We asked: What is a ‘want’ as used in the context of General Rule 3.4 of SMM7? We received a record number of responses and the quiz setter had a tough call to make, but just one answer came the closest to ours

The answer: When measuring the superficial area of a material that the rules of SMM7 demand measured in square metres, the various rules sometimes state that deductions shall not be made for voids £0.5m2.

General Rule 3.4 further clarifies where these minimum deductions are not made. From here it can be deduced that a "want" is not something that only occurs at a boundary, therefore a void at the edge of sheet vinyl caused by the projection of an attached column could not be a "want".

An opening is a void formed by a hole, column, vertical duct or the like whereas a 'want' is the space taken up by a different material from that being measured, e.g, an area of ceramic floor tiles completely surrounded by sheet vinyl flooring. The 'want' being the area taken up by the ceramic floor tiles, which, if £0.5m² in area would not be deducted from the area of sheet vinyl flooring.

The winner: Gavin Morgan, from R Davis & Company.

His answer:
Notwithstanding the Oxford English dictionary’s meaning of 'want’, but in terms of the SMM7, this refers to the processes of deduction of items of which are not voids but other items which are deducted from a gross area when one is measuring the quantity of areas. In principle when measuring, the most convenient practice is usually to measure the full area and adjust it accordingly. A ‘want’ is the deductions which are not voids. The ‘want’ are to the interpretation of the measurer, but in common practice they tend to the adjustments to the full areas i.e. deduction for the changes in material, compensating for the deduction of irregular shapes etc.

Source

QS News