Terminologies - QS LEC

Site Clearing

removing trees, debris, or structures to prepare the site for construction

Scaffolding or Staging

temporary structure used to support workers and materials during the construction, maintenance, or repair of buildings and other structures

Layout and Staking

marking the exact location and levels of the structure on the ground using stakes or strings

Excavation

digging soil or rock to create space for foundations or underground utilities

Backfill

refilling excavated areas with soil or gravel after construction work is done

Formworks

temporary molds (usually wood or metal) used to shape and hold concrete until it sets

Reinforcement

steel bars or mesh embedded in concrete to enhance its tensile strength and prevent cracking or breaking under tension

Concrete

construction material made of cement, sand, gravel, and water that hardens over time

Footings

concrete bases that support columns or walls and distribute their load to the soil

Tie Beam

horizontal beam that connects footings or columns to increase stability and resist movement

Column

vertical structural element that carries loads from the building above (like floors or roofs) to the foundation

Quantity Surveying

process of managing all financial and contractual aspects of construction projects, from initial planning and budgeting to final costing

Quantity surveyors

responsible for managing costs, ensuring projects stay within financial constraints, and maximizing value for money

Estimate

assessment of the probable total cost of some future activity

Conceptual cost estimating

forecast of project costs that is performed before any significant amount of information is available from detailed design and with incomplete work scope definition, with the purpose of using it as the basis for important project decisions like go/no-go and the appropriation of funds decisions

Reinforced Concrete

concrete with reinforcement properly embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together is resisting forces

High Alumina Cement

Aluminous Cement or Cement Fundu

having predominant alumina oxide of atleast 32% by weight

sets quickly and resists high temperatures; used in industrial floors and refractory works

Coarse Aggregate (Gravel)

maximum nominal size varies from 40, 20, 14 or 10mm diameter

Coarse Aggregate

crushed stone, crushed gravel or natural gravel with particles retained on a 5mm sieve

Fine Aggregate

crushed stone, crushed gravel, sand or natural sand with particles passing on a 5mm Sieve

Masonry

construction of structures using individual units (like bricks, stones, or concrete blocks) laid and bound together with mortar

Load bearing blocks

whose thickness ranges from 15 cm to 20 cm, and are used to carry load aside from its own weight

Non-bearing blocks

blocks which are intended for walls, partitions, fences or dividers carrying its own weight whose thickness ranges from 7.5 cm. to 10 cm

Mortar

paste made of cement, sand, and water used to bind bricks, blocks, or stones together

Plastering

process of applying a smooth or textured layer of mortar on walls or ceilings to give them a finished surface

Grading

Leveling the ground to the desired elevation or slope.

Hauling

Transporting excavated materials to another location.

Compaction

Compressing soil to reduce air gaps and increase bearing capacity.

Battering

Slope cutting of excavation sides to prevent collapse.

Bench Mark (BM)

A fixed reference point for vertical measurements.

Curing

Keeping concrete moist to ensure proper strength gain.

Concrete Cover

Thickness of concrete layer protecting reinforcement bars from corrosion. (Common values: 25mm to 50mm depending on exposure.)

Slab

A flat concrete surface like floors and roofs.

Honeycombing

Voids in concrete caused by improper compaction or mix.

Segregation

Separation of concrete ingredients during placement (bad for strength).

Shuttering

Another term for formwork, especially used for vertical structures.

Stripping

Removing the formwork after the concrete has hardened.

Props

Vertical supports holding formwork or slabs during construction.

BOQ (Bill of Quantities)

A detailed document listing all materials, parts, and labor (with quantities) required to construct a project.

BOM (Bill of Materials)

A list of raw materials, components, and sub-assemblies required to build a structure or product.

Soil Compaction / Gravel Bedding

All excavated areas shall be backfilled and the sub-base prepared with proper compaction. Clean, coarse gravel bedding shall be laid over this compacted base.

Concrete Beams

They resist bending (flexural loads) and shear forces. Horizontal structural elements that support loads from slabs, walls, or other beams and transfer them to columns or girders.

Girders

Definition: Large, main horizontal supports in a structure, often carrying beams.

Function: Support and transfer heavy loads from beams to columns or foundations.

Foundation

The lowermost part of a structure that transfers building loads to the ground.

CHB Walls (Concrete Hollow Block Walls)

Commonly used for partition or load-bearing walls in residential and low-rise structures.