In the world of construction and structural engineering, one common statement structural engineers often hear is:
“Sir, aapko toh sirf BOQ ke main items hi dene hain… scope kyun badha rahe ho?”
On the surface, it may sound simple.
But BOQ (Bill of Quantities) is not just a list of items in the construction industry. It is a technical output that depends entirely on the depth of engineering work done before it reaches your table, and this clearly defines the structural engineering scope.
Let’s understand why “just giving BOQ” is NOT a small scope and why the structural engineering scope matters.
BOQ Is the Final Output, Not the Starting Point
Many clients assume BOQ is created by simply listing items in the bill of quantities in construction, such as:
- Concrete quantity
- Steel quantity
- Shuttering
- PCC, backfilling, etc.
But for an engineer, these quantities come only after completing the structural engineering scope, which includes:
- Studying the soil report
- Finalizing column grid
- Designing a structural system
- Ensuring safety for seismic forces
- Running analysis
- Preparing structural drawings
Without proper design, which is a core part of structural engineering, accurate BOQ and construction cost estimation are impossible.
A rough BOQ is dangerous, misleading and can cause:
- Wrong cost estimation
- Wrong tendering
- Site disputes
- Material shortage
- Claims later
“Only Main Items” Still Require Full Engineering Input
Even if clients ask for only main items like concrete and steel, the role of structural engineer still requires completing most of the structural engineering scope, such as:
- Preliminary design
- Approximate sizing
- Load calculations
- Thumb-rule reinforcement estimation
- Safety checks
- Comparison with soil capacity
- Structural stability check
Otherwise, quantities become guesswork instead of engineering-based construction cost estimation.
And guesswork in the structural engineering scope is never acceptable.
Increasing Scope Is Not Upselling — It Is Risk Control
When an engineer says, “BOQ dene ke liye scope badhega”
They are not trying to increase fees unfairly.
They are defining the correct structural engineering scope to ensure:
- Safety
- Accuracy
- Accountability
- Revision control
- Compliance with IS codes
- Proper structural configuration
A BOQ without design is like giving a medical prescription without a diagnosis.
No professional following a proper structural engineering scope does that.
Why Engineers Avoid “Free BOQ” Without Design
Because ignoring the structural engineering scope leads to:
A. Blame Later
If quantities increase on site, the client says:
“Engineer ne galat BOQ diya.”
B. Uncontrolled Cost Variations
Contractors overshoot budgets and blame the BOQ prepared without proper construction cost estimation.
C. No Basis for Structural Safety
How can concrete and steel quantities be known without finalizing beam, slab, and column sizes in structural engineering?
D. Future Legal/Technical Risk
Wrong BOQ means the engineer becomes responsible for:
- Cost escalation
- Safety issues
- Variations during site check
Professionally, it’s unsafe and unethical for the role of structural engineer.
What Clients Should Understand
If you want a BOQ that is:
- Accurate
- Useful for contractor pricing
- Safe
- Reflective of the actual structure
- Accepted during supervision
Then proper structural engineering scope must be part of the work.
No shortcuts.
BOQ is not a “list”.
BOQ is a conclusion of structural engineering and disciplined construction cost estimation.
Conclusion
So the next time a client says:
“Sir, aap toh bas BOQ dedijiyega, main items hi chahiye.”
The engineer’s gentle answer should be:
“BOQ is the final output of structural design.
To give you an accurate list, the structural engineering scope must include proper engineering — otherwise the quantities will not reflect your actual building.”
Good engineering saves money, avoids disputes, and ensures safety.
And BOQ in construction is a part of that responsible engineering process — not a shortcut.