ICE-SA (formerly the Joint Civils Division) identified the need at the end of 2007 for a regional standard system of measurement for civil engineering quantities which may be readily linked to the FIDIC, GCC or NEC3 forms of contract, SANS 1921 construction and management specifications and SANS 2001 Construction Standards. Such a system should also readily link into other standard forms of contract or specifications that are commonly used in Southern Africa.
The current system of measurement used in civil engineering in South Africa is based on clause 8 of the SABS 1200 standardised specifications for civil engineering works read in conjunction with SAICE’s Civil Engineering Quantities (CEQ) 1990. This system is based on the first edition of ICE’s Standard Method of Measurement of Civil Engineering Quantities which was published in 1960. This latter document has been through two revisions and is now published by ICE as CESMM3. CESMM3 is currently sold in South Africa by SAICE and is widely used in many parts of Africa and elsewhere in the world.
A decision was taken in 2007 to adopt CESSM3 as the standard method of measurement to replace the SABS 1200/ SAICE CEQ 1990. Peter Becker who developed SAICE’s CEQ 1990 was commissioned to develop the content of a guidance / orientation document which would be reviewed by a group of experts to:
- introduce the reader to the philosophy and thinking behind CESMM3;
- highlight the differences between the current system as embodied in Civil Engineering Quantities 1990 and the SABS 1200 standardised specifications; and
- make recommended regarding the adaptations that should be made to successfully apply it in the South African contracting environment.
At the first meeting of the expert group held on 14 August 2008, it became apparent that a number of amendments would be required to amend references to British Standards and the ICE Conditions of Contract 6th Edition and to tailor CESSM3 for Southern African conditions. These amendments could be incorporated in the proposed guidance document. The alternative would be to bring out a Southern African edition of CESMM3. The expert group favour the latter and ICE was approached to bring out a South African version of CESMM3.
CESMM-SA is now under development in parallel with the aforementioned guidance document. Since convening the last expert group and the obtaining of ICE permission to create a Southern African version of CESMM3, we can now continue the review process, involving a wider group of experts from neighbouring countries. This group will now finalise the content of not only the orientation document but also the new CESSM-SA.
A meeting of experts will be convened as follows:
Date: 26 July
Where: SAFCEC offices - 3rd Floor - SAFCEC Construction Centre, 12 Skeen Boulevard, Bedfordview, Johannesburg
Time: 14:00 to 16:30
The purpose of this meeting is for ICE-SA to:
1) brief experts and representatives of organisations on CESMM-SA and the associated guidance document;
2) identify areas where further work is required; and
3) establish how these document are going to be finalised.
The following documents can be downloaded below in PDF Format:
- Civil Engineering Standard System of Measurement (CESSM-SA)- Southern African edition
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