Overview of Standards
IS 1200 is the Bureau of Indian Standards' method of measurement for building and civil engineering works. It was first published in 1958 and is issued in separate parts by trade, such as earthwork and concrete work, with the stated aim of unifying the different measurement practices of construction agencies and government departments.[1]CESMM4, the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (4th edition, 2012), is published by the Institution of Civil Engineers in the UK and is used to prepare bills of quantities for civil engineering work.[2]Both set out how work is measured and described for billing.
Key Differences
IS 1200's part-by-trade structure covers building and civil engineering works in the Indian context.[1]CESMM4 was written to be contract neutral, for use with NEC, FIDIC and ICC contracts, and removed British Standard references to allow wider use.[2]The practical differences show up in scope, classification and measurement rules, so a BOQ prepared under one cannot simply be re-labelled as the other.
Application in Projects
The choice depends on the contract, the client and the project location. A project let under an NEC or FIDIC contract may specify CESMM4,[2]while Indian contracts can specify the relevant IS 1200 parts. Whichever is chosen, the contract should name the standard and its edition so that measurement disputes are settled against one rulebook.
Sources
- IS 1200 (Part 1):1992 Methods of measurement of building and civil engineering works, Part 1: Earthwork (fourth revision) — Bureau of Indian Standards
- What it says:
- Foreword: IS 1200 is the Indian standard method of measurement for building and civil engineering works, first published in 1958 and issued in separate parts by trade, written to unify the differing measurement practices of construction agencies and government departments.
- Rights:
- Bureau of Indian Standards copyright; clause cited, text not reproduced (copy published by Public.Resource.Org under the Right to Information Act, 2005)
- Retrieved:
- 2026-09-23
- CESMM4: Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (4th edition, 2012, ISBN 978-0-7277-5751-7) — Institution of Civil Engineers / ICE Publishing (Emerald Books Gateway listing)
- What it says:
- CESMM4 is published by the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK); it is the first major overhaul since CESMM3 (1991), is contract neutral for use with NEC, FIDIC and ICC contracts, removes British Standard references for wider use, and is used to prepare bills of quantities for civil engineering work.
- Rights:
- Bibliographic reference only; publisher copyright, nothing reproduced
- Retrieved:
- 2026-09-23