How to use BuildLab

BuildLab is an online structural calculation and construction quantity takeoff platform built on TCVN standards. No installation needed: open your browser, pick the tool matching the structure you are working on, enter the numbers and get results with traceable formulas for cross-checking.

The site has 2 tool groups: quantity takeoff tools (isolated footing, strip footing, column, beam, slab — returning concrete, reinforcement and formwork quantities) and advanced tools (loads, beam/slab steel, formwork & scaffolding, footing flexure, soil bearing, columns…). Every tool runs right in the browser, free of charge.

The Tools menu at the top groups all calculators into 2 categories. If you need material quantities for a takeoff table, pick Quantity takeoff and choose the structure (isolated footing, strip footing, column, beam, slab). If you need to check a standalone design problem (loads, reinforcement, soil bearing, footing flexure…), pick Advanced tools.

The home page also lists featured tools with short descriptions. Once inside a tool, the navigation bar above lets you switch to another tool in the same group without losing your place.

Each tool's form is split into clear sequential steps: geometry, materials (concrete grade), reinforcement layout (bar diameter, spacing, cover) — slabs additionally have a slab edge type step. Fill in the fields and hit the calculate button; the system shows the result along with step-by-step calculations so you can verify every formula.

For the 5 quantity takeoff tools, instead of typing by hand you can click Download Excel template to get the template file for that structure, fill it in and upload it — the system auto-fills the form before calculating.

Results appear in the last card of the form with 3 totals (concrete m³, steel kg, formwork m²) plus the step-by-step breakdown: each row is an intermediate calculation with its variable name, value, unit and the corresponding TCVN formula/table lookup — handy for cross-checking hand calcs or quotations.

Below each result there is the question "Is this result correct?". Clicking Agree or Reject (with a reason) helps us verify the formulas; the calculation is only saved to history after you respond.

Calculation history is a login-required feature: once you confirm a result (Agree/Reject), that calculation is saved to your account. Review everything in the Dashboard after signing in — two tables: history for the 5 quantity takeoff tools and history for the advanced tools, filterable by type/time with full details per calculation.

Saving history requires a free account — visitors can still calculate without logging in, but results will not be saved.

Once you have a result, click Export Excel or Export PDF on the result card to download the standard takeoff table. Export goes through the backend API and requires login — if you are signed out, the system shows a prompt asking you to log in first.

After several calculations, the Calculation summary page (inside the Dashboard) aggregates concrete/steel/formwork quantities across all structures into one table and exports the overall Excel file for estimation.

No login needed: browse the about page, this user guide and the knowledge library; view every tool's page and its calculation method.

Login required (free): entering data and running any calculator form (signed-out visitors see a login card instead of the form); saving results to history; exporting Excel/PDF; submitting result feedback.

At the top-right corner there is a text-based language switcher EN | VI: click EN to view the entire site in English, click VI to switch back to Vietnamese. The content you are viewing stays in place — only the language changes. Each language has its own URL path (/vi/... and /en/...), so you can bookmark or share the link of exactly the version you are reading.