Electrical Estimating Methods

Content: About the Author xiii     PART 1 THE ESTIMATING PROCESS 1     CHAPTER 1 Components of an Estimate 3     CHAPTER 2 Types of Estimates 7     Order of Magnitude Estimates 8     Square Foot Estimates 9     Assemblies Estimates 10     Unit Price Estimates 11     CHAPTER 3 Before Starting the Estimate 15     Obtaining Bid Documents 15     To Bid or Not to Bid 15     Document Study 16     Estimating Team Meeting 17     CHAPTER 4 The Quantity Takeoff 19     Beginning the Quantity Takeoff 19     Rules to Follow for Accurate Takeoffs 20     Accounting for Waste 24     Other Factors that Affect Quantities 26     CHAPTER 5 Pricing the Estimate 27     Sources of Cost Data 27     Cost Categories 29     Types of Costs 29     Profit 29     CHAPTER 6 Direct Costs 31     Material 31     Labor 33     Equipment 37     Subcontractors 38     Project Overhead 40     Bonds 42     CHAPTER 7 Indirect Costs 45     Home Office Overhead 45     Profit and Contingencies 48     CHAPTER 8 The Unit Price, Project Overhead Summary, and Estimate Summary Sheets 55     Unit Price Sheet 55     Project Overhead Summary Sheet 56     The Estimate Summary Sheet 59     CHAPTER 9 Prebid Scheduling 69     Scheduling Theory 69     Critical Path Method (CPM) 70     Value of the Prebid Schedule 71     Task Types 72     Task Durations 73     Calculating Durations 74     Milestones and Constraints 76     CHAPTER 10 Bidding Strategies 77     The Business Plan 77     Competitive Bidding 78     Resource Analysis 80     Market Analysis 81     General Bidding Strategies 82     Maximizing the Profit-to-Volume Ratio 84     CHAPTER 11 Project Cost Control and Analysis 87     Cost Control 87     Productivity and Efficiency 90     Overtime Impact 91     PART 2 COMPONENTS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS 93     CHAPTER 12 Raceways 95     Cable Tray 95     Conduit (to 15    High) 99     Conduit Fittings 102     Conduit in Concrete Slab 104     Conduit in Trench 105     Cutting and Drilling 106     Wire Duct   Plastic 108     Trench Duct 109     Underfloor Duct 110     Surface Metal Raceways 113     Wireways 114     Flexible Metallic Conduit 116     CHAPTER 13 Conductors and Grounding 119     Wire 119     Armored Cable 123     Cable Terminations (to 600 Volt) 123     Shielded Power Cables 125     Cable Terminations (High Voltage) 126     Mineral Insulated Cable 127     Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable 128     Fiber-Optic Cable Systems 129     Special Wires 130     Grounding 131     Undercarpet Wiring 133     Undercarpet Telephone Systems 135     Undercarpet Data Systems 137     CHAPTER 14 Boxes and Wiring Devices 141     Pull Boxes and Cabinets 141     Outlet Boxes 142     Wiring Devices and Low-Voltage Switching 144     Fasteners 145     Hangers 147     CHAPTER 15 Starters, Boards, and Switches 149     Circuit Breakers 149     Control Stations 150     Fuses 151     Load Centers 153     Meter Centers and Sockets 154     Motor Control Center 155     Motor Control Center Components 157     Motor Connections 159     Motors 160     Motor Starters and Controls 161     Contactors 165     Relay 166     Panelboards 167     Panelboard Circuit Breakers 169     Safety Switches 170     Switchboards 172     Substations 174     Control Switches 176     CHAPTER 16 Transformers and Bus Duct 179     Transformers 179     Isolating Panels 180     Bus Duct 182     Bus DuctBusway   100A and Less 184     Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems 186     CHAPTER 17 Power Systems and Capacitors 187     Capacitors 187     Generator Set 188     Automatic and Manual Transfer Switches 190     CHAPTER 18 Lighting 193     Interior Lighting Fixtures 193     Exit and Emergency Lighting 196     Exterior Fixtures 197     Lamps 199     Track Lighting 200     Fixture Whips 201     CHAPTER 19 Electrical Utilities 205     Electric Site Work 205     CHAPTER 20 Special Systems 211     Special Systems 211     Clock Systems 211     Detection Systems 212     Doorbell Systems 214     Electric Heating 215     Lightning Protection 218     Nurses    Call Systems 220     Closed-Circuit TV Systems 222     Residential Wiring 224     CHAPTER 21 Electrical Demolition and Temporary Facilities 229     Defining the Electrical Demolition Scope 230     Electrical Demolition 231     Temporary Facilities 232     CHAPTER 22 Contract Modifications 235     Contract Modifications 235     What Makes Change Orders Different 238     Effects of Overtime 240     CHAPTER 23 Project Closeout 243     The Closeout Process 243     Objectives of the Closeout Process 245     Contract Closeout 245     Administrative Closeout 246     Lessons Learned 246     CHAPTER 24 Computerized Estimating 249     Basic Spreadsheet Programs 250     Stand-Alone Estimating Software 252     Quantity Takeoff Software 253     APPENDIX     Symbols and Abbreviations 255     Trade Specific Symbols 255     Index 265