RICS 2011
Principles of
Measurement
(International)
Survey Report
Prepared by BCIS
Building Cost Information Service
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD
W www.bcis.co.uk T +44 (0)20 7695 1500
F +44 (0)20 7695 1501
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Foreword
Principles of Measurement (International): For Works of
Construction, (POMI), was published in 1979 in several
languages including Arabic, English, French and German. The
English edition was last reprinted in 2004. The 2004 Foreword
by Simon Cash, RICS Construction Faculty Chairman, noted:
“A recent survey of its international membership carried out for
the RICS Construction Faculty by the Building Cost Information
Service (BCIS) identified that 14 of the 32 responding countries
had their own method of measurement. However, the Principles
of Measurement (International) (POMI) were still being used in
about half of the countries and are still widely used on
international contracts.”
In June 2011, more than thirty years after POMI’s initial
publication and a decade after the survey, BCIS undertook the
survey reported on here. It suggests that POMI is still widely
used and, while in need of updating, still deemed generally fit
for purpose by most of its users.
The survey was undertaken in conjunction with the Quantity
Surveying & Construction World Regional Board. It is hoped
that the information collected, particularly the many suggestions
put forward, will help RICS consider how POMI should be taken
forward.
BCIS is grateful for the time and effort expended by RICS
members in responding to the survey and will welcome any
further comments based on the information collected, and I am
grateful to Erik Winterkorn of BCIS who undertook the surveying
and analysis.
Joe Martin
BCIS Executive Director
© RICS January 2012
2
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table of contents
Executive summary .................................................................................................................................... 5
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 6
2. Use of POMI..................................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Respondents using POMI ......................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Countries where is POMI used ................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Minimum values of projects on which POMI was used............................................................. 8
2.4 Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents........................................... 10
3. Who determines whether POMI is used?....................................................................................... 10
4. Forms of contracts used with POMI ............................................................................................... 11
5. Is POMI still fit for purpose? ........................................................................................................... 11
6. Desired improvements ................................................................................................................... 12
7. The need for guidance, training, and other forms of support ......................................................... 18
7.1 Need for guidance note and training on the use of POMI....................................................... 18
7.2 Responses on other types of support RICS should offer........................................................ 18
8. Interest in participating in POMI review/advisory board................................................................. 20
9. Analysis of respondents’ comments and recommendations.......................................................... 20
9.1 Comments ............................................................................................................................... 20
9.2 General (not POMI specific) comments .................................................................................. 20
9.3 Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 21
Appendices
A. Breakdown of ‘Multiple Entries’ for firm type .................................................................................. 22
B. Places where POMI use on contracts cited ................................................................................... 24
C. Tabulation of types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents ............................. 25
D. Comments on improvements respondents would like to see made to POMI listed by
respondent country......................................................................................................................... 33
E Respondents’ comments and suggestions regarding other types of POMI related support
RICS should offer ........................................................................................................................... 38
F. Respondents’ other comments and recommendations.................................................................. 40
G Breakdown of responses by numbers of staff employed ............................................................... 44
H. Survey questions............................................................................................................................ 45
© RICS January 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise
without the prior permission of the Copyright owner. While all reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of
this document, BCIS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the compilers will not be under any legal
liability in respect of any misstatement, error or omission contained therein or for the reliance any person may place
thereon.
© RICS January 2012
3
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Tables
1.
2.
3.
4
5
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Profile of survey respondents by firm type, numbers of staff and use of POMI............................... 6
Countries in which POMI use on contracts was cited by 5% or more of the respondents .............. 7
Numbers of minimum values cited for POMI projects by country .................................................... 8
Mean, median and bounding values for responses citing minimum values of contracts where POMI
is used — including 0 value responses............................................................................................ 8
Mean, median and bounding values for responses citing minimum values of contracts where POMI
is used — excluding 0 value responses........................................................................................... 8
Numbers of minimum contract values provided by respondents with median values and
percentages of projects above those values for POMI projects ...................................................... 9
Breakdown of POMI projects cited................................................................................................. 10
Who determines POMI use? .......................................................................................................... 10
Factors mentioned as determining POMI use................................................................................ 10
Numbers and percentages of total responses citing a named or generic type of
contract used in conjunction with POMI measurement.................................................................. 11
Is POMI still generally fit for purpose? ........................................................................................... 11
Breakdown of ‘Multiple entries’ for firm type .................................................................................. 22
Regions, countries, or administrative areas in which POMI use on contracts was cited............... 24
Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents .................................................. 25
Comments on desired improvements to POMI .............................................................................. 33
Comments and suggestions regarding other types of support ...................................................... 38
Other comments and recommendations from respondents........................................................... 40
Figures
1.
2.
3.
4.
Breakdown of Respondents’ use of POMI by firm staff size ranges ................................................ 7
Breakdown of respondents’ use of POMI by firm type..................................................................... 7
Percentages of POMI projects of different types ........................................................................... 10
Breakdown of respondents by numbers of staff............................................................................. 44
© RICS January 2012
4
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Executive summary
• In June 2011, BCIS undertook an online survey to sample members’ opinion on the RICS Principles of
Measurement (International) (POMI). Email invitations were sent to 4993 members of the Quantity
Surveying & Construction Professional Group working in 99 countries or administrative regions outside
the United Kingdom. The survey was restricted to active RICS Fellows and Professional Members.
• Completed questionnaires were received from 444 surveyors situated in 62 countries or administrative
regions – an overall response of 8.9%.
• 45% of respondents have used POMI.
• Of those respondents that had used POMI, 44% classified themselves as quantity surveyors, 12%
contractors, 9% clients and 8% other consultants.
• POMI is used in many locales, but it is used most in the Middle East: countries where more than 5% of
respondents had used POMI included U.A.E. (59%), Qatar (17%), Oman (15%), Saudi Arabia (9%),
Bahrain (8%), Egypt (5%) and Mauritius (7%).
• There were disparate views on the minimum value of project for which POMI is appropriate. However,
after excluding ‘0’ values, the median of the minimum values reported was £875,000.
• The projects where POMI use was reported covered the complete range of buildings and
infrastructure, but the majority of projects, over 75%, were building construction projects.
• The median value of projects reported equated to just under £30 million.
• POMI is predominantly used with FIDIC contracts: 79% of respondents cited FIDIC.
• 74% of respondents who use POMI believe it is still generally fit for purpose.
• 79% believe that a guidance note on the use of POMI would be useful.
• Many respondents, both those that have used POMI and those that have not, provided comments and
suggestions on POMI and its use.
© RICS January 2012
5
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
1. Introduction
In June 2011, on behalf of the Quantity Surveying & Construction Professional Group, BCIS surveyed
RICS members working outside the United Kingdom regarding their experience of using the RICS
Principles of Measurement (International), POMI. An email invitation launching an online survey was sent
to 4993 members of the Quantity Surveying & Construction Professional Group working in 99 countries or
administrative regions outside the United Kingdom. The survey was restricted to active RICS Fellows and
Professional Members. By 31 October, completed forms had been received from 444 surveyors situated
in 62 countries or administrative regions – an overall response of 8.9%.
This report presents the findings of that survey. BCIS is grateful for the time and effort expended by RICS
members in responding.
2. Use of POMI
2.1 Respondents using POMI
Survey questions one, two and three requested identification and profiling information. Question 4 asked:
Have you ever used POMI? 441 respondents answered: 198 (44.9%) said ‘Yes’; 243 (55.1%) said ‘No’,
but five of them went on to cite past experience on projects where POMI was used.
Table 1 below shows the breakdown of the survey sample of 444 respondents by:
• Type of firm in response to Question 2: What type of firm do you represent?
• Staff numbers in response to Question 3: How many staff does your firm employ?
• The numbers of POMI users logged in response to Question 4: Have you ever used POMI?
The table category ‘Multiple Entries’ refers to 78 respondents who entered more than a single primary
activity when describing their firm type. A breakdown of these Multiple Entries can be found in report
Appendix A.
Table 1. Profile of survey respondents by firm type, numbers of staff and use of POMI
Number of staff employed
1-10
Primary Firm
Activity
All
11-50
POMI All
51-100
POMI All
101-250
POMI All
251-1000
POMI All
1000+
Not stated
POMI All
POMI All
Totals
POMI All
POMI
Public Client
1
1
-
-
3
1
2
1
3
2
11
5
-
-
20
10
Private Client
2
1
-
-
5
2
2
1
4
2
7
2
-
-
20
8
Building Surveying
2
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
Quantity Surveying
57
24
32
22
28
15
19
7
13
7
28
12
1
1 178
88
Project Management
Facilities
Management
Civil Engineering
/Infrastructure
Multi-disciplinary
Surveying
Main Contractor
5
-
3
1
4
2
2
-
2
1
7
4
-
-
23
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
1
2
1
3
2
9
4
-
-
15
7
1
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
3
2
1
-
5
-
8
2
5
2
13
7
19
11
2
1
53
23
Specialist Contractor
1
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
3
1
2
-
-
-
9
1
Other*
3
2
5
4
3
1
4
3
5
2
19
7
2
-
41
19
4
18
8
-
-
78
30
28 122
56
5
2 444 198
-
Multiple Entries
21
9
8
3
8
3
11
3
12
Sums
94
38
53
30
65
27
48
18
58
Note: *The other types of firms mentioned as single primary activities included:
Architectural firm acting as lead consultant to private client; Appraisal, Property Valuers; Architectural & Design Engineering Consulting Office; Built
Asset Consultancy; Claims consultancy (3); Client/Developer; Construction Consultants; Construction Cost Consulting; Construction Manager;
Contract Advisory & Dispute Management; Contractor Civil; Contracts and Commercial Consultants; Design Consultancy; Disputes consultant;
Education (2) ; Engineering Consultancy (Buildings); Engineering Consultancy providing EPCM services to the resource industry; EPCM; Groundworks
Contractor; Cost Planning/Project Management Consultancy employed by development companies; International Consultant; International Oil & Gas
Operator; Engineering project department for a Pharmaceutical company Multi discipline A&E Firm; Multi-disciplinary Engineering Consultant; Multidisciplinary Global Consultant; Municipal Government; NASA; Oil & Gas Exploration & Production; Oil & Gas Exploration & Development; Oil & Gas;
Oil & Gas Marine Construction Contractor; Property Developer; QS division embedded in Architectural & Engineering Consultant Software Company;
Sole Practitioner; Supervising Engineering Consultants; University; Valuation.
© RICS January 2012
6
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Figures 1 and 2 are based on the information presented in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the relative
proportions of respondents from different firm size categories that answered ‘No’ or ‘Yes’ to Question 4:
Have you ever used POMI? Figure 2 shows the breakdown of responses by type of firm.
Figure 1. Breakdown of respondents’
use of POMI by firm staff size ranges
Figure 2. Breakdown of respondents’ use of POMI
by firm type
2.2 Countries where POMI is used
Survey Question 5 asked: In which countries have you worked on contracts using POMI? Of 444
respondents, 187 did not answer, 57 confirmed they had not used POMI or not used it recently. Appendix
B Table 13 provides a count of the number of times a region (e.g. Africa), country or separate
administrative area (e.g. Hong Kong) was named by the remaining 201 respondents. In total, POMI use
was cited in 83 separate locales. However, in some cases the use was qualified as rare, occasional, or
not recent.
Only 7 of the 83 locales were cited by 5% or more of the 201 respondents. Table 2 records the numbers
and percentages of respondents citing these locals. It is clear that POMI has been most commonly used
on Middle East contracts, most notably in the United Arab Emirates.
There were some anomalies in the answers, i.e. respondents who did not answer, or entered ‘No’, in
response to Question 4 on the use of POMI, but went on to enter the names of countries in response to
Question 5. Where this occurred, BCIS included the names of countries cited in the counts.
Table 2. Countries in which POMI use on contracts was
cited by 5% or more of the respondents
Region, Country, or
administrative areas
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Oman
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Mauritius
Egypt
© RICS January 2012
Number of
citations
119
34
31
18
16
13
10
% of responses
(201) citing
59.2
16.9
15.4
9.0
7.7
6.5
5.0
7
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
2.3 Minimum values of projects on which POMI
was used
Table 3. Numbers of
minimum values cited for
POMI projects by country
Survey question 6 was composed of two parts.
Country
Question 6 part 1 asked: For up to three countries where POMI is most
used, what is the minimum value of contract where POMI is used?
276 values for different countries or administrative regions were cited.
54 respondents said there is no minimum value of contract where POMI
is used:
• 27 respondents specifically said there is no minimum value, but in
two cases suggested working minimum values.
• A further 27 respondents answered either All, Any, N/A, Nil or None,
which, after close inspection, BCIS took to also denote that there
was no minimum value.
For calculation purposes, BCIS converted values quoted in local
currencies to £ Sterling (GBP) using November 2011 exchange rates.
Table 3 lists the number of times a country (or administrative region)
was cited as the location of a POMI project.
Table 4 shows the minimum, maximum, mean, median and quartile
values for the responses, including 0 values, to question 6.1 for the
country count shown in Table 3. Table 5 shows the values when 0
values are excluded. The figures are rounded to the nearest £1000.
Table 4. Mean, median and bounding values for responses citing
minimum values of contracts where POMI is used — including 0
value responses
Maximum
Upper Quartile
Mean
Median
Lower Quartile
Minimum
£10,062,300,000
£7,019,000
£59,776,000
£321,000
£20,000
£0
Table 5. Mean, median and bounding values for responses citing
minimum values of contracts where POMI is used — excluding 0
value responses
Maximum
Upper Quartile
Mean
Median
Lower Quartile
Minimum
© RICS January 2012
£10,062,300,000
£11,689,000
£74,123,000
£874,000
£171,000
£0
United Arab Emirates
Oman
Qatar
Bahrain
Mauritius
Saudi Arabia
China
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Barbados
Hong Kong
Kuwait
Egypt
Grenada
Australia
Bahamas
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Iraq
Jordan
Kenya
Seychelles
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
Tanzania
Turks & Caicos Islands
Uganda
Vietnam
Angola
Antigua
Azerbaijan
Bermuda
Botswana
Brunei
Cyprus
France
Germany
Gibraltar
India
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Lebanon
Libya
Macau
Maldives
Nigeria
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
St. Vincent
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Total
Nr
100
24
20
13
11
11
6
6
6
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
276
8
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Question 6 part 2 asked: What percentage of contracts above that value (the minimum quoted) are based
on POMI? The results can only be meaningfully analysed by country and, given the small sample sizes
for most countries, must be viewed with caution. However, Table 6 reports the median of any minimum
project values reported (expressed as £ Sterling) and the mean of any percentages reported, together
with counts of numbers of different types of responses. The calculated £ Sterling values were rounded to
the nearest hundred.
Table 6. Numbers of minimum contract values provided by respondents with median values and
percentages of projects above those values for POMI projects
Table Key:
A = Number of respondents that quoted a minimum value including 0 (Nil),
B = Number of respondents that quoted non-0 minimum POMI project values
C = Number of respondents quoting a percentage of projects above any quoted minimum value
where POMI is used.
Mean of quoted %s of projects above values
Median of quoted minimum values
(including 0 values) Country/Local
A
B
C
GBP £
%
United Arab
Emirates
Oman
Mean of quoted %s of projects above values
Minimum value quoted
Country/Local
A
B
C
GBP £
%
100
82
88
463,400
82
Angola
1
1
1
100
45
24
15
22
83,500
80
Antigua
1
1
0
25
Qatar
20
14
16
249,100
62
Azerbaijan
1
1
Bahrain
13
9
11
170,600
64
Bermuda
1
1
1
1
1
1
289,301,900 100
38,573,600
-
514,300
80
Mauritius
11
7
8
66,700
90
Botswana
Saudi Arabia
11
9
6
1,285,800
54
Brunei
1
1
1
247,000
90
China
6
4
6
3,547,000
59
Cyprus
1
1
1
1,717,600
35
Sri Lanka
6
6
6
215,100
80
France
1
1
1
650,000
8
United Kingdom
6
6
4
2,500,000
62
Germany
1
1
1
6,870,400
70
Barbados
5
5
4
642,900
26
Gibraltar
1
1
1
100,000
20
Hong Kong
4
4
3
4,946,300
95
India
1
1
1
61,850,000
70
Egypt
3
2
3
3,214,500
87
Ireland
1
1
1
858,800
5
Grenada
3
3
3
238,100
73
Italy
1
1
1
257,600
1
Kuwait
3
3
3
16,248,000
61
Jamaica
1
1
1
3,214,500
3
Trinidad & Tobago
3
3
3
101,200
73
Lebanon
1
1
1
1,928,700
90
Australia
2
2
2
35,107,100
75
Libya
1
1
1
64,300
75
Bahamas
2
2
2
9,645,500
40
Macau
1
1
1
2,473,100
30
British Virgin Is.
2
2
1
3,873,400
80
Maldives
1
1
1
Canada
2
2
2
186,600
53
Nigeria
1
Cayman Islands
2
2
2
225,000
15
Romania
1
1
Iraq
2
2
2
1,768,000
16
Russia
1
1
Jordan
2
1
1
3,214,500
80
Singapore
1
1
1
Kenya
2
2
1
9,739,800
100
South Africa
1
1
1
Seychelles
2
2
2
1,172,000
100
St. Vincent
1
1
1
St. Kitts & Nevis
2
1
3
119,000
19
Sudan
1
1
1
St. Lucia
2
1
2
321,400
50
Syria
1
1
1
28,900
90
Tanzania
2
1
1
6,428,900
100
Venezuela
1
1
1
64,300
90
Turks & Caicos Is.
2
2
2
12,938,200
55
Zambia
1
1
0
10
Uganda
2
2
1
7,071,800
100
Zimbabwe
1
1
6,428,900
75
Vietnam
2
2
6,589,700
90
© RICS January 2012
1
160,700 100
1
0
1
39,400 100
25
771,471,600
49,500
75
767,900 100
642,900
50
60,118,000 100
9
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
2.4 Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents
Survey Question 7 asked: For the last three projects on which you used POMI, please provide the
information requested:
- Project type (* Examples include: Airport, Stadium, Railway, Road, Bridge, Pipeline, etc.)
- Location (Country)
- Cost/Value of work and currency
- Tender date.
The results show that POMI is used on all types of projects, both building and civil engineering, both
commercial and public sector. Table 7 shows the number of projects categorised as Buildings, Building
maintenance, Infrastructure, Mining, Mixed, Petro-chem/Oil+Gas, and Unspecified. Most of the mixed
projects are airports. Figure 3 illustrates the percentages. The majority (76%) of the POMI projects
reported were building construction projects. A complete list of the projects can be found in Appendix C.
Table 7. Breakdown of POMI projects
Project category
Buildings
Nr
322
Building maintenance
3
Infrastructure
43
Mining
1
Mixed
49
Petro-chem/Oil+Gas
3
Unspecified
1
Totals
442
%
76.3
0.7
10.2
0.2
11.6
0.7
0.2
100
Figure 3. Percentages of POMI projects of
different types
3. Who determines whether POMI is used?
Survey Question 8 asked: Who determines whether POMI is used on a contract?, offering the options
Consultant, Client, Contractor, or Other (please specify). Table 8 provides an analysis of the responses
from 183 users and 76 non-users of POMI.
Table 8. Who determines POMI use?
Response group Determining party
Consultant
POMI user
Nr
POMI non-user
Nr
%
%
Both user & non-user
Nr
%
122
66.7
37
48.7
159
61.4
50
27.3
36
47.4
86
33.2
Client based on consultant's advice
6
3.3
Contractor
3
1.7
Client
Main contractor if for subcontracts
Total answers
2
1.1
183
100.0
0.0
6
2.3
3
3.9
6
2.3
2
0.8
76
100.0
259
100.0
Five (5) POMI users and 5 non–users each responded with a factor that determines POMI use. Table 9
lists those factors.
Table 9. Factors mentioned as determining POMI use
POMI users’ statements
•
•
•
•
•
Depends on procurement route and engaged parties
Form of contract
General consensus (in UAE) based on industry norm
Locality (in this locality (UAE), it is the only method of
measurement most know)
All contracts in Mauritius use
© RICS January 2012
POMII non-users’ statements
•
•
•
•
•
Depends
Government (China, Hong Kong)
Local construction policy (China, Hong Kong),
with prominent benefits by POMI
Local market practices (in USA)
Professionalism
10
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
4. Forms of contracts used with POMI
Table 10 tabulates responses to survey Question 9. What forms of contract are generally used with POMI
measurement? One hundred and nineteen (119) respondents either named one or more specific types or
families of contract (e.g. FIDIC, NEC, JCT), or the contract could be inferred from the locale and other
responses. Table 10 shows the number of times a particular contract or family of contracts was
mentioned. The percentages are the numbers of citations expressed as percentages of 180 responses.
Twenty-nine (29) of the 180 responses included references (often ambiguous) to generic forms contracts.
These responses are tabulated in a similar fashion under the heading Generic types of contracts.
Table 10. Numbers and percentages of total responses citing a named or generic type of contract
used in conjunction with POMI measurement
Named or generic types of contracts
Citations
Named contract (or modified version)
(
FIDIC Fédération Internationale Des Ingénieurs-Conseils)
JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal, UK) includes Jamaican Standard Form
EACC, East African Conditions of Contract, East African Institute of Architects
AIA (American Institute of Architects)
GC Works (including one mention of GC Works 1)
JBCC (Joint Building Contract Committee, RSA)
NEC (formally New Engineering Contract, UK)
CCDC (Canadian Construction Documents Committee) and CCA (Canadian
Construction Association)
CCAG (Cahier des Clauses Administratives Générales) with CCAP (Cahier des
Clauses Administratives Particulières) modification clauses (as used in France)
ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers, UK)
Nr
142
22
5
3
2
2
2
% (of 180)
78.9
12.2
2.8
1.7
1.1
1.1
1.1
1
0.6
1
0.6
1
0.6
15
7
5
4
3
2
8.3
3.9
2.8
2.2
1.7
1.1
Generic types of contract
1
2
Bespoke (8) or Client’s own (7)
3
Traditional with quantities (3), With Quantities (3), SMM7 (1)
Design Bid Build (Traditional) (1), Fixed Fee (1), Traditional (3)
Re-measurement (3), Unit rate (1)
Lump sum fixed price or Lump sum (2), Traditional (1)
Any (1), Building (1)
Notes:
1. Bespoke includes Bespoke forms of subcontract (where s/c works valued on a remeasurable basis and Bespoke Works Contract.
2. Client’s own includes Local Government Forms used in the UAE and Qatar and Local (forms) used in Qatar, both entries are
probably referring to FIDIC variants.
3. With Quantities includes a reference to Builders bill of quantities and where bills are being used by contractors to form the
contract sum, and one to SMM7.
5. Is POMI still fit for purpose?
Survey Question 10 asked: Is POMI still generally fit for purpose? The question received 226 responses:
153 respondents (67.7%) answered ‘Yes’, 73 (32.3%) answered ‘No’. Table 11 shows the breakdown.
Table 11. Is POMI still generally fit for purpose?
Answer
Yes
No
POMI Users
Nr
%
136
73.5
49
26.5
POMI non-users
Nr
%
17
41.5
24
58.5
All Respondents
Nr
%
153
67.7
73
32.3
The percentage of respondents with experience of using POMI who felt POMI was still generally fit for
purpose was 1.8 times (73.5/41.5) the equivalent percentage of respondents that had not used POMI, or
on balance, 32% (73.5–41.5) higher.
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
6. Desired improvements
There where 114 responses to Survey Question 11: What improvements would you like to see made to
POMI? A complete list of the responses can be found in Appendix D together with key details about the
respondents, their firms and where POMI had been used on projects. Many of the comments deal with
multiple issues; BCIS broke down such compound responses, categorised the comments, and counted
the number of times similar improvements were mentioned. The analysis below is presented in sections
beginning with summary counts of similar comments followed by quoted or paraphrased calls labelled
with respondent ID and country tags.
Calls to make POMI more detailed or specific, or improve its definitions
The respondents’ comments include 52 calls to make POMI measurement more detailed/specific or
improve its definitions. The calls include: 29 direct calls for more detailed/specific measurement, 13 calls
for improved definition or description of work, 7 calls for more detail expressed by condemnation or
implication, and 3 calls for more detailed measurement, but not too detailed.
29 direct calls for more detailed or specific measurement
• More measurement details [2610136 Australia]
• More detail - less scope for interpretation [2620295 France]
• More detailed [2667472 Mauritius]
• To provide more details (in terms of items and classification) [2667586 Mauritius]
• More specific [2610989 Sri Lanka]
• … POMI is very basic and could be expanded along (lines of) other international methods of
measurement. [2686128 Oman]
• It is very general. It should be more specific. [2672402 U.A.E.]
• More specific height/depth descriptions like SMM7…[2672380 U.A.E.]
• It should be more comprehensive to avoid ambiguities. [2610398 U.A.E.]
• More specific and accurate way of measurement to avoid disputes in post contract stage. [2610398
U.A.E.]
• More detailed method of measurement and also guidelines for preparation of BOQs [2671519 U.A.E.]
• More details on gross and net area measurement [2608881 U.A.E.]
• Need to be more specific instead of being general Can refer to the latest SMM. [2609139 U.A.E.]
• The industry and complexity of buildings/projects has moved on from when POMI produced. Lack of
detail in items is becoming an issue, in particular with specialist subcontractors. Needs to move
towards an SMM7/CESSM3 system [2613115 U.A.E.]
• ….Quasi SMM6 trade format and additional level of detail would be better. [2619334 U.A.E.]
• A more elaborated version of the POMI, similar approach to the content/level of details involved in
SMM7 [2658192 U.A.E.]
• (Needs) to be more detailed [2667931 U.A.E.]
• More detailed description and item coverage…. [2609617 U.A.E.]
• More details similar to SMM7 need to be added. [2673625 U.A.E.]
• More detailed descriptions, Similar layout to SMM7/CESMM3 taking into account CPI [2609403
U.A.E.]
• More detail - narrowing the gap to SMM [2610492 U.A.E.]
• A detailed breakdown of various elements with a possible coding system [2674105 U.A.E.]
• It should be clearer as it tends to mix works of a very different nature and the measurement rules are
too loose. [2673671 U.A.E.]
• More detailed structure with classifications [2608856 U.A.E.]
• Greater definition of measurement rules, class and itemisation…..[2610321 Egypt,
• …..move to a tabular format. [2610321 Egypt]
• POMI is too simplified, but used as base. We use SMM7 to supplement with more detail. [2668633
Mauritius]
• … (POMI) is not specific enough. [2653666 Oman]
• More specific with regards to categorisation in measurement [2614896 Mauritius]
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
13 calls for improved descriptions or definitions of work
• (Improved) Description [2611590 Hong Kong SAR]
• Library of descriptions updated and enhanced [2636989 Barbados]
• Improved definitions [2611876 Ireland]
• …..(Provide better) definitions for debatable works such as: column vs. wall where a structure is given
a column reference on drawings while its length is greater than five times its width, or a structure is
given a wall reference on drawings while reinforcement details are similar to a column, and concealed
beams when between different type of slabs (e.g. between ribbed slab and solid slab). It would be
beneficial if stated where it should be measured…… [2620064 Lebanon]
• …..Internal/External finishes should each be so described….. [2620064 Lebanon]
• Define what is external (e.g. work in covered balcony is debatable). [2620064 Lebanon]
• …..Review of work packages splits to fit current practices in procurement. [2608706 Malaysia]
• Extensive list of items for measurements to (be) added [2672654 Mauritius]
• Better descriptions/Better item overages,,,.. [2608871 Oman]
• Improved measurement descriptions and guide notes [2668812 Oman]
• POMI did not explain in detail (how) to measure items. It is like guidance notes. Therefore, (it) needs
further development. [2610773 U.A.E.]
• …..(ensure) clarity in scope. (Adopt) consistency in approach throughout the divisions, as far as
practically possible (electrical, mechanical, civil, etc.), clear cut demarcations (stating whether an item
is included in the scope or not), consistency with generally accepted practices like Prelims, allowance
for attendance/OH&P, Builder's work for a Provisional Sum Item, OH&P to Day works etc. Clarify
clearly what exactly (is) to be considered in Day work hours (e.g. transport time of a Plant from yard to
the site be included in Day work hours, or merely the production time at time to be considered?). etc.
[2672380 U.A.E.]
• Better definition for building projects as opposed to civils [2610344 U.A.E.]
7 calls for more detail expressed as condemnation or by implication
• Not relevant any more as too vague [2618637 Barbados]
• Too simple…. [2619334 U.A.E.]
• (On) first use of the document, (I) found the document very vague and interpreted measurement more
on my past experience with SMM6 and 7 when formulating the tender documents descriptions.
[2670267 U.A.E.]
• SMM is more detailed. [2672615 Oman]
• POMI is briefly described in measurement, therefore many preambles are needed. [2669483 Sri
Lanka]
• (Our) company traditionally includes an extensive Rates and Measurement clause with all contracts to
expand upon POMI clauses and perceived shortcomings. [2673897 U.A.E.]
• POMI is no longer relevant to many of the international markets as the complexity of construction has
increased. Also, the majority of qualified QS staff have a grounding in either SMM or CESMM - the
latter is in use for most civil engineering projects in the Middle East. [2668663 U.A.E.]
3 calls for more detailed measurement, but not too detailed
• More detailed steps of measurements (but not to the level of SMM7 or CESMM3) [2668233 Australia]
• The method of measurement (POMI) is far too crude these days. We tend to follow SMM7 standards.
A method of measurement somewhere in between would be very useful. [2608325 Cayman Islands]
• It is too brief. Should be expanded, but not to the same level of sophistication as SMM [2672597
Mauritius]
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
17 calls for updating generally and to reflect new construction methods/technical
change
• Each item should be considered [2610240 U.A.E.]
• Just generally updated [2634481 Japan]
• Many (improvements) which can not be described in this survey response, but we wish the RICS
would take a more active role and more interest in this issue [2668552 U.A.E.]
• Brought more up to date [2686125 U.A.E.]
• Brought up to date with present day construction [2610253 U.A.E.]
• It's generally OK, but could be updated to reflect modern construction methods. [2624521Oman]
• Need amendments to suit current practice [2611666 Singapore]
• …Also, with facade designs getting technology dependent, a section should be added to cater for this.
[2611516 Philippines ]
• ….Similarly, an environmental sustainability section could be added as well… [2611516 Philippines
• ….Other sections could be improved to make it relevant to today's new technology in construction.
[2611516 Philippines ]
• Some elements need to be updated to encapsulate modern construction methods, e.g. Post
Tensioning. [2673805 U.A.E.]
• General renovation to incorporate modern methods of construction and pricing….[2616470 Gibraltar]
• With a lot of emphasis being put on sustainability and emerging technologies, POMI could do with the
facility to include such elements in more detail in the BoQ. [2609710 U.A.E.]
• Provisions for measurement of new services like BMS, Data & IT Systems [2644520 U.A.E.]
• Should be codified enabling (it) to exploit IT easily. Similar to CESMM3 [2608114 U.A.E.]
• It is way out of date and does not conform to industry improvements in the 80s, 90s [2610220 U.A.E.]
• …..it requires updating to be in line with modern elements of construction aspects. [2609617 U.A.E.]
14 calls for building services related enhancements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More breakdown on services [2609302 Bahrain]
POMI doesn't really suit our needs in HV Electrical Engineering. [2608084 United States]
Updating for …. MEP usage [2667913 United States]
Some more details (should be added) to building elements, especially for MEP sections which are
very generic at present…. [2610250 Qatar]
Enhanced MEP sections [2629545 Qatar]
Items in many sections, especially Mechanical and Electrical Engineering installations, should be
detailed further to the next lower level. New sections could be added for works, e.g. general
infrastructure and utilities networks. [2609303 Saudi Arabia]
Should be reviewed with regard to M&E innovations in the past 30 years, particularly those in hotter
countries. [2610237 U.A.E.]
Possible review of M&E sections [2662353 U.A.E.]
Improvements to M&E sections [2678838 U.A.E.]
Improve MEP side of measurement [2668404 U.A.E.]
…..Mechanical and Electrical sections re-written [2613006 U.A.E.]
Certain elements are not measured in enough detail, such as Enabling Works, and the majority of
MEP (AC, drainage, fire fighting systems, plumbing, BMS etc.) and sometimes have to be measured
using another principle depending upon the complexity of the project. [2610241 U.A.E.]
More details on Electrical and Mechanical Items…. [2627565 U.A.E.]
Include detailed section for IT related works….. [2612996 U.A.E.]
© RICS January 2012
14
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
6 calls for more/better guidance
• More detailed guidance notes [2611848 U.A.E.]
• ….Provide guidance for the works to be included and excluded under each section…. [2612996
U.A.E.]
• (Better) guidance notes [2608871 Oman]
• Provide a guidance note [2610575 Qatar]
• A detailed bill is required to avoid disputes, like SMM7 for buildings and CESMM3 for infrastructure.
Some consultants/contractors prefer to use POMI in the U.A.E, therefore the issuance of an updated
POMI with a detailed guidance note would be useful. [2610300 U.A.E.]
• More explanation - similar to SMM7 [2673653 Qatar]
5 calls concerning Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and marine works, etc.
• Updating for Civil ….. usage [2667913 United States]
• …..POMI is not used for infrastructure works, infrastructure mainly uses CESMM… [2610250 Qatar]
• …..Include detailed section for Civil Eng./Infrastructure works such as roads, bridges, etc. ….
[2612996 U.A.E.]
• Insert Section A1: Marine works, rocks, revetments, groynes, reclamation, associated mechanical
works, hydrobursts, pumps….. [Oman, 2751435]
• It should have provision for non-building works measurement like oil & gas.…. [2675224 Australia]
5 direct calls to restructure/reformat POMI similar to other methods, usually
SMM7 or CESMM, sometimes with mention of a tabular format grid reference
system
•
•
•
•
•
…..move to a tabular format [2610321 Egypt
Updated to grid reference system as SMM7 [2621545 Ireland]
‘Modernised’ in format in the style of SMM7 [2676786 South Africa]
Format (e.g. CESMM) [2608654 Sri Lanka]
…..also (adopt) a format similar to CESMM 3 [2627565 U.A.E.]
5 calls to leave POMI more or less alone
• Oddly, just reissue a new version along the same lines - some are dubious about it here as it is ‘old’;
(1979). Here the dominant MOM is SMM5 - of course POMI is basically SMM5 with the labours and
other ‘fiddly’ bits stripped out. Each practice tends to have its own (massive) set of notwithstanding
clauses to SMM5 - I have argued using POMI and adding is more accurate overall. If a 'new' POMI
were issued - just reformatting the existing one and writing 2011 on the front - it may receive greater
use. UK MOM do not really work as well here (or in other overseas locations) as the concerns of
contractors pricing works are often quite different. [2608717 Barbados]
• POMI generally provides an adequate fallback where other more specific standard forms of
measurement are not available or are for some reason unsuitable. POMI adequately fulfils this
purpose. [2660750 Jamaica]
• None, POMI works very well [2671886 Trinidad & Tobago]
• They are simple and they work. I think a very simple update is needed, i.e. re-formatting. 1979 is the
dark ages for most young surveyors. I suggest you don’t over-complicate the update, if you are going
to undertake one. Why fix something when it is not broken? [2608813 U.A.E.]
• None; its use has only recently become extensive and users need familiarisation [2609229 U.A.E.]
© RICS January 2012
15
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Other calls and comments by subject area
Preliminaries, PC items, Overheads & Profit
• Detailing of preliminaries and general section Q and R to be improved [2608945 U.A.E.]
• Better breakdown of Preliminaries section…. [2613006 U.A.E.]
• Detail on cost of PC items (i.e. percentage of wastage) [2672335 U.A.E.]
• OH & P with respect to installation cost…. [2672335 U.A.E.]
Partitions and Cladding
• Delete Section K: Accessories, put partitions in Woodwork [2751435 Oman]
• Slight alterations to reference partitions and wall cladding more easily [2667839 U.A.E.]
• Cladding works need further clarification on extra over items on doors/windows. [2672335 U.A.E.]
• …..Facade should be split into wall types: glazed, spandrel, etc. [2610779 United Arab Emirates
Measures and flexibility to adapt to local requirements
• There are some country specific rules of measurement that are different. [2667467 Greece]
• Need flexibility to modify the rules of measurement if required [2658933 Kuwait]
• …. (Provide) template on how the standards could be adapted to suit local conditions (e.g. particular
conditions type) [2667472 Mauritius]
Develop variants for different purposes, i.e. for different categories of work as FIDIC forms, to
provide a short form, to suit regional requirements
• It would better if it is categorised in more than one type, similar to what FIDIC did in having the Red,
Orange, Yellow, White forms, based in say Real Estate, Highways and Bridges, etc., that would
provide specific reference. [2671989 Qatar]
• A 'short form' developed for smaller projects where documentation is not at 90-100% and projects
where the fee is not large enough to complete via POMI [2637230 Australia, Past user]
• A system of measurement should be specifically developed for use in Africa with South Africa taking
the lead (but in conjunction with BCIS). [2611736, South Africa]
Improve measurement of formwork and reinforcement
• POMI C4 - C4.1 item 4 - Formwork to sides of foundation is not measured. Tenderer is to allow for the
same in the rate for concrete, if he so desires. C4.1 item 3 - Formwork to sloping upper surfaces of
concrete to be measured only where the slope exceeds 45º from horizontal. In all other cases,
tenderer must allow in the prices for the concrete for any formwork he considers may be necessary.
C3.2 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 3.2 of the POMI, reinforcement bars of different
diameters are grouped together irrespective of location and elements. [2640812 Mauritius]
• 1. Perhaps recognition of modern formwork systems and how to measure them? 2. Include a rule for
post-tensioning? [2610912 Vietnam]
• System formworks should be as Items of Contractor’s Plant…[2610779 U.A.E.]
Accommodate of other standards
• POMI is not used in Kuwait. Kuwait is using CSI-CSC MasterFormat. The MasterFormat is the format
of specifications. The same division and section numbers of the specifications (are) used in the BOQ
preparation. The earlier version of MasterFormat (1995) is a 16-Division Format and similar to POMI.
The MasterFormat was revised in 2004 and extended to 50 Divisions. The older version (June 1979)
of POMI requires a lot of improvement (in) incorporating the present international construction
procedure especially for the Middle East/Gulf Countries. [2608953 Kuwait]
• In the Middle East, while POMI is usually adopted as the method (of measurement), items are
generally billed in CSI format. POMI should include an explanation of how to correlate the BQ to CSI +
POMI...[2611516 Philippines]
Promotion generally
• Roadshows to raise the profile to explain the benefits [2614626 Australia, Non-user]
• …many local QS are not aware of its existence. Promotion is needed. [2608806 China]
© RICS January 2012
16
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Other changes
• List of unified abbreviations for units. The following are commonly used: m, M, lm, LM; m2, M2, SQM;
m3, M3, CuM; No, U, Each…..[2620064 Lebanon]
• More use of composite bill items referenced to drawings and spec….[2608706 Malaysia]
• …..Door jambs, heads, sills, sub-frames, mullions, etc. Sub-contractors prefer that these are quoted
with the door, window or screen, and not to be measured separately…..[2620064 Lebanon]
• Categories to enable contractors to price elements of work individually according to their actual cost,
as opposed to averaging….2610322 U.A.E.]
• …..Measuring out of accessories, rather than lumping into other rates [2610322 U.A.E.]
• Make Work Breakdown Structure [WBS) more flexible by providing ‘Miscellaneous’ category at the end
of every section. This will allow inclusion of atypical items. (2732352 U.A.E.]
• New items reflecting the intricacies of CCDC5 b type transition from Cost Plus to Lump Sum. New
items reflecting the integration 3p (PPP?) projects [2667555 Canada]
• Finishes measurements need a bit more clarity [2610312 U.A.E.]
• It does not adequately deal with working space…. [2653666 Oman]
• ……..and also provision for design stage activities [2675224 Australia]
• To allow for external service works [2609184 Egypt]
© RICS January 2012
17
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
7. The need for guidance, training, and other forms of
support
Survey Question 12 asked: Would the following be useful to your firm's staff members?
- Guidance note on the use of POMI
- Training on the use of POMI
Question 12 then asked: Are there other types of support RICS should offer?
This section reports the on the answers and comments received.
7.1 Need for guidance note and training on the use of POMI
Guidance note — Of 335 responses regarding whether a new RICS guidance note on POMI would be
useful, 265 (79.1%) answered Yes, 70 (20.9%) answered No.
Training — Of 306 answers regarding whether RICS training on the use of POMI would be useful, 183
(59.8%) answered Yes, 123 (40.2%) answered No.
7.2 Responses on other types of support RICS should offer
A subsidiary question (Question 12.3) asked: Are there other types of support RICS should offer? The 43
responses received are tabulated in full in Appendix E together with respondent profiling information. In
this section, the responses are grouped and summarised below under the subheadings POMI related or
General comments (probably not POMI related). The responses have been edited to condense them to a
list of bullet points. Each bullet point is followed by a unique ID number and country of origin and which
can be matched to the full comments in Appendix E.
POMI related
Put standard online
• Make POMI an online resource [2624097 Australia – POMI Non-user]
Guidance in general (particularly online)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Online learning [U.A.E., 2610498]
Online guidance [2727077 Singapore]
Provide web based support [Canada 2667555]
Provide web based case studies on POMI use together with answers to FAQs [Lebanon 2620064]
Provide free information on RICS web site rather than via iSurv [Malaysia 2608706]
Provide online tutorials [Ireland 2621545]
Provide guidance note [Singapore 2695755]
Explanation and (guidance on) application of POMI [Sri Lanka 2669483]
Provide a POMI Handbook [U.A.E. 2608856]
Guidance with reference to particular subjects (notably contract administration
and claims)
• A guidance note for POMI including inclusion/exclusion of each trade, i.e. similar to RICS NRM [U.A.E.
2658192]
• Guidance on most suitable contracts by value, contract type, etc. [U.A.E. 2670134]
• More contractual awareness short courses, particularly in FIDIC and procedures thereunder. [U.A.E.
2609229]
• Provide information on settlement of POMI related contractual claims [Malaysia 2626244]
• Support for consultants and contractors in contract administration [U.A.E. 2609699]
• Information related to disputes due to POMI and wrong interpretation or use of POMI [U.A.E. 2608945]
• Case law (if any) [U.A.E. 2633392]
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Events
• Roadshows [Australia 2614626]
• Seminars [Sri Lanka 2610989]
Consult and update POMI
• Form an advisory committee of experienced POMI users, including representation from contractors’
QSs, to review POMI and propose modifications [U.A.E. 2673671]
• Consult further with members regarding the improvement of POMI [U.A.E. 2610241]
• Coordinate with local institutions (e.g. HKIS) [China 2608806]
• Revamp POMI to reflect current construction methods and issues [U.A.E. 2667829]
• Update POMI to take into account technological advancements in construction industry [U.A.E.
2668404]
• Maintain POMI and educate the industry/public [2768578 U.A.E. Azerbaijan]
• Update POMI [Mauritius 2668633] [Mauritius 2672597]
Variants and translations
• Develop regional variants [Bahrain 2669213]
• Provide local language translations [Italy 2615584]
• Revise and reissue to include more detail, or produce long and short versions to enable a choice on
level of detail [Egypt 2612230]
International
• Make more effort to standardise practice at international level [India 2609003]
• Explain benefit of using POMI in relation to other standards commonly used internationally [China,
Hong Kong 2829340]
• RICS support needs to be started in developed areas in Asia like Hong Kong or Singapore in this
issue [Vietnam 2624352]
Guidance on suitability of different methods of measurement
• Marketing the other forms of MOM to the main clients in the region (middle east), POMI is used for
almost all types of contracts, whether it is suitable for the contracts or not, just because it is the only
one they know, and they use the ‘the devil you know’ excuse [U.A.E. 2668552]
• Explain benefit in relation to other standards commonly used internationally [China, Hong Kong SAR
2829340]
General comments (probably not POMI related)
• Provide notes on RICS seminars [Malta 2672784]
• Provide more publications on contracts claim settlement [Malaysia 2626244]
• Provide local training/support for local staff to prepare for APC (Assessment of Professional
Competence), etc. [Oman 2624521]
• Promote the importance of SMMs and Bills of Quantities, and RICS, to Qatari Client organisations.
[Qatar 2608821]
• Educate clients and government departments in Africa about what quantity surveyors actually do and
what services they can provide [South Africa 2608931]
• Some sort of client education, i.e. to make the consultants responsible to advise clients (developers)
on the project risks prior to commencement, like a sort of insurance disclaimer. So many projects are
currently going wrong due to bad consultant advice and ill educated developers. [U.A.E. 2608813]
• Measurement should form a fundamental part of the competencies in achieving membership. We
seem to be losing the ability to measure correctly and accurately. [U.A.E. 2613115]
• A formal process where RICS gives a ruling when disputes arise [U.A.E. 2627565]
• Guidance on most suitable contracts by value, contract type, etc. [U.A.E. 2670134]
• Create QS platform to exchange ideas similar to Wikipedia [U.A.E. 2672335]
• More CPD on SMMs [U.A.E. 2686146]
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
8. Interest in participating in POMI review/advisory board
Survey Question 13 asked: Would you be prepared to take part in a review/advisory board for POMI?
Of 378 responses, 128 (34%) answered ‘Yes’, 250 (66%) answered ‘No’. Of the 128 respondents
interested in participating, 93 (73%) have experience of using POMI.
9. Analysis of respondents’ other comments and
recommendations
Survey Question 14 asked: Do you have any other comments or recommendations? This section quotes
or paraphrases only the comments and recommendations received from respondents with experience of
using POMI, but the full text of both POMI users’ and non-users’ comments can be found in Appendix F.
On inspection, BCIS found the comments from non-users tend to report on the standards used in their
locales.
9.1 Comments
POMI not used because
• The dilution in application of POMI to projects is more of a function of a change in procurement
mechanisms rather than any reflection of the capability of POMI. I haven't worked on a project in 20
years that used a BQ. [Australia, 2612450]
• The State of Qatar has its own SMM, based on the RICS SMM5, thus POMI is rarely used. CESMM 3
is used for infrastructure work. [Qatar, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Qatar & UAE 260882]
• Mainland China has her own SMM for the whole country. It may not be practicable to promote POMI in
China. [China 2608806]
• The problem essentially is that the pricing of tenders by regional contractors is not sophisticated and
tenders exhibit a lack of pricing strategy. The MoM which affects B/Q content would have little effect
on the value of building tenders. Contributing to the elimination of disputes must be the prime benefit.
[Lebanon, 2611789]
POMI is useful
• In all instances listed above (the only three where I have used POMI) they were approximate
quantities projects - since extensive remeasurement was needed a 'slimmed-down' MOM was very
useful - quick to measure for PQS, quick to remeasure for PQS/Contractor, helped programme for
client and kept down QS costs. The mention of use on large infrastructure also tends to suggest it is
useful for projects with extensive remeasurement - probably easier to apply than clunky CEMM infrastructure probably on FIDIC Red which is a remeasurement form. [Barbados 2608717]
• POMI is still a very useful fill-in system for where no other measurement principles are readily applied.
I used it just for minor maintenance works projects. I've since moved on to much larger projects, but I
still think it has its uses. [New Zealand, 2668156]
• The Hong Kong Standard Method of Measurement …closely resembles POMI. [Hong Kong, 2608976]
9.2 General (not POMI specific) comments
• RICS, universities and polytechnic schools need to emphasise training and education on traditional
quantity surveying skills, as there is still big demand both by clients and contractors. During the past
20 years, concentration has been more on value management, risk management and the like at the
expense of traditional quantity surveying. [Mauritius, 2640812]
• On a general point, we have been trying to establish an RICS branch here in Oman for the past three
years, but get little or no support from the RICS in Dubai [Oman, 2686128]
© RICS January 2012
20
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
9.3 Recommendations
POMI needs updating
• I would say POMI generally still serves its purpose – but, I think it is now time to have a look at the
documents to align it to the new methods of working, new tech, etc. [Philippines, 2611516]
• The updating of POMI is long overdue, the document being more than 30 years old now. The initiative
taken by RICS to review the market needs and update it is most welcome. [Mauritius, 2672597]
• The POMI definitely needs revision. [Mauritius, 2672654]
• I would wish our company to be part of a review/advisory board…… [Oman, 2624521]
POMI should be promoted
• POMI should be more widely publicised…..only came across POMI relatively recently when it was
proposed by a new member of staff for use with a remeasurable civil works subcontract. [France,
2620295]
• …Very keen on POMI, keen to help and promote it here….. [Barbados, 2608717]
Create a POMI with blanks and foster local versions
• A POMI with blanks to be filled in by the QS preparing the bills for additions and adjustments would be
useful - possibly issue it to national RICS groups and encourage a POMI (Barbados) etc. to be issued
– after all standard methods of measurement are only really useful if they are just that – standard.
[Barbados, 2608717]
Keep it simple
• … keep the document as brief as it is now.. [Barbados, 2608717]
• A simple POMI would be useful for client or financing organisations that would benefit from cost data
that can be compared internationally. A cost analysis format compatible with the breakdown structure
of POMI would also be sensible. [Japan 2634481]
• …issue it as a public domain document, don't copyright it or charge for it. [Barbados 2608717]
• It would be very useful to have international forms of contract that marry with a new POMI [Cayman
Islands 2608325]
© RICS January 2012
21
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix A. Breakdown of ‘Multiple Entries’ for firm type
Table 12 provides a breakdown of 78 responses where the respondents entered more than a single
primary activity when describing their firm type in response to survey Question 2. What type of firm do
you represent?
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Barbados
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Cayman Islands
China
China
China
China
China
China
China
China
Germany
Grenada
Grenada
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
© RICS January 2012
Yes
No
251 to 1000
Yes
11 to 50
No
51 to 100
No
11 to 50
No
1000+
No
1 to 10
No
1 to 10
No
11 to 50
Yes
11 to 50
No
1 to 10
Yes
251 to 1000
No
1 to 10
No
1000+
No
51 to 100
No
101 to 250
No
1000+
No
101 to 250
Yes
1000+
No
11 to 50
No
51 to 100
No
51 to 100
No
101 to 250
No
251 to 1000
No
251 to 1000
No
1000+
1 to 10
No
No
1 to 10
No
Hong Kong SAR
101 to 250
101 to 250
No
No
Professor in university
1000+
No
Used
POMI?
1000+
Staff
251 to 1000
China
Ghana
Management Consultancy
Canada
Cayman Islands
Specialist Contractor
Brunei Darussalam
Other: Please specify
Barbados
China
Main Contractor
Multi-disciplinary Surveying
Civil Engineering/Infrastructure
Facilities Management
Project Management
Quantity Surveying
Building Surveying
Private Client
Responding from
Public Client
Table 12. Breakdown of ‘Multiple entries’ for firm type
1 to 10
No
1000+
No
251 to 1000
No
22
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong SAR
India
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Lebanon
Mauritius
New Zealand
New Zealand
Oman
Oman
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Singapore
Singapore
South Africa
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Turks & Caicos Islands
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
© RICS January 2012
Specialist Contractor
Main Contractor
Multi-disciplinary Group
Multi-disciplinary Surveying
Education
Other: Please specify
Civil Engineering/Infrastructure
Facilities Management
Project Management
Quantity Surveying
Building Surveying
Private Client
Responding from
Public Client
Table 12. Breakdown of ‘Multiple entries’ for firm type (continued)
Staff
101 to 250
1 to 10
1 to 10
1000+
51 to 100
1 to 10
1 to 10
1000+
1 to 10
251 to 1000
1 to 10
251 to 1000
101 to 250
1000+
11 to 50
251 to 1000
1000+
251 to 1000
51 to 100
101 to 250
1 to 10
101 to 250
1 to 10
1 to 10
1 to 10
1 to 10
51 to 100
101 to 250
1000+
51 to 100
11 to 50
1000+
1000+
1 to 10
1000+
1 to 10
101 to 250
1 to 10
251 to 1000
11 to 50
1000+
251 to 1000
1000+
Used
POMI?
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
23
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix B. Places where POMI use on contracts cited
Survey Question 5 asked: In which countries have you worked on contracts using POMI? Table 13 lists in
alphabetical order the number of times the use of POMI was cited for regions, countries or administrative
areas.
Table 13. Regions, countries, or administrative areas in which POMI use on contracts was cited
Region, country, or
administrative areas
% of
responses
(201) citing
Africa
2
1.0
Albania
2
1.0
Angola
1
0.5
Antigua & Barbuda
1
0.5
Australia
3
1.5
Azerbaijan
2
1.0
Bahamas
3
1.5
Bahrain
16
7.7
Barbados
7
3.5
Bermuda
1
0.5
Botswana
1
0.5
British Virgin Islands
3
1.5
Brunei
1
0.5
Burundi
1
0.5
Canada
3
1.5
Cayman Islands
3
1.5
China
4
2.0
Cyprus
3
1.5
Doha
1
0.5
Egypt
10
5.0
Ethiopia
1
0.5
France
1
0.5
Germany
1
0.5
Gibraltar
1
0.5
Greece
1
0.5
Grenada
3
1.5
Guyana
2
1.0
Hong Kong
4
2.0
Hungary
1
0.5
India
1
0.5
Iraq
3
1.5
(1)
Ireland (Occasionally)
(0.5)
3 respondents cited Ireland, but one noted this
was over 15 years ago and another said POMI is
no longer used.
Jamaica
2
1.0
Jordan
4
2.0
Kenya
3
1.5
Kuwait
7
3.5
Lebanon
1
0.5
Libya
2
1.0
Macao
1
0.5
Malaysia
1
0.5
Maldives
1
0.5
© RICS January 2012
Number of
citations
Region, country, or
administrative areas
Number of
citations
% of 201
responses
citing
0.5
6.5
1.5
1.0
Malta
1
Mauritius
13
Middle East
3
Nigeria
2
Org. of Eastern
1
0.5
Caribbean States)
Oman
31
15.4
Pakistan
1
0.5
Philippines
1
0.5
Qatar
34
16.9
Romania
2
1.0
Russia
1
0.5
Rwanda
1
0.5
Saudi Arabia
18
9.0
Serbia
1
0.5
Seychelles
3
1.5
Singapore
1
0.5
Somalia
1
0.5
South Africa
(2)
1.0
Sri Lanka
6
3.0
St. Kitts & Nevis
1
0.5
St. Lucia
1
0.5
St. Vincent and the
1
0.5
Grenadines
Sudan
2
1
Syria
1
0.5
Taiwan
1
0.5
Tanzania
4
Nr
Thailand
2
2.0
Trinidad and Tobago
3
1.5
Turkey
1
0.5
Turks & Caicos
4
Nr
Islands
Uganda
3
1.5
UK
(9)
(4.5)
11 respondents cited the UK or England, but one
respondent mentioned use in years 1994-97,
another 1993
United Arab Emirates
119
59.2
Venezuela
1
0.5
Vietnam
2
1
West Indies
1
0.5
Zambia
2
1
Zimbabwe
1
0.5
24
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix C. Tabulation of types, values and dates of POMI projects
cited by respondents
Table 14 below tabulate the POMI project information received in response to Question 7: For the last
three projects on which you used POMI, please provide the information requested below (Project type,
Location (Country), Cost/Value of work and currency, Tender date). The column heading BCIS
classification refers to classifications BCIS assigned for counting purposes. The Value cited column
contains the unedited cost/value data as received, without any editing. The £ GBP unadjusted column
contains BCIS’ interpretations of the cost/values cited as converted to £ sterling using November 2011
exchange rates, without any further tender date/location factor related adjustments.
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents
Local
Description
BCIS classification
Value cited
Albania (Durres)
Angola
Buildings
Headquarters
Building
Building
Australia
Defence
Mixed
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain
Mixed
Infrastructure
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain
Barbados
Barbados
Mixed Development
Power Station
Airport
Chamber of Commerce
City Centre
Hotel
Villas
High Rise Towers, Civils,
Reclamation, Villas, Airport
Residential
HOTEL
Hotel
Building
Hotel
Car Park
Barbados
New-build Condo Blocks
Building
Barbados
Barbados
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Is.
British Virgin Is.
(Tortola)
Brunei
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Cayman Is.
Cayman Is.
Cayman Is.
Cayman Is.
Cayman Is.
China
China
China
China
China
China
China
China
Hotel
Educational
Commercial Bank
School
Hospital
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
EUR 20,000,000
$125
$120m Australian
Dollars
US$450Mn
US$50m
$B 25,000,000
$30 million
$ 450million
BD10 Million
BD20 Million
BHD 0 - 50,000
packages
Confidential
100 MILLION USD
10 million dinars
BD 6 million
US$15m
BS$ 9,000,000
BDS$5m (2008
prices)
US$15,000,000
US$5million
US$0.3M
US$60,000,000
US$70M
Airport
Mixed
SEE ABOVE
Office Building
Civil
Highway
Mining
Institutional
Institutional
Long term care facility
Civic Centre
Hospital
Schools)
Resort
School Extension
Commercial/Residential
Residential
Embassy Building
Housing
Housing
Office
Residential
Villa
Building
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Mining
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
China (Macau)
Resort cum Casino
Mixed
China (Hong Kong)
China (Hong Kong)
Drainage
Railway
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
BND 15,000,000
30000000
150000000
50000000
9,000,000
14,000,000
8,000,000
$1.5MILLION
$35 MILLION
$2 MILLION
US2.3M
US$1,000,000
RMB$100,000,000.
RMB 120,000,000.
8,000,000Eur
RMB25000000
RMB18000000
2.7 Billion
7.5 billion
5.8 Billion
Total project cost
about US$850m
HK$2,000,000
HK$200,000,000
Bahrain
© RICS January 2012
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
£ GBP Tender date
unadjusted
17,175,900 2006
80 2007
76,597,320 Dec-10
289,301,850
32,144,650
16,075,900
19,286,790
767,475,000
17,055,000
34,110,000
2010-2011
1994
1990
2005
2006
2009
2008
85,275 0
64,289,300
17,055,000
0
9,643,395
2,892,645
2004
May-09
Jan. 2000
early 1998
2009
1,607,025 2008
9,643,395
3,214,465
192,868
38,573,580
45,002,510
2008
Jun-08
2009
2000
Jan-08
0 2004
7,410,645
18,658,440
93,292,200
31,097,400
5,597,532
8,707,272
4,975,584
1,102,142
25,716,635
1,469,522
1,928,679
642,893
10,062,300
12,074,760
6,870,360
2,515,575
1,811,214
271,682,100
754,672,500
583,613,400
Sep-10
Mar-10
Apr-10
Dec-09
2010
2009
2009
90'S
90'S
90'S
2010
2005
Jul-09
Jan-10
1994
Apr-11
May-11
March,2011
June,2011
May, 2011
early 2006 to
546,459,050
mid 2007
164,876 2005
16,487,620 2006
25
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
China (Hong Kong)
China (Hong Kong)
China (Hong Kong)
China (Hong Kong)
China (Hong Kong)
China & Hong Kong
Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus (Paralimni)
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt (Hurghada)
Road
Alteration & Addition
New Development
Pipeline
Railway
Road and Bridge
Government Building
Government Building
Government Building
Public School
Infrastructure
Residential Villas
Retail Project
Site-wide roads infra
Mixed Development
Multi-Use
Hotel
5 Star Resort Hotel with
infra
No records available
Housing
Sports Stadium
Infrastructure
Building
Unspecified
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
HK$750,000,000
HK$300M
HK$9,000M
HK$140M
HK$500M
HK$800M
euro 6 800 000
euro 5 900 000
euro 4 700 000
€5.000.000
LE 500 m
300 Million EGP
2.5 billion EGP
1.4 Billion EGP
LE 1,100,000,000
400 Million US$
USD 350m
61,828,575
24,731,430
741,942,900
11,541,334
41,219,050
65,950,480
5,839,806
5,066,891
4,036,337
4,293,975
53,509,500
32,105,700
267,547,500
149,826,600
117,720,900
42,807,600
225,012,550
Building
500M USD
321,446,500 1996
Mixed
Building
Mixed
No records available
£50M
$50 million
0 1992-5
50,000,000 2007
11,902,550 Jan-00
France
Gibraltar
Grenada
Hungary
(Budapest)
India
India
India
India (Mumbai)
Iraq
Iraq
Ireland (Dublin)
Jamaica
Hotel Development
Building
-
Airport
Bridges
Roads
Mixed (Hotel & Retail)
Electrical Infrastructure
Road
Airport
Building
Mixed
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Building
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Mixed
Building
0
0
0
322,089,393
2,571,572
578,603,700
34,351,800
3,214,465
Jamaica
Library
Building
10000 Crores Rs
400 Crores Rs
250 Crores Rs
501 Million USD
$4m US
US $ 900,000,000
€ 40m
US$5 million
US$2.5 MILLION
(APPROX)
Jordan
Resort
Building
1.2 Billion US$
771,471,600
Kenya
Kuwait
Kuwait
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya (Tripoli)
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Office Block
Palace Rehabilitation
Hospital
Car Park Building
Residential
Hotel Development
Elevated Light Rail Transit
Various
Commercial
Offices
Residential
High rise
Hotel
Warehouse
Business Hotel
Office Block
Office Warehousing
Commercial
Hospitality
Hospital
Prison
Parliament House
Renovation
Apartments
Hotel
Shopping Centre
Commercial
Commercial Building
Residential (Development)
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
$ 30,000,000
1 billion USD
US $ 10,000,000
KD 8 Million
80 Million US$
1.5 Billion MYR
150 million
110 million
230 million
MUR300M
MUR600M
MUR150M
MUR 400 million
MUR 300 million
MUR 125 million
GBP 40Million
GBP 20Million
67 Million US Dollar
50 Million US Dollar
19,286,790
642,893,000
6,428,930
18,569,120
51,431,440
0
303,514,500
0
16,052,850
2,445,146
5,112,578
6,668,580
64,211,400
3,334,290
42,807,600
6,668,580
2,778,575
40,000,000
20,000,000
43,073,831
32,144,650
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
© RICS January 2012
Building
11 Million US Dollar
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
MUR 450 million
MUR 1.2 billion
MUR 300 million
MUR150m
MUR 500 million
MUR 100 million
2007
Apr-10
Mar-09
2011
2011
2011
Mar-08
Nov-08
Feb-10
Jul-09
39965
2009
2007
2010
1990
Apr-10
2004
0 2002
12-Jun-2008
21-July-09
09-Nov-10
1995
1984
2008
approx. 1995
1,607,233 1980?
2007 till
2010
Jun-10
1992
1986
May-11
Jan-11
2001
1997
2009
2010
2008
Apr-10
Nov-09
Jun-10
May-06
2011
1998
2009
2010
7,071,823 2010
10,002,870
26,674,320
6,668,580
3,334,290
13,337,160
2,222,860
Dec-10
May-11
Jun-11
Jun-09
-
26
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius
Nigeria
Building works
Hotel
Offices
Housing
Office
Office/Apartments
Building Works
Industrial Buildings
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Oman
Buildings
Building
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Resort
Office Building
Office Building
Mixed Use
Hotel
Residential
Building
Cultural Souk
Opera House
Residential Community
Tourist Destination
Special HQ Building
University Admin Head
Office
Warehouse
Accommodation Units
Judicial Buildings
Museum
Water Treatment
Road
Miscellaneous
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Oman
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Oman
Oman (Muscat)
Oman
Oman
Oman
Pakistan
(Islamabad)
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Road/Interchange
Airport
Airport
Petrochem Plant Buildings
Petrochemical
Infrastructure
Mixed
Mixed
Petro-chem/Oil + Gas
Petro-chem/Oil + Gas
3,000,000 Omani
Riyal
RO 10,555,000
SEE ABOVE
OMR 1.2 million
OMR 500,000
US$20m
Office Building
Building
18 Million USD
Residential Building
Residential
Villa complex
Building
Hotel
Buildings
Hotel
Mixed Use
Education
Villas, Apartments &
Schools
Airport
Airport
Airport
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
US $ 1.5 Billion
QAR 4.9 billion
100,000,000 US $
USD 70M
85M
QR 600 Million
QR 2 Billion
riyals millions
Building
1 billion dollar
642,893,000 1996
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
1 billion Qatari Riyals
Confidential
176,760,000 2006
0 N/A
0 2009
Several Villas
Building
-
Road Rehabilitation
Infrastructure
$20 million
Office Renovations
Police Station
Leisure
Leisure
Airport Hangars
Shopping Mall
Museum
Flood Defences
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Infrastructure
$ US 500 K
US$15million
US$20million
US$ 1.5 billion
Confidential
SAR 900 millions
SAR300million
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar (Doha)
Saint Kitts and
Nevis (St. Kitts)
Saint Kitts and
Nevis (St. Kitts)
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
© RICS January 2012
Building
Rs 50 million
MUR500m
Rs 450,000,000
Rs 950,000,000
Rs 850,000,000
1 million MUR
No records available
16,000,000 Omani
Rial
14b AED
OMR 30,000,000
OMR 70,000,000
AED 800,000,000
25m Omani Riyal
2,000,000
OR 7 million
RO 15,000,000
RO 76,000,000
Ro 800m (various
contracts)
RO 25 million
Building
RO 25 million
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
RO 2 million
OMR 4.2m
OMR 10.3m
OMR 12.2m
$500K US
USD 300,000,000
Infrastructure
100,000 OR
Building
1,111,430
11,114,300
0
10,002,870
21,117,170
18,894,310
22,229
0
Jan-11
Nov-10
Jun-09
Feb-10
completed
1977 - 85
26,716,960
Currently under
tender
2,447,956,000
50,094,300
116,886,700
139,883,200
41,745,250
3,339,620
11,688,670
25,047,150
126,905,560
2008
Aug-08
Mar-08
Oct-08
end 2011
Jun-08
Feb. 1998
2008
2006/2007
1,335,848,000 2007-2011
41,745,250 Q1 2011
41,745,250 Q4 2010
3,339,620
7,013,202
17,199,043
20,371,682
321,447
192,867,900
Q4 2010
May-10
Mar-10
Jun-09
2002
1Q 2006
166,981 1986
5,009,430 Jun-10
17,624,845
0
2,003,772
834,905
12,857,860
2005
2009
Aug-2011
Dec-10
early 1983
11,572,074 964,339,500
866,124,000
64,289,300
45,002,510
0
0
106,056,000
353,520,000
0
2007
39052
2003
May-06
2006
Feb-11
Aug-11
2009
0 4,761,020 Jan-98
0
0
9,643,395
12,857,860
964,339,500
0
154,267,200
51,422,400
Jul-08
Sep-10
Q1 2011
2007
Sep-11
-
27
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
Saudi Arabia
Buildings
Building
Saudi Arabia
Industrial Workshops
Building
Saudi Arabia
Utility networks
Building
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Tanzania
Tanzania
Tanzania
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and
Tobago (Trinidad)
Trinidad and
Tobago (Trinidad)
Trinidad and
Tobago (Trinidad)
Trinidad and
Tobago (Trinidad)
Trinidad and
Tobago
Trinidad and
Tobago
Turkey
Turks & Caicos Is.
Turks & Caicos Is.
Turks & Caicos Is.
Railway Stations
Shopping Mall
Housing
Mixed Development
Hospital
Industrial
Offices
Offices
Workshops
Resort Development
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
3.4 Billion Saudi
Riyals
150 Million Saudi
Riyals
120 Million Saudi
Riyals
SAR10 billion
100 million rand
US$ 1.9M
SL Rs. 300Mn
Confidential
US$4 million
GB£13 million
US$1 million
$ 10,000,000
USD4million approx
Office Building
Building
$500 million
50,605,500 Jan-03
Office
Building
US$ 10.5m
6,750,377 Jul-09
Office
Building
US$ 8.0
5,143,144 Jun-10
School
Building
US$ 6.5m
4,178,805 Oct-10
Commercial Buildings
Building
300 million USD
192,867,900 2003
Stadiums
Mixed
100 million USD
64,289,300 2002
Hotel
Hotel
Condominium Hotel
Condominium Hotel
Retail/Commercial
Development
building
Office Block
Building
Building
Building
Building
US$500 million
50,000,000 US$
US$30,000,000.00
US$44,000,000.00
0
32,144,650
19,286,790
28,287,292
Building
US$22,000,000.00
14,143,646 Mar-07
Building
Building
US$40 million
$ 20,000,000
25,715,720 2006
12,857,860 Aug-10
Hotel Refurbishment
Building
AED 120 million
20,982,480 tbc
Commercial Buildings
Building
Dhs. 500 millions
87,427,000
Filling Stations
Building
Dhs. 1 million
174,854
Residential Buildings
Building
Dhs. 1 billion
174,854,000
Fit-out
Airport Terminal Upgrade
Mixed Use Development
Residential
Convention Center
Hotel
Shopping Mall
Hotel/ Resort
Mixed Use
Commercial Tower
Hospital Project
Hotel
5 Star Hotel
Airport
Apartments
Residential
Building
Building
Construction
Commercial HQ Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
2,098,248
6,644,452
75,187,220
52,456,200
393,421,500
349,708,000
349,708,000
244,795,600
87,427,000
87,601,854
69,941,600
31,473,720
65,570,250
349,708,000
61,198,900
174,854,000
96,433,950
122,149,670
28,930,185
174,854,000
U.A.E.
Hotel
Building
12 Million
Dhs. 38,000,000
Dhs. 430,000,000
Dhs. 300,000,000
Dh2250m
Dhs2Bn
Dhs2Bn
AED 1.4bn
AED 500m
250 Million AED
400 Million AED
180 Million AED
AED 375,000,000
AED 2,000,000,000
AED 350,000,000
1 Billion AED
US$150MM
US190MM
USS45MM
AED 1 billion
UAE Dirham
250,000,000
U.A.E.
Museum
Building
Turks & Caicos Is.
Turks & Caicos Is.
Uganda
United Arab
Emirates [U.A.E]
(Sharjah)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi,
Dubai, Sharjah)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi,
Dubai Sharjah)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi,
Dubai Sharjah)
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
© RICS January 2012
582,787,200 Oct-10
25,711,200 2006
20,568,960 2007
1,714,080
7,679,150
1,221,497
1,693,623
0
2,571,572
13,000,000
642,893
1,012,110
2,571,572
Feb-11
2004
2010
1999-2001
2005
2009
2002
2004
Nov-10
2007
Jun-11
2006
Nov-06
Jun-10
early 2006 to
mid 2007
early 2006 to
mid 2007
early 2006 to
mid 2007
2005
2009
2007
2001
1995
2002
2008
Feb-2011
2008
2006
2010
2005
2002
2009
2006
2008
2007
2003
Oct-10
43,713,500 Q3 2010
Q1 2011
28
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
Hospital
Office
Formula 1 Racing Circuit
Airport Maintenance
Facility
Hotel & Residential
Residential & Retail
Building
Building Adaptation & Fitout
Buildings
Office Tower
University Service Centre
Wellness Centre
Airport
Hotel
Theme Park
Airport
Building
Office Tower
Residential Tower
Commercial
Residential
Mixed Use
Airport
Hotel
IT College
University Campus
Hotel
Mixed Use
Residential
All sectors
All sectors
All sectors
Private Club
Residential
Waste Treatment Works
High Rise
Hotel
Retail
Water Treatment Plant
Bus Depot
Residential
Hospital
Residential
Mixed Use
Residential Development
Small Shopping Mall
Hotel
Commercial
Hotel/Residential
Residential
Building
Airport
Hospital
Museum
Palace
Bridge
Building
U.A.E.
Finishes Package
Building
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
Airport Extension
Office Building
Office Building
Restaurant fit-out
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
U.A.E.
Leisure
Building
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
© RICS January 2012
Building
Building
Mixed
AED 4.1 billion
AED 300 million
$1.2 billion
716,901,400 Nov-09
52,456,200 Nov-09
771,471,600 2007
Mixed
AED 1,000,000,000
174,854,000
Building
Building
Building
AED 600,000,000
AED 400,000,000
2B AED
104,912,400 Not yet tendered
69,941,600 Not tendered yet
349,708,000 2010
Building
AED 21,500,00
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Mixed
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
500million AED
AED220,000,000
AED20,000,000
AED30,000,000
AED 4.3 billion
AED 600 million
AED 600 million
2B Dhs
USD 92.5M
AED 980 Million
AED 350 Million
500m AED
1.2b AED
$100
US$ 300M
AED .9 B
AED 137 M
AED 1.5 B
AED 40,000,000
AED 600,000,000
AED 400,000,000
AED1 Billion
AED 200 Million
AED 3.5Billion
160m AED
250m AED
85m AED
AED 500 million
AED 800 million
AED 240 million
40 MUSD
AED 200 million
AED 450 million
AED 2.9 billions
AED 1.4 billions
GBP 316m
GBP132m
GBP 3.5m
Dhs 500,000.00
AED 1 billion
AED 1.2 billion
AED 1 billion
AED 300 mil
25 Billion UAD
500m UAD
AED450million
AED2billion
150million UAE
Dirham
AED900 million
AED 18m
AED 30m
AED 40m
UAE Dirhams 9
million
Not tendered yet
375,936 02-Nov
87,427,000
38,467,880
3,497,080
5,245,620
751,872,200
104,912,400
104,912,400
349,708,000
59,467,603
171,356,920
61,198,900
87,427,000
209,824,800
64
192,867,900
157,368,600
23,954,998
262,281,000
6,994,160
104,912,400
69,941,600
174,854,000
34,970,800
611,989,000
27,976,640
43,713,500
14,862,590
87,427,000
139,883,200
41,964,960
25,715,720
34,970,800
78,684,300
507,076,600
244,795,600
316,000,000
132,000,000
3,500,000
87,427
174,854,000
209,824,800
174,854
52,456,200
4,371,350,000
87,427,000
78,684,300
349,708,000
0
0
Apr-2006
Sep-2007
Jul-2010
May-2011
Apr-2009
Apr-2009
Dec-2010
2007
Jan-08
Oct-2009
Jan-2010
2009
2010
2007
2008
2008
2004
2007
1Q12
2Q10
3Q11
Jan-10
Mar-11
Mar-10
Nov--09
Aug-09
Nov-09
Oct-09
Jan-11
Dec-10
Q1 2008
2011
2005
Oct-10
Jun-11
Jun-07
Jun-11
Aug-10
2008
2006
2006
2006
2010
Sep-11
end 2011
2003-2011
2003-2011
26,228,100 Jun-09
157,368,600
3,147,372
5,245,620
6,994,160
Aug-11
Apr-11
May-11
Feb-11
1,573,686 2010
29
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
U.A.E.
Residential
Building
U.A.E.
Roads & Infrastructure
Infrastructure
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
Hospital
Mixed Use
Mixed Use
Buildings
Buildings
Buildings
Roads and Bridges
Exhibition Hall
Exhibition Halls
Power line
Building Construction
Airport
Infrastructure
Residential development
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Mixed
Infrastructure
Building
U.A.E.
Museums
Building
U.A.E.
Shopping Mall
Building
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
5 Star Hotel
Commercial Office Tower
Infrastructure Development
Buiidings
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
UAE Dirhams 1 billion
UAE Dirhams 45
million
1 million AED
1.6 Billion AED
200 million AED
AED 500 Million
AED 150 million
AED 160 Million
2.5 B AED
195,000,000 (AED)
1.3 Billion AED
1,000,000 (AED)
AED 100K and above
500 million Dirhams
250 million Dirhams
750 million Dirhams
In excess of USD 500
Million
In excess of USD 300
Million
AED1,350,000,000
AED419,000,000
AED200,000,000
AED 50,000,000
U.A.E.
Buildings
Building
45 Million
7,868,430
U.A.E.
Buildings
Building
100 million
17,485,400
U.A.E.
Buildings
Building
550 Million
96,169,700
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
Commercial Building
Hotel
Residential
Commercial Development
Mixed used Development
Residential Development
Residential Buildings
Resort Hotel
Hospital
Naval Base
Offices
Accommodation Buildings
Office Fit-out
Office refurbishment
Apartments
Hotel
Museum Substructure
Airport Control Tower
Dredging Project
Mixed Development
Accommodation Building
Explosive Stores
Technical Institute
Mixed Use
Car Showroom and
Workshops
Fit-out
Fit-out
Airport Arrival Expansion
Residential Development
Airport
Residential
Shopping Mall
Hotel
Office
School
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
AED 500,000
AED 1,800,000,000
AED 600,000
0.6 Billion
USD 3.00 Billion
USD 1.5 Billion
AED 405 M
AED 670 M
Dirhams 200,000,000
Dirhams 300,000,000
Dirhams 150,000,000
AED 0.5 billion
AED 10 million
AED 25 million
Dhs 1.25bn
Dhs 90M
AED 70,000,000
US $ 115,000,000
AED 2,300,000,000
AED 5,000,000,000
AED 259 Million
AED 80 Million
AED 330 Million
AED 2 Bil
Building
AED 110,000,000.00
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
AED 25,000,000.00
AED 35,000,000.00
$ 25 million
AED
AED 15,000,000,000
AED 100,000,000
AED 10,000,000,000
AED 1,200,000,000
AED 125,000,000
AED 300,000,000
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
© RICS January 2012
174,854,000 2006
7,868,430 2008
174,854
279,766,400
34,970,800
87,427,000
26,228,100
27,976,640
437,135,000
34,096,530
227,310,200
174,854
17,485
87,427,000
43,713,500
131,140,500
2010
2008
2007
2009
2009
2007/2008
2009
Jan-10
2004
2009
2008
321,446,500 Confidential
1,928,679,000 2007
236,052,900
73,263,826
34,970,800
8,742,700
87,427
314,737,200
104,912
104,912,400
1,928,679,000
964,339,500
70,815,870
117,152,180
34,970,800
52,456,200
26,228,100
87,427,000
1,748,540
4,371,350
218,567,500
15,736,860
12,239,780
73,932,695
402,164,200
874,270,000
45,287,186
13,988,320
57,701,820
349,708,000
Sep-05
Oct-11
Mar-12
2005
September
2006
February
2009
January
2009
2008
2010
2007
2009
2006
Dec-09
Jan-09
Jun-11
Mar-11
Mar-11
2011 July
2007
2008
2007
2007
Sep-10
38961
40118
39661
Jan-10
Mar-11
May-11
Feb-11
19,233,940 Apr-11
4,371,350
6,119,890
16,072,325
0
2,622,810,000
17,485,400
1,748,540,000
209,824,800
21,856,750
52,456,200
Jan-11
Dec-10
2001
2008
2002
2006
2004
-
30
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
Building
0
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E.
U.A.E. & Qatar
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
New Build Commercial
(Packages)
Airport
Mixed Development
Government Building
Utilities Infrastructure
Road
High Rise Tower
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
1.8b AED
AED 1 Billion
AED
AED
USD 170,000,000
AED 3 Billion
AED 250 Million
314,737,200
174,854,000
0
0
0
0
524,562,000
43,713,500
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
Hotel
Building
AED 400 million +
69,941,600
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
Multi-Storey Building
Building
AED 300 million +
52,456,200
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
Multi-Storey Building
Building
AED 300 million +
52,456,200
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
approx US$250M
large/Dirhams
AED 859 millions
AED 1.5 billion
160,723,250
0
150,199,586
262,281,000
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Ajman)
Airport
State Rooms
building
Residential
Airport - Construction of
Terminal Building
Airport - Refurbishment
Education
Retail
Commercial
Residential
Oil & Gas
Hospital
U.A.E. (Dubai)
Road
Infrastructure
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E.
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
High Rise Tower
Airport
Commercial Building
Building
Infrastructure
Conference Centre
9 Storey Office building
Airport Terminal
Hotel
Building Renovation
Multi Storey Building
Multi Storey Building
Abattoir
Airport
Building
Airport
Hotel Apartments
Powerhouse
Mixed (Residential/Hotel)
Shopping Mall
Villas
Dubai Marina Mall, Hotel &
Apartments
Mixed Use
Hotel, Condo Office High
Rise
Car Park
Mixed Development
Office Tower
Offices
Residential
High Rise Condo
High Rise, mixed
development
Mixed Use
Residential
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Building
Mixed
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
U.A.E.
U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
© RICS January 2012
Building
AED 180million
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Petro-chem/Oil + Gas
Building
AED 150million
AED 4 billion
AED 750 million
AED 350 million
AED 400 million
USD100M
104M Dirhams
AEd 30 million (in
2001)
USD 1,500,000,000
AED. 500million
AED. 250 million
90,000,000 pounds
Dirham 250 million
Dirham 1.09 Billion
Dirham 250million
Dhs 500,000.00
Dhs 200,000,000.00
Dhs,125,000,000.00
large/Dirhams
large/Dirhams
AED 446 millions
850M Dirhams
164 M Dirhams
AED 1.5 billion
1.25 billion dollar
2 billion dollar
in progress
2003-2007
2008
2008
2003-2011
2Q 2009
Q1 2009
Q4 2007
Pre-contract
stage
Pre-contract
stage
Pre-contract
stage
2001
1983
22-Mar-09
2007
27,976,640 Mar-05
0
0
131,140,500
61,198,900
0
64,289,300
0
Feb-10
Mar-10
Jun-09
2009
2010
2010
2011
5,245,620 2001
964,339,500
0
0
87,427,000
43,713,500
90,000,000
43,713,500
190,590,860
43,713,500
87,427
34,970,800
21,856,750
0
0
77,984,884
148,625,900
28,676,056
0
262,281,000
803,616,250
1,285,786,000
3Q 2008
Dec-07
Aug-08
2002
Aug-99
Dec-04
Nov-01
2008
2008
2008
1983
1983
06/11/2005
2008
2006
1991
2006
2007
-
Building
AED 2.25billion
393,421,500 Jan-06
Building
AED 1.3 billion
227,310,200 Mar-04
Building
AED 1.2B
209,824,800 2008
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
AED1.3B
AED1.5B
AED950M
400 million dirhams
380 million dirhams
AED 600M
227,310,200
262,281,000
166,111,300
69,941,600
66,444,520
104,912,400
Building
AED 800M
139,883,200 2007
Building
Building
AED 700,000,000
AED 720,000,000
122,397,800 Apr-10
125,894,880 Mar-06
2006
2007
2005
Sep-09
Jun-09
2008
31
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 14. Types, values and dates of POMI projects cited by respondents (continued)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Dubai)
U.A.E. (Sharjah)
Building
Building
Building
Resort
Road Interchange
Hotel (5 Star)
Shopping Mall
Public Park
Building
United Kingdom
Large Block of Flats Rehab Building
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
(England)
United Kingdom
(England)
United Kingdom
(England)
Various
Venezuela
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Local Authority Estate
Refurbishment
Road
Building Maintenance
Building Maintenance
Building Maintenance
Infrastructure
Building maintenance
Building maintenance
Building maintenance
200,000,000 US$
250,000,000 US$
120,000,000 US$
Dhs 50,000,000
250,000,000 AED
5 billion AED
Dhs. 186 million
AED. 150million
GBP1.1m (1993
prices)
GBP2.5m (1993
prices)
I.5 Million Pounds
GBP 10,000
GBP 5,000
GBP 2,000
Airport
Mixed
£10,000,000
10,000,000 2003
Data Centre
Building
19.50 million pounds
19,500,000 2006
Sports Centre
Mixed
19.53 million pounds
19,530,000 2006
Buildings, Landscaping
Road
Apartment Tower
Residential Development
Resort Hotel
Mixed
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Building
USD 75,000,000
USD 1,000,000
US$ 8,000,000
US$ 19,000,000
US$ 17,000,000
48,216,975
642,893
5,143,144
12,214,967
10,929,181
© RICS January 2012
Building
Building
Building
Mixed
Infrastructure
Building
Building
Infrastructure
Building
Building
128,578,600
160,723,250
77,147,160
0
8,742,700
43,713,500
874,270,000
32,522,844
26,228,100
May-02
Nov-06
Sep-09
N/A
2005
2004
Jan. 2004
Oct-09
1,100,000 1993
2,500,000 1993
1,500,000
10,000
5,000
2,000
?
1997
1997
1997
2010
2002
Jan-11
Apr-11
Mar-11
32
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix D. Comments on improvements respondents would like to
see made to POMI listed by respondent country
Survey Question 11 asked: What improvements would you like to see made to POMI? Table 15 lists in
order of respondents locales 114 responses to Survey Question 11: What improvements would you like to
see made to POMI? Please see report section 6 for a presentation grouped by subject headings.
Table 15. Comments on desired improvements to POMI
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
A 'short form' developed for smaller projects where documentation is not at 90-100% and projects where the fee is not large
enough to complete via POMI [Australia, Senior Cost Manager, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UK, Australia 2637230]
Y
It should have provision for non-building works measurement like oil & gas and also provision for design stage activities.
[Australia, Contracts Administrator, Firm: Public client, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Libya, 2675224]
Y
More measurement details [Australia, -, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: UK and Australia, 2610136]
N
More detailed steps of measurements (but not to the level of SMM7 or CESMM3) [Australia, Cost Planner, Firm: QS, 51 to
100 staff , POMI used in: Dubai, UAE, 2668233]
Y
More breakdown on services [Bahrain, CEO, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, 2609302]
Y
Oddly, just reissue a new version along the same lines – some are dubious about it here as it is ‘old’ (1979). Here the
dominant MOM is SMM5 – of course POMI is basically SMM5 with the labours and other ‘fiddly’ bits stripped out. Each
practicee tends to have its own (massive) set of notwithstanding clauses to SMM5 - I have argued using POMI and adding is
more accurate overall. If a 'new' POMI were issued – just reformatting the existing one and writing 2011 on the front it may
receive greater use. UK MOM do not really work as well here (and other overseas locations) as the concerns of contractors
pricing works are often quite different. [Barbados, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10, POMI used in: UK (2 in 1993), Barbados (1 in 2008)
also St Kitts, 2608717]
Y
Not relevant any more as too vague [Barbados, Project Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in:
Bermuda, Barbados, 2618637]
N
Library of descriptions updated and enhanced [Barbados, Associate Director, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in:
Barbados, Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua, 2636989]
Y
Standardization in the construction industry [Canada, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: England, Hong Kong, Canada,
2608207]
Y
New items reflecting the intricacies of CCDC5 b type transition from Cost Plus to Lump Sum. New items reflecting the
integration 3p (PPP?) projects [Canada, Director Project Management, Firm: Main Contractor, Staff:101 to 250, POMI used
in: Canada, Romania, 2667555]
Y
The method of measurement is far too crude these days. We tend to follow SMM7 standards. A method of measurement
N
somewhere in between would be very useful [Cayman Islands, Chartered Q S, MD, Firm: Private Client, QS, PM, Multi-D, 1 to
10 staff, POMI used in: Cayman Islands, 2608325]
Only one completion project in Macao, China and for packages already awarded. It is because the previous QS used POMI
otherwise we will use Hong Kong SMM.POMI is not popular in the region and many local QS are not aware of its existence.
Promotion is needed. QS practice is guided by HKIS and not RICS in Hong Kong, Macao and the region. [China, -, Firm: QS,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Macao, China, 2608806]
Y
Description [China, Hong Kong SAR, -, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Hong Kong, China, Macao
2611590]
Y
To allow for external service works [Egypt, Executive Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Egypt. UAE, 2609184] N
Greater definition of measurement rules, class and itemisation, move to a tabular format. [Egypt, -, Firm: Private Client, 101
to 250 staff , POMI used in: Thailand, UAE, Egypt, 2610321]
Y
POMI is based on CESMM, which is fine for Civil projects but is inadequate for other types of project [Egypt, -, Firm: PM,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Egypt, 2612230]
N
More detail - less scope for interpretation [France, Contract Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used
in: UAE, 2620295]
N
General renovation to incorporate modern methods of construction and pricing Notes: Gibraltar. Note that we worked for the
Contractor on a Contract where the POMI was used as decided by the Project Team not the Contractor. Answers are based
on this fact in particular. [Gibraltar, Director, Firm: PM, 51 to 100 staff, POMI used in: Gibraltar, 2616470]
N
There are some country specific rules of measurement that are different. [Greece, Sworn in Valuer & President of Institute,
Firm: Appraisal firm, Property Valuers, 51 to 100 staff, POMI used in: Greece, Romania and Serbia, 2667467]
N
Improved definitions [Ireland, Director, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Ireland, 2611876]
N
POMI generally provides an adequate fallback where other more specific standard forms of measurement are not available or Y
are for some reason unsuitable. POMI adequately fulfils this purpose. [Jamaica, Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff,
POMI used in: Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, 2660750]
© RICS January 2012
33
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 15. Comments on desired improvements to POMI (continued)
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Just generally updated (note see other comments Q14) [Japan, Senior Consultant, Firm: QS, 1 to 10, POMI used in:
Thailand, 2634481]
Y
POMI is not used in Kuwait. Kuwait is using CSI-CSC Master Format. The MasterFormat is the format of specifications. The
Y
same Division and section numbers of the specifications used in the BOQ preparation. The earlier version of MasterFormat
(MF 1995) is a 16-Division Format and similar to POMI. The MasterFormat now revised in 2004 and extended to 50 Divsions.
The older version (June 1979) of POMI requires a lot of improvement incorporating the present international construction
procedure especially for the Middle East/Gulf Countries. [Kuwait, -, Firm: Arch. and Design Eng. Consultancy, 251 to 1000
staff , POMI used in: Qatar, 2608953]
Need flexibility to modify the rules of measurement if required [Kuwait, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, UAE, Y
Qatar, Kuwait, 2658933]
Y
List of unified abbreviations for units. The following are commonly used: m, M, lm, LM; m2, M2, SQM; m3, M3, CuM; No, U,
Each. Definitions for debatable works such as: column vs. wall where a structure given a column reference on drawings while
its length is greater than five times its width, or a structure given a wall reference on drawings while reinforcement details are
similar to a column, concealed beams when between different type of slabs (e.g. between ribbed slab and solid slab). It would
be beneficial if POMI stated where it should be measured. Door jambs, heads, sills, sub-frames, mullions, etc. SubContractors prefer that these are quoted with the door, window or screen. Not to be measured separately. Internal / External
finishes shall each be so described. Define what is external (e.g. work in covered balcony is debatable). [Lebanon, Director of
Cost Consultancy Services, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, 2620064]
More use of composite bill items referenced to drawings and spec. Review of work packages splits to fit current practices in
procurement. [Malaysia, -, Firm: CEng/Infra, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Kuwait, Egypt, Malaysia, 2608706]
Y
Experience in Malta and Hungary: the contracts and use of POMI were dictated by the Maltese, and then adopted on a
project in Budapest without any problems. [Malta, Ass Contracts Manager, Firm: Architectural firm acting as the lead
consultant to private client, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Malt and Hungary 2672784]
Y
More specific with regards to categorisation in measurement [Mauritius, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: Main Contractor,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Mauritius, 2614896]
N
POMI C4- 1.4 item 1.4 - Formwork to sides of foundation is not measured. Tenderer is to allow for the same in the rate for
concrete if he so desires. C4.1 item 3 - Formwork to sloping upper surfaces of concrete to be measured only where the slope
exceeds 45º from horizontal. In all other cases, tenderer must allow in the prices for the concrete for any formwork he
considers may be necessary. C3.2 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 3.2 of the POMI, Notwithstanding the
provisions of Clause 3.2 of the POMI, reinforcement bars of different diameters are grouped together irrespective of location
and elements. [Mauritius, Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in:
Mauritius, Seychelles, 2640812]
Y
More detailed, template on how the standards could be adapted to suit local conditions (e.g. particular conditions type)
[Mauritius, Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Mauritius, UAE, 2667472]
N
To provide more details ( in terms of items and classification ) [Mauritius, Deputy Director (Quantity Surveying), Firm: Public
Client, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: Mauritius, For small contracts less than US dollar 10 million - Lump sum contract,
2667586]
Y
POMI too simplified, but used as base, we use SMM7 to supplement more detail [Mauritius, Executive Director, Firm: QS, 51
to 100 staff , POMI used in: Mauritius, Maldives, Seychelles, UAE, 2668633]
N
It is too brief. Should be expanded but not to the same level of sophistication as SMM [, Managing Director, Mauritius, QS, 1
to 10, POMI used in: Mauritius only, 2672597]
N
Extensive list of items for measurements to added. [Mauritius, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used
in: Mauritius, 2672654]
N
Better descriptions/Item coverages/guidance notes [Oman, -, Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: UAE, Oman,
2608871]
Y
Improved measurement descriptions and guide notes [Oman, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used
in: UAE, Oman, 2668812]
Y
SMM is more detailed [Oman, QS Manager, Firm: Public Client, QS, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: Dubai, Oman, Sri
Lanka, 2672615]
N
Insert Section A1: Marine works, rocks, revetments, groynes, reclamation, associated mechanical works, hydrobursts,
Y
pumps. Delete Section K: Accessories, put partitions in Woodwork. [Oman, Managing Quantity Surveyor, Firm: Public Client,
Private Client, QS, 101 to 250 staff , POMI used in: UAE / Oman, 2751435]
Having used Standard Methods of Measurement in UK & Africa POMI is very basic and could be expanded along (lines of)
other international methods of measurement [Oman, Managing Director - Oman, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in:
Qatar & Oman, 2686128]
Y
It's generally OK, but could be updated to reflect modern construction methods [Oman, General Manager, Firm: QS, 101 to
250 , POMI used in: Oman, Egypt, Doha, 2624521]
Y
It does not adequately deal with working space and is not specific enough [Oman, Commercial Director, Firm: Main
Contractor, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Oman, 2653666]
N
© RICS January 2012
34
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 15. Comments on desired improvements to POMI (continued)
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
In the Middle East the POMI is usually adopted as the method, however the items are generally billed in CSI format. – A
Y
guidance note should be in the document to give explanation on how to correlate the BQ to CSI + POMI. Also, with facade
designs getting technology dependent - a section should be added to cater for this section. Similarly, an environmental
sustainability section could be added as well. Other sections could be improved to make it relevant to today's new technology
in construction. [Philippines, -, Firm: QS,, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, Middle East, 2611516]
Some more details (should be added) to building elements, especially for MEP sections which are very generic for at present. Y
POMI is not used for Infrastructure works, Infrastructure mainly uses CESMM, the project I am involved in presently is using
CESMM3. It is a major Infra structure development in the Middle East [Qatar, -, Firm: Public Client, Firm: QS, 251 to 1000
staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2610250]
Should provide a guidance note. [Qatar, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Dubai, Oman, Qatar, 2610575]
Y
Enhanced MEP sections [Qatar, Director, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 , POMI used in: Bahrain, Qatar, KSA, Kuwait, UAE, China,
Taiwan, 2629545]
Y
It would better if it is categorized in more than one type, similar to what FIDIC did in having the Red, Orange, Yellow, White
forms, based in say Real Estate, Highways and Bridges, etc., That would provide specific reference. Just a thought. [Qatar,
Project Director, Firm: CEng/Infra, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2671989]
Y
More explanation - similar to SMM7 [Qatar, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: Mauritius,
2673653]
Y
Items in many sections specially Mechanical and Electrical Engineering installations should be detailed further to the next
lower level. New sections could be added for works, e.g. General Infrastructure and utilities networks [Saudi Arabia, -, Firm:
QS, POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, 2609303]
N
Need amendments to suit current practice. [Singapore, -, Firm: Private Client, QS, PM, Main Contractor, Specialist
Contractor, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Abu Dhabi 2611666]
N
Could be ‘modernised’ in format in the style of SMM7 [South Africa, Executive, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in:
Egypt, 2676786]
Y
A system of measurement should be specifically developed for use in Africa with South Africa taking the lead (but in
conjunction with BCIS) [South Africa, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Kenya, South Africa, 2611736]
N
Format (e.g. CESMM) [Sri Lanka, -, Firm: Main Contractor, POMI used in: Sri Lanka, UAE, Australia, 2608654]
More specific [Sri Lanka, -, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Qatar & Sri Lanka, 2610989]
Y
a.) This POMI could be used for any (Civil, Building, M & E) work of Construction and (under) POMI (the work) is briefly
described in measurement (terms,) therefore many preambles are needed. [Sri Lanka, Quantity Surveyor, Firm: CEng/Infra,
251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, Oman and Bahrain , 2669483]
N
None, POMI works very well. [Trinidad & Tobago, Managing Director, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Trinidad and
Tobago, Grenada, 2671886]
Y
A detailed bill is required to avoid disputes, like SMM7 for buildings and CESMM3 for infrastructure. Some
consultants/contractors prefer to use POMI in U.A.E, therefore the issuance of an updated POMI with detailed guidance note
would be useful. [U.A.E., -, Firm: Private Client, CEng/Infra, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2610300]
N
More detailed method of measurement and also guidelines for preparation of BOQs. [U.A.E., Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 51 N
to 100 staff , POMI used in: UAE, 2671519]
Provisions for measurement of new services like BMS, DATA & IT Systems. [U.A.E., Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11
to 50 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, 2644520]
Y
Make Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) more flexible by providing ‘Miscellaneous’; category at the end of every section. This N
will allow inclusion of atypical items in this category. [U.A.E., Lead Cost Manager, Firm: QS, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in:
Pakistan, India, 2732352]
They are simple and they work. I think a very simple update is needed, i.e. reformatting. 1979 is the dark ages for most young Y
surveyors. I suggest you don’t over-complicate the update, if you are going to undertake one. Why fix something when it is
not broken? [U.A.E., -, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Vietnam, UAE, Qatar, and Africa, 2608813]
More details on gross and net area measurement. [U.A.E., -, Public Client, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Jordan, Iraq and UAE,
2608881]
Y
Need to be more specific instead of being general. Can refer to the latest SMM. [U.A.E., -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI
used in: UAE, Qatar, 2609139]
N
POMI has to be changed according to the conditions of contract used. [U.A.E., -, Firm: PM, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in:
UAE,OMAN, 2609713]
Y
It is way out of date and does not conform to industry improvements in the 80s, 90s [U.A.E. 2610220, -, UAE, Firm: Main
Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, No]
N
Should be reviewed with regard to M&E innovations in the past 30 years, particularly those in hotter countries [U.A.E., -, Firm: Y
Disputes Consultant, 101 to 250 , POMI used in: UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, 2610237]
Categories to enable contractors to price elements of work individually according to their actual cost, as opposed to
averaging. Measuring out of accessories, rather than lumping into other rates. [UAE, -, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff,
POMI used in: UAE, 2610322]
© RICS January 2012
N
35
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 15. Comments on desired improvements to POMI (continued)
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Each item should be considered [U.A.E., Quantity Surveyor, ]UAE, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Qatar, Sri
Lanka, 2610240]
Y
System formworks should be as Items of Contractor’s Plant; Facade should be split into wall types, glazed, spandrel, etc.
[U.A.E., -, Firm: PM, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2610779]
N
More detailed guidance notes [U.A.E., -, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2611848]
Y
Better breakdown of Preliminaries section; Mechanical and Electrical sections re-written [U.A.E., Senior Consultant, Firm:
Claims Consultancy, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Cyprus, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, 2613006]
N
The industry and complexity of buildings/Projects has moved on from when POMI produced. Lack of detail in items is
becoming an issue, in particular with specialist subcontractors. Needs to move towards an SMM7/CESSM3 system. [U.A.E.,
HOD Commercial, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, UAE, 2613115]
N
Too simple. Quasi SMM6 trade format and additional level of detail would be better [U.A.E., Commercial Manager, UAE,
Firm: Public Client, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Oman, UAE, 2619334]
Y
More details on Electrical and Mechanical Items. Also a format similar to CESMM 3 [U.A.E., Contracts Manager, UAE, Firm::
Supervising Engineering Consultants, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: Sri Lanka, Oman, Jordan. Zambia, UAE, Qatar,
2627565]
Y
A more elaborated version of the POMI, similar approach to the content/level of details involved in SMM7. [U.A.E., Associate,
Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, 2658192]
Y
possible review of M&E sections [U.A.E., Senior Commercial Manager, Firm: Public Client, Private Client, QS,1000+ staff,
POMI used in: UAE & Bahrain, 2662353]
Y
to be more detailed [U.A.E., Senior QS, Firm: Private Client, 51 to 100 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2667931]
N
Improve MEP side of measurement [U.A.E., Associate Director, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 , POMI used in: UAE, Qatar, Oman,
2668404]
Y
Many which can not be described in this survey, but wish the RICS would take more active role and more interest in this
issue. [U.A.E., M.D, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, 2668552]
Y
More specific height/depth descriptions like SMM7. Clarity in scope. consistency in approach throughout the divisions, as far
as practically possible (electrical, mechanical, civil, etc.), clear cut demarcations (stating whether, one item is included in the
scope or not), consistency with generally accepted practices like, Prelims, allowance for attendance / OH&P, Builder's work
for a Provisional Sum Item, OH&P to Day works, etc. Clarify what exactly is to be considered in Day work hours (e.g.
transport time of a plant from yard to the site be included in Day work hours, or merely the production time at time to be
considered? etc. [U.A.E., Sr. QS, Firm: Architectural & Engineering Consultant (with embedded QS division), 1000+ staff,
POMI used in: UAE, 2672380]
N
Detailing of preliminaries and general section Q and R to be improved. [U.A.E., Cost Consultant, Firm: Public Client, 1 to 10
staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2608945]
Y
Detail on cost of PC items (i.e. percentage of wastage, OH & P with respect to installation cost). Cladding works need further
clarification on extra over items on doors / windows. [U.A.E., Assistant Contracts Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+
staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2672335]
Y
More details similar to SMM7 needs to be added. [U.A.E. 2673625, Contracts Engineer, UAE, Firm: Public Client, 1000+
staff, POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, UAE, No]
N
More detail - narrowing the gap to SMM [U.A.E., Managing Consultant, Firm:: Claims Consultancy, 101 to 250 staff, POMI
used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, 2610492]
Y
It should be clearer as it tends to mix works of a very different nature and the measurement rules are to loose [U.A.E., Senior
Cost Engineer, Firm: PM, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Qatar, Bahrain UAE, 2673671]
N
Better definition for Building projects as opposed to civils [U.A.E., Team Leader, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in:
UAE, 2610344]
Y
Some elements need to be updated to encapsulate modern construction methods, e.g. Post Tensioning [U.A.E., Senior
Quantity Surveyor, Firm: Public Client, QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2673805]
Y
A detailed breakdown of various elements with a possible coding system [U.A.E., Associate Director, Firm: QS,, 1000+ staff,
POMI used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, 2674105]
Y
Improvements to M&E sections [U.A.E., Mr, Firm: PM, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, 2678838]
N
Brought more up to date [U.A.E., Director, Firm: QS, PM, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: UAE, however we have offices
throughout the gulf region using POMI, 2686125]
Y
More detailed structure with classifications [U.A.E., -, Firm: Engineering Consultancy (Buildings), 101 to 250 staff, POMI used Y
in: UAE, 2608856]
None; it's use has only recently become extensive and users need familiarisation.[ U.A.E., -, Firm: PM, 251 to 1000 staff ,
POMI used in: Oman; Dubai; Abu Dhabi, 2609229]
Y
More detailed descriptions Similar layout to SMM7/CESMM3 taking into account CPI [U.A.E., -, Firm: Specialist Contractor,
251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, 2609403]
N
© RICS January 2012
36
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 15. Comments on desired improvements to POMI (continued)
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
More detailed description and item coverage. Also it requires updating to be in line with modern elements of construction
aspects [U.A.E., -, Firm: CEng/Infra, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, Oman, 2609617]
N
Certain elements are not measured in enough detail - such as Enabling Works, majority of MEP (AC, drainage, fire fighting
systems, plumbing, BMS etc - and sometimes have to be measured using another principle depending upon the complexity
of the project. [U.A.E., -, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, Qatar, Oman, 2610241]
Y
Brought up to date with present day construction [U.A.E., -, UAE, QS, 51 to 100 staff , POMI used in: UAE, 2610253]
Y
POMI did not explained in details to measure items. It is like guidance notes. Therefore needs further development. [U.A.E.
2610773, -, UAE, Firm: CEng/Infra, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, Oman, Qatar]
Y
More measurement details for MEP [U.A.E. 2633392, Associate Director - Dispute and Resolution, UAE, Firm: Private Client,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; UAE; Qatar]
Y
Include detailed section for IT related works. Include detailed section for Civil Eng. / Infrastructure works such as roads,
bridges, etc. Provide guidance for the works to be included and excluded under each sections. Update the work sections as
per latest construction technology [U.A.E. 2612996, Senior Quantity Surveyor, UAE, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff
, POMI used in: UAE]
Y
Slight alterations to reference partitions and wall cladding more easily [2667839, Partner, UAE, Firm: QS, 1 to 10, POMI used Y
in: UAE, Bahrain]
POMI is no longer relevant to many of the international markets as the complexity of construction has increased. Also the
majority of qualified QS staff members have a grounding in either SMM or CESMM, the latter is in use for most civil
engineering projects in the Middle East. [U.A.E., Manager Contracts and Quantity Surveying, Firm: Multi-Disciplinary, 1000+
staff, POMI used in: Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Sudan, Oman, UAE, 2668663]
N
Should be codified enabling to catch IT easily. Similar to CESMM3 [U.A.E., Project Controls Lead, UAE, Firm: Public Client,
251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2608114]
N
With a lot of emphasis being put on sustainability and emerging technologies, POMI could do with the facility to include such
elements in more detail in the BoQ. [U.A.E. 0, Associate Director, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Bahrain, UAE,
2609710]
N
My first use of the document. Found the document very vague and interpreted measurement more on my past experience
with SMM6 and 7 when formulating the tender documents descriptions [U.A.E., Senior Claims Consultant, Firm: Main
Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, 2670267]
Y
It is very general. It should be more specific [U.A.E., Senior Quantity Surveyor, Firm: CEng/Infra, 101 to 250 , POMI used in:
Zimbabwe, Botswana, UAE, 2672402]
Y
Company traditionally includes an extensive Rates and Measurement clause with all contracts to expand upon POMI clauses
and perceived shortcomings [U.A.E., U.A.E., Associate Director, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2673897]
Y
Finishes measurements need a bit more clarity. [U.A.E., Quantity Surveyor, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: UAE,
2610312]
Y
It should be more comprehensive to avoid ambiguities [U.A.E., Market Sector Manager (Quantity Surveying), Firm: Multidisciplinary Engineering Consultant, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: In Sri Lanka, Oman & UAE, 2686146]
N
More specific and accurate way of measurement to avoid disputes in post contract stage. [U.A.E., -, Firm: Main Contractor,
251 to 1000 staff , POMI used in: UAE, Qatar, 2610398]
N
POMI doesn't really suit our needs in HV Electrical Engineering [, -United States, Firm: Multi-disciplinary Global Consultant,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Iraq, Oman, 2608084]
N
Updating for Civil and MEP usage [United States, , Senior Cost Manager, Firm: QS, PM, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in:
Bahamas, 2667913]
Y
1. Perhaps recognition of modern formwork systems and how to measure them? 2. Include a rule for post-tensioning?
[Vietnam, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Vietnam, Nigeria, Albania, 2610912]
Y
Comments from respondents without experience of using POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Roadshows to raise the profile to explain the benefits [Australia, Contracts Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, 1000+ staff,]
2614626]
N
Merge with the Australian Method of Measurement [Australia, -, Firm: PM, 11 to 50 staff, 2610141]
N
Updated to grid reference system as SMM7,[Ireland, Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, Firm: Education, 251 to 1000 staff,
2621545]
Y
© RICS January 2012
37
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix E. Respondents’ comments and suggestions regarding
other types of POMI related support RICS should offer
Table 16 below tabulated 43 comments and suggestions received in response to survey Question 12.3.
Are there other types of support RICS should offer? The entries are in alphabetical order by country of
origin.
Table 16. Comments and suggestions regarding other types of support
From respondents that have used POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Maintain the RICS standard and educate the industry/public. [Azerbaijan, Senior Cost Manager, Firm: Const, Management, N
1000+, staff, POMI used in: Azerbaijan UAE, Sri Lanka, 2768578
Whilst POMI is by its very definition is 'international' in its use, the RICS could look to regionalise this, i.e. develop slight
Y
variances to the 'base version' for, say projects across Europe with another version for those projects in the Middle East,
ditto for South East Asia, etc, etc. . [Bahrain, Measurement Studio Manager, Firm: QS, 1000+staff, POMI used in: Qatar,
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. UAE, Turkey, 2669213)
Designated web support for RICS members into POMI. [Canada, Director Project Management, Firm: MC, 101 to 250 staff
Y
, POMI used in: Canada, Romania, 2667555)
Co-ordination with HKIS on the use of SMM. [China, -, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Macao, China. 2608806) Yes
Y
Revise & reissue POMI to include more detail or alternatively produce a long & short version to enable a choice on level of
detail. [Egypt, -, Firm: PM, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Egypt, 2612230)
Publishing case studies concerning usage of POMI (and answers to) FAQs concerning POMI on RICS website would help
surveyors to resolve issues [Lebanon, Director of Cost Consultancy Services, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in:
Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, 2620064)
Free access to information through RICS website rather than through expensive subscription to iSurv. [Malaysia, -, Firm:
CEng/Infrastructure, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Kuwait, Egypt, Malaysia, 2608706)
Yes perhaps seminar notes would be available for RICS members especially when we could not attend the seminars.
Please note that we have to fly to UK for a seminar and thus the costs are very expensive. [Malta, Ass Contracts Manager,
Firm: Architecture, 11 to 50, POMI used in: Malta Hungary Libya, 2672784)
An updated POMI reflecting the leaps in construction since 1979 (Mauritius, Executive Director, Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff,
POMI used in: Mauritius, Seychelles, UAE, Maldives, 2668633)
There is no local training support for local staff to prepare for APC etc. [Oman, General Manager, Firm: QS, 101 to 250
staff, POMI used in: Oman, Egypt, Doha, 2624521)
Promote the importance of SMM's and Bills of Quantities, and the RICS, to Qatari Client organisations. [Qatar, -, Firm: QS,
11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Qatar & UAE, 2608821)
Educate clients and government departments in Africa what quantity surveyors actually do and what service they actually
can provide [South Africa, -, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Torres Altantico Headquarters Angola, 2608931)
We do get it (support) because of our accreditation relationship with the RICS [South Africa, -,Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff,
POMI used in: Kenya, South Africa, 2611736)
Seminars [Sri Lanka, -, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Qatar & Sri Lanka, 2610989)
N
Explanation and (guidance on) application of POMI [Sri Lanka, Quantity Surveyor, Firm: CEng/Infrastructure, 251 to 1000
staff, POMI used in: UAE , Oman and Bahrain, 2669483)
Some sort of client education, i.e. to make the consultants responsible to advise clients (developers) on the project risks
prior to commencement, like a sort of insurance disclaimer. So many projects are currently going wrong due to bad
consultant advice and ill educated developers. [UAE, -, Firm: MC, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Vietnam, UAE, Qatar, and
Africa, 2608813)
Measurement should form a fundamental part of the competencies in achieving membership. We seem to be losing the
ability to measure correctly and accurately. [UAE, HOD Commercial, Firm: MC, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: Saudi
Arabia, UAE, 2613115)
A formal process where RICS gives a ruling when disputes arise [UAE, Contracts Manager, Firm:: Supervising Engineering
Consultants, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: Sri Lanka, Oman, Jordan. Zambia, UAE, Qatar, 2627565)
A guidance note for POMI including inclusion/exclusions of each trade i.e. similar to RICS NRM [UAE, Associate, Firm: QS,
51 to 100 staff, POMI used in: UAE, KSA, Syria, 2658192)
Update it to take into account technological advancements in construction industry [UAE, Associate Director, Firm: QS,
101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Qatar, Oman, 2668404)
Marketing the other forms of MOM to the main clients in the region, POMI is used for almost all types of contracts whether
it is suitable for that contract or not, just because this is the only one they know, and they use the ‘the devil you know’
excuse [UAE, M.D, Firm: QS, 11 to 50,staff, POMI used in: UAE, K.S.A, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, 2668552)
Guidance on most suitable contracts by value, contract type, etc. [UAE, Executive Cost Manager, Firm: Private Client51 to
100 staff, POMI used in: Singapore, Bahrain, UAE, 2670134)
Information related to disputes due to POMI and wrong interpretation or use of POMI [UAE, Cost Consultant, Firm: Public
Client, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2608945)
Create QS platform to exchange ideas similar to Wikipedia [UAE, Assistant Contracts Manager, Firm: MC, 1000+ staff,
POMI used in: UAE, 2672335)
The nature of POMI means that the interpretation of the rules is very wide and the RICS should have a committee of
(those) involved in the daily use of it to review and propose modifications. This committee should have input from
contractors QS (UAE, Senior Cost Engineer, Firm: PM, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Qatar, Bahrain UAE, 2673671)
© RICS January 2012
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
38
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 16. Comments and suggestions regarding other types of support (continued)
From respondents that have used POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
A POMI Handbook [UAE, -, Firm: Eng. Consultancy (Buildings), 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2608856)
More contractual awareness short courses, particularly in FIDIC and procedures thereunder. [UAE, -,Firm: PM251 to 1000
staff, POMI used in: Oman; Dubai; Abu Dhabi, 2609229]
Further correspondence similar to this whereby the end user can offer pertinent advice on how to improve the method of
measurement [UAE, - , Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UAE, 2610241]
Case law (if any) [UAE Associate Director - Dispute and Resolution Firm: Private Client,1000+ staff, POMI used in:
Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; UAE; Qatar, 2633392]
More CPD on SMMs [UAE, Market Sector Manager (Quantity Surveying), Firm:: Multi-disciplinary engineering consultant,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Sri Lanka, Oman & UAE, 2686146) Yes
Online learning [UAE, - , Firm: QS, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Oman, Qatar, 2610498]
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
From respondents who have not used POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Roadshow [Australia, Contracts Manager, Firm: MC, 1000+ staff, 2614626
Make POMI an online resource then it would be used more. I certainly would consider using it despite the fact that
Australia has a Standard Method Of Measurement (ASMM). I would use POMI for measurement of projects based in
Australia, but more likely in SE Asia where some of our business is based. [Australia, Chief Estimator, Firm: Main
Contractor, 51 to 100 staff, 2624097
(Explain) the benefits of using this (POMI), (and) possibly how it compares with SMM and CESMM, which are known to be
used in most international projects. [Hong Kong SAR - China, S Lecturer, Firm: Public Client ,QS, Other: Education, 1 to
10 staff, 2829340)
We need to standardise at international level. As at national level we follow different principles of measurements and it
(practice) differs from place to place, by type of contract, and client/consultant wish and will. [India, -,Firm: QS, PM,
MC,1000+staff, 2609003)
On line tutorials [Ireland, Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, Firm: Education, 251 to 1000 staff, 2621545 No
Were you to find enthusiasm for POMI in Italy, the next step is a translation in Italian. [Italy, Partner – Retired, Firm: PM, 1
to 10 staff, 2615584)
More publication on Contractual Claims settlement. (Malaysia, Director, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, 2626244) No
We have not received much information on POMI. A guidance note would be useful. [Singapore, Consultant, Firm: QS,
1000+ staff, 2695755)
Online guidance [Singapore, Consultant, Firm: Specialist Subcontractors, 51 to 100 staff, 2727077) No,
A revamp of POMI to reflect current construction methods and issues. [UAE, - , Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in:
Qatar, UAE, 2667829)
Support for consultants and contractors in contract administration. [UAE, -, Firm: MC, 1000+ staff, 2609699)
I think RICS support needs to be started in developed areas in Asia like Hong Kong or Singapore in this issue [Vietnam,
QS Manager, Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff , 2624352 )
© RICS January 2012
N
-
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
-
39
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix F. Respondents’ other comments and recommendations
Table 17 tabulates the answers received in response to survey Question 14: Do you have any other
comments or recommendations? The entries are in alphabetical order by country of origin.
Table 17. Other comments and recommendations from respondents
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
The dilution in application of POMI to projects is more of a function of a change in procurement mechanisms rather than any
reflection of the capability of POMI. I haven't worked on a project in 20 years that used a BQ. [Australia, -, Firm: Public Client,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Oman during the early '80's 2612450]
N
In all instances listed above (the only three where I have used POMI) they were approximate quantities projects - since
Y
extensive remeasurement was needed a 'slimmed-down' MOM was very useful - quick to measure for PQS, quick to
remeasure for PQS/Contractor, helped programme for client and kept down QS costs. The mention of use on large
infrastructure also tends to suggest it is useful for projects with extensive remeasurement - probably easier to apply than
clunky CEMM - infrastructure probably on FIDIC Red which is a remeasurement form. A POMI with blanks to be filled in by the
QS preparing the bills for additions and adjustments would be useful - possibly issue it to national RICS groups and encourage
a POMI (Barbados) etc to be issued – after all standard methods of measurement are only really useful if they are just that standard. Other recommendations - keep the document as brief as it is now - issue it as a public domain document, don't
copyright it or charge for it. Very keen on POMI, keen to help and promote it here. [Barbados, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI
used in: UK (2 contracts in 1993), Barbados (1 contract in 2008) 2608717]
POMI only used on one completion project in Macao, China and for packages already awarded. It is because the previous QS
used POMI otherwise we will use Hong Kong SMM. Mainland China has her own SMM for the whole country. It may not be
practicable to promote POMI in China. [China, -, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Macao, China 2608806]
Y
POMI should be more widely publicised. I have been in international contracting for many years, albeit mostly involved on lump N
sum EPC turnkey contracts, and yet only came across POMI relatively recently when it was proposed by a new member of
staff for use with a remeasurable civil works subcontract. [France, Contract Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff,
POMI used in: UAE, 2620295]
It would be very useful to have international forms of contract that marry with a new POMI [Grand Cayman, MD, Firm: Private
Client, QS, PM, Multi-D, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Cayman Islands 2608325]
The Hong Kong Standard Method of Measurement is the SMM used on Hong Kong and it closely resembles POMI, therefore
where I mention use in Hong Kong I am referring to the HK SMM. [Hong Kong SAR, Firm: -, Contracts & Commercial
Consultant, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Hong Kong & Middle East (UAE & Saudi Arabia) 2608976]
N
Y
A simple POMI would be useful for client or financing organisations that would benefit from cost data that can be compared
Y
internationally. A cost analysis format compatible with the breakdown structure of POMI would also be sensible. [Japan, Senior
Consultant, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Thailand 2634481]
My participation in the preparation of Tender Documents is has now become very limited as generally Client's have their own
Method of Measurement. Where this is not the case, we have our own Standard Method of Measurement. The problem
essentially is that the pricing of tenders by regional contractors is not sophisticated and tenders exhibit a lack of pricing
strategy. The MoM which affects BQ content would have little effect on the value of building tenders. Contributing to the
elimination of disputes must be the prime benefit. [Lebanon, -, Firm: QS, Multi-D Group, 1000+ staff, POMI used: Throughout
the Middle East 2611789]
RICS, universities and polytechnic school need to emphasise training and education on traditional quantity surveying skills, as
there is still big demand both by clients and contractors. During the past 20 years, concentration has been more on value
management, risk management and the like at the expense of traditional quantity surveying. [Mauritius, Firm: QS, PM, QS,
PM, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Mauritius, Seychelles 2640812]
-
The updating of POMI is long overdue, the document being more than 30 year old now. The initiative taken by RICS to review
the market needs and update it is most welcomed. [Mauritius, MD, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Mauritius 2672597
N
The POMI definitely needs revision. [Mauritius, Senior QS, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Mauritius 2672654
N
POMI is not used in current location - local standard NZS4202: 1995 is used [New Zealand, Director, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10
staff, POMI used in: UAE 2668089]
POMI is still a very useful fill-in system for where no other measurement principles are readily applied. I used it just for minor
maintenance works projects. I've since moved on to much larger projects, but I still think it has its uses. New Zealand, -, Firm:
FM, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: UK from years 1994-97 only, for minor maintenance works projects. 2668156]
Y
On a general point, we have been trying to establish an RICS branch here in Oman for the past 3 years, but get little or no
support from the RICS in Dubai [Oman, MD, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, Qatar & Oman 2686128]
Y
I would wish our company to be part of any review/advisory board. I have other staff members better placed to contribute, but I
suggest the enquiry to sent to me. [Oman, General Manager, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in: Oman, Doha
2624521]
Y
I would say POMI generally still serves its purpose - but I think it is now time to have a look at the documents to align it to the
new methods of working, new tech, etc. [Philippines, -, Firm: QS, 51 to100 staff, POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, Middle East
2611516]
Y
© RICS January 2012
40
Y
Y
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 17. Other comments and recommendation from respondents (continued)
Comments from respondents with experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
The State of Qatar has its own SMM, based on the RICS SMM5, thus POMI is rarely used. CESMM 3 is used for infrastructure Y
work. [Qatar, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Qatar & UAE 2608821]
I have not used POMI for many years as many of the localities I have worked in the last 30 years (Ireland, UK, Africa, Middle
East) have their own Methods of Measurement. POMI is a useful guideline to Clients/Contractors in localities where there is
not a local recognised MoM but generally I think that its use for me has been very limited. Where Contractors are not familiar
with or locally use a Method of Measurement its use can help the formation of BQs, but education on its use needs to be
widespread. Many localities are not wholly familiar with or embracing ‘real’ QS (i.e. RICS) practices so the POMI may just be
ignored. Additionally, the common practice of Lump Sum Drawings /Spec contracts can mean that MoM are not considered
relevant. [Qatar, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Saudi Arabia 2608958]
Y
SMM5 is in general use in Qatar, POMI would be more relevant. Good to see some movement on the use of POMI. Long time
since I used the Method, but feel it is still very relevant in the ME. [Qatar, Cost Control Lead, Firm: Construction Consultants,
1000+ staff, POMI used in: Dubai (in 1982/83) 2666116]
Y
The POMI is very outdated and in urgent need of revision [South Africa, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: Kenya,
South Africa 2611736]
N
We have used POMI on all of our projects over the last 14 years and have not had a claim against it, nor do we have any
Y
unsigned final accounts over this period. It has been used on residential, warehouses, offices, schools, civil engineering works,
energy projects etc. [Trinidad & Tobago, Managing Director, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, POMI used in: Trinidad and Tobago,
Grenada 2671886]
The product reflects poorly on the RICS not having received any improvement since the 70's. On lump sums projects it is not
an issue but on remeasurement contracts it fails to meet the objectives and purpose of a SMM i.e. certainty [UAE, -, Firm: MC,
251 to 1000 , POMI used in: UAE 2610220]
N
The current trend with local QSs in region is to train on POMI which I feel is insufficient. Most Professional QSs are trained on N
more detailed systems from the UK and South Africa and fully understand the reasoning and history of these methods of
measurement. This lack of training is hurting both the profession and the industry. whilst a good introduction, POMI is a bit past
the sell by date. [UAE, HOD Commercial, Firm: MC, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: Saudi Arabia, UAE 2613115]
I think the RICS should exercise more active role with its own members who use this form of contract and set common
standards which must be followed [UAE, M.D, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, POMI used in: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar,
Oman 2668552]
Y
I highly recommend this exercise since measurement is the basic technique which all QS shall be well equipped. [UAE,
Assistant Contracts Manager, Firm: MC, 1000+, POMI used in: UAE 2672335]
Y
Issue Guideline notes and Handbook on POMI [UAE, -, Firm: Eng Consultancy (Buildings), 101 to 250 staff, POMI used in:
UAE 2608856]
Y
I have no further comments other than to keep up the good work. POMI in my opinion is far superior to the other methods of
Y
measurements as it is much more flexible. [UAE, Associate Director - Dispute and Resolution, Firm: Private Client, 1000+ staff,
Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; UAE; Qatar 2633392]
I believe CESMM3 covers most of area of POMI and SMME7 covers building aspects. POMI has done a good job in the past. N
UAE is also using POMI widely for building works. However, there is not much discussion of it. POMI should be a good profit
earning venture. [UAE, Project Controls Lead, Firm: Public Client, 251 to 1000 staff, POMI used in: UAE 2608114]
I just think POMI is in need of a refresh. It is over 30 years old UAE, Associate Director, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, Bahrain, POMI
used in: UAE 2609710]
N
The end document needs to avoid potential for confrontation. [UAE, Senior Claims Consultant, Firm: Main Contractor, 251 to
1000 staff, POMI used in: UAE 2670267]
Y
Generally speaking, on design build and lump sum contracts, most contractors and subcontractors take the risk of preparing
their own estimates based on their own ad hoc system of measurements. On the other hand the local governments prefer the
use of a lump sum contract broken down into an itemised list of Unit Prices (Schedule of Values) for facilitating monthly interim
payments. Payments are made based on the value and percentage of the work done on these items. [United States, Senior
Cost Estimator & Scheduler, Firm: Public Client, Private Client, Multi-D Group, 1000+ staff, POMI used in: Jamaica, West
Indies 2667980]
Y
Our surveys have concluded that Contractors like the format of the POMI BQs as they are fairly straightforward, easy to
understand and simple to split into trade sections for subcontractor pricing. We also believe that this allows for more 'real'
contractor pricing. If a BQ is measured with say SMM7, the contractor will inevitably price for all items regardless of whether
there is an actual cost associated with it thereby artificially inflating the overall tender price. [Vietnam, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50
staff, POMI used in: Vietnam, Nigeria, Albania 2610912]
Y
© RICS January 2012
41
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 17. Other comments and recommendation from respondents (continued)
Comments from respondents without experience of using POMI
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
Generally we still use the RICS SMM & or the Australian SMM. [Australia, Director / Senior QS, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff,
2614614]
-
We use Australian Standard Method of Measurement [Australia, Cost Manager, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2668422]
-
I have never used POMI, I have only used the standard methods of measurement for the countries I have worked in.
[Australia, Associate Director - Cost Management, Firm: QS, 1000+ staff, 2668553]
-
We do not measure BQ. Measurements are generally used for estimates & cost planning [Australia, QS, Firm: QS, 1 to 10
staff, 2723478]
-
I have been working in Australia for the last five years and have not been involved in a single contract which has used a
formal method of measurement. [Australia, Senior Commercial Manager, Firm: CEng, 1000+ staff, 2777704]
-
Not familiar with document so unable to comment. [Barbados, Commercial Manager, Firm: Main Contractor, - staff, 2608074] POMI has been used only once in Barbados, to my knowledge. It was found to be difficult to work with as it was unfamiliar to
users. The almost universal method of measurement here is a simplified SMM5. Labours are not measured, beam sizes are
not split out separately, staircase finishes are not measured separately etc. We have our own set of preambles and
measurement qualifications for SMM5. I would prefer if this was formalised rather than progress with reviewing POMI and
would be willing to assist if this was decided to be a beneficial way forward. [Barbados, Director, Firm: QS, PM, 1 to 10 staff,
2668055]
Y
I have never used POMI so unfortunately have been unable to answer many of these questions [Bermuda, -, Firm: Main
Contractor, 51 to 100 staff, 2608242]
-
In Brunei, SISV SMM are used generally - with the PWD contract form for government projects and the SIA contract form for
private project [Brunei, Partner / Manager, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, 2668521]
-
In Canada we have a standard method of measurement published by the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. To be
honest I have never heard of POMI, thus I can't say anything about it. I would like to learn more though. thank you. [Canada,
Principal, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2621814]
-
The Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors' founders developed a document similar to the Principals of Measurement, and
it is called the ‘Method of Measurement’; and it is used for all our Canadian and International projects. [Canada, President,
Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff 2608104]
-
I have never come across POMI in Canada or in my 12 years working in the UK [Canada, Director, Firm: QS, 101 to 250
staff, 2667460]
-
An ill-formed idea at present - think about a 'national champion' for POMI to promote it, do training and be the 'go to guy' for
queries (who would receive queries and individually or collectively with colleagues and issue - particular to that market - the
interpretation of the rule and compile them into a database for future reference. [China, Contract Manager, Firm: Private
Client, QS, Main Contractor, 51 to 100 staff, 2668565]
-
Hong Kong has its own SMM for both building and civil works [Hong Kong SAR, -, Firm: CEng, 1000+ staff, 2614818]
-
POMI is seldom used in my country. Therefore, more detailed training and review is required, in particularly the pros and
cons of using it in the project. [Hong Kong SAR, Associate, Private Client, QS, PM, 101 to 250 staff, 2672276]
-
Many of us are not aware of this POMI. [Hong Kong SAR, S Lecturer, Firm: Public Client, QS, Education, 1 to 10 staff ,
2829340]
N
This office's projects are domestic i.e. based in Ireland and therefore there has been no requirement to date to use POMI.
[Ireland, -, QS, 51 to 100 staff, 2612495]
-
I was involved in producing the first guidance book on the Agreed rules of measurement used in Ireland. A similar
undertaking would be useful for POMI [Ireland, Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, Firm: Education, 251 to 1000 staff, 2621545]
Y
Keep it practical & simple - I think we are passed, for example, the itemizing of angles on skirtings, required by SMM (at least N
in the past)! [Italy, Partner - Retired, Firm: PM, 1 to 10 staff, 2615584]
POMI is not widely used in Jamaica, it needs more marketing. [Jamaica, Quantity Surveyor, QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2614108]
Y
We do not operate internationally therefore the POMI whilst of personal interest is not applicable to my companies staff or the Y
works we generally undertake in Hong Kong, Macau or China. I believe international forms of contract and those of
measurement are inherently useful and should be kept up to date and relevant to their intended end purpose. [Macau, -,
Firm: Specialist Contractor, 251 to 1000 staff, 2611807]
What is POMI? [Malaysia, Director, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, 2626244]
-
Frankly, I have not heard about POMI before. I have learned and used SMM & CESMM for measurements, but from the
above questionnaire, I can see that POMI is something that may be useful to adopt, as a standard that is recognised
internationally. My company is involved in the construction of oil & gas platforms & onshore facilities. POMI could be useful
and I would like to know more about it. I would appreciate it if RICS could forward me a copy, for me to understand the
document better. Thank you and regards. [Malaysia, Contract & Procurement Lead - Projects Execution, Firm: Oil & Gas
Exploration & Production, 1000+ staff, 2610313]
-
Not a term I have come across in my 7 years in New Zealand, but I have only worked on projects of up to 10 Million NZD.
Whether it is different on larger civils projects I would not know. [New Zealand, -, Firm: Public Client, 251 to 1000 staff,
2611322]
-
© RICS January 2012
42
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Table 17. Other comments and recommendation from respondents (continued)
Comments from respondents without experience of using POMI (continued)
Respondent said POMI is still generally fit for purpose?
As we have never used POMI nor indeed have we come across it in NZ I am not able to provide much in the way of
feedback. [New Zealand, Chief Executive, Firm: Main Contractor, 51 to 100 staff, 2627461]
-
I have read about POMI and have knowledge about it but there has been no opportunity to demonstrate it at work [Nigeria, -,
Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2611461]
-
As all our staff were trained on the SMM, we base our work on SMM 5 metric. We modify the measure to exclude labours.
We then include ‘Pricing Notes’ detailing all the exclusions. We also state the SMM used. [Nigeria, Managing Director, Firm:
QS, 51 to 100 staff, 2631002]
-
The RICS is not seen as an organisation that can give advice within the construction industry even though we send many
students to the UK to undertake QS degrees, but very few of them actually complete their RICS qualifications.
The role of the QS is not fully understood here and a visit from the RICS to the head of procurement would be most useful.
[Oman, Senior Contracts Engineer / -, Firm: Private Client, 1000+ staff, 2670627]
N
I have never even heard of POMI [Portugal, -, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2607995]
-
The Ministry of Education and Culture do have a building and maintenance component and they undertake development
projects funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, the World Bank and the Government of Saint Lucia. The funding
Agency used different procurement methods. However, I have worked with consultants that have prepared their bill of
quantities based on the FIDIC and the British Standard Method of Measurement 1963 and 1980 Editions. I have not worked
with the POMI before. [Saint Lucia, Director of Works/Project Manager, Firm: Public Client, 1000+ staff 2608489]
-
POMI is rarely used if at all in Singapore. We have our own local Standard Method of Measurement [Singapore, -, Firm::
Contract Advisory and Dispute Management, 251 to 1000 staff, 2608820]
-
promote POMI [Singapore, -, Firm: QS, 101 to 250 staff, 2609514]
-
We normally use lump sum contract procurement. Measurement for variations are based on SMM2. [Singapore, Cost &
contract Manager, Firm: Private Client, 1000+ staff, 2669755]
-
I have never used POMI [Singapore, -, Firm: Oil and gas marine construction contractor, 1000+ staff, 2608780]
-
Sorry, never used POMI in my work in the Americas and the Caribbean but I am interested in finding out more. [Trinidad &
Tobago, Managing Director, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2616364]
-
Suggest RICS looks at the Canadian SMM as it works with MasterFormat specification which is used in US and many other
countries. [Trinidad & Tobago, CEO, Firm: QS, 1 to 10 staff, 2637144]
-
We need to take the challenge to steer the industry in the right direction, add value to our services. [UAE, -, Firm: QS, 101 to
250 staff, 2667829]
N
Choice of measurement rules rests mainly with the client and recommendations from the consultants (design consultant and/ N
or project management consultant). Cost consultant's advice is less significant. To make POMI more popular, cost consultant
should have stronger tie with the consultants and clients.
POMI is quite generic and leaves a great ‘free-hand’ to the contract drafter to develop a project specific method of
measurement. This may be one of the reasons for its waning popularity. [UAE, Commercial Manager, Firm: CEng, Main
Contractor, 51 to 100 staff, 2672312]
POMI is generally not used in the pharma industry. [United States, -, Firm: Private Client, 1000+ staff, 2608111]
N
I'm afraid none of the above applies here in the USA which has a very different approach to measurement of construction
works. What we do is what would be described as pre-contract cost planning/monitoring. We do not produce quantified
documents for bidding purposes, but we produce quantified estimates for cost monitoring which are often reconciled with an
estimate that might be produced by a Construction Manager. There is no standardisation on what is measured and how it is
measured, but the measured items generally follow the CSI Format. In the past, I have used what was the International
Standard Method of Measurement (for work in Saudi Arabia and other areas of the Middle East). I always found that
document to be very usable and not as restrictive as the SMM. If you would like to have further discussions on the systems in
the USA, please feel free to call me. [United States, -, Firm: QS, 11 to 50 staff, 2608157]
1. My willingness to take part on an advisory board may not be helpful. I have no background in standard measurement
N
systems. I would be happy, however, to help in whatever way I can to support the process - particularly bringing US
experience.
2. Fundamentally I believe BIM, offsite fabrication/rapid prototyping and relational contracting/integrated project delivery are
radically changing the procurement landscape and the need for standard measures of measurement. Instead we need
standard measures of definition - not for pricing, but for communication. If the RICS is not engaged in this it will be left
behind, perhaps fatally. It appears to me that the level of BIM adoption is markedly higher in the US than in the UK - we see
very few major projects that are not using a single integrated building model for both design and construction. [United States,
-, Firm: Construction Cost Consulting, 101 to 250 staff, 2608541]
I would like to see if it can become a rather widely accepted document in Asian developing countries [Vietnam, QS Manager,
Firm: QS, 51 to 100 staff, 2624352]
© RICS January 2012
-
43
RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix G. Breakdown of responses by numbers of staff employed
Figure 4 shows the percentage breakdown of the 444
respondents’ answers to survey Q3. How many staff
does your firm employ? Twenty seven percent (27%) of
the firms employ more than1000 staff members. Twenty
one percent (21%) employ between 1 to 10 staff – this
percentage is lower than BCIS would anticipate and
suggests the survey sample is skewed toward larger
firms. The Construction Industry Council Survey of UK
Construction Professionals 2005/2006 found 89% of UK
surveying firms employing 10 staff or less.
27%
1%
21%
12%
13%
1 to 10
101 to 250
Not stated
11%
11 to 50
251 to 1000
15%
51 to 100
1000+
Figure 4. Breakdown of respondents
by numbers of staff
© RICS January 2012
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RICS 2011 Principles of Measurement (International) Survey Report
Appendix H. Survey questions
The survey contained the following questions:
1. Your details: Please confirm your details below - in particular, the country where you are
based. (Details included: Name, Job title, Company, Town/City, Country, Email)
2. What type of firm do you represent? (Please select only one primary type)
- Public Client
- Private Client
- Building Surveying
- Quantity Surveying
- Project Management
- Facilities Management
- Civil Engineering/Infrastructure
- Multi-disciplinary Surveying
- Main Contractor
- Specialist Contractor
- Other: (Please specify below)
3. How many staff does your firm employ?
(Answer options: 1-10, 11-50, 51-100, 101- 250, 251-1000, 1000+ )
4. Have you ever used POMI? (Yes, No)
5. In which countries have you worked on contracts using POMI? (Please list)
6. For up to three countries where POMI is most used,
What is the minimum value of contract where POMI is used?
What percentage of contracts above that value are based on POMI?
(Matrix provided for three country names with fields for:
- Minimum value and currency
- Percentage)
7. For the last three projects on which you used POMI, please provide the information
requested below (Matrix provided for three projects with fields for:
- Project type (* Examples include: Airport, Stadium, Railway, Road, Bridge, Pipeline, etc.)
- Location (Country)
- Cost/Value of work and currency
- Tender date
8. Who determines whether POMI is used on a contract?
(Answer options: Consultant, Client. Contractor, Other: please specify)
9. What forms of contract are generally used with POMI measurement? (Please list them)
10. Is POMI still generally fit for purpose? (Answer options: Yes, No)
11. What improvements would you like to see made to POMI?
12. Would the following be useful to your firm's staff members? (Yes, No)
- Guidance note on the use of POMI
- Training on the use of POMI
Are there other types of support RICS should offer?
13. Would you be prepared to take part in a review/advisory board for POMI? (Yes, No)
14. Do you have any other comments or recommendations?
© RICS January 2012
45