General Principles

2.1 The title of this document is the Malaysian Standard Method of measurement for Civil Engineering Works , which is abbreviated as CESMM . This document is to be used in conjunction with the Conditions of Contract for Civil engineering works .

2.2 CESMM does not deal with the preparation of Bills of Quantities for mechanical and electrical engineering work, building work or work which is seldom encountered in civil engineering contracts . Where any such work is to be cincluded in a Contract for civil engineering work , it shall be measured in accordance with their respective Standard Method of Measurement which shall be stated in the Preamble to the Bill of Quantities in accordance with paragraph 5.3

2.3 The objective of the CESMM is to set forth the procedure for measurement of the work accroding to which the Bill of Quantities shall be prepared and priced .

2.4 The objectives of the Bill of Quantities are :

(a) To provide such information of the quantities of work as to enable tenders to be prepared efficiently and accurately .
(b) When a contract has been entered into , to provide for th euse of the priced BIll of Quantities in the valuation of work executed ; and
(c) when a contract has been entered into , to provide for a basis in valuing variation , subject to the provisions of the Conditions of Contract . 

2.5 In order to attain these objectives , work should be itemized in the Bill of QUantities in sufficient detail for it to be possible to distinguish between the different classes of work and between work of the same nature carried out in different locations or in any other circumstances which may give rise to different considerations of costs . Consistent with these requireements , the layout and content of the Bill of Quantities should be as simple and brief as possible . '

2.6 All work which are expressly required should be covered in the Bill of Quantities .
2.7  The CESMM seeks to attain these objectives principally by the use of the Work Classification . THis defines :

(a) how work is to be divided into separate item in the Bill of Quantities ;
9b) the information to be given in item descriptions ;
(c) the units in which the quantities against each item are to be expressed ; and
(d) how the work is to be measured for the purpose of calculating quantities .