PRINCIPLES OF ESTIMATING FOR BUILDING WORKS 1 (AQS 1193)

Topic:

Excavation works estimation

The nature of the work included in the excavation section of the bills of quantities falls broadly into seven categories:

1. Site preparation
(e.g. removing hedges, clearing undergrowth, removing trees, removing tree stumps, lifting turf, excavating topsoil)

2. Excavation
(e.g. excavating to reduce level, excavating pits, excavating trenches)

3. Earthwork support
(e.g. sheet piling, diaphragm wall, close timber piling)
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4. Disposal of water
(surface water and water in the ground)

5. Disposal of excavated materials

(e.g. disposal of excavated material on site, disposal of excavated material off site, handling and disposal of topsoil)

6. Filling
(e.g. filling to excavation, filling to make up levels)

7. Surface treatment
(e.g. levelling, compacting bottoms and trimming of sides of excavation, and anti-termite treatment) 3

FACTORS AFFECTING THE COST OF

EXCAVATION WORKS 1. Weather conditions

Dry or wet conditions Disposal of water (e.g. diversion or pumping of surface water) Efficiency of mechanical plant

2.

Bulking
Excavation is measured net in the BQ i.e. the quantity stated being that in the ground before excavation However, after being excavated, soil increases in volume (bulks) to a greater or lesser depending on the nature of the ground 4 This bulking factor affects the pricing of the disposal items measured in the BQ

FACTORS AFFECTING THE COST OF EXCAVATION WORKS (CONTD)

2. Bulking (contd)
Average increases in bulk of various types of ground after excavation (Schedule of Rates JKR, 2011): Type Gravel Sand Ordinary earth 25 Clay Chalk Rock Per cent 10 12 33 1/3 33 1/3 50

FACTORS AFFECTING THE COST OF EXCAVATION WORKS (CONTD)

3. Type of excavation and volume

Methods of carrying out the work for each type of excavation The choice is normally to adopt method which results in the fastest rate of progress at the lowest possible cost Under certain conditions, (such as existing underground services and tree roots) the use of machinery may be restricted and demand hand digging, or maybe some combination of the two The use of mechanical plant may not be economical if the total volume of excavation is insufficient (i.e. when the cost of transporting
the machinery is too high in relation to the amount of work to be done)
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FACTORS AFFECTING THE COST OF EXCAVATION WORKS (CONTD)

4. The nature of the ground

Mechanical plant is capable of excavating in all normal ground, although the output will vary Output may be reduced and at great cost for excavating hard rock The exact nature of the ground will affect the actual excavating operations, the need, or otherwise, for any earthwork support (e.g. a loose sandy soil may require continuous close
boarding or steel sheet piling to support sides of excavation)

FACTORS AFFECTING THE COST OF EXCAVATION WORKS (CONTD)

5.

Distance to a tip

Location of the tip

Tipping fees (if any) Transport (type and number of vehicles needed for disposal to the tip)
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EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1
Build-up the rate for cutting down hedges (per m) including its disposal. Assumptions: 1. The work will be carried out by a gang comprising of three (3) general workers for cutting down the hedges including grubbing up the roots by hand. 2. The gang can clear and load 10 meters of hedges in 1 hour. 3. A lorry is required for removing the materials to a tip nearby. 4. General worker: RM 50.00 per day. 5. All-in-rate for lorry and driver is RM 400 per day. 10 Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

EXAMPLE 1 (CONTD)
Answer: Hourly cost A gang of worker Lorry and driver Total hedges per hour Rate per meter 1 hour : ADD overhead and profit Rate (per m) RM 8 = 18.75 8 = 50.00 68.75

= = =

x RM RM

50 400

10 m

10 m = RM 68.75 1 m = RM 68.75 10 = say 15% = =

6.88 1.03 7.91

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EXAMPLE 2
Build up the rate for excavating to reduce level (per m3) Assumptions: 1. The excavation work will be carried by excavator with a labour as attendance. 2. The output of the excavator including digging and loading directly into a waiting lorry is 20m3 per hour. 3. All-in-rate for excavator and driver is RM 75 per hour. 4. Labour rate for attendance : RM 50.00 per day Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.
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EXAMPLE 2 (CONTD)
Answer: Hourly cost All-in-rate for excavator and driver Labour (as attendance) Total excavation per hour Rate per m3 1 hour : 20 1 m3 = RM 81.25 m
3

= =

RM 20

50 m
3

= =

RM RM RM

75 6.25 81.25

= RM 81.25 20 = RM 4.06 0.61 4.67

Add overhead and profit Rate (per m )

3

say 15%

= RM = RM

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EXAMPLE 3
Build up the rate for excavating trenches to receive foundations starting from reduced level maximum depth not exceeding 0.25 meter (per m3) Assumptions: 1. The excavation work will be carried by excavator with a labour as attendance. 2. The output of the excavator including digging and loading directly into a waiting lorry is 17m3 per hour. 3. All-in-rate for excavator and driver is RM 75 per hour. 4. Labour rate for attendance : RM 50.00 per day Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

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EXAMPLE 3 (CONTD)
Answer: Hourly cost All-in-rate for excavator and driver Labour (as attendance) Total excavation per hour Rate per m3 1 hour : 17 1 m3 = RM 81.25 m
3

= =

RM 17

50 m3

= =

RM RM RM

75 6.25 81.25

= RM 81.25 17 = RM 4.78 0.72 5.50

Add overhead and profit Rate (per m3)

say 15%

= RM = RM

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REMOVAL OF EXCAVATED MATERIAL FROM SITE

The optimum level of efficiency will be achieved when the number of vehicles assigned for disposal is sufficient for the excavator to be able to work continuously. Ideally, an empty vehicle drawing in through the site gates as a previous one becomes fully loaded and is about to leave the site for the tip. In practice, this situation is almost impossible to achieve. However, in this theory, the optimum number of vehicles can be calculated as:
Number of vehicles = time taken to load + total journey time and tipping time taken to load
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EXAMPLE 4
Build up the rate for removal of excavated material (per m3) from site. Determine the optimum number of lorry required. Assumption:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

The excavator is loading directly into 10-tonne lorries. The cost of the excavator is included in the excavation rates. All-in rate for lorry and driver is RM 75 per hour. Ordinary earth weigh 1.60 tonnes per m3. The bulking of earth is 25 per cent. Excavator output is assumed at 10m3 per hour.

7.

Journey time: Outward journey, say 20 minutes.

Tipping time, say 5 minutes. Return time, say 15 minutes.
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Solution
1) Lorry capacity 1.60 tonnes = 1 m3 10 tonnes = 1 1.60 = 6.25 m3 Allow for bulking of earth (25%) 125% 100% = 6.25 m3 = 6.25 x 100 125 = 5 m3 = (30 + 40) 30 = 2.33
Nos.of lorries required = time taken to load + total journey time + tipping time time taken to load

3) Nos. of lorry required Outward journey x 10 Return journey Total journey time Add tipping time Total journey and tipping time 20 minutes 15 minutes 35 minutes 5 minutes 40 minutes

2) Time taken to load 5m3 of earth

10 m3 5 m3 = 60 mins = 60 x 5 10 = 30 mins

Say, 3 lorries

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Solution (contd)
4) Total hourly cost of operation All-in rate for lorry and driver is RM 75 per hour 3 lorries = 3 x RM 75 = RM 225 5) Cost of removal (per m3) Quantity of excavated material per hour is 10 m3 1 hour, 10 m3 1 m3 = RM 225 = RM 225 10

= RM 22.50
Add overhead and profit, say 10% = RM 2.25 Rate (per m3) = RM 24.75

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TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

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QUESTION 1
A specific size of backhoe was selected to perform excavation works. Estimate the equipment (backhoe) cost (per m3) for the excavation works. Assumption: 1. The cost of the backhoe (rental) is RM 600 per day (8 hours). 2. The hourly production rate of the backhoe was 12m3.

Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

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QUESTION 2
Build-up the rate for cutting down hedges (per m) including its disposal. Assumptions: 1. The work will be carried out by a gang comprising of two (2) general workers for cutting down the hedges including grubbing up the roots by hand. 2. The gang can clear and load 9 meters of hedges in 1 hour. 3. A lorry is required for removing the materials to a tip nearby. 4. General worker: RM 55.00 per day. 5. All-in-rate for lorry and driver is RM 450 per day. 22 Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

QUESTION 3
Build up the rate for excavating to reduce level (per m3) Assumptions: 1. The excavation work will be carried by excavator with a labour as attendance. 2. The output of the excavator including digging and loading directly into a waiting lorry is 15m3 per hour. 3. All-in-rate for excavator and driver is RM 550 per day. 4. Labour rate for attendance : RM 55.00 per day Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.
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QUESTION 4
Build up the rate for excavating trenches to receive foundations starting from reduced level maximum depth not exceeding 0.25 meter (per m3) Assumptions: 1. The excavation work will be carried by excavator with a labour as attendance. 2. The output of the excavator including digging and loading directly into a waiting lorry is 20m3 per hour. 3. All-in-rate for excavator and driver is RM 80 per hour. 4. Labour rate for attendance : RM 55.00 per day Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

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QUESTION 5
Build up the rate for extra over trench excavation for excavating in rock (provisional) (per m3) Assumptions: 1. The work will be carried out by a gang comprising of three (3) general workers for excavating in rock by hand. 2. The gang can excavate 1m3 rock in 4.50 hours. 3. General worker: RM 55.00 per day. Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

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QUESTION 6
Build up the rate for removal of unsuitable excavated material (per m3) from site.
Assumptions: 1. The excavator is loading directly into 7-tonne lorries. 2. All-in rate for lorry and driver is RM 60 per hour. 3. Ordinary earth weigh 1.60 tonnes per m3. 4. The bulking of earth is 25 per cent. 5. Excavator output is assumed at 9m3 per hour. 6. Journey time: Outward journey, say 45 minutes. Tipping time, say 10 minutes. Return time, say 35 minutes. Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.

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QUESTION 7
Build up the rate for filling to excavation with imported earth (per m3). Assumptions: 1. The cost of imported earth delivered to site is RM 27 per m3 2. Allow 25% additional cost of material for compacting and wastage. 3. The work will be carried out by a gang comprising of two (2) general workers for spreading, leveling and compacting the earth. 4. The gang can spread, level and compact 1m3 earth in 0.75 hour. 5. General worker: RM 55.00 per day. 27 Make other reasonable assumptions where necessary.