1. 1
1 Introduction
It is very important to get an industrial experience after completing academic education in
quantity surveying field. Because of this field goes on with a practical knowledge and
practical thinking it is not enough only having academic knowledge. So our institute request
us to involve in a six months industrial training period. I was selected in Sierra Construction
Company as a trainee quantity surveyor in order to complete my training period. It was a
great opportunity to involve with this company because of the good working environment
and good staff. From the beginning I was able to visit site of Reverina five star hotel project
and get more and more knowledge on Civil field. A part from the Quantity surveying
practice I was able to get the knowledge on how this works in construction finishing phase &
this report is contained all the stuff what I did during my training period.
Figure 1
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2 Company Profile
2.1 The Organization Sierra Construction Pvt Ltd
This a M1 company for building and road construction. This company has well prominent
and eminent numbers of professionals. They handle these construction projects well.
1. Organization Type Private Company
2. Organization Name Sierra Construction (Pvt) Ltd
3. Main Service Construction Services
4. Address No. 23, Havelock Road, Colombo 5
5. Prov/State/Region Western
6. Post/Zip Code 00500
7. Phone(work) +9411-2584681
8. Phone(mobile) +9471-2721125
9. Fax +9411-22597815
10. Email pperera@sierra.lk
11. Web Site www.sierra.lk
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2.2 Brief description of Organization and the services
Sierra Construction (Pvt.) Ltd is one of the leading general engineering and construction
companies in Sri Lanka and was incorporated in 1981. The expertise, reliability and superior
quality of work, both locally and internationally made Sierra prominent in the field of
general engineering construction. Sierra today employs over 4,000 direct and indirect
employees both locally and internationally, including more than 300 engineers. It is an ISO
accredited company which has C1, P1 and EM1 grades in ICTAD.
2.3 The services we provide include:
Telecommunication Engineering and Construction
Water Supply & Sewerage
Power (Substation, Transmission & Distribution Systems)
Roads & Bridges
Civil
Piling
Services of Organization
2.4 Projects Work in Hand
Sierra Construction Company has provide its service for number of road projects and
building projects. Reverina five star hotel project is one of their main building project. I’m
lucky work as a training quantity surveyor at this Reverina Five star hotel project. This
project is located Aluthgama town.
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2.5 Other projects
Advanced Cardiac center for Sri Jayawaradhanapura Genaral Hospital
Court Complex in Jaffna
Multi-storied Luxury Apartment Complex at Sri Jayawardanapura, Kotte.
Elephant Corridor Hotel – Sigiriya
Lake Gregory Improvement in Nuwara Eliya
Commercial Center at Bandarawela
Fairfield Residencies at Borrella
2.6 Vision
To be the preferred infrastructure development partner in the region.
2.7 Mission
Exceptional performance in all aspects of our industry.
Outstanding customer service.
Unparalleled value.
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2.8 Awards
2.8.1 ICTAD Certificate of Merit
ICTAD Certificate of Merit ICTAD Certificate of Merit in the category of Non Residential
Buildings in range of Rs. 50 Million to Rs. 150 Million in the Recognition of the very good
documentation maintained the Systematic controls practiced, the quantity surveying
Principles adopted and the general quality of engineering aspects of the Superstructure in
the Construction of the Commercial Centre at Bandarawela.
2.8.2 ICTAD Certificate of Merit
ICTAD Certificate of Merit ICTAD Certificate of Merit in the category of Non Residential
Buildings in range of Rs. 50 Million to Rs. 150 Million in the Recognition of the timely
completion of the project and overall control and the management of the construction
activities under difficult environmental conditions in the construction of the courts complex
at Trincomalee.
2.8.3 National Award for Construction Performance
National Award for Construction Performance Sierra Construction (Pvt.) Ltd is presented
with this National Award for Construction Performance for the year 2009 in the execution of
construction works for Rehabilitation & Augmentation of Tangalle Water Supply Scheme.
2.8.4 Quality Policy
Sierra Construction Pvt Ltd. is an organization with high values pleasant work environment
and behavior for Team Work. Improvements of its key processes, result in improvement in
quality of all its construction activities, adhering of statutory and regulatory requirements
which ensures pride in customer Satisfaction. About Sierra Construction:
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In 1981, with the dawn of the open economy, six enterprising individuals teamed up to form
what was to become one of Sri Lanka's best known enterprises. Sierra Construction Limited
was incorporated to venture into the fields of Civil and Telecommunication Engineering,
sectors that were hitherto solely dominated by foreign companies or by companies with
foreign collaborations. Within two decades, Sierra rose to become the market leader in
Telecommunication Engineering. The boom in the construction industry opened up many
opportunities for Sierra and the company has today evolved to great heights handling large
construction projects relating to Water Supply & Sewerage, Power, Roads, Buildings,
Irrigation and Pilling besides Civil & Telecommunication. Acknowledged for its expertise,
reliability and superior quality of work, both locally and internationally, Sierra is today a
prominent player in General Engineering Construction in Sri Lanka. The company has also
gained from opportunities offered in global markets, with businesses established in India,
Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Australia. From modest beginnings with just six
individuals, Sierra today employs over 4,000 direct and indirect employees both here and
abroad, including more than 300 engineers. The company takes pride in its highly motivated
and talented workforce, the driving force behind its success. Now in its third decade of
operation, Sierra has picked up several awards and accolades along the way. It is an ISO
accredited company. In furtherance of its corporate objectives Sierra is presently focused on
implementing best practices of corporate governance and risk management practices within
the company. Today Sierra stands tall as a truly Sri Lankan company and acclaimed as a
national asset. The company remains totally focused on its vision of being the preferred
infrastructure development partner in the region, identified by its customers and partners
as integral to their success.
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2.9 PROFILE OF THE PROJECT
Figure 4 - Structure of project
2.10Reverina Hotel Project – Beruwala
Project Name - Reverina Hotel Project, Moragalla, Beruwala
Name of the Client - LOLC
Architect - Mr Vinod Jayasinghe
Structural Consultant - NCD Consultant PVT LTD
Main Contractor - Sierra Construction company
Duration of the Project - 3 Years and 3 dates
Estimated cost - Rs 6 billion
Type of contract - Lump Sum fixed price
Percentage of retention - 5%
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2.10.1 Staff arrangement of the site
Project Manager 1
Deputy Project Manager 1
Surveyor 3
Assistant Surveyor 3
Quantity Surveyor 12
Site Engineer 4
Site Supervisors 30
Accountant 2
Store keeper 5
Safety & welfare Officer 2
2.10.2 Machinery Recourses for the site
Batching Plant 1 Nos
Excavator PC 200 4 Nos
Excavator PC 120 2 Nos
JCB 3CX 4 Nos
Dozer D4D 2 Nos
Dump truck 6 wheel 8 Nos
Crew Cab 2 Nos
Generators 5 Nos
Crain 4 Nos
Crain tower 1 Nos
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3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
3.1 Project Location
The site located in near Aluthgama town. This propose hotel back part is facing to the sea
side. Front side is facing Galle road Proposed building is located in 20 acre land. This
building divides of 4 zones. This land has Lanka princes in one side & Heritance Ayurveda
Maha Gedara in other side. This site floor soil is sand. They stirrup foundation type for this
proposed hotel. This building project is basically in concrete structure which includes strip
foundation, columns, beams and slabs, and partition with using bricks.
Figure 7- Google map
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4 Site Organization Chart
Project
Manager
Administrative
Officer
Cleark
Store
Keeper
Security
Quantity Surveyor
zone 1
Q.S.
asistan
t Q.S.
zone
2 Q.S.
asistant
Q.S.
zone3
Q.S.
asistant
Q.S.
zone
4 Q.S.
asistant
Q.S.
Site Engineer
Technical
Officers
Site
Supervisors
Surveyors
Assitant
Surveyor
s
Site
Accounta
nt
Draftm
en
Deputy
Project
Manager
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5 Overall Scope of the Reverina Hotel Project
To finish the work quickly as possible and in a good quality.
5.1 Site Management
Management is a very important process in any kind of work. Site management is the
process of interrelation of major functions such as planning, organizing, controlling and
leading. Those things are directed in the achievement of objectives and goals of the project.
Normally the construction works are carried out with given designs and specified materials,
so it is important to have proper management at the construction site to carry out works in
an economical manner. To have proper management study of all aspects of the work, the
method of carrying out successive operations and selection of general arrangement of site
are considered as important points. The permanent site staff consists of Project Manager,
Engineers, Asst. Engineer, Qs, administrative Officer and store Keepers, Duties and
responsibilities of these officers at the work site distributes as follows.
5.2 Site Safety
There were a lot of places and occasions which can be large accidents. There was doing
several works by several groups and persons in various places of the site. An accident may
be defined as an unforeseen event, which is causing personal injury or property damage.
From the accident data it has been seen that 85% - 95% of accidents are preventable.
Preventing is a very difficult work, but it can do. A small thing is enough for large accident.
Therefore, it is the main responsibility of everyone including the management and workers
to go for prevention of accidents, as it is better than cure.
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6 EXPERIENCE GAINED
In this training period I got more practices and experiences.in this company I trained as a
contractor’s quantity surveyor. Therefore I had an experiences of how to make monthly bill,
how to make bar schedules according to structural planning and sub-contractors bills. I was
very lucky because I was able to train under the most experience quantity surveyors in Sri
Lanka. Due to this reason my senior staff members guide me at work and give me the
technical knowledge. Also I got an experience about civil things of site.
First four months at the site
6.1 Reinforcement
Figure 8 - Reinforcement
Columns, walls and slabs are built by reinforced concrete in structural work. Steel bars are
used to reinforce concrete to get more tensile strength, more compression strength and
shear strength. We have to supervise several occasions in reinforcement work. Quality and
strength of a work depend on inspection and continuous supervision of each work. We had
to follow several drawings types of reinforcement and method statements. But, there are
lot of difficult at practically do them. And we had to provide creative solutions and methods
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for do them as protect their specifications, quality and progress.
6.2 FORMWORK
Formwork is a temporary structure use for contain fresh concrete till get required strength
of them. There are two types of formwork as conventional formwork and system formwork.
At our site we use the conventional formwork which made by using plywood. Formworks
are strong to bear the loads of applied on it and to prevent deformation when concreting.
That loads are weight of the concrete and reinforcement, dynamic effects at placing
concrete, imposed lode during concreting, vibrations etc. Formworks are constructed with
minimum spaces for remove grout when placing and poker vibrating concrete. Every
formwork has a removing method after casting concrete.
6.2.1 Conventional formwork
Figure 9
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Figure 10 - Formwork
There is large weight relatively and their strength depends on using materials quality and
supervision. It is difficult to get smooth surface and ability to deform is more. Generally it
can reuse about 4 times. Form oil is applied on the internal surface of the formwork for
several aspects. Easy to remove formwork, protect formwork from deformation due to dry
weather, increases the reusability as concrete dose not stick are uses of applying form oil.
Using materials for conventional formwork are
Plywood sheet 12mm and 18mm thickness
Timber (2”*2” / 4”*4” / 3”*3”)
Galvanized steel pipes
Scaffolding frames, cross bracing
Separator or P cone with thread bars
Form ties (6mm and 9mm)
G.I clamps
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6.3 Leveling works
I did leveling works (slab level ) huge area of slabs, before the concrete of our building usin
leveling machine.
Figure 11 - My leveling work
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6.4 CONCRETING
Concrete is a construction material which is a mixer of cement, course aggregate, fine
aggregate, water and admixtures. There are high compressive strength and low tensile
strength. But, concreting is a process of several working steps. This process is as following
Batching
Mixing
Transporting
Placing
Compacting
Finishing
Curing
This all steps should complete really to get a good quality concrete element. If any step
couldn’t complete correctly, there is any defect on element. Concrete are used specially for
structural works in there.
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Figure 12 - concrete mixer
Slab concrete of my site
Figure 13 - concrete pump
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Figure 14
When placing massive volume of concrete, used stationary pump and placing boom
I supervised this slab concrete 24 hours . it is a large slab area so It is a very hard day, but I
did it. It’s a good experience for me.
Figure 15- my concrete works
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Figure 16
6.5 Notations used in structural drawings
Drawings display construction details as shortly. But there is a standard way to indicate their
full details.
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6.7 TAKING OFF QUANTITIES
6.7.1 Taking off quantities for building works
Taking off quantities is the very integral part in every project. It’s used to do a number of
purposes such as Interim Progress Claimed, Costing, Rate Breakdown, Sub Contractor’s
Bill and Variation. After I attached to the Sierra , I took off most of quantities for Sub
Contractor’s Bill. It’s essential to have better concentration when doing taking off
quantities. Normally, taking off is done according to the standard method of measurement
such as “SLS 573”. During my training session I got opportunity to measure the all finishes
quantities of Reverina Hotel Project. I was assign to measure the floor finishes, skirting,
wall finishes in those buildings.
6.7.1.1 Computer aided Quantity Take-Off
Auto CAD application and Ms Excel application help me lot in the taking off procedure.
Before the taking off, I studied the drawings and got the idea about measuring items,
whether information is sufficient or not, queries of the drawings, whether structural
drawing and architectural drawings are matching each other etc. Since the drawings were
complex and contained a large number of drawings, taking off quantities using Auto CAD
and Ms Excel was not an effective solution to speed up the Bill preparation. So, the need
to use a specialized quantity take-off software was extremely essential and under the
direction of the QS.
6.8 On Site Measurements
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Normally for the interim bills we got measurements from drawings, but for
clarified unclear measurements and for some special cases got on site measurements. As
well as after the submission of bill for some clarifications I got some joint measurements
with Consultant’s QS.
6.9 Preparation of interim Bills
As a trainee site Quantity Surveyor my main function prepares the interim bill. Normally
interim bill prepared at end of each month. Firstly I prepared the measurements sheets.
We used two types of measurements to prepare the measurement sheets. Normally we
took the measurements from drawings. If there were some changes or not corrected
drawings site measurements we used site measurements. Not only that if there was a
variations or day works I took all the measurements.
Figure 18
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6.10Preparation of bar schedules
As a trainee quantity surveyor I prepared a reinforcement bar schedules for interim bill. I
used both actual site measurements and measurements from drawings to prepare the
bare schedules. When we prepared the bar bending schedules we should consider about
laps. It will depend on according to diameter of reinforcement. When keeping laps we
got it as 50*dia. When I was in site I took all the measurements of reinforcement details
before concreting for future purposes.
Format of a Bar Schedule Sheet
Formula Kg Lap length
T8 400
T10 500
T12 600
T16 800
T20 1000
T25
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6.11Familiarize with site layouts and management
In this training period I got the chance to work at site for period of six month as a training
quantity surveyor. At this six month training period I had to put my maximum effort to take
good knowledge about the site works as much as possible. It is very essential for my site
work. Also I got an idea about site management of this hotel project during my training
period. Site Management was in a high level due to the dedication & punctuality of the
project manager of the site. Proposed building was spread over the total site. Therefore site
office and the labor accommodations were installed at a one end of the front side of the site
with the intention of relocating it when starting the construction of that side. Due to better
site layout there were no site congestion occurred when unloading goods to the stores
which is a daily activity.
6.12 Preparing Monthly Progress Charts, Weather Reports monthly bill
of Zone 1, bar schedules
In this site as a trainer engaged to prepare monthly progress report. This case we extracted
the details such as manpower records, materials received machinery and equipment,
weather conditions etc. from the daily reports. I updated daily weather reports. Also I make
bar schedules of slabs, beams, columns, stair cases, lifts and tie beams. Make the monthly
bill of my zone. Calculate form work quantity, concrete quantities, brick masonry work and
material wastage.
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6.13Familiarizing with Construction materials and material
management
This an essential part of all construction projects. Need required materials to carry out the
construction project. Calculate requirement of materials and order them. List out the
materials at site. Minimize material wastage at site as a site quantity surveyor.
Figure 19 - material at site
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6.14Making Subcontractor bills
This is an essential thing for me as a Zone 1 sit quantity surveyor. End of the work task
subcontractor’s need their money. Because of it I had to measure their work and make bill
for this works.
Works like:
From work
Bar bending
Brick masonry work
scare folding
6.15 Checking sub-contractors’ measurement
As a site QS we need check their works. They didn’t fulfill their work we had deduct money
from their bills.in this case also we had to get joint measurements with subcontractors. Also
we should check their labor work.
6.16 Certifying sub-contractor payments
Certifying sub-contractors pavements and issued checked for their work.
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7 OBSERVATION MADE
7.1 Interpersonal Skills
The training has improved my ability in interacting with others people such as upper
class and superior. It is enjoyable to deal with this people, especially when they were willing
to help and explain to me about thing that I didn’t understand. Most of the workers are
multi-cultural and this allowed me to learn the differences between culture and its relative
influence on their perception and behavior.
7.2 Team work
As site quantity surveyor we had to plan daily progress of site and make decisions for divide
groups to various works.as officers of this site we highly expect a good team work and the
team members provide their maximum commitment to complete the project with in
minimum time period. Among this works we should guide and supervise them. Most of the
time during the training, I worked with my senior Quantity Surveyors. Some of the task we
perform it together. I was able to contribute my ideas and insights in our works.
7.3 Computer Skills
I improved use of MS Office Package, especially MS Excel. I also learned using the company
internal network to share or transfer information and data. My typing speeds also have been
improved.
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7.4 Self-Management
Getting to know what it’s like to work in the real industry have tough me how to
conduct myself properly in a construction environment. I am able to improve my time
management, more punctual in work and meeting report deadline. I also learned how to
wear appropriate attire to work and manage my appearance well.
7.5 Strength
This another important factor at this construction industry. Senior members are well
experienced and qualified people in the industry. But junior staff members has least a
degree for particular field. Due to this reasons this company is very strength at construction
industry.
7.6 Weekly Meetings
Site head office is arrange progress meeting at every Friday.in these meetings we discussed
about our problems we faced in this industry, how to improve our site progress, how to
keep the site tidy, how to make worker’s mind as we aspects and how to improve quality. As
a trainers we can get knowledge of new techniques, necessary instructions, to consider the
actual performance and to take the necessary actions.
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8 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTED & SOLUTIONS FOUND
8.1 Conflict with workers
During the training period I always try to be nice to everyone around me. However
sometime how we behave, interact or communicate may not be liked or
misunderstood by some people. This misunderstanding can create conflict and affect
our training quality. Sometime the conflict are not cause by us, but were trapped
between the already exist conflict among the company workers. To face with this situation I
always try to be neutral without defending or be a part of any side.
8.2 Unfamiliarity of Environment
Site is most different place working. Because we all ways faced sun shine during day period
it is very unfamiliar for me to at first days. In rainy days we get wet. After work I felt more
tired in first days at site.
8.3 Lack of technical knowledge
This a major problem I faced in this industry. Due to this reason I found some problems
when preparing BOQs. First days some drawings were difficult to understand. Because of it I
got knowledge from my senior staff.
8.4 Lack of computer facility
In this training we have not enough computers in site office. I had to do all my workings
using the common computer. Sometimes I had to stop my works at middle when someone
came and ask for the computer.
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8.5 Incompleteness of monthly bills
In this case I faced lot of problems. Sometimes found in complete form work quantities,
concrete quantities, bar schedules and brick masonry work. Due to this reason I had to work
hard to solve this problems. Need to find previous data of this works and drawings to solve
this problem.
8.6 Incompleteness of the Drawings
This case is happen in zone 3. They change the plans lot of times. Due to this reason we
can’t do their work and can’t prepare their monthly bill.
9 My bills & measurement works at site…
