This post covers Mechanical Quantity Surveying, as detailed below.
You are the Employer`s Mechanical & Electrical Quantity Surveyor on BOL01, a data centre development in Dublin MSc Mechanical & Electrical Quantity Surveying Assignment Brief Academic Year 2026-27
Project Brief You are the Employer`s Mechanical & Electrical Quantity Surveyor on BOL01, a data centre development in Dublin (Building L1: a three-storey Data Centre Block with roof plant and an attached three-storey Office Block, referred to in the specification as the Administration Building). The design is at Stage 4 Tender Issue. Using the tender drawings, schematics, sections, general arrangement drawings and particular specification issued with this brief, you must prepare mechanical tender documentation for a defined scope of work: measure it, describe it, compile it into a Bill of Quantities and price it.
Your scope has two parts: a) Part A – Common package (all students): Office Block ventilation, Levels 00 and 01, drawing BOL01-NrO-L1-OF-XX-DR-M-57241, read with the ventilation schematic 57104 and the ventilation data sheets.
b) Part B – Individual package: one pipework service and one plant and equipment package within the area allocated to you in Appendix A.
Between them, the two parts cover the three main types of mechanical measurement: ductwork (Part A), pipework with its valves, ancillaries and insulation (Part B) and plant and equipment (Part B).
Tender Documents The tender documents are issued on Brightspace and are listed in Appendix B. They comprise:
2D layout drawings at 1:100 (A0) for Drainage (52), Water Services (53), Chilled Water and DX (55) and Ventilation (57), with 1:250 overview sheets; system schematics for each service; 3D and general arrangement drawings, including 55401 Typical Chiller Arrangement (3D, plan and section), 55251 Data Hall Sections and Typical Cooling Gallery, 57501 Typical Ventilation Detail and the Office Fan Coil Unit arrangement on 57241; Particular Specification BOL01-NrO-XX-XX-XX-SP-N-70002 (Revision P03); equipment data sheets (DS-M-55xxx and DS-M-57xxx). Read the layouts, schematics, sections and specification together. Where they disagree, record the discrepancy in your Tender Query Register and state the basis on which you have measured.
What You Must Do Define your scope. Identify exactly what falls within your Part A and Part B packages. The magenta dash-dot boundary lines on the layout sheets define zone limits: measure up to the boundary and state in your preambles where each service has been cut off. Measure. Take off quantities from the drawings in accordance with a recognised standard method of measurement: either SMMIEC or ARM5. The choice is yours, but you must state it and apply it consistently. Where a drawing shows a "typical" arrangement, measure it once and multiply it by the number of occurrences, stating the number and its source. Describe. Write item descriptions that comply with your chosen method and reference the drawing and specification clause. Compile the Bill of Quantities. Organise the measured items into a BOQ with preambles, measured work sections, a collection and a summary. Include items for testing and commissioning and any provisional sums you consider necessary, with the reason for each. Price. Price every measured item with a unit rate. You may show all-in unit rates in the BOQ. Query. Keep a Tender Query Register of the discrepancies, omissions and ambiguities you find in the tender documents and state the assumption you have measured on for each one. Missing information is a finding to be recorded, not a gap to be filled by guesswork. You are not asked to design, size or select plant or to check the engineer`s design.
Part A – Scope of the Common Package Include: rectangular and circular ductwork by size, with fittings measured or allowed for as your method requires; fire-rated ductwork where shown; insulation where specified; volume control dampers; motorised fire and smoke dampers; air terminals (supply and return linear diffusers, supply diffusers, disc valves, swirl diffusers and grilles); attenuators; flexible connections; final ductwork connections to the fan coil (indoor) units; access panels; and testing, commissioning and balancing.
Exclude: the fan coil (indoor) units themselves; roof-level air handling units and fans (drawing 57242); control and power wiring; builder`s work and fire stopping. Record these exclusions in your preambles.
Part B – Individual Package Your individual package is set out in Appendix A. The pipework service includes pipework and fittings, valves and ancillaries shown on the drawings and schematics, supports as your method requires, insulation where specified and testing, flushing and commissioning. The plant and equipment package includes each item of plant listed against your package, with its connections, anti-vibration mounts, commissioning and any related specification requirements (for example factory acceptance testing, spares and warranties). Plant quantities must be reconciled between the layouts, schematics and data sheets and any disagreement recorded as a tender query.
Pricing Rates are to be current Irish rates for 2026 and exclude VAT. Present all-in unit rates in the BOQ. A full separate breakdown of labour, materials and overheads and profit is not required for every item, but the source must be traceable.
Measuring from the Drawings The drawings carry a "Do not scale" note. At tender stage you will still have to scale from the 1:100 layouts using the scale bar. Record this in your preambles as a basis of measurement. You may measure by hand or with on-screen take-off software. Either way, your dimension records and marked-up drawings must let the marker trace every quantity in the BOQ back to the drawing it came from.
Deliverables Your submission must contain the following:
Bill of Quantities with preambles and measurement notes; Bill 1 Office Block Ventilation (Part A); Bill 2 your pipework service; Bill 3 your plant and equipment package; collection; and summary. Tender Query Register listing each query, the document references and the assumption you measured on. Take-off records: dimension sheets (traditional or spreadsheet format) and colour-coded marked-up drawings, cross-referenced to BOQ item numbers. Submission Details Submit in Brightspace by the deadline:
One PDF containing the BOQ, Tender Query Register, dimension sheets and marked-up drawings; and the native Excel workbook containing the BOQ. No other method of submission is permissible. This is an individual assignment. You may discuss the common package with your
classmates, but your take-off, descriptions, rates and report must be your own work. Identical take-off records or rates will be investigated.
You must declare any use of generative AI in your submission. It may be used for structure and language, but not to generate quantities, descriptions or rates.
Your submission will be graded against the rubric available on Brightspace.
Project assigned: 23/09/2026
If you have any queries in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact me at:
Appendix A – Individual Package Allocation (Part B) Each student is allocated one package. The zone numbers match the key plan on each layout sheet: DC Zones 1 and 2 are the data hall zones next to the Office Block. "Within the zone" means inside the magenta boundary on the stated sheet.
Pkg
Area
Pipework service
Plant and equipment
Student
P01
DC Block Level 00, DC Zone 1
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation
Layout 55201; CHW schematics 55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units and CDUs within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042
Luke Mcarthy
P02
DC Block Level 00, DC Zone 2
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation Layout 55202; CHW schematics
55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units, CDUs and buffer vessels within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042, 55041
Sean Conneally
P03
DC Block Level 01, DC Zone 1
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation
Layout 55211; CHW schematics 55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units, CDUs and buffer vessels within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042, 55041
Muhammad Hoque
P04
DC Block Level 01, DC Zone 2
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation
Layout 55212; CHW schematics 55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units, CDUs and buffer vessels within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042, 55041
Dermot Lawless
P05
DC Block Level 02, DC Zone 1
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation Layout 55221; CHW schematics
55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units, CDUs and buffer vessels within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042, 55041
Sahan Mediliyage
P06
DC Block Level 02, DC Zone 2
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation
Layout 55222; CHW schematics 55101-55114; section 55251
CRAH units, CDUs and buffer vessels within the zone
Data sheets 55032, 55042, 55041
Sorcha Cronin
P07
DC Block Roof, Zone 1
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation Layout 55231; 3D arrangement
55401; schematics 55101-55115
Air-cooled chillers ACC-001 to 012 and 022 to 033; circulation
pumps CP-001, 002, 008
Data sheet 55025
Pranav Gaur
P08
DC Block Roof, Zone 2
Chilled water pipework, valves, ancillaries and insulation Layout 55232; 3D arrangement
55401; schematics 55101-55115
Air-cooled chillers ACC-013 to 021 and 034 to 042; circulation
pumps CP-003, 004, 009
Data sheet 55025
Vitor Santos
P09
Office Block, all levels
Above-ground drainage: soil, waste, vent and condensate Layouts 52241, 52242; schematic
52102
Office roof plant: AHU-005, AHU-007, TEF-001; CHW ancillaries
PU-001 to 004, SSF-001 to 004,
VDV-001 to 004
Layouts 57242, 55242; data
sheets 57006, 55001, 55002,
55003
Elliott O’Beirne
Pkg
Area
Pipework service
Plant and equipment
Student
P10
DC Block, Levels 00 to 02 and Office Block, all levels
Domestic hot and cold and treated non-potable water services
DC Block: layouts 53201-53205, 53211-53212, 53221-53222.
Office Block: Levels 00 and 01 from overview sheets 53200 and 53210
(1:250); Level 02 and roof from
Schematics 53101, 53102
Water storage tanks, booster sets, RO units and humidifiers Layout 53204; schematic 53101;
data sheet 57026
Stephen Murphy
P11
DC Block, Levels 00 to 02 and
Roof Zones 1-2
Above-ground drainage, including CRAH/CDU condensate and roof rainwater
Layouts 52201-52204, 52211-52214,
52221-52225, 52231, 52232;
schematic 52101
DC Block DX cooling: indoor units, branch controllers and outdoor units
Layouts 55204, 55214, 55224;
schematic 55106
Spare
Where the same plant appears on more than one package`s drawings (for example, air handling unit AHU-005, which appears on both the Part A ventilation schematic and the Package P09 roof plant drawings), price it once, in the package named above and cross-refer to it in the other.
Appendix B – Tender Document Register All drawing numbers are prefixed BOL01-NrO-. Layout drawings are 1:100 at A0 unless noted.
Series
Drawings
Content
Specification
XX-XX-XX-SP-N-70002 (P03)
Particular Specification: mechanical, public health and electrical services; Stage 4 L2L Addendum GC2 Tender
52 Drainage
L1-DC-00/01/02/RF-DR-P-522xx; L1-OF-XX-DR-P-52241, 52242; SD-P-52101, 52102
Drainage layouts, DC Block (overview + 5 sheets per level) and Office Block; drainage schematics
53 Water
L1-DC-00/01/02/RF-DR-P-532xx; L1-OF-XX-DR-P-53252; SD-P-53101, 53102
Water services layouts and hot and cold water schematics. Office Block Levels 00 and 01 appear only on the 1:250 overview sheets (Sheet 1 of 2 of the Office Block layouts is not issued)
55 Chilled Water & DX
L1-DC-00/01/02/RF-DR-M-552xx; L1-OF-XX-DR-M-55241, 55242; SD-M-55101 to 55115;
DE-M-55251, 55401
Chilled water and DX layouts; CHW, DX and buffer vessel schematics; data hall sections; typical chiller arrangement (3D)
55 Data sheets
DS-M-55001, 55002, 55003, 55005, 55025,
55032, 55038, 55039, 55041, 55042
Pressurisation units, side-stream filters, vacuum degassers, office DX units, air-cooled chillers, CRAH, packaged plant rooms, dry air coolers, buffer vessels, CDUs
57 Ventilation
L1-DC-00/01/02/RF-DR-M-572xx; L1-OF-XX-DR-M-57241, 57242; SD-M-57101 to 57106; DE-M-57501
Ventilation layouts; critical, corridor, smoke and office ventilation schematics; typical ventilation detail
57 Data sheets
DS-M-57006, 57007, 57008, 57010, 57011,
57026, 57027, 57030, 57031
AHUs, air terminals, fire and smoke dampers, attenuators, smoke fans, humidifiers, louvres, MVHR, VAV
Appendix C – Drawing Issue Schedule All numbers are prefixed BOL01-NrO-. Layout and schematic numbers are given in short form: for example 55201 is BOL01-NrO-L1-DC-00-DR-M-55201. Each student receives the Part A set, the specification and the set listed against their package.
Package
Drawings and documents issued
All students (Part A)
Ventilation layout 57241 (Office Block, Levels 00 and 01); ventilation schematic 57104; data sheets 57007 (air terminals), 57008 (motorised fire and smoke dampers), 57010 (attenuators); Particular Specification XX-XX-XX-SP-N-70002 Rev P03.
P01
Layout 55201; chilled water schematics 55101 and 55102 (CHW System 1, serving rooms 0.38, 0.46, 0.47 and 0.56); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU).
P02
Layout 55202; chilled water schematics 55109 and 55110 (CHW System 4, serving rooms 0.72 and 0.80, buffer vessels 0.96); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU); data sheet 55041 (buffer vessels); schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation).
P03
Layout 55211; chilled water schematics 55103 and 55104 (CHW System 2, serving rooms 1.38 and 1.68, buffer vessels 1.83); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU); data sheet 55041 (buffer vessels); schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation).
P04
Layout 55212; chilled water schematics 55111 and 55112 (CHW System 5, serving rooms 1.45 and 1.58, buffer vessels 1.84); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU); data sheet 55041 (buffer vessels); schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation).
P05
Layout 55221; chilled water schematics 55107 and 55108 (CHW System 3, serving rooms 2.42 and 2.67, buffer vessels 2.38); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU); data sheet 55041 (buffer vessels); schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation).
P06
Layout 55222; chilled water schematics 55113 and 55114 (CHW System 6, serving rooms 2.46 and 2.62, buffer vessels 2.68); Section 55251; data sheets 55032 (CRAH), 55042 (CDU); data sheet 55041 (buffer vessels); schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation).
P07
Layout 55231 (roof, Zone 1: chillers ACC-001 to 012 and 022 to 033, pumps CP-001, 002 and 008); chilled water system schematics 55101, 55103, 55107, 55109, 55111 and 55113; schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation); 3D arrangement 55401; data sheet 55025 (air-cooled chillers).
P08
Layout 55232 (roof, Zone 2: chillers ACC-013 to 021 and 034 to 042, pumps CP-003, 004 and 009); chilled water system schematics 55101, 55103, 55107, 55109, 55111 and 55113; schematic 55115 (buffer vessel mode of operation); 3D arrangement 55401; data sheet 55025 (air-cooled chillers).
P09
Drainage layouts 52241 and 52242; drainage schematic 52102; ventilation layout 57242 (AHU-005, AHU-007, TEF-001); chilled water layout 55242 (PU-001 to 004, SSF-001 to 004, VDV-001 to 004); data sheets 57006 (air handling units), 55001 (pressurisation units), 55002 (side stream filtration), 55003 (vacuum degassers).
P10
Water services layouts 53201 to 53205, 53211, 53212, 53221 and 53222 (DC Block); overview sheets 53200 and 53210 at 1:250 (Office Block, Levels 00 and 01); layout 53252 (Office Block, Level 02 and roof); overview sheet 53230 (roof); hot and cold water schematics 53101 and 53102; data sheet 57026 (humidifiers).
P11
Drainage layouts 52201 to 52204, 52211 to 52214, 52221 to 52225, 52231 and 52232; drainage schematic 52101; DX layouts 55204, 55214 and 55224; DX schematic 55106.
Overview sheets are issued as key plans for the package concerned and are not a substitute for the 1:100 layouts, except for the Office Block water services at Levels 00 and 01, where the 1:250 overview is the only drawing issued
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