Construction Setting Out Tolerance Reference Card
Quick reference for construction setting out tolerances.
BS 5606 Tolerances
| Element | Tolerance | | --- | --- | | Setting out | ±5mm | | Foundation positions | ±10mm | | Drainage positions | ±10mm | | Drainage levels | ±10mm | | Floor levels | ±5mm | | Column positions | ±5mm | | Wall lines | ±5mm | | Roads and paths | ±20mm | | Boundary | ±20mm |
Level Tolerances
| Element | Tolerance | | --- | --- | | Setting out levels | ±5mm | | Finished floor level | ±5mm | | Drainage invert | ±10mm | | Road formation | ±20mm | | Platform levels | ±10mm |
Angular Tolerances
| Element | Tolerance | | --- | --- | | Right angles | ±30 seconds | | Grid lines | ±10 seconds | | Setting out | ±10 seconds |
Practical Tolerances for Site
| Trade | Practical Tolerance | | --- | --- | | Foundations | ±15mm | | Drainage | ±15mm | | Brickwork | ±5mm | | RC frame | ±10mm | | M&E | ±20mm |
2025 Setting Out Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Project | Cost | | --- | --- | | Residential | £300–£600 | | Commercial | £800–£2,000 |
How to Use the Construction Setting Out Tolerance Reference Card
The construction setting out tolerance reference card is the standard reference for UK construction setting out tolerances, covering the BS 5606 tolerances for setting out, foundations, drainage, floor levels, column positions, wall lines, roads and paths, and boundary. The nine BS 5606 setting out tolerances are setting out (plus or minus 5 mm, the primary control for the building or infrastructure), foundation positions (plus or minus 10 mm, the X, Y coordinates of every foundation position), drainage positions (plus or minus 10 mm, the X, Y coordinates of every drainage run, manhole, and gully), drainage levels (plus or minus 10 mm, the invert levels and gradients for the drainage runs), floor levels (plus or minus 5 mm, the floor levels with reference to Ordnance Datum Newlyn), column positions (plus or minus 5 mm, the structural column positions), wall lines (plus or minus 5 mm, the internal and external wall lines), roads and paths (plus or minus 20 mm, the kerb, channel, and footway positions for the adjacent road), and boundary (plus or minus 20 mm, the physical and legal boundary positions). The five level tolerances are setting out levels (plus or minus 5 mm, the primary control levels), finished floor level (plus or minus 5 mm, the floor level), drainage invert (plus or minus 10 mm, the invert level for the drainage runs), road formation (plus or minus 20 mm, the formation level for the road construction), and platform levels (plus or minus 10 mm, the platform levels for the building or infrastructure). The three angular tolerances are right angles (plus or minus 30 seconds, the right angle accuracy for the building or infrastructure), grid lines (plus or minus 10 seconds, the grid line accuracy for the primary control), and setting out (plus or minus 10 seconds, the setting out accuracy for the control). The five practical tolerances by trade are foundations (plus or minus 15 mm, the practical tolerance for the foundation contractor), drainage (plus or minus 15 mm, the practical tolerance for the drainage contractor), brickwork (plus or minus 5 mm, the practical tolerance for the brickwork contractor), RC frame (plus or minus 10 mm, the practical tolerance for the reinforced concrete frame contractor), and M&E (plus or minus 20 mm, the practical tolerance for the mechanical and electrical contractor). The cost bands are residential (300 to 600 pounds ex VAT) and commercial (800 to 2,000 pounds ex VAT). The OS National Grid with Ordnance Datum Newlyn heights is the UK convention. A signed accuracy statement is the QA evidence for downstream design, planning, and construction use, and all icelabz setting out work is issued under the RICS Measured Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities standard (3rd edition).