How do you take off a project where mc is not allowed.

[bgelectric]

Does anyone have an efficient/effective way to take off conduit runs for estimating.
Im trying to avoid seperating all the runs by circuit and conduit fill as it is time consuming.
For me this is the only way I understand to do it accurately.
Although I imagine there are folks that have come up with creative yet effective/accurate methods.

 

[Strathead]

It often depends on the plans. For me, I honestly usually just draw lines on the plans and roll it off, but if it is an average density office with 8-10 foot ceilings, I may use 15 feet of 1/2" with 3 conductors (hot, neut, gnd) for each receptacle, and then count the number of home runs combine 3 to a conduit, enter an assembly with conduit and wire at distance with a junction box for each home run. Same home run thing for fixtures, with 8-10 feet of conduit per fixtures, and 12' per switch, I then rool the 3 ways and use 4 wire conduti connection. Quick and easy.

 

[bgelectric]

The plans im looking at are for a retail store with an open ceiling with tons of lights.
The circuits are all over the place.

 

[Strathead]

The plans im looking at are for a retail store with an open ceiling with tons of lights.
The circuits are all over the place.

I really think that you should draw conduits, and roll it. As you do more of them you will develop shortcuts that work for you. It is an estimate. Rolling doesn't really take that long, just use a roller that you can add the drop lengths, or draw a scale line on the plans.

 

[cdslotz]

Laying it out is the only way I'm comfortable doing a takeoff.
I usually start from the farthest point from the panel and work my way back, laying out homeruns (taking to account, voltage drop, derating, mwbc's), then drops to recepts, switch legs, picking up extra J-boxes as needed.

Yes.....accurate estimating is time consuming. Commercial estimating is a full time job. Lots of nights and weekends.

It's the only way to determine your cost.

 

[kyled86]

Roller?

Roller?

I really think that you should draw conduits, and roll it. As you do more of them you will develop shortcuts that work for you. It is an estimate. Rolling doesn't really take that long, just use a roller that you can add the drop lengths, or draw a scale line on the plans.

I bet this really makes me sound like an over-acheiver but what is a roller? I normally use a scale ruler, a pencil, and a calculator.

 

[jusme123]

I bet this really makes me sound like an over-acheiver but what is a roller? I normally use a scale ruler, a pencil, and a calculator.

this is a digital one. Set the drawings scale into the device ,( example 1/8" = 1') than just roll along lines on prints or where you plan to run conduit and it gives you footage as you roll

 

[Strathead]

I bet this really makes me sound like an over-acheiver but what is a roller? I normally use a scale ruler, a pencil, and a calculator.

Someone else answered your direct question, but using a scale wheel is a little less accurate, but a must for rolling off a lot of runs. A scale ruler is good for dimensions, single runs, and I will often use one, when the scale is really small like 30 to 1