Engineering articles
In-depth civil, structural and multi-disciplinary engineering for Bangladesh.
What is a bill of quantities (BOQ)? A practical guide for Bangladesh
What a BOQ contains, who prepares it, how it differs from an estimate and a rate analysis, and how to structure one for PWD and private projects.
30 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Construction cost per square foot in Bangladesh (2026): thumb rules and sanity checks
Indicative cost per sft for residential, commercial, factory and PEB buildings; steel and cement per sft; and how to use thumb rules to catch estimating errors.
28 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
PWD Schedule of Rates explained: editions, zones and how to use them
Civil, E/M, retrofitting and lift schedules; the four rate zones; editions in force; basic rates; and how to apply SoR rates in metric and imperial projects.
27 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Rebar weight calculation: why d²/162 works — and the kg/ft table
Derive the unit weight of a steel bar from its density, use it in kg/m and kg/ft, and avoid the common mistakes when estimating reinforcement.
23 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Concrete material quantities: the 1.54 dry-volume factor and cement bags
How to work out cement, sand and stone chips for 1:2:4, 1:1.5:3 and 1:3:6 concrete, why the dry volume is 1.54 times the wet volume, and bag conversions.
19 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
PEB vs RCC for factory buildings in Bangladesh: cost, time and foundations
When a pre-engineered steel building beats a conventional RCC frame for sheds, warehouses and utility buildings — and when it does not.
18 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Brickwork estimating: number of bricks, mortar and wastage
Bricks per cft and per cum for Bangladeshi standard bricks, mortar volume and cement for 1:4 and 1:6, and how to measure walls with deductions.
17 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Structural retrofitting in Bangladesh: column jacketing, micro-concrete and DEA
From detailed engineering assessment to RC jacketing and FRP: methods, the sequence of works, how to measure them in a BOQ and quality points on site.
16 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Plaster quantity calculation: area, mortar, cement and deductions
Measure plaster area correctly, apply the deduction rules for openings, and work out cement and sand for 12 mm and 20 mm plaster in 1:4 and 1:6.
15 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Estimating the substructure: earthwork, sand filling, soling and lean concrete
Measure excavation with working space, sand filling and compaction, brick flat soling and CC 1:3:6 under footings — in the right order and units.
14 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Bar bending schedule: cutting length, laps, hooks, bend deductions and 12 m bars
How to prepare a BBS: cutting length formula, lap lengths by diameter, 90° and 135° hooks, bend deductions and packing cut lengths into 12 m stock bars.
12 Oct 2026 · 2 min read