The units of measurements for civil engineering works are mainly categorised for

their nature, shape and size and for making payments to the contractor. The
principle of units of measurements normally consists the following:
a) Single units work like doors, windows, trusses
etc., are expressed in numbers.

b) Works consists linear measurements involve

length like cornice, fencing, hand rail, bands of
specified width etc., are expressed in running
metres (RM)

c) Works consists areal surface measurements involve area like plastering,

white washing, partitions of specified thickness etc., and are expressed in
square meters (m2)

d) Works consists cubical contents which involve volume like earth work,
cement concrete, Masonry etc are expressed in Cubic metres.

Table below shows units of measurement of various items of civil engineering works based
on IS 1200.
Units of Units of
Sl. No. Particulars of item
measurement payment
1 Earthwork    
Per
  1.       Earthwork in excavation CUM
CUM
Per
  2.       Earthwork in filling in foundation trenches CUM
CUM
Per
  3.       Earth work in filling in plinth CUM
CUM
2 Concrete
  1.       Lime concrete in foundation    
  2.       Cement concrete in lintels    
  3.       RCC in slab    
  4.       Cement concrete or RCC in chujja, sunshade    
Per
  5.       Lean concrete in roof terracing (thickness specified) SQM
SQM
Per
  6.       Cement concrete bed CUM
CUM
Per
  7.       Reinforced concrete sunshade (specified width and height) CUM
CUM
 Per
3 Damp proof course (DPC) – thickness mentioned SQM
SQM
4 Brick work    
Per
  1.       Brickwork in foundation CUM
CUM
  2.       Brickwork in plinth    
  3.       Brickwork in super structure    
Per
  4.       Thin partition walls SQM
SQM
Per
  5.       Brickwork in arches CUM
SQM
Per
  6.       Reinforced brickwork CUM
CUM
5 Stone work    
Per
  1.       Stone masonry CUM
CUM
6 Wood work    
Per
  1.       Doors and windows frames or chaukhats, rafters, beams CUM
CUM
Per
  2.       Shutters of doors and windows (thickness specified) SQM
SQM
3.       Doors and windows fittings (like hinges, tower bolts, sliding bolts,
  Earch Per Each
handles)
7 Steel work    
Per
  1.       Steel reinforcement bars etc in RCC and reinforced brick work Quintal
Quintal
Per
  2.       Bending, binding of steel reinforcement Quintal
quintal
Per
  3.       Rivets, bolts and nuts, anchor bolts, lewis bolts, holding down bolts Quintal
quintal
  4.       Iron hold fasts    
  5.       Iron railing (height and types specified)    
Per
  6.       Iron grills SQM
SQM
8 Roofing    
Per
  1.       RCC and RB slab roof (excluding steel) CUM
CUM
2.       Lean concrete roof over and inclusive of tiles or brick or stone slab etc Per
  SQM
(thickness specified) SQM
Per
  3.       Centering and shuttering formwork SQM
SQM
Per
  4.       AC sheet roofing SQM
SQM
9 Plastering, points and finishing    
Per
  1.       Plastering – cement or lime mortar (thickness and proportion specified) SQM
SQM
Per
  2.       Pointing SQM
SQM
 3.       White washing, colour washing, cement washing, (number of coats Per
  SQM
specified) SQM
Per
  4.      Distempering (number of coats specified) SQM
SQM
Per
  5.       Painting, varnishing (number of coats specified) SQM
SQM
10 Flooring    
1.       25mm cement concrete over 75mm lime concrete floor (including lean Per
  SQM
concrete) SQM
Per
  2.       25mm or 40mm cement concrete floor SQM
SQM
Per
  3.       Doors and window sills (CC or cement mortar plain) SQM
SQM
11 Rain water pipe / plain pipe RM Per RM
12 Steel wooden truss Each Per each
Per
13 Glass panels (supply) SQM
SQM
14 Fixing of glass panels or cleaning Each Per Each
 

Note:
o SQM = Square meter
o CUM = Cubic meter
o RM = Running meter

Methods for Measurement of civil engineering works:

The rules for measurement of each item are invariably described in IS –
1200. However some of the general rules are listed below:

1. Measurement shall be made for finished item of work and description of

each item shall include materials, transport, labour, fabrication tools and
plant and all types of overheads for finished the work in required shape, size
and specification.

2. In booking, the order shall be in sequence of length, breadth and height

or thickness.

3. All works shall be measured subject to the following tolerances.

o Linear measurement shall be measured to the nearest 0.01m.

o Areas shall be measured to the nearest 0.01 SQM
o Cubic contents shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 cum.

4. Same type of work under different conditions and nature shall be

measured separately under separate items.

5. The bill of quantities shall fully describe the materials, proportions,

workmanships and accurately represent the work to be executed.

6. In case of masonry (stone or brick) or structural concrete, the categories

shall be measured separately and the heights shall be described as:

o From foundation to plinth level

o From plinth to first floor level
o From first floor to second floor level and so on

Solid Concrete   Fly Ash Bricks  

Block
Dimensions Size Dimensions Size
390 X 190 X 190 mm 8" 230 X 150 X 100 mm 9"X6"X4"
390 X 190 X 140 mm 6" 230 X 100 X 100 mm 9"X4"X4"
390 X 190 X 125 mm 5" 230 X 150 X 120 mm 9"X6"X5"
390 X 190 X 90 mm 4" 230 X 100 X 75 mm 9"X4"X3"

In India, the Red Brick is termed as Common Brick which is made of burning clay in brick
kilns. The standard size as recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards IS:2691:1988
Revision 2 “ Burnt Clay facing bricks specification” sub-clause. 4.1 & 4.2 of Clause.
4 of page.1 is 190 mm X 90 mm X 90 mm. The IS code also states that with mortar
thickness added, the brick size shall be 200 mm X 100 mm X 100 mm.

The same case also recommends the use of brick of size 190 mm X 90 mm X 40 mm

The cost of company made sheet is little on higher side compared to manually made.
However companies also do not increase the size (6ft* 4ft) as it easy for handling, does not
break and convenient to fit in ceiling.