it’s important to have a strong understanding of the various abbreviations and acronyms that are commonly used in your field as a quantity surveyor. For example, you might come across the abbreviation “A.B.D.” while taking off quantities for a construction project.
This abbreviation stands for “As Before Described,” and it is often used to refer to something that has been previously mentioned in the document or in a previous measurement.
For example, if you are measuring the quantities of different materials for a building and you come across an item that has already been described earlier in the document, you might see A.B.D. next to the item, indicating that you should use the same description as before.
By knowing and understanding this abbreviation, you can accurately take-off quantities and ensure that you are using the correct description for your project.
Why do quantity surveyors use abbreviations? In this article, we will delve into the importance of these terms in the field and provide a list of 100 common abbreviations and acronyms that are familiar to quantity surveyors.
Why do Quantity Surveyors Use Abbreviations?
As a quantity surveyor, knowing and understanding the various abbreviations and acronyms used in your field is crucial to your success.
By being familiar with these terms, you can more easily communicate with your colleagues, understand technical documents, and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in your industry.
For example, if you come across an unfamiliar abbreviation while taking off quantities for a construction project, you might not know how to properly interpret the measurement, which could lead to errors or costly mistakes.
On the other hand, if you are familiar with the abbreviation, you can accurately take-off quantities and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
This is why it is so important to know these abbreviations as quantity surveyors – they play a vital role in helping you to succeed in your career.
10 reasons why quantity surveyors use abbreviations and acronyms
Here are 10 reasons why quantity surveyors use abbreviations and acronyms a lot in the construction industry:
- Efficiency: Abbreviations and acronyms allow quantity surveyors to communicate more efficiently with their colleagues by using shorter, standardized terms.
- Accuracy: Using abbreviations and acronyms helps quantity surveyors to avoid errors and misunderstandings by ensuring that everyone is using the same terminology.
- Time savings: Abbreviations and acronyms can save time by allowing quantity surveyors to quickly convey complex ideas or technical information.
- Professionalism: Using abbreviations and acronyms is a way for quantity surveyors to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in their field.
- Industry-standard: Abbreviations and acronyms are widely used in the construction industry, and being familiar with them is an important part of being a professional quantity surveyor.
- Space savings: Abbreviations and acronyms can help to save space on documents and drawings, which is especially important when dealing with large or complex projects.
- Consistency: By using abbreviations and acronyms consistently, quantity surveyors can help to ensure that everyone involved in a project is using the same terminology, which can reduce confusion and improve communication.
- Professional development: Keeping up with the latest abbreviations and acronyms in your field is an important part of continuing your professional development as a quantity surveyor. By staying informed, you can stay current with industry best practices and improve your skills.
- Legal requirements: In some cases, using certain abbreviations and acronyms may be required by law or regulation, such as in contracts or technical standards.
- Improved communication: By using abbreviations and acronyms, quantity surveyors can more easily communicate complex ideas or technical information to people who may not be familiar with the specific terms used in their field.
Theoretical Examples
- To make documents and drawings more concise and easier to understand:
- “CSA” (Concrete, Stone, Aggregate)
- “M.E.P.” (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)
- “S.S.” (Stainless Steel)
- To quickly and accurately convey technical information:
- “I.D.” (Inside Diameter)
- “O.D.” (Outside Diameter)
- “P.I.D.” (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram)
- To improve efficiency and save time:
- “Ditto” (Repeated from a previous entry)
- “T.O.” (Take Off)
- “W.O.” (Work Order)
- To keep documents and drawings organized and easy to understand:
- “A.B.D.” (As Before Described)
- “I.O.” (In Order)
- “N.E.” (Not Exceeding)
- To convey information clearly and efficiently to colleagues and clients:
- “D.W.” (Drinking Water)
- “H.P.” (Horsepower)
- “Q.S.” (Quantity Surveyor)
- To conceal specific details of materials from non-professionals:
- “H.P.G.” (High Pressure Gas)
- “L.P.” (Liquid Propane)
- “P.P.E.” (Personal Protective Equipment)
- To accurately communicate complex information:
- “M.I.” (Mineral Insulated)
- “P.I.D.” (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram)
- “S.I.” (System International (units of measurement))
- To keep documents and drawings consistent and easy to follow:
- “I.F.” (Indicated Floor)
- “L.F.” (Linear Foot)
- “R.P.” (Reference Point)
- To more easily manage materials and cost estimates:
- “C.M.” (Construction Manager)
- “M.O.” (Make and Offer)
- “P.O.” (Purchase Order)
- To facilitate clear and efficient communication with clients and colleagues:
- “G.C.” (General Contractor)
- “M.F.C.” (Moisture, Fire, and Chemical resistant)
- “V.A.” (Veterans Affairs)
Practical Examples
Let’s say a quantity surveyor is working on a project that requires reinforcing a concrete slab with steel bars. They might use the abbreviation “TB” to indicate that the steel bars should be placed at the top and bottom of the slab. For example, they might write “10mm TB” in the specification document to indicate that 10mm steel bars should be used at the top and bottom of the slab. Using the abbreviation “TB” helps the quantity surveyor to communicate more efficiently and clearly with their colleagues and clients, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that the reinforcement is installed correctly.
As a quantity surveyor, you are working on a project to renovate an existing building. You are responsible for preparing a detailed list of the materials that will be needed for the project, including various types of plumbing pipes and fittings. In order to make the list more concise and easier to understand, you might use abbreviations and acronyms to refer to the different types of pipes and fittings. For example, you might use “PVC” to refer to polyvinyl chloride pipes, “CPVC” to refer to chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipes, and “FIP” to refer to female iron pipe fittings.
This allows you to convey the necessary information clearly and efficiently to your colleagues and clients who are familiar with these abbreviations while concealing the specific details of the materials from non-professionals who might not understand them. By using abbreviations and acronyms in this way, you can more easily communicate complex information and keep the materials list organized and easy to understand.
100 abbreviations and acronyms that you might encounter as a quantity surveyor, with their meanings
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- A.B.D. – As Before Described
- N.E. – Not Exceeding
- CSA – Concrete, Stone, Aggregate
- Ditto – Repeated from a previous entry
- D.W. – Drinking Water
- GF – Ground Floor
- H.D. – Heavy Duty
- H.P. – Horsepower
- HPG – High Pressure Gas
- H.W. – Hot Water
- I.D. – Inside Diameter
- I.F. – Indicated Floor
- I.O. – In Order
- Ddt – Deduct
- I.S. – Inside Surface
- L.F. – Linear Foot
- L.H. – Left Hand
- Dia. – Diameter
- M.E.P. – Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing
- M.F. – Male Fitting
- M.O. – Make and Offer
- O.D. – Outside Diameter
- P.I.D. – Piping and Instrumentation Diagram
- P.M. – Project Manager
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- P.O. – Purchase Order
- P.P.E. – Personal Protective Equipment
- P.S.I. – Pounds per Square Inch
- Q.S. – Quantity Surveyor
- R.H. – Right Hand
- R.P. – Reference Point
- R.R. – Railroad
- S.C. – Square Cut
- S.I. – System International (units of measurement)
- S.O. – Switch Outlet
- S.P. – Service Pipe
- S.S. – Stainless Steel
- T.B. – Top and Bottom
- T.D. – Top Diameter
- T.I. – Tenant Improvement
- T.O. – Take Off
- T.P. – Tap Point
- U.P. – Utility Pole
- E.O. – Extra Over
- V.F.D. – Variable Frequency Drive
- P.C. – Prime cost
- W.G. – Working Group
- W.I. – Water Inlet
- W.O. – Work Order
- A.O. – All Others
- A.P. – All Purposes
- A.R.V. – Automatic Recirculating Valve
- B.M. – Benchmark
- B.O.Q. – Bill of Quantities
- B.R.C. – British Reinforcement Company (mesh manufacturer)
- C.F. – Cubic Foot
- C.M. – Construction Manager
- C.O. – Cut Out
- C.P. – Control Point
- C.P.M. – Critical Path Method
- C.R. – Compressor Room
- C.V. – Control Valve
- D.B. – Decibel
- D.D. – Design Drawing
- D.G. – Diesel Generator
- D.N. – Diameter Nominal
- D.O. – Differential Outlet
- E.F. – Elevator Fan
- Galvd. – Galvanized
- E.O. – Emergency Outlet
- F.A.P. – Fresh Air Process
- F.C. – Field Connection
- F.F. – Finish Floor
- F.I.P. – Female Iron Pipe
- F.O.B. – Free on Board
- F.P.I. – Feet per Inch
- G.C. – General Contractor
- G.F.C.I. – Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
- G.P.M. – Gallons per Minute
- H.C. – Heat Conduction
- H.I. – Hardware Items
- H.P.A. – High-Pressure Air
- H.V.A.C. – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
- I.C. – Insulating Cement
- I.F.C. – Intermediate Frequency Current
- J.B. – Junction Box
- K.F. – Kilofeet
- K.G. – Kilogram
- K.L.F. – Kiloliter per Hour
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- K.V.A. – Kilovolt-Ampere
- L.B. – Pound (weight)
- L.C. – Letter of Credit
- L.E.D. – Light Emitting Diode
- L.F.M. – Linear Feet per Minute
- L.L. – Low Lead
- M.A. – Male Adapter
- M.F.C. – Moisture, Fire, and Chemical resistant
- M.H. – Manhole
- M.I. – Mineral Insulated
- M.M. – Millimeter
- M.R. – Motor Rating
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CONCLUSION
Abbreviations and acronyms play a vital role in the construction industry, particularly for quantity surveyors. These shortened forms of words and phrases allow professionals to quickly and accurately communicate complex information, improve efficiency, and save space on documents and drawings.
Some common abbreviations and acronyms that quantity surveyors might use include “A.B.D.” (As Before Described), “N.E.” (Not Exceeding), “CSA” (Concrete, Stone, Aggregate), and “T.O.” (Take Off).
It is important for quantity surveyors to stay up-to-date with the latest abbreviations and acronyms in their field and to use them consistently to ensure clear and efficient communication with colleagues and clients.
By mastering the use of abbreviations and acronyms, quantity surveyors can more effectively manage materials, cost estimates, and other important aspects of construction projects.
I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the importance of abbreviations and acronyms in the field of quantity surveying.
