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Estimating Conduit

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SFSSCCTV

Member
Hi,
Can someone give me an idea as to the best way to calculate installing conduit. I will be running it in a parking garage.
Is there a standard formula to use as a guide line or software that can do this?

I read somewhere that they use 6 to 8 hours per 100 feet. Is this a good formula?
I assume that this would take into consideration a average amount of bends.
Also would there be a difference with the size of the conduit say from 3/4 to 1-1/4

Thanks in advance
 
mdshunk

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
I've never really kept track of pipe production for a parking garage. The question "how many feet of pipe can a man run in a day" really has no right answer. In an open ditch or a big open warehouse area, you could really put up a heck of a lot of pipe. Get into an office area or a crowded old-work situation, and the production will drop way, way down.

In this parking deck, I'm assuming you're talking about PVC inside the pour? Or, are you casting Kindorf in the pour to run EMT on the surface? In either case, I'd think it would be closer to 400 feet a man/day as an off the cuff guesstimate.
 
celtic

celtic

Senior Member
Location
NJ
SFSSCCTV said:
Is there a standard formula to use as a guide line or software that can do this?
Click to expand...
There is always software that you can buy:grin:
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING ANY ESTIMATING SOFTWARE




SFSSCCTV said:
I read somewhere that they use 6 to 8 hours per 100 feet. Is this a good formula?
Click to expand...
Not really:confused:

I'm sure someone could put up 100' of 1/2" EMT on a straight block wall, at 48" AFF, using all set screw fittings and plastic anchors with one-hole straps a lot faster than someone could put up 100' of 4" RMC on a ceiling, at 35' AFF, using all threaded couplings, with multiple bends, etc etc etc.

That it why that forumla is NFG.


SFSSCCTV said:
I assume that this would take into consideration a average amount of bends.
Click to expand...
What is an "average" amount?

One bend on a piece of 4" RMC will take longer than one bend on a piece of 1/2" EMT.

I would assume any estimating allows for "minimal" bends...limited to box-offsets on the smaller trade sizes....all other bends need to factored in ~ as best as possible ....that's why it's called an "estimate" :smile:

SFSSCCTV said:
Also would there be a difference with the size of the conduit say from 3/4 to 1-1/4
Click to expand...
Sure there would!
Bends for starters will take longer with the 1.25" than the .75"...keeping within the "same" family of conduits.

I'm looking at 2 different estimating programs...
Comparing 3/4" EMT to 1 1/4" EMT, both installed in EXPOSED areas, not more than 10' AFF...
One shows:
100' 3/4" EMT @ 4.00 manhours
100 1 1/4" EMT @ 6.00 manhours

The other shows:
100' 3/4" EMT @ 5.00 manhours
100' 1 1/4" EMT @ 6.20 manhours

NEITHER includes:
- bends (other than "minimal")
- connectors, couplings or other fittings
- fasteners
- supervision
..basically, just the pipe :cool:
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
There's too many variables to give you a solid answer.

What size & type of pipe (EMT? Rigid? PVC?)
What are you attaching it to? (Steel beams, concrete?)
How are you attaching it? (Caddy clips? Hilti powder-actuated? Hammer drill?)
How high will this need to be? (10'? 15'? 20'?)
How will you get to that heighth? (scaffold? ladder? lift?)
How many people are installing it? (1? 2? 3?)
Is the parking garage open for business (are you going to have to deal with traffic and parked cars?)
Are these long runs, or for lighting so they're rather short runs between boxes?
 
T

Tiger Electrical

Senior Member
Location
Northern Illinois
If you have a lot of trouble estimating, it's better to stay home and go hungry than to work and go hungry. Better to bid a little high than a little low. Try the 1/2 day or whole day method and always round up. It's a little more accurate than the WAG method. How long is this going to take you within 1/2 day?...round up. Multiply by your hourly rate and round up. What material are you going to use?...round up. Add your profit and round up. Include travel time, setup & cleanup time, office time, invoice & collection time, etc. The reason I recommend rounding up is that it's so typical to underestimate and lose profit. If you have trouble estimating, all that rounding up may be the only chance you have at making a profit.

Otherwise, it's much more accurate to figure out how much time & material, overhead & profit is involved in each section of the job. How long is it going to take to get around that beam, how long to hang that box, how long to pull wires? Then add all the sections together for a price.You need to figure the design first & know what size pipe you're using.

Keep track of completed jobs. Nothing is more accurate than your own database of jobs you've completed. This way you may lose on one job, but you won't keep repeating the mistake and continue losing money.

Dave
 
S

satcom

Senior Member
Running conduit in a parking garage, offers it own set of problems, first consider the working conditions, also check the restrictions on. what, and where you can bore holes. depending on construction material, Well planned placement of expansion fittings, and you best check the cost of these fittings before you bid.
 
2

220/221

Senior Member
Location
AZ
Whatever you do, size it BIG.

Your CCTV cable does NOT like to be pulled in conduit and puts up one heck of a struggle.
 
quogueelectric

quogueelectric

Senior Member
Location
new york
Is this parking lot

Is this parking lot

A concrete plank or poured concrete or a fillagree half poured lot. It makes a huge diference when you are on the job if it is fillgree. If you can throw the pvc in as fast as you can you can make a fortune. If you miss the pour you may as well throw your money out of the window. good idea to spray the diferent systems with different colored paint to keep it straight. Red fire alarm blue normal orange emergency green any other system cameras security always loop sysems together with a couple of extra pipe runs in case you lose a couple of pipes in the pour. Use pvc cutters heavy gloves and a can of glue. stay clear of the crane operator especially if his last name is mcgoo. There is never a good reason for you to be under a crane load. Ever.
 
J

Joe Villani

Senior Member
Location
Westchester County NY
Estimating Conduit

Why not try subbing it out to an electrical contractor.

Have him supply all the pipe and wire, so you can just do the terminations.

This is done all the time with FA, heating controls, etc.

If you are not equipped, and used to doing this type of work, you can lose your shirt very quickly.


Joe Villani
 
GilbeSpark

GilbeSpark

Senior Member
Location
NC
Joe Villani said:
Why not try subbing it out to an electrical contractor.

Have him supply all the pipe and wire, so you can just do the terminations.

This is done all the time with FA, heating controls, etc.

If you are not equipped, and used to doing this type of work, you can lose your shirt very quickly.


Joe Villani
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. That way you can keep track of time and material so you'll be better prepared for the next job. Make a few bucks while learning a bit...can't beat it!
 
e57

e57

Senior Member
Location
San Francisco, CA
This one is a "feel" thing....

How do your crew 'feel' about conduit? Since you're asking they don't do much of it. Otherwise 480sparky has the best answer here so far IMO in terms of working conditions, pipe size etc...

I have run crews that can run pipe, and ones that I have to bend it for them and throw it to them to install. A crew who can run pipe is the best! Ones who are going to treat the whole job as some sort of OJT is another story, and a bid/big $$$ looser IMO.

Years ago I used a blue book to price with labor units for conduit on trapeze, the trapeze itself, height of said trapeze etc. But what it came down to was 'I can make 4 guys do that in two days, and I need that much in material' - That said, I knew the 4 guys, and knew I could make 'em do it in 2 days, and knew I would need this or that in material... And if I did not see a light at the end of the tunnel at day one - it was time to step on the throttle of those 4 guys and make sure it was done in 2 days.... Get the drift????? If I knew the next crew would take 6 days - doing the same job - bid at least 6 days... There are guys who pipe, and there are those who don't - they have to think about it too much, and lack the direction to do it faster.

-----------------------------------------------
That said - If you give me the six day crew, by the second job they are going to be doing it in two - or quit. Which has happened...
 
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