NECA Manual of Labor Units

[ddjohnson]

I am estimating a job which includes installing 3" rigid steel conduit in a 18" deep trench to be encased in concrete. Using NECA Manual of Labor Units, section 2 - Conduit, Raceways, Fittings & Related Items, "Rigid Steel Conduit with Threaded Couplings.

For 3" size, I used the 20.00 labor units per 100' (c).
Another estimator in my office indicated that this is wrong. He indicated that he researched RSMeans Costworks 2006 and found a line item for 3" rigid steel in trench that had a labor unit of .100 per LF - which is 10.00 labor units per 100'. Also he indicates that NECA MLU is refering to conduit install in a building up to 15' high and that's why it is 20 vs. 10.

Is this true or not?

 

[mdshunk]

Don't know if it's true or not, but installing conduit in a trench (for me) is just as difficult and time consuming as installing that same conduit up to 15' in the air.

 

[ddjohnson]

I beg to differ. Installing conduit in a building involves hangers, rods, supports etc., whereas installing in a trench only involves laying the conduit on chairs.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

Don't know if it's true or not, but installing conduit in a trench (for me) is just as difficult and time consuming as installing that same conduit up to 15' in the air.

Your joking, right?

 

[mdshunk]

Your joking, right?

Nope. I hate dirt work.

 

[ed downey]

Yes, he is correct. I do not believe that the NECA manual of Labor Units shows underground installation of anything except PVC conduit and for that you need to look in a different section then the one that lists the standard conduit above grade.
-Ed

 

[kingpb]

Just out of curiosity, what is the circuit for, that it requires RGS conduit, encased in concrete?

 

[ddjohnson]

It's for a communication/audio system for a large adutorium.