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Note

• 4 Nov 2015: Created.

Where is the satisfaction?
滿足感在那裡？

1. Winning the trust of clients, being consulted frequently
   客戶信任，時常諮詢
2. Problem solved
   解決到問題
3. Proper monitoring of prices, without unpleasant surprises to the clients
   造價跟蹤管理得宜，不出客戶意料之外
4. Considered fair and reasonable by both the Employers and the Contractors
   發包方及承包方都覺得公平合理

Invisible hand
無形的手

1. Always be prepared to be audited by a third party
   隨時準備有第三者審計
2. Professional misconduct would cause damage to the Company not compensable by professional liability insurance
   專業失當就算有保險都不能補償對公司造成的破壞

Treating the counter-parties
對待對手

1. Fair
   公平
2. Reasonable
   合理
3. Non-corruptive
   廉潔

Attending meetings
開會

1. Be prepared
   要有準備
2. Watch out deportment
   注意儀態良好
3. Refrain from smoking
   不要抽煙
4. Present oneself appropriately
   洽當表現自已
5. Should not keep silence without contribution
   不要默不作聲毫無貢獻
6. Should not speak unnecessarily
   不作無謂發言
7. Say “To check and reply” if necessary cannot answer
   真的不會答時, 不怕答“容後補答”、“要查證再覆”

Estimates for maintenance and renovation
維修裝修估算

1. Estimates for maintenance and renovation may place greater emphasis on classification by locations. It is not appropriate to classify items under them according to so many elements used for new works, but structured levels are still necessary to facilitate easier reading and understanding. Therefore, the items can be grouped and listed as follows (the locations may be classified before or after them but should not be too trivial):
   維修裝修估算項目比較著重按地方分類,之下不宜再如新建工程的分部分得那麼多,但又要有層次,便於閱讀理解,故可分類排列如下(地方可先分或後分但不宜太瑣碎)：
   • Scaffolding
     棚架
   • Removal of existing
     移除現有
   • Walls, Windows and Doors
     牆窗門
   • Fittings
     裝置
   • Finishes (no need to put under headings of floor, wall and ceiling)
     裝飾 (之下不必分地面、牆面、天棚等標題)
   • M&E
     機電
2. Schedule of Works should be similar
   工程項目清單亦是這樣

Measurement of quantities
計量

1. Do not rely too much on on-screen measurement of cad or pdf files because there is no record of what have been measured and no detailed breakdown
   不要太依賴用cad或pdf檔 在螢幕計工程量，因計了那裡都無紀錄，又無細數
2. Use hardcopy and dimensions to measure or use scale where necessary in case of no dimensions
   用紙張件及標示尺寸計算或在無標示尺寸時用尺量
3. Colour on the hardcopy to indicate extent measured
   在紙張件著色識認計算了那裡

Price information
價格資訊

1. Build-up a database
   建立資料庫
2. Collect directive circulars and prices published by Government and authorities
    收集政府、權力機構的指令性通知、價格
3. Collect market prices through other commercial sources (i.e. cost software vendors)
   收集其他商業渠道的市場價格(例如造價軟件公司)
4. View newspapers, periodicals, internet
   檢閱報章、期刊、互聯網
5. Collate internal information
   整理自身的資料
6. Analyse content ratios and unit costs of past projects
   分析過往工程含量及單位造價
7. Obtain through tendering
   通過招投標取得

Cash flow table
資金流量表

1. Use horizontal table with a chart
   盡量使用橫式有圖表那個款
2. Include complete remarks
   要加齊註釋

Standard documents
標準文件

1. Use standard documents/templates to prepare fee proposals, tender documents, tender reports and other documents, but may refer to other projects for useful changes
   要用標準文件編寫顧問費報價、招標文件、投標分析報告及其他文件，但可參考其他工程有用的改動
2. Do not adapt from other projects, unless really appropriate, but should check  the standard documents for any updates
   不要直接用其他工程的改, 除非真的合適，但仍要核對標準文件有無最新的改動

Lead in water problem
鉛水問題

• Check tender documents for expressions using lead, and check with the designers whether this is appropriate
  檢查招標文件有無用鉛的字句，及與設計單位了解是否適合

Insurance provisions in tender documents
招標文件保險條款

1. Ensure that the name list of the joint-insured as specified in the Contractors’ All Risks and Third Party Liability insurance provisions is comprehensive; apart from the Employer, the Contractor and sub-contractors of all tiers, note whether the list should include:
   確保規定工程一切險及第三者責任險的條款的聯名被保險人的名單齊全;除發包方丶承包方及各層分包方外,還要注意是否要加入:
   • the Building Manager (being a manager of the relevant properties, he may be held liable)
     物業管理人(因他為相關物業的管理人,可能被追討責任)
   • other contractors employed by the Employer (because their works will be carried out currently with the Works, and the liability for accident may not be clearly separable)
     發包方聘用的其他承包商(因其工程與本工程同時執行,意外責任未必能分得清)
   • consultants (because they are not directly performing the Works, and the insurances can only cover risks caused by the performance of the Works, therefore, it is doubtful whether they should be included as one of the joint-insured) 
     顧問(因他們不是直接執行工程者,而保險只保障執行工程所造成的風險,因此,把他們作為聯名被保險人之一的效用存疑)
2. Adjust the old term “separate specialist contractor” to match the term used in the new Standard Forms of Contract
   調整“separate specialist contractor”這舊有叫法以符合新標準合同的叫法
3. State the values of their works for inclusion as part of the sum insured to avoid inadequate insurance cover
   列出他們的工程金額，作為保額的一部分以免保額不足
4. State expressly work outside boundaries to avoid lack of insurance cover
   特別列出工地外的工程以免保險範圍甩漏
5. Include in the amount of removal of debris the costs of demolition of building, hoardings (if not included in the present contract), scaffolding for demolition, etc; review whether the $1M stated in the standard documents are adequate and adjust as appropriate
   計算保險的殘礫清理保額時要包括拆樓、圍街板(假設本合同價未包括圍街板)及拆樓用的棚架；檢討標準文件寫的100萬元是否足夠及作適當的修改
6. State the values of the previous works such as foundations and hoardings for inclusion as part of the sum insured under the material damage section to ensure full cover; alternatively, if the risk of total loss is low, insure as the principal’s properties under the third party liability section, but the limit of indemnity will be lower
   列出之前的工程，例如基礎、圍街板等的價值，加入物質損壞保險的保險額內以取得全額保；或者，如全毀的風險低,可以作為工程委託方的財産形式在第三者保險部份受保,但賠償額較低

Preparing Bills of Quantities or Schedule of Rates
編寫工程量清單或單價表

1. Read the Standard Method of Measurement, whether you are experienced or not; do not just listen to other people
   任何時間都要睇工程量計算規則，無論生手定熟手，不要光聽人講
2. Note concrete mix, beam depth stages, height stages, edges, shoulders, straight / sloping / curved, etc.
   計混凝土工程時要注意混凝土的標號、樑深的層級、高度的層級、邊沿、接肩、直斜彎，等等！
3. Do not blindly follow past Bills of Quantities or Schedule of Rates because they may have simplified the measurement which may not be applicable to every project, and may in fact be wrong
   不能盲目照跟舊有的工程量清單或單價表因為它們可能把計法簡化了，但此不是單單工程都合用，而其實可能根本就錯了，

Preliminaries Bills
開辦營運費清單

• Draw horizontal lines to separate items in Preliminaries Bills containing clause headings only to enable entry of prices in alignment with the item descriptions
  用橫線把只列條款標題的開辦營運費清單內的項目間開以便填寫價格時對齊項目說明

Documentary exchange with tenderers
與投標者的來往文件

• Keep the hardcopies and softcopies of documents, correspondence, faxes and emails exchanged during tendering under a separate folder for each tenderer to enable easy tracking and compilation of contract documents
  把招投標標的 所有來往文件、信件、傳真及電郵的打印或電子件按每一投標者分開歸檔，以便追蹤及製作合同文件

Tender clarification queries
詢標問卷

• Clarify in the tender clarification queries only those incorrectly priced high or low rates, not comparatively high or low rates
  在詢標問卷應只問錯誤地高或低的單價,而不是相對高或低的單價

Financial reports
最終造價估算報告

1. Estimated Amount = Reasonably estimated maximum amount for budgetary purposes
   估計價 = 合理估計的最大金額，供投資預算用
2. First Claimed Amount = Amount initially claimed or the biggest amount claimed by the Contractor
   原報價 = 承包商第一次或最大的一次的報價
3. Latest Claimed Amount = Latest revised amount claimed by the Contractor, or the current amount after negotiated reduction
   最新報價 = 承包商最新的修訂報價，或通過談判應已減低了的金額
4. Assessed Amount = Amount accurately or roughly assessed to be comfortably payable finally, in other words, the minimum final amount payable
   審核價 = 經準確或大約計算得的可安心作為最終應付的總額，亦即等如最低的最終應付總額
5. When Assessed Amount = Claimed Amount, Estimated Amount should also be = Assessed Amount
   當審核價 = 報價時，估計價亦應 = 審核價
6. In the final stage of final account, the Estimated Amount should be smaller than the Claimed Amount
   到結算後期，估計價應低於報價

Approximately
大約

• Write “approximately X Nos.” instead of  “approximate X Nos.”
  寫成“approximately X Nos.” 而不是  “approximate X Nos.”

Replace by or with
更換

• “replace by” or ”with” may be distinguished by this example: in “replace A by B with C”, A is the replaced, B is the one who takes action, and C is the substitution
  “replace by”定”with” 可以此例子分辨：”replace A by B with C” 中A是被更換者、B 是行動者、C是代替者

Final account item descriptions
結算項目說明

1. Note that if the words "revise", "change", "replace" and similar are used in the final account item descriptions, cost omission and addition are both expected
   注意當”修改”、”改變”、”更換”等類似用詞在結算項目說明使用時，意味應同時有減帳及加帳
2. Make sure that the final account item descriptions are consistent with the cost effects
   確保結算項目說明是與費用影響匹配

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Note

20 Dec 2014: Moved form wiki.

Personnel organisation to consider
人員編制要考慮

1. How many people
   要多少人
2. Types and number of professional personnel
   專業人員的類別及人數
3. Types and number of supporting personnel
   輔助人員的類別及人數
4. Continuing learning
   持續學習

Kind of persons to employ
請什麼類形的人

1. Enduring
   克苦
2. Hard working
   實幹
3. Attentive to details
   細心
4. Highly analytical
   分析力強
5. Eager to learn
   肯學習
6. Able to use computer
   會用電腦
7. Able to use common office software
   會用常用的辦公室軟件
8. Literate in Chinese and English
   具中英語文能力

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Note 注​​​​​​​

• 19/1/2023: Updated to reflect the established practice.
  19/1/2023：更新以反映既定慣例。
• 30/7/2021: "Use of recycled paper" added.
  ​​​​​​​30/7/2021：添加了“回收紙的使用”。
• 13/7/2021: "Sending back source files" added.
  13/7/2021：添加了“發回源文件”。
• 7/7/2021: "Use of emails" expanded. "Filing of letters and emails" added.
  7/7/2021: 擴展了“電郵的使用”。 添加了“信件和電郵的歸檔”。
• 7/4/2019: "Issuing Tender Documents just before holidays" added.
  7/4/2019: 添加了“臨假期前出標”。

Joining the Company 加入公司

1. Company:
   公司：
   • Add new member's name to company address book (using Google Contacts).
     將新成員的姓名添加到公司地址簿（使用 Google 通訊錄）。
   • Create a Google calendar for the new member.
     為新成員創建一個 Google 日曆。
   • Assign a name for the calendar in the format of "AB.Ccc" where AB are the initials and Ccc is the family name.
     以“AB.Ccc”格式為日曆分配名稱，其中 AB 是首字母，Ccc 是姓氏。
   • Give the Google account name and password to the new member.
     將 Google 帳戶名和密碼提供給新成員。
2. New member:
   新成員：
   • Sign in the Google account to access the calendar and contacts.
     登錄 Google 帳戶以訪問日曆和聯繫人。
   • Fill in own full name in English and Chinese (if applicable), office phone number, private email address and private phone number.
     填寫自己的中英文全名（如適用）、辦公室電話號碼、私人電郵地址和私人電話號碼。
   • Record own daily office appointments and leaves on the calendar.
     在日曆上記錄自己每天的辦公室約會和休假。
   • Update the times after finishing the appointments.
     完成約會後更新時間。
   • Change the name of the computer and user name on the computer assigned for use to reflect own name.
     在指定使用的電腦上更改電腦名稱和用戶名以反映自己的名稱。

(added 添加, 19/1/2023)

Office Hours 辦公時間

1. Office:
   辦公室：
   • Normal office hours from 8:45 am to 5:45 pm from Monday to Friday except general holidays.
     正常辦公時間為周一至周五上午 8:45 至下午 5:45，公眾假期除外。
   • Lunch hour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
     午餐時間 1:00 pm 到 2:00 pm。
   • Normal office hours must be fulfilled before counting for overtime.
     在計算加班時間之前，必須完成正常的辦公時間。
2. Staff members:
   職員：
   • Clerks must be punctual for the normal office hours.
     文員必須準時上班。
   • Some slight late arrivals of other staff members is tolerable but up to 9:30 am only.
     其他職員員的一些輕微遲到是可以容忍的，但僅限於上午 9:30前。
   • Any late arrival beyond that should be compensated by an equal amount of working time with no pay after fulfilling the normal office hours.
     超過此時間的任何遲到都應在完成正常辦公時間後以等量的無薪工作時間作為補償。
   • Sign in and out whenever they come and go.
     每當出入時都要簽到和簽出。
   • Fill in the timesheets everyday before leaving the office or just after coming back on the next day. (Timesheets will be subject to sample checks for salary payment purposes. If more than the actual time is recorded, the recorded time will be discounted based on the percentage error for salary payment purposes.)
     每天在離開辦公室之前或第二天剛回來時填寫考勤表。(計算薪酬時，會抽樣檢查考勤。如記錄超過實際的時間，計算薪酬的時間將按百分比誤差打折扣。)
   • Get the director-in-charge's consent before taking casual / annual leave.
     休事假/年假前須徵得主管董事的同意。
   • Notify all colleagues through WhatsApp before taking sick / casual / annual leave (the day before in case of pre-planned leave).
     在病假/臨時假/年假之前用 WhatsApp 通知所有同事（如果是預先計劃的假期，請提前一天）。
   • Submit doctor's certificate for sick leave afterward.
     之後提交病假醫生證明。

(Added 添加, 19/1/2023)

Issuing Tender Documents just before holidays 
臨假期前出標​​​​​​​

1. If  issuing Tender Documents on Friday, remind the tenderers that our office is closed on Saturday and not available for collection of documents.
   若星期五出標，提醒投標者敝公司星期六不辦公、不要到取文件。
2. If issuing Tender Documents just before the Chinese New Year Holidays, ensure that the tendering period can accommodate the different lengths of holidays of the tenderers and their suppliers and factories. Factories usually close for longer time than the public holidays.
   若臨農曆年假前出標，確保投標期可以包容投標者及他們的供應商及工廠的不同的假期長度。工廠通常放假較公眾假期長。

(Added 添加, 7/4/2019)

Office appliances 
辦公用具

1. Paper
   紙張
   • Use recycled paper as much as possible.
     盡可能使用再生紙。
   • Print on single side of new paper.
     在新紙上單面打印。
   • Reserve the other side for recycled use.
     保留另一頁以供回收使用。
   • Avoid printing on both sides because it will increase the workload when sorting out single and double sided printed paper in the future for scanning or disposal.
     避免雙面打印，因為這會增加日後整理單雙面打印的紙張進行掃描或處理時的工作量。
   • Print on both sides for thick documents only.
     僅厚文檔用雙面打印。
2. 4-in-1 Printer, photocopier, scanner and fax machine
   4 合 1 打印機、複印機、掃描儀和傳真機
   • Rotate the use of recycled paper on different machines to reduce the wearing on any particular one.
     在不同的機器上輪換使用再生紙，以減少任何個別機器的磨損。
   • Rotate once every month.
   • 每月輪換一次。
3. Binding machine
   釘裝機
4. Telephone
   電話
5. Broadband connection
   寬頻接線
6. Internet service 
   互聯網服務
7. Intranet 
   內聯網
8. Computer 
   ​​​​​​​電腦
   • Close software when leaving the desk for long.
     長時間離開辦公桌時關閉軟件。
   • Switch off the computer after leaving the office (except when remote desktop is required for use).
     離開辦公室後關閉電腦（需要使用遠程桌面時除外）。
9. Client software
   客戶端軟件
   • Office automation - Windows 10 and 11, Office 360.
     辦公自動化 - Windows 10 和 11、Office 360。
   • Pdf and compression - Acrobat, Wondershare, WinRar.
     Pdf 和壓縮 - Acrobat、Wondershare、WinRar。
   • CAD and BIM - Autocad, Intellicad, Revit.
     繪圖及立體資訊模擬 - Autocad、Intellicad、Revit。 
10. Server software - Ubuntu
    伺服器軟件 - Ubuntu
    • File server - Samba.
      檔案伺服器 - Samba。
    • Email server - Postfix and Dovecot.
      電郵伺服器 - Postfix 和 Dovecot。
    • Web server - Drupal.
      網頁伺服器 - Drupal。

(Updated 更新, 19/1/2023)

Passwords 
密碼

1. Unless authorised, do not watch, memorize or use passwords used by the Company to assess internal or external websites.
   未獲授權不應觀看、記下及使用公司使用的內外網站的密碼。
2. Do not disclose passwords used by the Company to outside persons.
   不得對外人披露公司使用的密碼。

Fax machine setting 
傳真機的設定

1. Set time clock.
   設定時鐘。
2. Set sender’s identity.
   設定發送者的識別。

Printer driver 
影印機的驅動程式

1. Do not install those provided by Windows.。
   不要安裝Windows 提供的。
2. Install those provided by the printer companies.
   安裝打印機公司提供的。
3. Copy the file saved in the “Installation Sources” folder in the server to the local computer, install, set to use A4, black and white, single sided and recycled paper, and delete the file after successful installation
   把存儲在伺服器”Installation Sources”檔案夾內的安裝檔抄到自己電腦，安裝，設定用A4、黑白、單面、再用紙，裝後刪除安裝檔。

Protocol when answering phone calls 
接聽電話的禮儀

1. Answer first with company name or own name.
   先報上公司名稱或自已名稱。
2. Pick up phone calls for other colleagues when they are not at their desk.
   當其他同事不在辦公桌前時，為他們接聽電話。
3. Ask for the name, contact number, company and project name of the calling person and record on a paper.
   詢問來電人的姓名、聯繫電話、公司和項目名稱，並記錄在紙上。
4. Take photo of the paper note and send immediately by WhatsApp to the colleagues intended to be called for follow-up.
   拍照紙上筆記，並立即通過 WhatsApp 發送給被找的同事跟進。​​​​​​​

(Updated 更新, 19/1/2023)

Use of recycled paper
回收紙的使用

1. Recycle paper which has been printed on one page only.
   回收再用僅打印在一頁的紙。
2. Only recycle paper which is in good conditions and does not have stamped marks on the printed page visible on the blank page.
   僅回收狀況良好且在空白頁上不會見到打印頁上的印記的紙張。
3. Use recycled paper to print emails and drafts not intended for sending out as hardcopies.
   使用回收紙打印不打算作為硬拷貝發送的電子郵件和草稿。
4. Do not send out recycled paper to outside parties because it may contain confidential information.
   不要將回收紙發送給外方，因為它可能包含機密信息。
5. Put recycled paper in the standby storage boxes and printer trays following the facing directions indicated at the standby storage boxes or printers.
   按照備用儲物箱或打印機上指示的朝向，將回收紙放入備用儲物箱和打印機托盤中。
6. Inspect the recycled papers to be free of staples and in the correct directions before putting them in the printer trays.
   在將回收紙放入打印機紙盒之前，檢查回收紙是否沒有釘書釘並且方向正確。
7. Put the recycled paper in the printer trays in such a way that the previously printed page will be on the back and upside down a後fter re-printing.
   將回收紙放入打印機托盤中，使之前打印的頁面在再打印後在背面倒置。
8. Draw a diagonal line after re-printing on the last back page of such recycled paper.
   在再打印後在最後一頁畫一條對角線。
9.  Draw a diagonal line after re-printing on each of the previously printed pages not turned upside down .
   在再打印後在沒有倒置的舊打印頁的每頁畫一條對角線。
10. Note that recycled pages which do not have the previously printed pages turned upside down will cause confusion when reading and when the document is to be scanned in the future.
    注意，沒有將舊打印的頁面倒置的回收紙會在閱讀時和將來掃描文檔時造成混亂。

(Added 添加, 30/7/2021)

(Updated 更新, 19/1/2023)

Use of emails 
電郵的使用

(Expanded 擴展, 7/7/2021)

(Updated 更新, 19/1/2023)

Generally
一般

1. Follow the template for folder structure under the email Data folder to create new folder structure for new jobs.
   參照Data電郵夾下的電郵夾結構模板” template for folder structure” 的概念把所有工程的電郵夾分類及統一名稱。
2. Do not print emails except when printed copies are required for use (particularly when drawings are to be printed for taking-off and colouring for evidence of taking-off).
   不要打印電郵，除非需要使用打印副本（特別是當需要打印圖紙以進行計量和著色以作為計量證據時）。
3. Delete spam emails on sight, to reduce everybody’s abortive time to read (permanent clearance from the Deleted Items folder will be done by the Administrator).
   一見垃圾電郵就立刻刪除，以免人人都要花時間看(從刪除郵件夾永久刪除由管理員做)。
4. Ignore all emails received from time to time calling for security verification regarding iTune, Apple ID, Microsoft, PayPal, HSBC, etc. since they are mostly malicious emails.
   千祈不要理會不時收到的關於iTune、 Apple ID、Microsoft、PayPal、HSBC 等等要人重新輸入認證的電郵，黑郵居多。
5. Do not open or save attachments received from unknown persons, and do not click open links.
   不要打開或儲存來自不認識的人的附件，亦不要打開連結。

Sending emails
發送電子郵件

1. bcc all outgoing emails back to our office.
   發出所有電郵時，密件抄送回自己公司。
2. Check that the bcc copies are received by our office to prove that the outgoing server is working.
   檢查自己公司是否收到密件抄送副本，以證明發送伺服器正常工作。
3. Check that there are no delivery failure message (should appear within 5 minutes) to prove that the delivery is successful.
   檢查沒有發送失敗消息（應在 5 分鐘內出現）以證明發送成功。
4. Handle any delivery failure immediately by contacting the intended recipient for the proper address, and re-send with a remark "Re-sent due to delivery failure", cc all others on the original email to make them know.
   立即處理任何送達失敗，聯繫預期收件人以獲取正確地址，重新發送，註明“因送達失敗而重新發送”，並抄送原始電郵中的所有其他收件人以知會他們。
5. For urgent email failed to be delivered after retry or failure to contact the intended recipient, fax the email copy to his/her company with a remark "Faxed due to email delivery failure" and the date. Email the front page back to the office. 
   緊急電郵在重試後仍未能送達或未能聯繫到預期的收件人，將電郵副本傳真給他/她的公司，並註明“因電郵送達失敗而傳真”和日期。 將首頁通過電郵發回自己公司。
6. Email source files (Word, Excel, etc.) back to our office after sending out pdf files. Mark at the beginning "Source files attached".發送 pdf 文件後，將源文件（Word、Excel 等），電郵發送回自己公司。 在開頭標記“附加的源文件”。

Correspondence not by emails
非電郵的來往文件

1. All outgoing and incoming documents not sent by email should be emailed back to our office for the record on the same day.
   所有非通過電郵發送的來往文件應在同一天通過電郵發送回自己公司以資記錄。

 

Printing frequency (no longer adopted)
打印頻率（不再採用）

1. Print all emails once every half-an-hour as far as possible.
   盡可能每半小時打印一次所有電郵。
2. Print before lunch break all emails received before 12 am.
   午休前打印所有在上午 12 點之前收到的電郵。
3. Print before close of a day's work all emails received before 5 pm.
   在一天的工作結束前打印下午 5 點之前收到的所有電郵。
4. Print upon starting a day's work all emails received before that.
   在開始一天的工作時打印之前收到的所有電郵。

Persons responsible for filing emails
電郵歸檔負責人

1. Be responsible for filing the softcopies of emails of their own projects.
2. Assign more junior or newly joined staff members to file softcopies of emails for a team of staff members.
3. Define filters.
4. Clerical staff (if available):
5. Assign a person as the final guard to remind all others to print their emails by the 12 am and 5 pm deadlines, and print all remaining emails not falling within the scope of the any particular team.
6. The above principle still applies if a clerk is employed to do the printing.

Printing

1. Print the newly received pages of the emails only, i.e., excluding linked pages of past emails which have been received before.
2. Print on one-sided recycled paper. (One-sided printout will be easier for reading and future scanning for archiving.)
3. Print on double-sided paper only when required by the surveyor responsible.
4. Print the one with track-changes if both Word or Excel and pdf files are received.

Not to print

1. ​​​​​​​Delete spam emails.
2. Delete promotional emails not relevant to our industry, profession or business.
3. Do not delete nor print promotional emails relevant to our industry, profession or business. File them under their relevant folders, if available, otherwise under "Sales Promotion".
4. Permanent deletion from the Trash folders should only be made by the director.
5. Do not print documents which are too thick, say more than 30 pages. Ask the surveyor responsible to see whether the thick documents should be printed.

Emailed copies of faxes

1. Treat emailed copies of faxes similarly.
2. Convert emailed copies of faxes to proper emails by forwarding each email with attached fax back to the office but stating a proper subject title and inserting an image of the first page in the email beforehand.

Documents sent through links

1. Do not download from links sent by unknown senders for unknown purposes. Check with the senders if in doubt.
2. Download ALL documents received through genuine links and and email them back to our office for the record.
3. Email ALL documents sent out through links back to our office for the record.
4. Split them into several emails if the file size is too large.

Emails attached to emails

1. Save emails attached to an email received on to the computer desktop and move them back to the email folder. They will appear at the positions of their original email dates. This would enable reading the story in a chronological order, and easy tracing later.
2. Print such emails like other emails.

Handling of printed emails

1. When there are more than one attachment, identify whether they belong to one submission or several submissions each bearing its own serial number or date (e.g., letters, site memos, proposed variations, instructions, variation quotations, payments, minutes, regular reports, etc.).
2. Separate between different submissions by staples or clips.
3. Arrange different submissions according to the dates stated on them (not the dates received).
4. Within the same submission, arrange the attachments in logical sequence, usually covering letter or site memo at the front and drawings at the back. Descriptive documents are usually in the middle. Summaries may be put before or after the details depending on the authors. Follow the specific contents page or the list of items stated in the email. Do not follow the order of the attachments to the email because they have no logical sequence. 
5. Fold thin A3 attachment (say, not exceeding 5 pages) forward from right to left along the centre line into A4 size, and then fold the top flap from left to right along the centre line into half A4 size. 
6. Fold thick A3 attachment backward from right to left keeping the edge clear from the left punch holes.
7. Stamp the date received on the top right hand corner of each separate submission received (but no need for different parts of the same submission which are not supposed to be taken out for use separately).
8. Stamp the date received on the top right hand corner on each programme and on the bottom right hand corner on each drawing because they may be filed or taken out for use separately.
9. Mark near the date chop the relevant instruction numbers.
10. Stamp neatly and clearly at a blank space.
11. Do not stamp on submissions emailed by our office unless they are returned with emails received.
12. Write on the emails simple reference numbers and dates of those separate submissions which are filed not immediately after the relevant emails to enable future tracing.
13. Initial neatly on the bottom left corners of the emails after arranging the emails and attachments.
14. File the emails directly in the appropriate email sub-folders of the relevant projects.
15. If the emails are printed by somebody other than the relevant team members, file the emails under the "00Printed" email folder for subsequent filing by the relevant team members. 
16. Distribute the printed emails once every half-an-hour to the relevant project team members for reading.
17. Circulate within the relevant team starting from the director to the assistant. If any person is absent, pass on to the next one present.
18. Read and initial on the top right hand corners of the emails and the first pages of separate submissions.
19. Take immediate actions as required by the emails.
20. File the emails in the relevant hardcopy folder after all team members have read and initialled and when no further immediate action is required.
21. File different submissions according to their dates even though those dates may be sometime in the past so that they can tell the complete story when the files are read sequentially sometime later. The date received stamp can help to trace that emails sending them though the submission and the email may be filed separately.​​​​​​

 

Filing of letters and emails
信件和電郵的歸檔

1. Create a separate folder section for each preliminary cost estimate, proposed instruction, confirmation of verbal instruction, formal instruction, other item to appear in the final account (e.g., group of provisional quantities, provisional sum), financial report, payment valuation, etc.
2. Name the email folders or label the hardcopy folder flysheets by their serial numbers.
3. If an email covers more than one folder section, email it back to the office with a note added to the subject so as to distinguish. Do not just make copies because identical copies will be deleted if a "remove duplicate" check is done.
4. File requests for estimates and estimates under the proposed instruction folders. Move them to the formal instruction folders after the issuance of the formal instructions.
5. Move confirmations of verbal instructions to the formal instruction folders after the issuance of the formal instructions.
6. Change the folder or label names to reflect or track the move.
7. File quotations and assessment related to a formal instruction under the same folder section, i.e., all matters related from cost estimate until agreement are to be filed together to tell the complete story.
8. Spilt into more folders if an instruction covers more than one variation or final account item.
9. Update the financial report descriptions and amounts to match whenever a new or revised quotation or assessment is received or issued.
10. File communications with each tenderer separately. This is important for tracking the development, preparing the letter of award/intent, and contract binding.
11. In principle, all incoming and outgoing documents in the email folders and hard copy folders should mirror each other, except for working documents not sent out.
12. Bind tender documents as a book, not to be filed.

(Added 添加, 7/7/2021)

Use of WhatsApp 
短信的使用

1. Read Company chat group regularly.
2. Reply immediately upon receipt of messages relating to self or all people, whether within or outside office hours.
   在公司群組收到關於自已或關於全部人的短訊要即覆
3. Report after completion of the task.
   在事件完成後要報告
4. Delete messages after completion of the task.
5. Learn from others' messages to avoid committing the same mistakes and to adopt good practice.
6. Delete non-relevant messages not worth keeping.

Revit

1. Use the License Transfer Utility provided by Revit to transfer Standalone License from one computer to another computer without infringing the license
   使用Revit提供的許可證轉移工貝(License Transfer Utility)把單機許可證從一部電腦, 轉移到另一部機而不違反許可證
2. Use Revit 2015 because some outside companies still use Revit 2013 or 2014 and models of new version cannot be converted back to older versions
   使用Revit 2015版，此乃因為外面有些公司仍只用Revit 2013或2014版，但新版本的模型不能改回舊
3. Use Revit 2015 for trial
   2016版屬試用

Documentary system 
文書機制

1. Use standard documents and templates
   使用標準檔、範本
2. Implement file management
   執行檔案管理
3. State file names, reference numbers, project names, contract names, subjects
   註明檔案名稱、編號、項目名稱、合同名稱、主旨
4. State date of receipt or dispatch, and affix acknowledgement chop
   註明收發的日期及蓋簽收章
5. Carry out  internal check
   執行內部審核
6. Double-check after printing
   列印後要覆核
7. Double-check after calculating
   計算後要覆核
8. Double-check after transferring figures
   搬移數字要覆核
9. Check quantities and rates
   覆核數量、單價

File compression 
檔案壓縮

• Set Winrar to use zip format to enable users who do not have Winrar to open (Windows file explorer can open zipped files)
  把Winrar 檔的格式設定為zip方便沒有Winrar的人打開(Windows file explorer可打開zipped 檔

Generate pdf file from Word file 
Word 檔轉換成 pdf檔

• 按以下優先次序以減少檔案大小：
  • Print CutePDF (如有)
  • Print - Save as Adobe PDF (如有)
  • Print - Adobe PDF (如有)
  • Export
  • Save as

Travelling expense 
交通費

• State the destination on all taxi fare receipts for the record
  在 所有的士單據上列明目的地，以作記錄

Use of toilets 
衛生間的使用

1. Use the toilet roll plastic wrapper after unwrapping as the base cushion to the toilet roll to avoid wetness and reduce dirt
   把廁紙膠套在剝除後用作廁紙的座墊，以便防濕及減髒
2. Place a new roll as reserve when the toilet roll is about to be used up
   廁紙接近用完，主動取放一卷作後備

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Go to End

Note

20/12/2014: Moved form wiki.

Favourable

1. Professional competence
2. Quality management
3. Complaint avoidance
4. Timely response
5. High efficiency
6. Innovation
7. Integrity (this being listed last not because it is of the least importance but because it is a matter of course without saying)

Adverse

• Professional negligence

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Go to End

Note

• 18/2/2023: Revised.  
• 28/2/2022: Revised.
• 28/3/2021: Contracting hierarchy added.
• 20/12/2014: Moved from wiki.

Usual contracting hierarchy

(Excluding those not directly related to construction.)
(The one at higher level is the buyer and the other at the immediate lower level is the seller.)

• Developer / Employer / Client (contract terms in Hong Kong or the UK) / Owner (contract term in US):
  • Consultants and site supervisory staff
  • Contractor / Main Contractor / General Contractor / Head Contractor / Management Contractor:
    • Direct labour
    • Suppliers (Nominated / Domestic)
    • Sub-Contractors (Nominated / Domestic):
      • Direct labour or suppliers
      • Sub-sub-contractors (many tiers):
        • Direct labour and suppliers.
  • Other Separate Contractors and Suppliers
  • Statutory undertakers / public utility companies / government departments.

Developer / Owner / Employer
建設單位 / 業主 / 發包方

1. Project Manager.
   項目經理
2. Consultants:
   顧問團
   • Architect
     建築師
   • Structural Engineer
     結構工程師
   • Building Services Engineer / M&E Engineer
     屋宇設備工程師 / 機電工程師
   • Interior Designer
     室內設計師
   • Geotechnical Engineer
     地質工程師
   • Landscaping Architect
     園境師
   • Quantity Surveyor.
     工料測量師
3. Clerk of Works / Building Services Inspector.
   現場監工 / 機電監工

Main Contractor
總承包方

1. Sub-Contractors:
   分包方
   • Nominated
     指定
   • Domestic.
     自選
2. Suppliers:
   供應商 / 供貨方
   • Nominated
     指定
   • Domestic.
     自選

Other Separate Contractors and Suppliers
其他獨立承包方及供應商

Statutory Undertakers and Public Utility Companies
法定承辦商及市政配套單位

Purchasers and Users
買家 / 用家

End of Page

Note

• 20/2/2023: Split into various pages.
• 18/2/2023: Revised.
• 7/3/2022: Cost geometry and most significant cost parameters moved from Pre-Contract Cost Planning and Control.
• 17/2/2021: Term contract edition updated.
• 17/3/2020: Revised.
• 26/2/2020: Revised.
• 17/2/2020: Tender price indices links updated.
• 20/12/2014: Moved from wiki.

Go to End

Note 註

• 5/3/2023: IPMS revised. Various images updated.
• 18/2/2023: Revised.
  修改。
• 8/4/2022: Chinese version partially added. Minor adjustments made.
  添加了部分中文版。進行了細微調整。
• 16/3/2022: Re-sequencing and minor corrections made.
  進行了重新排序和小幅修正。
• 10/3/2022: Minor adjustments made.
  進行了細微調整。
• 7/3/2022: ICMS split out on its own. Cost geometry and most significant cost parameters moved to "Estimating and Pricing".
  ICMS 分拆獨立。造價幾何和最重要的造價參數移至"估算和定價"。
• 3/3/2022: Minor adjustments made.
  進行了細微調整。
• 1/3/2022: Updated for ICMS 3 and IPMS.
  針對 ICMS 3 和 IPMS 進行了更新。
• 23/2/2022: Minor adjustments made.
  進行了細微調整。
• 18/3/2021: 9 sections added or revised. Punctuation style revised.
  添加或修改了 9 個部分。標點樣式修改。 
• 13/3/2020: Usual payment terms added.
  添加了通常的付款條件。
• 26/2/2020: Minor adjustments made.
  進行了細微調整。
• 20/12/2014: Moved from wiki.
  從 wiki 移來。

Pre-contract cost management
施工合同前的造價管理

1. Principal cost management tasks during the pre-contract stage:
   施工合同前的主要造價管理任務：
   • Prepare cost estimates or cost plans
     編製估算概算或造價計劃
   • Prepare cash flow tables
     編製現金流量表
   • Attend design meetings
     參與設計會議
   • Monitor the design
     監控設計
   • Adjust the cost estimates and reconcile
     調整估算概算及解釋變化
   • Compare alternatives.
     比較備選方案。
2. Estimate, plan, update and control.
   估計、計劃、更新和控制。

Need for pre-construction cost estimates
為何需要施工前概算

1. Know the costs for investment decisions:
   知道成本造價以作投資決定: 
   • Calculate land bid price
     計算買地投標價
   • Calculate acceptable rental
     計算可接受的租金
   • Evaluate the feasibility of the investment.
     評估投資的可行性。
2. Establish a project (development) budget.
   確定發展項目的投資預算。
3. Obtain funding.
   獲取資助。
4. Borrow money from the bank.
   從銀行借錢。
5. Formulate a design brief which defines the scope and standard of the project.
   制定設計任務書以說明發展項目的範圍和標準。
6. Monitor the design development to control the costs within budget.
   ​​​​​​​監控設計的深化以控制不超出投資預算。
7. Estimate fees or review fee percentage.
   估算顧問費或覆核顧問費率。

Best time to plan and control the costs
計劃和控制造價的最佳時機

1. As early as possible during the development process.
   在項目發展階段中越早越好。
2. Better chances to make design changes to find a better solution.
   較有機會修改設計取得更好的方案。
3. To reduce abortive design costs and time.
   減少設計返工成本和時間。

Ways to calculate cost estimates
計算造價估算的方法

1. Techniques:
   • Estimates should be done using expedient methods, approximations and shortcuts to reduce estimating time and costs in order to afford more estimates.
2. Methods:
   • By unit cost per floor area / length / number estimates
   • By measuring the most significant cost parameters
   • By measuring elemental quantities
   • By measuring approximate quantities
   • By pricing the bills of quantities ready for issuance or already issued for tendering.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Estimating mottos
四字真言

1. From big to small.

   由大到小。

2. From rough to fine. 

   從粗到細。

3. Focus on the important.

   重點出擊。

4. Make bold assumptions.

   大膽假設。

5. Verify carefully.

   小心求証。

6. Compare with the unlike.

   觸類旁通。

7. Conduct self-checking.

   自我覆核。

8. Reconcile with the previous. 

   瞻前顧後。

9. Empathize with the Client.

   ​​​​​​​設身處地​​​​​​。

(gerunds changed to verbs, 8/4/2022)

​​​​​​​Different names of pre-construction cost estimates
概算的不同名稱

1. Rough Indication of Costs ("RIC").
   大約估算。
2. Preliminary Indication of Costs.
   初步估算指標。
3. Preliminary Cost Estimates.
   概算。
4. Elemental Cost Estimates.
   功能分部概算。
5. Cost Plans.
   成本計畫。
6. Cost Models (An American term).
   成本模型 (美式用詞)。
7. Pre-tender Estimates.
   標底。

Budgets, cost estimates and cost plans

1. Budget:
   • A budget is the maximum sum a Developer is willing and able to spend on a project.
2. Cost estimate:
   • A cost estimate is a forecast of the probable ultimate cost based on the current design.
   • It is required to be done throughout the pre-construction stages as well as the construction stage until the estimated costs become fixed prices.
   • A cost estimate for now, if satisfactory and approved, will become the cost plan for the future design.
3. Cost plan:
   • A cost plan is a detailed cost framework for controlling future design.
   • It sets out the portions of the total budget allocated to different parts of the construction so as to serve as the cost limits to the relevant parts of the construction.
   • It may just be based on some interpolation from the cost data of other projects or may be based on some detailed cost estimate specifically prepared for the relevant design.
   • It usually refers to the cost plan before the award of the principal contract. After that, the cost plan will be replaced with regular final statements.
4. Rough indication of costs ("RIC"):
   • It is a kind of cost estimates. It may be just based on unit cost / number or unit cost / floor area or unit cost / other functional unit to be used in the feasibility study or early design stage based on some ideas or sketch designs
   • HK ArchSD still calls it "Rough Indication of Costs" when the estimate is still in the early stage though the details may be more than just based on unit cost per floor areas.
5. Approximate estimate:
   • Approximate estimates should be done using expedient methods, approximations and shortcuts to reduce estimating time and costs in order to afford more estimates.
   • This principle should be applied to pre-construction cost estimates or post contract cost estimates.
6. Detailed cost estimate:
   • It is a more detailed cost estimate prepared when the design is more developed.
   • "Detailed" refers to the number of items measured, rather than to the accuracies of the quantities estimated.
   • Some consultants call it "Preliminary Cost Estimate", and some call it "Cost Plan".
   • It may become the Budgetary Estimate if approved.
7. Pre-tender estimate (按工程量清單計算標底):
   • A pre-tender estimate is no longer an approximate estimate and is prepared by pricing the bills of quantities ready for issuance or already issued for tendering.
8. A logical sequence is like this:
   • Rough Indication of Costs => Detailed Cost Estimate => Cost Plan / Budgetary Estimate => Pre-tender Estimate.

(revised, 18/2/2023)

Elemental cost classifications

1. Trade by trade classifications:

   • Pricing documents for tendering are usually arranged in trade by trade or works section orders or work breakdown structures according to the local standard method of measurement or local practice.

2. Elemental cost classifications:

   • Instead of following the same order, pre-construction cost estimating in many countries (not all) adopt an elemental cost classification, which divides the costs of a construction project into various parts ("elements") each serving a specific function or common purpose such that the costs of alternatives serving the same function or purpose can be compared, evaluated and selected irrespective of their trades, works sections, design, specification, materials or construction.

3. Classifying the costs of a building (or other construction) into elements would facilitate: ​

   • Comparison of the costs of different design options serving the same elemental function 

   • Comparison with costs of other projects by elements

   • Rationalizing the budget allocation between different elements for better use 

   • Quicker estimating based on elemental quantities which are easier to measure 

   • Analysis of data for different projects on the same basis and classification.

4. Different elemental cost classifications in Hong Kong:

   • Different QS practices and ArchSD have different elemental classifications.

   • ArchSD adopts the following Project Element Cost Model as described in the Standard Method of Measurement for Building Elements 2020 Edition published by the Architectural Services Department (https://www.archsd.gov.hk/media/publications-publicity/schedule-of-rates/asdsmmbe_2020.pdf):

     • 

5. Many other places outside Hong Kong also have their own elemental cost classification systems, e.g.:
   • UK's Uniclass: 
     • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniclass#The_tables
     • https://www.thenbs.com/our-tools/uniclass-2015#classificationtables (browse the Element / Function table)
   • UK RICS's NRM 1 ("New Rules of Measurement 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works"):
     • https://www.rics.org/uk/upholding-professional-standards/sector-standards/construction/rics-nrm-new-rules-of-measurement/
   • USA's Omniclass:
     • https://www.csiresources.org/standards/omniclass (incorporating MasterFormat for Work Results and UnitFormat for Elements)
   • Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria, etc.
6. ICMS:
   • International Cost Management Standard (ICMS) (https://icms-coalition.org/the-standard/) is a global classification and reporting standard covering the life cycle costs and carbon emissions of building and civil engineering projects. "elements" is called “Groups” and “Sub-Groups” in ICMS 3 so that they are equally applicable to costs and carbon emissions. The examples shown here are based on that standard. See also http://kctang.com.hk/web/international-cost-management-standard.

(revised, 5/3/2023)

Construction floor area and gross floor area in Hong Kong

1. Different areas:
   • For costing, leasing and sales of buildings and related land, people usually have to refer to unit cost or price per floor area of the buildings as the most important controlling parameter.
   • However, there are many types of floor areas being defined for different purposes in Hong Kong or other places outside Hong Kong. An understanding of their possible differences is important.
2. CFA:
   • Quantity Surveyors measure the construction floor area (CFA) in order to estimate the total construction cost of a building.
3. GFA:
   • Lands leased by the Government in Hong Kong are subject to limitation on the gross floor areas (lease GFA) of the buildings which may be built on the land. Some of the construction floor area is not accountable for the lease GFA. The Lands Department is responsible for the control. Read the Lands Department's Practice Note on Accountable and Non-Accountable GFA under Lease at https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/images/doc/1998_1A_text.pdf.
   • Building plans have to be submitted to the Buildings Department for approval and consent before construction. The gross floor areas (GFA) are also controlled by the Buildings Regulations. Read the Buildings Department's Practice Note on Calculation of Gross Floor Area and Non-accountable Gross Floor Area at https://www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/practice-notes-and-circular-letters/pnap/APP/APP002.pdf.
   • The Lands Department's Practice Note says while the Lands Department is usually prepared to follow the Buildings Department's ruling in exemptions from GFA calculations, it reserves its right and absolute discretion to do otherwise in individual cases.
4. Saleable area:
   • There are further complications due to the use of saleable area for residential properties. See Cap. 621 Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance at https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap621.

International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS)

1. The International Property Measurement Standards at https://ipmsc.org/standards/ are intended to unify the rules of measurement of various kinds of floor areas for different types of buildings.
2. A single harmonised standard covering All Buildings has been published on 15 January 2023 to supersede all previously published standards for individual asset classes.
3. IPMS 1 (gross external floor area) and IPMS 2 (gross internal floor area) are referred to by ICMS.
4. Read this and appreciate the diagrammatic illustration.
5. CFA in Hong Kong is close to IPMS 1 with one exception: accessible rooftop terraces are included in IPMS 1 but not in Hong Kong CFA.

(revised, 18/2/2022, 5/3/2023)

Need for historical cost analyses

1. Before talking about the cost estimates, it may be appropriate to talk about cost analyses first.
2. Cost analyses are needed to:
   • Benchmark new projects
   • Provide cost data for new estimates
   • Provide cost parameters for new estimates​​​​​​​.

(revised, 18/2/2023)

Cost analyses

Example adopting ICMS

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(image updated, 5/3/2023)

Classify total costs

1. A cost analysis analyses the awarded or final prices of a project and re-classify the costs following the same classification used for the cost estimates or cost plans.
2.  When classified in elemental format, the cost of each element or sub-element is summed up into a single line item.
3. The cost is called “elemental cost” in Hong Kong.

Identify elemental quantities

1. A single representative quantity is measured for that line item.
2. The single quantity is called "elemental quantity" in Hong Kong. “representative” means that the quantity can best represent the cost changes in case of quantity changes.

Get elemental unit rates

1. The cost of that cost item is then divided by the elemental quantity to give a single all-inclusive rate.
2. The single all-inclusive rate is called "elemental unit rate" in Hong Kong.
3. That means:
   • elemental cost / elemental quantity = elemental unit rate,
   • or
   • elemental quantity x elemental unit cost = element cost,
   • depending on the order of presenting the columns in table form.
4. The elemental unit rates are very useful when the cost of a new project is required to be estimated before any detailed design is available.

Apply the elemental unit rates to new projects

1. Elemental quantities can be measured for the new project and priced at elemental unit rates of the reference projects.
2. There are not too many items of elemental quantities to be measured. The cost estimating process can therefore be very fast.
3. Of course, the elemental unit rates may not be directly applicable to the new project.
4. It should at least be adjusted for the changes in the price levels from the times it was applicable to the reference project to the time of the new project, and then for other changed factors.

Get quantity ratios or factors

1. A cost analysis should also contains quantity ratios or factors such as:
   • elevation area : floor area
   • concrete volume per floor area
   • formwork area per concrete volume or floor area
   • rebar weight per concrete volume or floor area
   • etc.  
2. These quantity ratios can serve as useful references when estimating the costs of new projects.
3. Apart from using the data in a cost analysis to estimate the cost of a new project in the absence of detailed design, the data can also be used to benchmark the cost of a new project after a more detailed cost estimate is done to ensure that the new project would not go out of order.
4. Hong Kong Government uses this technique to control the costs of new project at the design stage.
5. The Architectural Services Department has published a very detailed Project Cost Analysis Form.

Changes in cost and price levels

1. Due to changes in the market conditions, the unit rates for exactly the same description of work may change over time.

2. The market conditions may include fluctuations in the costs of labour, materials and plant, market competition, and other factors. 

3. Unit rates applicable in the past would need to be adjusted to the current level.

4. Tender price or cost indices are therefore prepared to provide the adjustment factors.

5. Their differences should be appreciated.

6. Tender price indices and cost indices can fluctuate at different rates because price = cost + profit, and the price may increase less than the cost increase in order to secure projects or may increase more in case the market is full.

​​​​​​​(revised, 18/2/2023)

Different methods of approximate cost estimating
計算概算的方法

Different methods

1. Unit method (common).
2. Superficial method or area method (common).
3. Cubic method (seldom used for buildings).
4. Storey enclosure method (seldom used now).
5. Elemental cost estimates (common):
   • Elemental quantity method
   • Approximate quantity method.
6. Condensed elemental method using the most significant cost parameters.

Pre-tender estimate:

1. A pre-tender estimate is no longer an approximate cost estimate and is prepared by pricing the bills of quantities ready for issuance or already issued for tendering.

Unit method (按功能單元個數計算)

1. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the number of functional units provided by the building x unit cost per functional unit.
2. ICMS has suggested the following functional units for buildings: number of occupants | number of bedrooms | number of hospital beds | number of hotel rooms | number of car parking spaces | number of classrooms | number of students | number of passengers | number of boarding gates.
3. The unit method is a crude method serving as an early indication of the probable order of cost of the average building of the relevant type.
4. It is not useful for forecasting with a high degree of accuracy the costs of newly proposed buildings of the same type because their designs can be very different.
5. However, it may be used by clients and in particular government departments to serve as a cost yardstick controlling the budget of newly proposed projects.
6. It is still also useful to serve a check that a unit cost per floor area may sound reasonable but, when expressed in unit cost per functional unit, the unit cost can be out of order because of excessive floor area per functional unit.

Superficial method or area method (按樓面積計算)

1. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the floor area of the building x unit cost per floor area.
2. This is the most commonly used method, possibly because the sales and rental prices are also expressed in unit cost per floor area.
3. Note however that there are many definitions of "floor area". The same definition should be consistently applied.

Cubic method (seldom used for buildings) (按樓體積計算(現少用))

1. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the volume of the building x unit cost per volume.
2. In theory, the volume can take care of the different storey heights of the building.
3. This is not commonly used probably because the floor areas are more readily available, and calculating the volumes would mean a further step to be done.
4. The cubic method may be useful for site formation works or civil engineering works involving massive volume of work.

​​​​​​​Storey enclosure method (seldom used now) (按樓板及外殼面積加權計算(現少用)

1. In essence, the estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the total of the weighted areas of bottom slabs (basement or ground), suspended floor slabs, roof slabs, and walls below and above ground x unit cost per total weighted area.
2. Each type of slabs or walls are given different fixed weightings to reflect their relative ratios of costs.
3. The calculation is much more complicated than the superficial method or the cubic method.
4. With so many varieties of construction components and materials, whether the fixed weightings can truly reflect the relative ratios of costs is doubtful.
5. This method is seldom used these days.
6. Search the internet for details and examples.

(revised, 18/2/2023)

Elemental quantity method (按功能分部工程量計算)

1. The building cost is classified into different elements (or Groups or Sub-Groups as used in ICMS as shown under the "Sections" column in the example below which follows ICMS classifications).
2. Each element is represented by an appropriate elemental quantity which best represents the elemental cost (i.e., changing proportionally).
3. It can be seen from the example below that the elemental quantities generally adopt the values of the most significant cost parameters discussed here and below.
4. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the total of (elemental quantity x elemental unit rate).
   • 
5. It takes into account the different forms, provisions and standard of the proposed new building better than the average unit cost per floor area.
6. It is therefore a more accurate method than the superficial method.
7. However, while the elemental quantities are simple to measure, the elemental unit rates would rely on reliable cost data from other projects or may need careful build-ups.
8. This method should only be used at the early stage of design.
9. At the time of the elemental quantity cost estimates, there would not be much details to measure approximate quantities and one has to rely on past cost analyses or some estimated quantity factors and ratios to estimate the elemental unit rates.
10. The elemental unit rates, quantity factors and ratios should be critically reviewed to see whether they should remain unchanged or adjusted when the design of the building is changed even though the elemental quantities can remain unchanged.
11. The price levels of past projects must be adjusted to the present day for use.

(image updated, 5/3/2023)

Approximate quantity method (按分項大約工程量計算)

1. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the total of (approximate quantity of major item of work x unit rate per quantity of major item of work inclusive of costs of minor items):
   • 
2. It does not usually show the elemental quantities and elemental unit rates just to save time.
3. As the design is more developed, it is possible to measure the work constituting the building more accurately and apply more appropriate unit rates relevant to the materials and standard chosen.
4. The quantities are approximate to reduce the time to measure so that a quicker cost estimate can be produced to reflect the updated cost of the design and enable any subsequent measures to control any unexpected costly design.

(image updated, 5/3/2023)

Condensed elemental method using the most significant cost parameters

1. Users of the elemental quantity method may find that many elemental quantities are the same for different elements and can in fact be reduced into a few most significant cost parameters:​​​​​​​​​​​​
   • Floor area (above ground + below ground)
   • Ground area (= roof area) 
   • Transfer structure area
   • External elevation area 
   • Basement screen wall area or more effectively basement volume of excavation
   • Site area
   • External area (site area - ground area) 
   • Number of equipment 
   • Refrigeration tonnage 
   • Other elemental quantities.
2. The estimated cost of a building is calculated based on the total of (quantity of the above cost parameter x composite unit rate per quantity of cost parameter).
3. This can provide a quick and equally reliable cost estimate though not as detailed as the elemental quantity cost estimate.

1. Cover page:
   • Estimate Number
   • Project Name 
   • Project Location 
   • Estimate Date
   • List of Contents (if simple enough to list here)
   • Consultants’ Names.
2. Contents page (for longer list)

3. Grand Summary (in table form):
   ​​​​​​​大匯總: 

   • Total Cost of Each Section of the Project 
     建設項目每區域的總造價
   • Floor Area of Each Section 
     每區域的樓面面積
   • Unit Cost per Floor Area.
     ​每區域的樓面面積的單價。

4. Descriptions: 
   編製說明: 

   • Project Name 
     項目名稱
   • Project Location 
     項目地點
   • Scope of the Estimate 
     估算範圍
   • Areas: 
     面積:
     • Construction Floor Area / Covered Floor Area 
       建築面積/有蓋樓面面積
     • Ground Area 
       地面面積
     • Site Area 
       地塊面積
     • Lease Gross Floor Area 
       地契樓面面積
     • (Non-)Accountable GFA 
       可豁面/不豁面地契樓面面積
     • Bay Window Area 
       窗臺面積
   • Basis of the Estimate:
     估算依據:
     • Drawings used 
       依據的圖紙
   • Price Levels:
     價格水準:
     • Current Prices 
       現行價格
     • Fluctuations from Date of Preparing the Estimate to Tendering 
       由編製到招標的價格浮動
     • Fluctuations from Tendering to Completion of Construction 
       由招標到竣工的價格浮動
   • Outline Specification of Design and Materials 
     分部設計及用料大綱
   • Finishes Schedule 
     裝飾表
   • Exclusions. 
     不包項目。

5. Elemental Summary of each Section (in table form): 
   每區域的功能分部匯總:

   • Floor Area of the Section 
     該區域的樓面面積
   • Item Reference
     項目編碼
   • Total Cost of Each Element of the Section 
     該區域的每功能分部總造價
   • Unit Cost per Floor Area 
     每功能分部的樓面面積單價
   • % Proportion of each Element. 
     每功能分部所占百分比。

6. Detailed Build-up (Arranged by Elements or Cost Groups):
   ​​​​​​​​具體項目(按功能分部排列):

   • ​Item Reference
     ​​​​​​​編碼
   • Descriptions
     子目說明
   • Quantities (rounded off to tens or thousands)
     數量(拾位元或百位元整數)
   • Rates (rounded off to two significant figures)
     單價(兩個有效數字)
   • Extension (rounded off to ten thousands)
     合價(萬位元整數)
   • Elemental Totals
     功能分部總價

   • Possible additional information: 
     可能的附加資料:

     • Elemental Quantities
       功能分部數量

     • Unit Costs per Elemental Quantities.
       ​功能分部單價。

​​​​​​​Adjust published unit costs per floor area

1. Some Consultant QS firms publish unit costs per floor area for public information.
2. When using these unit costs, care should be exercised to understand the scope of inclusions and exclusions, and their applicability.
3. The General Practice Division of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors has published a Building Cost Pro-Forma for Private Sector Developments in Hong Kong.pdf.
4. This should serve as a useful checklist, but the items and figures suggested there should be verified for individual projects.

Presentation of cost estimates

1. Rounding off:
   • The quantities, unit rates and costs should be suitably rounded off.
2. Word wrapping:
   • Text in table cells should be word-wrapped to avoid hiding of text at the end.
3. Comparison tables:
   • When the cost estimates need to give comparison tables to show different options and the differences between options to help reading and appreciation of the relative costs, instead of showing all the columns of each option together, the columns can be re-arranged in the following sequence to save some space and enable easier reading:

   • Item	Section	Elemental Cost HK$			Difference from Original HK$		Cost per m2 CFA HK$			Remarks
     		Original	Option 1	Option 2	Option 1	Option 2	Original	Option 1	Option 2	Option 1	Option 2

     Item	Section	Elemental Qty			Elemental Unit and Description	Elemental Unit Rate			Remarks
     		Original	Option 1	Option 2		Original	Option 1	Option 2	Option 1	Option 2

   • When spanning over more than one page, the Item and Section columns and column header rows should be repeated.
   • The contents under the Remarks columns can be very flexible, for adjustment methods, calculations, rationale, etc., subject only to space limitation.
   • The remarks can be “Assumed no change”, “Original qty x 2”, “Original rate x 1.2”, etc.
   • If there is not enough space, and the remarks are repeating, just insert “(a)”, “(b)”, “(c)”, in the Remarks columns, and define them below the table to mean:
     • Legend:
     • (a) Assumed no change
     • (b) Original qty x 2
     • (c) Original rate x 1.2 for higher rate due to complexity.
   • Instead of showing the quantity and rate adjustments separately, the adjustment can be made directly against the cost, such as:
     • Legend:
     • (a) Option 1 CFA / Original CFA = 2
     • (b) Original cost x 2
     • (c) Original cost x 2 x 1.2 for higher rate due to complexity
     • (d) Original cost x (new elemental qty / original elemental qty) x (new elemental unit rate / original elemental unit rate).
   • Example (d) can in fact save the need to show the columns for elemental qty, unit and unit rates.
   • The adjustment calculations can also cover inflationary factors.

Comments on specific ICMS Sub-Groups

Foundation piling

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes all foundation piling underneath the building with or without basement.
2. Elemental quantity:
   • Foundation piling supports the whole building.
   • Its costs are more related to the total construction floor area (CFA) of the building including the basement CFA, which should be used as the elemental quantity.
   • Elemental unit rate:
     • Equals to unit cost per construction floor area based on some similar projects.
3. Approximate quantities:
   • The costs can be estimated, after consulting the Structural Engineer for a preliminary design, based on:
     • Piling plant mobilisation and demobilisation – Item
     • Piles – Number with each length/depth stated or total length/depth
     • Pile testing – Item.
   • It should be noted that the pile depths in ground and the pile core lengths are two different things.
   • All ancillary work not measured should be allowed for in the rates.

Foundations up to top of lowest floor slabs

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes that shown in blue below (pile caps, footings, substructure columns and walls, and lowest floor slabs and beams) beyond the footprint of the basement, and excludes foundation piling.
   • 
   • Foundations (excluding piles) underneath the basement are usually integrated with the basement bottom and should therefore be included in the “Basement sides and bottom”.
   • Therefore, this Sub-Group's costs are not related to the basement footprint or the basement floor areas.
2. Elemental quantity:
   • Pile caps, footings and substructure columns and walls, which support the whole building, are more related to the total CFA and building height.
   • Lowest floor slabs and beams are more related to the ground area (GA) of the building.
   • On the conservative side, the total CFA should be used as the elemental quantity to obtain the elemental unit rate for future references.
   • However, when applying this elemental unit rate to a building of significantly different building height and different CFA to GA ratio (approximately equal to the number of floors), the elemental unit rate can be broken into two parts for application.
   • For example, from the cost analysis of a reference building:
   • 
   • The unit rates at (a) and (d) can then be applied to the proposed building, subject to further adjustments for other dissimilarities.
   • Similar method can be adopted to split the elemental unit rates into different parts to handle those parts which do not vary in proportion to the elemental quantity.
3. Approximate quantities:
   • For approximate quantity cost estimates, the costs can be, after consulting the Structural Engineer for a preliminary design, estimated based on:
     • Excavation (rates to include disposal) – volume of excavation from commencing level of excavation to bottom of blinding layer with allowance for working spaces beyond the volume of the concrete work
     • Lateral supports in the form of planking and strutting for shallow excavation – allowed for in the rates for excavation
     • Lateral supports in the form of planking and strutting for deep excavation – as described for “Basement sides and bottom”
     • Raft footings, pile caps, column bases, wall footings, strap beams and tie beams – concrete volume, formwork area and reinforcement weight
     • Substructure walls and columns – ditto
     • Lowest floor slabs and beams – ditto
     • Lift pits – number.
   • ICMS gives a good checklist of the above.
   • All ancillary work not measured should be allowed for in the rates.
   • The concrete member sizes can be based on the preliminary design drawings.
   • Simplification into approximate average sizes x number can speed up the measurement.
   • It may even be quicker to estimate the average thickness per the building footprint from the preliminary design drawings or from some reference projects of similar height or adjusted for the differences in heights.
   • Following the same logic, the composite elemental unit rate build-up can be as follows:
     • Average concrete thickness / building footprint @ $/m3
     • Average formwork area / building footprint @ $/m2
     • Average concrete thickness / building footprint x steel ratio kg/m3 concrete @ $/kg
     • Average excavation depth / building footprint @ $/m3
     • Sum of the above = composite rate / building footprint
   • Of course, the concrete thickness and steel ratio should have taken into account the building height.

Basement sides and bottom

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes that shown in blue below (sides and bottom) of a basement and excavation for the basement, and excludes foundation piling.
     • 
2. Elemental quantity:
   • This is a difficult Sub-Group for choosing the appropriate elemental unit because:
     • part of its costs is related to the volume of the basement (excavation, disposal, and shoring and strutting)
     • part related to the basement footprint (basement bottom)
     • part related to the side area (basement side and vertical retaining support which can be twice the basement depth).
   • The volume of the basement should be the best choice for use as the elemental quantity.
   • The basement floor area may also be a reflection of the volume.
   • However, it would be better to estimate the costs from a number of approximate quantities rather than a single elemental quantity.
3. Approximate quantities:
   • For approximate quantity cost estimates, the costs can be, after consulting the Structural Engineer for a preliminary design, estimated based on:
     • Excavation (rates to include disposal) – volume of excavation from commencing level of excavation to bottom of blinding layer with allowance for working spaces beyond the volume of the concrete work
     • Vertical lateral support – area of excavated surfaces retained (from commencing level of excavation to bottom of blinding layer) x 2 or more to account for the embedded depth below the blinding layer
     • Horizontal or raking shoring to lateral support - area of excavated surfaces retained (suitable for raking shoring) or volume of excavation (suitable for flying shoring, i.e. horizontal shoring spanning across the whole site with intermediate vertical posts to support), unless more detailed measurement is used
     • Bottom slabs and blinding (including all foundations underneath but excluding piles) – concrete volume, formwork area and reinforcement weight
     • Basement sides – area
     • Vertical waterproof tanking, drainage blanket, drains and skin wall – area of tanking
     • Horizontal waterproof tanking, drainage blanket, drains and topping slab – area of tanking
     • Insulation – area
     • Lift pits, sump pits, sleeves – number of lift pits and sump pits.
   • ICMS gives a good checklist of the above.
   • All ancillary work not measured should be allowed for in the rates.
   • The concrete member sizes can be based on the average thicknesses from the preliminary design drawings or from some reference projects of similar height or adjusted for the differences in heights.
   • Simpler cost build-up can take the following form:
     • Volume of excavation – composite rates to cover excavation, disposal, and horizontal or raking shoring per m3 of excavation
     • Area of basement bottom – composite rates to cover all horizontal elements, with different ratios per basement bottom area to account for different elements
     • Area of basement sides – composite rates to cover all vertical elements, with different ratios per basement side area to account for different elements
     • Lump sum – to cover other standalone elements.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Basement suspended floors (up to top of ground floor slabs)

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes all structural walls and columns, beams, slabs and staircases inside the basement, but excludes basement sides and bottom.
2. Elemental quantity:
   • The elemental quantity should be the CFA of the basement.
   • Elemental unit rate build-up (per basement CFA):
     • Similar to that for the "Frames and slabs".

Frames and slabs (above top of ground floor slabs)

1. Scope
   • This Sub-Group includes all structural walls and columns, beams, slabs and staircases above the top of ground floor slabs.
2. Elemental quantity
   • The elemental quantity should be the CFA above ground, not the total CFA including the basement CFA.
   • Elemental unit rate build-up (per CFA above ground):

     • Concrete	m3 concrete / m2 floor area	@ $/m3
       Formwork	m2 formwork / m2 floor area	@ $/m2
       Reinforcement	kg reinforcement / m3 concrete x m3 concrete / m2 floor area or kg reinforcement / m2 floor area	@ $/kg

   • The quantity ratios are usually based on some similar projects or by sampling based on a typical bay.

Roof beams and slabs for Buildings under "Structure"

1. Scope:
   • Roofs can occur at the top of buildings or at lower floors. Any suspended floor without cover above is considered as a roof. 
   • “roof beams and slabs” for Buildings should also include such roofs at the top or at lower floors.
   • In principle, the roof area on plan at various levels should be equal to the projected building footprint area on plan.
     • ​​​​​​​
2. Elemental quantity:
   • The elemental quantity should be the roof area if roof beams and slabs are separately estimated.
   • Otherwise, it should be part of the total CFA including the basement CFA.

External elevations

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes all external walls including applied finishes, cladding, curtain walls, windows, doors, shop fronts and shutters on the external elevations, but excludes external structural walls.
2. Elemental quantity:
   • The elemental quantity should be the external elevation area.
   • ICMS defines it as "total area of external wall finishes, facade cladding and curtain walls, windows, doors, shop fronts, roller shutters, fire shutters, etc. on the external elevations including all surfaces of

     external railings, parapets and features, but ignoring the presence of canopies".

   • Elemental unit rate build-up (per elevation area):

     • Aluminium windows	a% elevation area	@ $/m2
       Finishes on structural walls, columns and beams	b% elevation area	@ $/m2
       External non-structural walls and finishes	c% elevation area	@ $/m2
       Roller shutters	d% elevation area	@ $/m2

     • a%+b%+c%+d% = 100% elevation area.
     • The percentages are approximate proportions of the total external elevation area of a sampled section of the elevation.

Roof finishes, skylights and landscaping (including waterproofing and insulation)

1. Scope:

   • This Sub-Group include those to such roofs at the top or at lower floors.

2. Elemental quantity:

   • Roof area

   • Element unit rate build-up:

     • Similar to other Sub-Groups.

Internal divisions

1. Scope:
   • This Sub-Group includes ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​all kinds of divisions including internal windows, doors and shutters.
2. Elemental quantity:
   • The elemental quantity can be the total CFA including the basement CFA.
   • Element unit rate build-up (per CFA):

     • Internal non-structural concrete walls	m2 walls / m2 floor area	@ $/m2
       Internal brick walls	m2 walls / m2 floor area	@ $/m2
       Doors	No. of doors / m2 floor area	@ $/No.
       etc.

     • The quantity factors are based on a similar project or approximate wall areas per construction floor area of a sampled floor, which layout may be just an educated guess.
     • The wall areas have door openings deducted.
   • The elemental quantity can also be the total wall areas without deducting door openings

   • The elemental unit rate build-up will then be (per total wall area):

     • Internal non-structural concrete walls	a% of wall area	@ $/m2
       Internal brick walls	b% of wall area	@ $/m2
       Extra for doors	No. of doors / m2 wall area	@ $/No.#
       etc.

     • a% + b% = 100%.

     • # = after deducting cost of wall.

     • The percentages are approximate proportions of the total wall area of a sampled floor, which layout may be just an educated guess.

Fittings and sundries

1. Scope
   • This Sub-Group basically includes all the metal work and joinery, and interior landscaping.
2. Elemental quantity
   • The elemental quantity can be the total CFA including the basement CFA, or the relevant functional quantity.
   • Elemental unit rate:
     • Generally based on similar projects.

Finishes under cover

1. Scope
   • This Sub-Group includes all floor and ceiling finishes and false ceilings whether internal or external, and internal wall finishes and cladding.
2. Elemental quantity
   • The elemental quantity can be the total CFA including the basement CFA.
   • Elemental unit rate build-up of floor finishes (internal and external) (per CFA):

     • Floor finish A	a% of floor area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Floor finish B	b% of floor area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Floor finish C	c% of floor area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Add 10% for skirting

     • a%+b%+c% = an estimated percentage of floor area / CFA after deducting voids, and wall and column base areas, i.e. less than 100% of CFA.

   • Elemental unit rate build-up of internal wall finishes and cladding (per CFA):

     • Wall finish A	a% of wall area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Wall finish B	b% of wall area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Wall finish C	c% of wall area / CFA	@ $/m2

     • The quantity factors are based on a similar project or approximate internal wall finishes areas per CFA of a sampled floor, which layout may be just an educated guess.
     • Note the approximate formula: internal wall finishes = internal wall area x 2 + external wall area.
     • False ceiling voids and unfinished lift shafts would affect this formula.

   • Elemental unit rate build-up of ceiling finishes and false ceilings (internal and external) (per CFA):

     • Ceiling finish A	a% of ceiling area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Ceiling finish B	b% of ceiling area / CFA	@ $/m2
       Ceiling finish C	c% of ceiling area / CFA	@ $/m2

       • a%+b%+c% = an estimated percentage of the ceiling area / CFA after deducting voids, and wall and column areas, but adding beam sides, i.e. more than 100% of CFA.

Services and equipment

1. The costs of services and equipment are generally estimated based on $/CFA for each sub-system.
2. If part of the building is not served by a sub-system, the CFA used may be only the area served.
3. In the case of toilets and kitchens, the estimate may be based on the number of toilets and kitchens.
4. For a more detailed cost analysis or cost estimate, the costs can be broken down into the following portions:
   • Costs related to main equipment (chillers, cooling towers, air handling units, transformers, boilers, etc.)
   • Costs related to terminal service outlets (air grilles, diffusers, lighting points, power points, sprinklers, speakers, cameras, sanitary fittings, etc.)
   • Costs related vertical up-feed and down-feed
   • Costs related to horizontal distribution
   • Costs related to isolated locations (e.g. toilets, kitchens, plant rooms, etc.).

Movement systems

1. While using the CFA as the elemental quantity for movement systems cannot be treated as wrong particularly when the CFA is big and there are many lifts and escalators, the cost should better be estimated based on cost per number of lift or escalator.

Elemental quantities based on % of other costs

1. It would be more appropriate to use % of other costs (base costs) as the elemental quantities to allow for preliminaries and risk allowances as the base costs may change when the CFAs remain the same.

Steel ratios

1. The steel ratios of structural walls and columns should be bigger than those for beams and slabs.

Unit cost / CFA of taller buildings

1. The $/CFA of foundations, substructure and structure should be higher for taller buildings because of increased loading on the lower floors and increased wind load.
2. The $/CFA of services and equipment should be higher for taller buildings because of longer running lengths of vertical pipes and cables, and increased lift speeds and capacities.
3. Refuge floor would need to be added.
4. Taller buildings take longer times to complete, causing higher unit rates and higher preliminaries costs. While it is usual to use the same % for preliminaries for different projects, when carrying out comparative cost studies for buildings with very different construction periods, the % should reflect the differences. Instead of adjusting all the unit rates, it may as well be simpler to adjust only the preliminaries to also cover the higher unit rates.

Composite rates for approximate quantities
​​​​​​​組合單價的測算

Composite items

1. The approximate quantity method measures major work items as composite items so as to reduce the need and time to break down the work items into components for detailed measurement.

2. Examples are:

   • lump sum allowances for mobilisation and demobilisation of major construction plant

   • m or No. piles of specific cross-sectional size

   • m3 excavation including disposal (backfill or remove from site)

   • m2 or m concrete members including formwork and reinforcement
   • m2 brick or block work including lintols
   • m2 cladding or curtain walls or window walls or windows including glazing
   • m or No. extra over m2 or m for special features
   • No. doors including frames, architraves, fixings, glazing, painting, fire rating, etc.
   • No. of major metal or joinery fittings
   • m2 roof finishes including surface layer, protective screed, waterproofing layer, levelling screed, insulation, etc.
   • m2 rendering including surface treatment
   • m2 plastering including painting
   • m2 tiling including screeding
   • No. of vertical stacks of water supply or disposal pipes including all pipe fittings and ancillaries
   • No. of kitchens or bath rooms or other serviced rooms including all sanitary fittings and branches 
   • No. of sanitary fittings including all accessories
   • No. of terminal M&E fittings including conduits or wiring or cables
   • No. of main M&E equipment
   • m conduits or wiring or cables
   • m2 ducts
   • lump sum allowances for sundries
   • lump sum for or No. of costly tests
3. Different sizes or types may be separated or grouped together depending on their cost significance.
4. Average sizes may be stated or varying sizes deemed.

Composite rates

1. Building up of composite rates would be required for such composite items.

2. Buffers should be allowed in the approximate quantities and composite rates to cover the costs of unmeasured minor items.

Using BIM

• When preliminary BIM models are used to generate quantities for preparing cost estimates, the quantities would not reflect the work items not modelled. Extra allowances in the approximate quantities or the composite rates should be made to cover the costs of unmodelled but necessary items.

Build-up of composite rates using properly set out dimension tables

1. The following gives examples of composite items and build-ups of composite rates.​​​​​​​

2. Example 1:
   • 
   • 
   • ​​​​​Note that in Hong Kong, beam concrete and formwork are measured those parts below slab soffit. Beam reinforcement includes those at the intersection of slab and beam.
3. Example 2:
   • ​​​​​​​​​
   • Note that a typical bay of 6 x 6 m is measured to average out the beam quantities.
   • Note also that the four beams around each typical bay are shared with adjacent slabs, and their quantities are therefore halved.
4. Example 3:
   • ​​​​​​​
5. Example 4:
   • 

(first image added, 18/2/2023)

Handling empty cells instead of entering “1”

1. 
2. Note that 36.00 at cell I46 uses the formula: "=PRODUCT(C48:H48)" which can treat empty cells within the range of C48:H48 as 1 without the need for entering 1.
3. However, if the individual cell values within the range of C48:H48 contain more than 2 decimal places, the PRODUCT() function using the hidden values will not give the same result as the displayed value. To ensure proper match, a formula based on the displayed values should be used. Such accuracy would be required for Bills of Quantities and Final Account and should not be needed for Cost Estimates.

(added, 5/3/2023)

Using dash lines to bound ranges

• Note that 65,917 at cell L46 uses the formula "=SUM(L47:L54)" which covers the range from the upper dash line to the lower dash line. Those dash lines embrace the rows of constituent items between them and ensure that the formula will not be corrupted due to addition or deletion of rows.

(added, 5/3/2023)

Round unit rates to 2 significant digits

1. Note that 1,900 = 65,917/36.00 = 1,831.03 has been rounded up to two significant digits as 1,900.
2. The formula used is "=IF(INT(L46/I46)>0,ROUNDUP(L46/I46,2-LEN(INT(L46/I46))),ROUNDUP(L46/I46,2))".
3. L46/I46 is the quotient. Let's call it "Q". 
4. The formula will become "=IF(INT(Q)>0,ROUNDUP(Q,2-LEN(INT(Q))),ROUNDUP(Q,2))".
5. It can be read as: if integer of Q > 0, then round it to 2 significant digits, else round up Q to 2 decimal places).
6. INT(Q) = 1831.03, it is > 0.
7. 2 - LEN(INT(Q)) = 2 - 4 = -2.
8. ROUNDUP(1831.03, -2) = 1900.
9. If Q = 0.1234, then ROUNDUP(Q, 2) = 0.13.
10. The unit rates used in Cost Estimates are approximate rates. 
11. It would not make sense to show them in many digits and with decimal places to make them look like very accurate.
12. 2 significant digits should be sufficient.
13. Estimates should include buffers. 
14. Rounding up is appropriate.

(added, 5//3/2023)

Build-up of composite rates using compact format for showing in the Cost Estimate

1. The following shows another method to present the composite rate calculations in the Cost Estimate.
2. Example 5:
   • 
   • Note that the reinforcement refers to the concrete quantities already calculated at cells E15 and E23 above.
3. Example 6:
   • 
   • Note that the function FORMULATEXT() is used to display the formula of the quantity of 0.48 above for checking. The cell entry must be preceded with "=" for it to be recognised as a formula.
   • Using this function will eliminate the need to type the formula separately as an explanation in addition to entering the formula in the calculation cell and risking mismatch errors.
   • The formula column can be hidden or deleted when issuing the Cost Estimate.
   • Note also that the estimated costs have been rounded to the nearest 10,000, using the formula "=ROUND(Rate*Qty, -4)".
   • This would give the image that the figure is an approximate estimate rather than an accurate figure.
4. Example 7:
   • 
5. Example 8:
   • 
6. Example 9:
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
7. Example 10:
   • 

Prepare cash flow tables
編製現金流量表

Use S-curve 用S線圖

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Divide the horizontal axis into parts equal to the number of months of construction.
   ​​​​​​​將水平軸按施工的月份數目分段
2. For each month, interpolate from the curve the cumulative payment percentage on the vertical axis.
   利用曲線找出每個月在垂直軸相對的累計進度百份率
3. Find the monthly payment percentages from the cumulative percentages.
   用累計進度百份率計出每月進度百份率
4. Apply the monthly payment percentages to the total cost to obtain the monthly payment values.
   每月進度百份率乘總造價得出每月進度款。

Use Bar Chart Programmes 用條形進度計畫表

1. Follow the bar chart programme, assign the monthly payment percentages for each activity bar.
   跟從條形進度計企劃表，對每條活動配以每月進度百份率
2. Apply the monthly payment percentages to the total cost of each activity bar to obtain the monthly payment values.
   將每月進度百份率乘該條活動的造價得出每月進度款
3. Ensure that the total of each activity bar is correct.
   確保每條活動的合計無誤。

For both methods

1. Separate stage payments.
   要把分期付款及大型採購分列
2. Separate Retention.
   要把保修金分列
3. Watch out time lag between work carried out, payment certification and honouring of payment.
   注意施工、批款及付款的時間差。

4. Payment terms:

   • Usual payment terms for construction contracts in Hong Kong:

     • no advance payment; 
     • monthly payments for materials delivered to site and work done subject to 10% retention on the gross total up to a maximum equal to 5% of the original Contract Sum; 
     • half of the retention to be released upon Practical Completion / Substantial Completion (*); and 
     • the balance to be released upon the issue of the Defects Rectification Certificate / Certificate of Completion of Making Good Defects / Maintenance Certificate (*) after rectification of defects found during the Defects Liability Period / Maintenance Period (*) usually of 12 months.

     • (*) = Different terms used by different standard forms of contract.

   • Possible payment terms for lift and escalator contracts / sub-contracts:

     • 10% upon award;
     • 20% when ready for shipment;
     • 30% on delivery to site;
     • 25% on issue of Use Permit by the EMSD;
     • 10% on Practical Completion / Substantial Completion; and
     • balance upon the issue of the Defects Rectification Certificate (as above).

   • Suppliers:

     • Usually require deposits or advance payments which can be moderately up to 30% or sometimes up to 50%.

   • Lower tiers sub-contractors:

     • Require shorter payment periods and no retention.

Reconciliation
概算變化的解釋

1. Presented vertically: 
   垂直列出:
   
2. Presented side by side: 
   並排表示:
   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
3. A legend of “(a)”, “(b)”, “(c)”, etc. can be used for stating common reasons, similar to the legends suggested for “comparison tables” under “Presentation of Cost Estimates” above.

Pre-tender Estimates
​​​​​​​標底

1. Method:
   • By pricing the Bills of Quantities before formal issue of tender documents or before return of tenders.
     在發出招標檔前或在回標前利用工程量清單套取單價計價。
2. Purposes:
   • For checking whether the cost so priced is within the previous estimate and the Budget 
     以檢查得出的總價是否仍在前概算或投資預算之內
   • For making design changes and issuing tender addendum to keep the costs within the Budget 
     作出設計修改並發出招標檔變更通知以便維持造價在投資預算之內
   • For checking against tenders returned for reasonableness 
     用作評核回標價的合理性。

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