General Rules of Abstracting in Taking off Quantities





Abstracting

Transfer of dimensions

As each item is transferred the abstract, the description of the appropriate dimension item is crossed through with a vertical line on the dimension sheet, with short horizontal lines each end, so that there shall be no doubt as to what has been transferred.

transfer of dimensions to abstract sheet





Subdivisions of abstract The abstract sheets are ruled with a series of vertical lines spaced about 25mm apart and are usually of A3 width.



Each abstract sheet is headed with the project reference, sheet number and work section, and possibly the subsection of the work to which the abstracted dimensions refer.

abstract sheet in take of quantities













General Rules of Abstracting 1.) It is most important that the entries in the abstract should be well spaced and it is necessary for the surveying assistant doing the working up to look through the dimension sheets, before starting the abstracting, in order to determine, as closely as possible, how many abstract sheets will be required.



2.) The items will be entered in the abstract in the same order as they will appear in the bill, as far as practicable, since the primary function of the abstract is to classify and group the various items preparatory to billing, and to reduce the dimensions to the recognized units of measurements.



3.) Descriptions are usually spread over two columns with the appropriate dimensions in the first column and any deductions in the second column. The total quantity of each item is reduced to the recognized unit of measurement such as the m, m2, m3 or tonne.



4.) It is good practice to precede each description in the abstract with the prefix C,S,L,Nr., denoting that the item is cubic, square, linear or enumerated, and this procedure reduces the risk of errors arising with regard to units or quantities.



For example

S/ brk work in...



C/excavating...



L/ pipe work... The abstract sheets are ruled with a series of vertical lines spaced about 25mm apart and are usually of A3 width.Each abstract sheet is headed with the project reference, sheet number and work section, and possibly the subsection of the work to which the abstracted dimensions refer.1.) It is most important that the entries in the abstract should be well spaced and it is necessary for the surveying assistant doing the working up to look through the dimension sheets, before starting the abstracting, in order to determine, as closely as possible, how many abstract sheets will be required.2.) The items will be entered in the abstract in the same order as they will appear in the bill, as far as practicable, since the primary function of the abstract is to classify and group the various items preparatory to billing, and to reduce the dimensions to the recognized units of measurements.3.) Descriptions are usually spread over two columns with the appropriate dimensions in the first column and any deductions in the second column. The total quantity of each item is reduced to the recognized unit of measurement such as the m, m2, m3 or tonne.4.) It is good practice to precede each description in the abstract with the prefix C,S,L,Nr., denoting that the item is cubic, square, linear or enumerated, and this procedure reduces the risk of errors arising with regard to units or quantities.For exampleS/ brk work in...C/excavating...L/ pipe work...

Abstracting is one of the step in preparing of bill of quantities also you should practice as a quantity surveyor. First of all you should read about this article Principles of Taking off Quantities In Taking off Sheet (T.D.S)