Under standard measurement rules for building works, to what precision is area typically recorded for billing and take-off purposes?

Introduction / Context:
Consistency in rounding and recording quantities is essential for transparent billing. Overly coarse rounding introduces significant errors, while overly fine precision complicates documentation without practical benefit. Industry standards specify a sensible precision for area measurements.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Areas are computed from measured dimensions (usually recorded to 0.01 m).
• We seek the standard rounding precision for area entries in BOQs.
• The goal is to balance accuracy and practicality.

Concept / Approach:
Since linear dimensions are commonly kept to 0.01 m, the resulting areas are reasonably rounded to 0.01 sq.m. This avoids material quantity distortions and aligns with typical SOR/SMM practices. Coarser steps like 0.05 sq.m may cause noticeable discrepancies across many items.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recognize standard dimension precision: 0.01 m.Compute area and round: keep 0.01 sq.m for billing entries.Select option 0.01 sq.m.

Verification / Alternative check:
Checking common measurement handbooks confirms 0.01 sq.m as the norm for area rounding.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Coarser increments (0.02–0.05 sq.m) can cumulatively skew totals and are not standard.

Common Pitfalls:
Rounding inconsistently across items; rounding intermediate dimensions and the final area separately (double rounding).

Final Answer:
0.01 sq.m