Test: Labour and Rate Analysis - Civil Engineering (CE) MCQ

Labour is classified into skilled first-class, skilled second class and unskilled. The purpose of analysis of rates is for working out the economical use of materials and the actual cost of per unit of the items.

Purpose of Analysis of rates: 

• To work out the actual cost per unit of the items at the locality.
• To examine the viability of rates offered by contractors
• To calculate the number of materials and labour strength required for project planning
• To fix labour contract rates
• To work out the economical use of materials and processes in completing the particulars item.
• To work out the cost of extra items which are not provided in the contract bond, but are to be done as per the directions of the department.
• To revise the schedule of rates due to an increase in the cost of material and labour or due to a change in technique. 

Additional Information
Cost of labour -types of labour, standard schedule of rates: 

• The labour can be classified into 1) Skilled – 1st class 2) Skilled – 2d Class 3) Unskilled
• The labour charges can be obtained from the standard schedule of rates 30% of the skilled labour provided in the data may be taken as Ist class, remaining 70% as II class.
• The rates of materials for Government works are fixed by the superintendent Engineer for his circle every year and approved by the Board of Chief Engineers. These rates are incorporated in the standard schedule of rates. 

The concrete used for cement concrete roads is of grade M 15 using 20 mm hand broken grade metal. For base course, concrete of 1:4:8 is used using 40 mm HBG metal.

The correct order of stages of estimation of concrete roads is earth work excavations, cement concrete for the base course (1:4:8) and cement concrete for wearing course (1:2:8). Cement concrete road is laid over an existing Water Bound Macadam road.

The Board of Chief Engineers approves the rates of materials used for government works. However, every year, these are fixed by the Superintendent Engineer.

The weight of one cement bag is 50 kg. Therefore, the number of cement bags required for 2500 kg of cement is 2500/50 i.e. 50 bags.

Approximately 1.52 m³ of dry concrete is required for 1 m3 of wet concrete. The quantity of sand required for RCC (1:2:4) for 15 cubic metres of work is [2/(1+2+4)] x 1.52 x 15 m³ i.e. 6.51 m³.

The ratio 1:3:6 is for cement, sand and coarse aggregate. Therefore, the quantity of coarse aggregate required for RCC (1:3:6) for 20 cubic metres of work is [6/(1+3+6)] x 1.52 x 20 m³ i.e. 18.24 m³.