities Building Education Association Annual Conference (AUBEA) 2008 Conference, July, Auckland, New Zealand, pp.21–24. Brook, M. (2008) Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, 4th ed.,Butterworth-Heinemann, USA. Eadie, R., McKeown, C. and Anderson, K. (2013) ‘The impact of recession on construction procurement routes’, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.24–38, in press. Eadie, R., Millar, P., Perera, S., Heaney, G. and Barton, G. (2012) ‘E-readiness of construction contract forms and e-tendering software’, International Journal of Procurement Management, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.1–26. Hazlett, S., Mcadam, R. and Beggs, V. (2008) ‘An exploratory study of knowledge flows: a case study of public sector procurement’, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, Vol. 19, Nos. 1–2, pp.57–66. Highways Agency (2009) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works [online]http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/mchw/index.htm (accessed June 2011). Hunter, R. (1997) Claims on Highway Contracts: Under the 5th Edition of the ICE Conditions of Contract and the 7th Edition of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, 5th ed., Thomas Telford, England. ICE (1951) Standard Method of Measurement of Civil Engineering Quantities, Telford, London. ICE (1976) CESMM: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Telford, London. ICE (1985) CESMM2: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 2nd ed., Telford, London. ICE (1991) CESMM3: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 3rd ed., Telford, London. ICE (2012) CESMM4: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, 4th ed., Telford, London. Kirkham, R. (2007) Ferry and Brandon’s Cost Planning of Buildings, 8th ed., Blackwell Science, Oxford. Kwon, O., Son, J. and Lee, S. (2010) ‘Study on the application of 3D-based BIM for school facilities to increase cost management efficiency’, Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp.49–60. Lee, S., Oh, S., Hong, M. and Choi, J. (2010) ‘An investigation of an image processing application for measurement of a quantity estimate of Euro form installed in construction sites’, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Technologies and Applications (CUTE), 2010, 16–18 December 2010, Sanyo, pp.1–5. Marrero, M. and Ramirez-de-Arellano, A. (2010) ‘The building cost system in Andalusia: application to construction and demolition waste management’, Construction Management and Economics, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.495–507. Martins, J. and Monteiro, A. (2013) ‘LicA: a BIM based automated code-checking application for water distribution systems’, Automation in Construction, January, Vol. 29, pp.12–23 [online] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580512001495. Matipa, W. (2009) ‘A strategic perspective of ICT supported cost management for green buildings in the quantity surveying practice’, Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference Liverpool BEAN – Built Environment and Natural Environment, 19–20 May 2009, Liverpool, pp.87–101. Money, B. and Hodgson, G. (1996) Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works: A Users Guide and Commentary, Thomas Telford Publishing, London. Moon, H., Kim, H., Kang, L. and Kim, C. (2012) ‘BIM functions for optimized construction management in civil engineering’, Gerontechnology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.67–71. Odeyinka, H., Kelly, S. and Perera, S. (2009) ‘An evaluation of the budgetary reliability of bills of quantities’, Proceedings of RICS COBRA 2009, 10–11 September 2009, University of Cape Town, pp.435–446. Olatunji, O., Sher, W. and Gu, N. (2010) ‘Building information modeling and quantity surveying practice’, Emirates Journal for Engineering Research, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.67–70. Osiowy, D. (2006) ‘Brand names’, QS News, 24 February [online]http://m.building.co.uk/brandnames/3063380.article (accessed June 2011). Penttilä, H., Markus, P. and Elger, D. (2008) ‘Evaluating VBE and BIM-frameworks, a cost estimation case study and reflections to environmental issues’, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia – CAADRIA 2008, 9–12 April 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand, pp.81–88. Rubin, A. and Babbie, E. (2009) Essential Research Methods for Social Work, Cengage Learning, USA. Seeley, I.H. and Winfield, R. (1999) Building Quantities Explained, 5th ed., Palgrave, Hampshire, England. Stewart, J. (2010) ‘The UK national infrastructure plan’, European Investment Bank Papers (EIB), Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.28–32. Williams, T. (2008) ‘10 Years since Egan’ – G4C Brainstorming Evening [online] http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/membership/strategicreview/g4c_egan_report.pdf (accessed December 2011). Willis, A. and Trench, W. (1998) Willis’s Elements of Quantity Surveying, 9th ed., Wiley-Blackwell, UK Oxford Yusuf, G. and Mohamad, S. (2012) ‘Identification of the potentials and barriers of adopting standard method of measurement for mechanical and electrical services in Mal

PY - 2013/6/27

Y1 - 2013/6/27

N2 - The paper compares the two most popular methods of measurement (MOM) for civil engineering work for the first time. Using structured interviews and a LimeSurvey questionnaire it determines that Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3 (CESMM3) was the most widely usedMOM for civil engineering work and the preferred option. Four MOMs were identified as being used for civil engineering work: CESMM3, Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work (MCHW), Standard Method of Measurement 7 (SMM7) and National Roads Authority (NRA). The use of SMM7 for civil engineering work could point to a deficiency in CESMM3 class Z for minor building work. The research highlighted for the first time that CESMM3 is considered more user friendly than MCHW. MCHW is mainly used on government road projects with CESMM3 containing provision within the document for a wider scope of civil engineering works. MCHW was considered more cost effective but the wider use and scope of CESMM3 has resulted in greater working knowledge. The study demonstrates a desire for a single MOM for civil engineering work but practitioners were divided on which one. This paper highlights the necessity for provision of bespoke MCHW training.

AB - The paper compares the two most popular methods of measurement (MOM) for civil engineering work for the first time. Using structured interviews and a LimeSurvey questionnaire it determines that Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3 (CESMM3) was the most widely usedMOM for civil engineering work and the preferred option. Four MOMs were identified as being used for civil engineering work: CESMM3, Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work (MCHW), Standard Method of Measurement 7 (SMM7) and National Roads Authority (NRA). The use of SMM7 for civil engineering work could point to a deficiency in CESMM3 class Z for minor building work. The research highlighted for the first time that CESMM3 is considered more user friendly than MCHW. MCHW is mainly used on government road projects with CESMM3 containing provision within the document for a wider scope of civil engineering works. MCHW was considered more cost effective but the wider use and scope of CESMM3 has resulted in greater working knowledge. The study demonstrates a desire for a single MOM for civil engineering work but practitioners were divided on which one. This paper highlights the necessity for provision of bespoke MCHW training.

KW - Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works

KW - MCHW

KW - Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 3

KW - CESMM3

KW - method of measurement

KW - MOM

KW - claims

KW - finance

KW - pricing accuracy

KW - BIM.

M3 - Article

SN - 1753-8440

VL - 6

SP - 523

EP - 543

JO - International Journal of Procurement Management

JF - International Journal of Procurement Management

IS - 5

ER -

A comparison between CESMM3 and MCHW as methods of measurement for civil engineering work

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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