Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
– Issue 1 – January 2010 © Edexcel Limited 2009

1

Unit 47: 

Measurement Techniques 
in Construction

Unit code: 

Y/600/0356

QCF Level 3: 

BTEC Nationals

Credit value: 

10

Guided learning hours:  60

Aim and purpose

The aim of this unit is to enable learners to develop the skills required to apply measurement techniques 
to produce a bill of quantities. 

Unit introduction 

This unit is specifically aimed at learners who aspire to working either as a professional quantity surveyor 
or a contractor’s quantity surveyor. 
Measurement is the process of producing quantities for the materials used in a project. These quantities 
are then abstracted and entered into a bill of quantities. This is then used in the tendering process to obtain 
quotations from main contractors in the form of a written tender document. 
Employer and client organisations use agreed methods of measurement which is the Standard Method of 
Measurement (SMM7) for construction work and the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement 
(CESMM) for civil engineering work. These standard methods set out clearly the rules for measuring quantities 
from the drawings and schedules created by architects and other members of the design team. The reason 
for employing a standard measurement rule is that each of the main contractors tendering for the work will 
have an equal chance of winning the tender.
Bills of quantities are the summary documents that quantify the total items measured under the rules, and 
they follow closely the contents titles of the standard methods of measurement. The main contractor adds 
their own rate to each quantity to produce a final price for the construction work. This document is also used 
to prepare interim and final valuations of the work.
The unit has been designed to enable learners studying construction, civil engineering and similar programmes 
to apply, analyse and measure a range of the components and elements found in buildings and structures 
to a known and agreed standard.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 

Be able to apply standard measurement techniques

2 

Know about the standard methods of measurement

3 

Be able to undertake measurement tasks, applying mathematical calculations to the measurement process

4 

Be able to produce quantity abstracts and bills of quantities pages of measured works using manual 
techniques.