# Quoting rules (v5)

Go through Steps 1-8 in order. In each table, use the first row whose condition (IF) holds.
Columns: IF = condition, THEN = what goes into the quote, WHY = the reason, DATA = how many real dev quotes follow the rule (quotes known to be faulty are left out).

Principles
- P1. Only codes from the rate card; quantities are whole numbers.
- P2. A line goes in by default only if at least half of the similar real quotes have it; any other line needs a reason in the forms.
- P3. If two facts conflict, use the one that describes the work actually asked for, and set the colour to red.

## Step 1. Type of job: decide what work the quote is for
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | the forms ask for a new manhole or inspection chamber cover and frame | type = cover | the type follows the work, not the form label | |
| 1.2 | the work is on a gully grate, frame or pot | type = gully | | |
| 1.3 | the work is on an ACO-type channel drain, its grates or sump | type = channel | | |
| 1.4 | anything else: pipes, blockages, jetting, CCTV, roots, seals, benching, interceptors, contamination, plumbing; also a manhole form that only needs a seal, benching or clearing | type = other (go to Step 7) | | |
| 1.5 | the job has forms about different kinds of object (cover, gully, channel) | price one: cover, else gully, else channel | the estimator prices one main repair per visit; all manholes in the job are still counted, whatever their form label (J0875) | 9 of 10 mixed jobs |
Rebeds are not predicted: 2 rebeds in 40 manhole quotes, and the forms do not show them.
Output: is_manhole = true for cover jobs; kind = the cover line.

## Step 2. Replace or visit: decide whether the quote buys a new part, a dig, or only a visit
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | the forms order a dig, excavation or pipe relay (also "exploratory dig") | other work, dig (7.2), even if a chamber or cover is also mentioned | digging is ordered, so it is priced | 4 of 5 |
| 2.2 | the forms order or recommend a new frame, lid, cover, grate or channel, in "Part required" or in the text; a mention is not an order ("break free the lid") | replace, even if the description says the old one is serviceable | the engineer's order or recommendation; the estimator follows it | 43 of 45 |
| 2.3 | "Part required" is "unknown" | crew visit | the part is not known, so the estimator prices a visit to find out | 2 of 2 |
| 2.4 | otherwise (Defective Manhole, Gully or Channel form) | replace, also when the part is seized or cannot be lifted | the default | 62 of 67; seized or cannot be lifted: replaced in 8 of 9 |
Crew visit = LAB-CIV-H 1 (LAB-DRN-H 1 for drainage work) and nothing else; skip Steps 3-7; type other, other_kind crew_visit, is_manhole false; colour yellow.

## Step 3. Count: decide how many items to price
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | two forms have the same location AND the same size (or one is a copy) | one item | engineers sometimes repeat a form | 14 of 15 jobs with several manhole forms |
| 3.2 | the location or the size differs | separate items | e.g. "outside wash bay" and "facing car wash bay" are two covers (J0255) | |
| 3.3 | the text gives a number ("x2", "both", "PI3&4", "4 manholes") | that number | | |

## Step 4. Main line: choose the rate-card line for the part
Cover. Use the measured size (opening or old cover); "square" = shorter side at least 85% of the longer.
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | inside a building (kitchen, basement, plant room, cellar, lightwell), or sealed / airtight | CVR-PLATE; CVR-REC if it is a tray filled with floor tiles | covers inside buildings are sealed | 5 of 5 (4 plate, 1 recessed) |
| 4.2 | a recessed tray outside, filled with paving or concrete | CVR-REC | | |
| 4.2a | the text gives the size of the existing cover ("existing 600x600") | use that size in the rows below | the new cover replaces the old one like for like | J0992 |
| 4.3 | longest side 800 mm or more | C250 / D400: CVR-750-H; A15 / B125: CVR-PLATE | large light-duty openings get a steel plate, large heavy-duty openings the large cast-iron cover | 3 of 3 |
| 4.4 | square, 720-800 mm | CVR-675-H; if the text gives the existing cover size, use it | | 2 of 2 |
| 4.5 | square, 500-720 mm | CVR-600-? | | 8 of 10 |
| 4.6 | about 600 x 450 (575-610 x 445-455) | CVR-600x450-? | | 3 of 3 |
| 4.7 | 670-690 x 520-550 | CVR-600x450-? | the outer size of a 600 x 450 frame | 4 of 4 |
| 4.8 | 640-660 x 490-520 | CVR-600-? | fits neither the opening nor the frame of a 600 x 450, so the next size up | 3 of 3 |
| 4.9 | 600 long and under 445 wide | CVR-OTHER | smaller than the standard 600 x 450 | 2 of 2 |
| 4.10 | under 500 mm, or a rodding eye | on a path, pavement or footway, or a rodding eye: CVR-PLATE; in a road, car park, loading or delivery area: CVR-600-? (square or round) or CVR-600x450-? (rectangular); colour yellow | the rate card has no small cover; where vehicles run the estimator uses a standard cover; small sizes are often mis-measured | 7 of 7 |
| 4.11 | any other rectangle | the nearest band above; colour yellow | | |
| 4.12 | no usable size | the size of the other covers in the same job, if they have one; otherwise CVR-600-H; colour yellow | covers on one site are usually the same type; else the most common cover | 2 of 2 (J0875, J0406) |
Light or heavy ("?"):
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.13 | square opening | H if C250 / D400 or "heavier grade required: Yes"; L if A15 / B125; no grade: H | the form grade is the grade of the old cover; the estimator keeps it | 11 of 12 |
| 4.14 | rectangular opening | L if only people walk there (building exit, toilets, footpath, gravel or grass by a wall); H if vehicles can (car park, road, yard, site entrance, parking); if both appear ("fire exit, next to staff parking"), vehicles win; if unclear, as 4.13 | rectangular covers are the footway type; the estimator matches them to the traffic (our reading of the data) | 11 of 11 |
Gully and channel:
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.15 | gully | GUL-GRATE x number of grates; GUL-POT only if the pot is broken | the grate and frame are what wear | 10 of 10 |
| 4.16 | channel: "Part required" gives a number of units ("x3") | CHN-RUN = that number | the engineer's order | J0075 |
| 4.17 | channel: length given | metres (values over 50 are millimetres); round each location up separately, then add | the channel is sold in 1 m sections | |
| 4.18 | channel: a run over 10 m | do not price that run; price 2 m (or the other forms only); colour red | the estimator never priced such a run in full | 2 of 2 (J0053, J0144) |
| 4.19 | channel: a sump / trash box / catch-pit unit is replaced | CHN-SUMP 1; CHN-RUN = metres rounded down, minimum 1 | the sump unit takes the place of part of the run | 5 of 5 |
| 4.20 | channel: no sump | CHN-RUN minimum 2 | | 8 of 11 |
| 4.21 | channel grates | CHN-GRATE = 2 x CHN-RUN, plus 1 with a sump | two grates per 1 m section, one on the sump | 16 of 16 |

## Step 5. Labour: choose the crew and how long (one line per crew)
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | cover: 1 cover, normal size | LAB-CIV-H 1 | a crew fits one standard cover in about half a day | 21 of 22 |
| 5.2 | cover: 1 large cover (both sides 675 mm or more, or one side 900 or more) | LAB-CIV-D 1 | a large frame takes a day | 4 of 4 |
| 5.3 | cover: 2 or 3 covers | LAB-CIV-D 1 | | 8 of 9 |
| 5.4 | cover: 4 or more covers | LAB-CIV-D x (covers / 2, rounded up) | | 2 of 2 |
| 5.5 | gully | 1 grate: LAB-CIV-H 1; 2 or more: LAB-CIV-D 1 | | 8 of 10 |
| 5.6 | channel: one location, run 2 m or less, no sump | LAB-CIV-H 1 | | 5 of 6 |
| 5.7 | channel: otherwise | LAB-CIV-D 1; 8 m or more: LAB-CIV-D 2 | | |
| 5.8 | rebed | LAB-CIV-H 1; LAB-CIV-D 1 if large, several, or nothing described | | |
| 5.9 | the forms REQUIRE night, weekend or out-of-hours work (e.g. "ooh required 22:00-08:00") | the nights/weekends code of the same crew (-ND / -NH) | a suggestion is not enough: "would require nights for full access" was quoted in hours (J0075) | J0954 |
Cover, gully and channel jobs have exactly one labour line (64 of 64); other work can need two crews (4 of 30).

## Step 6. Standard and surface lines: add what comes with every repair of this kind
| # | IF | THEN | WHY | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | cover, gully, channel, rebed or dig (not a crew visit) | SRV-UTIL 1, WST-GEN 1 | ground or surfacing is broken: buried services are checked and spoil is removed | 64 of 64, 62 of 64 |
| 6.2 | civils work of 3 days or more, or a channel run of 8 m or more | WST-SKIP 1 instead of WST-GEN | a big job produces more spoil than a van load | 7 of 8 |
| 6.3 | always | SRV-UTIL, WST-GEN, WST-SKIP, SUN-CARR, WST-NOTE are charged once per job | | |
| 6.4 | cover / gully / rebed | MAT-MORT 6 per cover; 4 per gully grate; rebed: MAT-MORT 10, MAT-SAND 15, MAT-PSAND 6 | every new or re-set frame is bedded on mortar | 37 of 38; 8 of 10 |
| 6.5 | channel | MAT-BAL 8 x CHN-RUN (min 16), MAT-RCEM 2 x CHN-RUN (min 4), MAT-SAND 2 x CHN-RUN (min 4); with a sump add 12 ballast, 2 cement, 2 sand | the channel sits on a concrete bed mixed on site, in proportion to its length | 16 of 16 |
Surface round the new part (reinstated in the same material):
| # | IF | THEN | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | cover in tarmac | MAT-ASPH 2 per cover, MAT-BAND 1, SUN-CARR 1 (not tarmac: none) | 9, 8, 6 of 9 |
| 6.7 | gully in tarmac | MAT-ASPH 2, MAT-BAND 1 | 4 of 6 |
| 6.8 | gully in concrete or block paving | MAT-CREP 2 | 3 of 4 |
| 6.9 | channel in concrete, not in a car park or road | MAT-CREP 4 | 3 of 5 |
| 6.10 | channel at an entrance or shop front, or in a coloured surface | MAT-DYE 1 | 4 of 4 |
| 6.11 | channel in a car park or road | MAT-ASPH 4, MAT-BAND 2, SUN-CARR 1 | 4 of 5 |
| 6.12 | channel in block paving or slabs elsewhere | no surface line | 2 of 2 |

## Step 7. Other work: pick the pattern by the task (the crew and kit follow the task)
| # | IF | THEN | DATA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | grease, fat, oil, contamination, interceptor or separator; or manholes surcharged ("fully charged") with water to pump out | LAB-TNK-D 1; grease or contaminated waste removed: WST-GRS 4, WST-NOTE 1; investigation or jetting also asked: add LAB-DRN-D 1 or LAB-ENG-D 1 | 4 of 4 |
| 7.2 | dig: excavation, relay, collapsed or broken buried pipe, burst main, exploratory dig | LAB-CIV-D 3, SRV-UTIL 1, WST-SKIP 1, MAT-SHGL 6, MAT-SUB 3; pipe relaid or replaced: PIP-110 1 per 3 m and PIP-FIT 2; parts unknown: PIP-FIT 1 only (4 of 4); reinstate in kind: block paving MAT-SAND 20 + MAT-PSAND 6, concrete MAT-RCEM 16 + MAT-BALB 2; HIR-FENCE 1 in public or busy areas | 4 digs |
| 7.3 | drainage crew without digging: jetting, blockage, roots, patch lining, gasket, camera survey | LAB-DRN-D 1; PIP-LINER per patch; MSC-01 1 for small materials, gaskets and seals (not PIP-FIT) | 5 of 6; J0438 |
| 7.4 | repair inside a chamber: benching, channel in the base, break out concrete, man entry | LAB-CIV-D 1, SRV-UTIL 1, WST-GEN 1, MAT-MORT 4, PIP-CHAN 1 | full day in 2 of 3; PIP-CHAN in 2 of 3 |
| 7.5 | plumbing, pump, valve, rodent barrier | LAB-ENG-H 1 (D if a full day is named) plus the named part (PIP-RAT, PIP-FIT) | |
| 7.6 | a non-standard cover that is not a manhole (lift pit, wooden or bespoke) | LAB-CIV-H 1, MSC-01 1 | J0928 |

## Step 8. Colour: say how sure the quote is
| Colour | IF |
|---|---|
| green | type cover, gully or channel; every fact the main lines need is in the forms (cover: size and grade; channel: length; number of items; surface); nothing conflicts |
| yellow | a default was used (no size, grade or length), the main line comes from 4.10, 4.11 or 4.12, several different problems, a crew visit, or other work |
| red | facts conflict (fields against text, impossible sizes such as 9300 mm, a channel over 10 m with a local defect), or the forms do not say what work is needed |
List in "check" what the estimator must confirm.