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IS 7272:2000 (Part 1) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for recommendation for labour output constants for building work, part i: north zone. This standard provides recommended labour output constants for various building construction activities, specifically for the North Zone of India. It serves as a crucial guide for project managers, quantity surveyors, and estimators for preparing realistic schedules, manpower planning, and cost estimates.
Recommendation for Labour Output Constants for Building Work, Part I: North Zone
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! These constants are for an 8-hour working day and represent an average output under normal conditions; they must be adjusted for site-specific factors like accessibility, weather, labour skill, and mechanization.
! The 'North Zone' is defined in Appendix A and includes states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan etc. Using these constants in other zones will lead to inaccurate estimates.
! The constants are a baseline. It is best practice to develop a company-specific database of productivity by tracking actual output on projects.
RSMeans Building Construction Cost DataGordian (Commercial), USA
HighCurrent
RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data (Annual Publication)
Provides detailed labor-hour constants and crew compositions for a vast range of construction tasks, serving the same estimating purpose.
NRM 2Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK
MediumCurrent
RICS New Rules of Measurement: NRM 2 - Detailed measurement for building works
Defines the standard method of measuring work, which is the prerequisite for applying labor constants. The actual constants are found in complementary price books like Spon's.
Rawlinsons Australian Construction HandbookRawlinsons (Commercial), Australia
HighCurrent
Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook (Annual Publication)
Serves as the primary industry reference for construction costs and labor productivity rates for estimation in Australia.
CESMM4Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), UK
LowCurrent
Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement, Fourth Edition
Provides a framework for measuring civil engineering quantities, for which labor constants would then be applied; it does not provide the constants themselves.
Key Differences
≠IS 7272 is zone-specific for India ('North Zone'), acknowledging regional variations in climate and work practices. International equivalents like RSMeans provide a national average with percentage adjustments for different cities.
≠The basis for IS 7272's constants is heavily weighted towards manual labor and basic tools, reflecting practices from when the data was collected. Modern international databases assume a high degree of mechanization (e.g., ready-mix concrete, power tools, excavators).
≠IS 7272 is published by a national standards body (Bureau of Indian Standards), whereas its closest functional equivalents (RSMeans, Spon's) are typically commercial publications or professional body guidelines, not government-issued standards.
≠The level of granularity in commercial databases like RSMeans is far greater, with thousands of line items covering numerous material and technology variations, whereas IS 7272 covers a more limited set of common construction activities.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental purpose is identical: to provide standardized labor productivity data to facilitate cost estimation, bid preparation, and project scheduling.
≈Both IS 7272 and its international counterparts express labor productivity in a standard format of labor time (hours or days) per unit of work (m³, m², tonne, etc.).
≈The data in all systems is structured hierarchically by trade or element (e.g., Earthwork, Concrete, Masonry), aligning with the standard structure of a Bill of Quantities (BOQ).
≈The concept of defining a 'gang' or 'crew' for a specific task is common. IS 7272 specifies the number of Masons and 'Beldars' (helpers), while RSMeans specifies a standard crew composition (e.g., 'Crew C-14').
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Earthwork excavation, ordinary soil, by hand
Approx. 2.46 labor-hours per cubic meter (based on 3.25 m³/day per worker)
Approx. 2.29 labor-hours per cubic meter (for hand trenching in common earth)
RSMeans Data
Plain Cement Concrete (1:4:8) in foundations
Approx. 28.4 labor-hours per cubic meter (assumes manual mixing, transport and laying)
Approx. 1.67 labor-hours per cubic meter (assumes placing ready-mix concrete from a chute)
RSMeans Data
Brickwork in superstructure (1:6 cement mortar)
Approx. 26.0 labor-hours per cubic meter
Approx. 20.5 labor-hours per cubic meter (Note: brick sizes and wall thickness conventions differ)
RSMeans Data
Cement Plaster, 12mm thick (1:6 ratio)
Approx. 2.0 labor-hours per square meter (for single coat)
Approx. 2.26 labor-hours per square meter (for two-coat system on masonry)
RSMeans Data
Reinforcement Steel: Bending and Binding
Approx. 16.0 labor-hours per tonne (0.10 Fitter-days + 1.90 Beldar-days)
Approx. 15.1 labor-hours per tonne (placing and tying rebar for slabs)
RSMeans Data
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Earth excavation in ordinary soil per mazdoor3.50 m³/day
Brickwork in cement mortar 1:6 in superstructure per team1.00 m³/day
Mixing PCC 1:4:8 manually per team3.00 m³/day
12 mm cement plaster 1:6 per team8.00 m²/day
Reinforcement bending and binding for foundations per team1.00 quintal/day
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Earth Work
Table 2 - Concrete Work
Table 3 - Formwork
Table 4 - Brickwork
Table 6 - Stone Work
Table 9 - Plastering and Pointing
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Basis
Clause 4 - Factors Affecting Labour Output
Clause 5 - Explanation of Items
Appendix A - List of States/Union Territories Covered in North Zone