Fire sprinkler system takeoffs 1

[jrk7490]

I have been asked to perform take-offs for a proposed church in New Jersey as soon as the approved shop drawings are returned to the contractor for the engineer of record.
I have produced shopdrawings several times but my main experienceis in the design engineering side however,I never performed take-offs.
I quickly found myself at a stand still on account of the many different requirement descriptions regarding takeoffs.

Does anyone have knowledge of any set standard on exactly what the required contents are to be considered a complete takeoff?

Meaning exactly what is incuded? Is takeoffs just another name for material list? Iscost estimationinvolved? Etc.

 

[trashcanman]

Yes, takeoffs is another name for a material list. The takeoff is used to purchase the required material for the project. I presume you are speaking of fire sprinkler takeoffs. Start at the riser (where the contract begins) and go from there. When I did it, I would arrange the pipe lengths to be approx. 22' (your contractor may want 20') and as few cuts as possible. The lengths would have welded stub-outs at the branches. You must include the dimensions between end of run (22 or 20') and the branch, so the spool piece can be fabricated. If threaded, include take-outs for threads. Include all valves, hangers, heads, fittings and whatever else is required to build it. Question: If you are not the Contractor, why are you producing the takeoff?

 

[jrk7490]

Thank you trashcanman. Yes. It is a fire sprinkler system for a church of new construction.
I am a sole proprietor plumbing and fire protection design engineer in addition to closing my 2yr term as VP Legislative for the newly formed Long Island, NY chapter for which I am also a founding member.
As for your inquiry of my involvment in producing take-offs is; I haven't a clue. I have been on the design and engineering side since 1982 with the exception of the last 9 to 10 years. After 911, I couldn't land a fulltime position, as like 10's of 1,000's of other designers and engineers. This si when I decided to freelance which I started to land some nice projects. Soon after I noticed I couldn't but notice that approx 75% of my services were going to the contractor side in lieu of the engineering side.The more services I provided for the contractor sector made me realize an alarming fact. I use the word alarming because the fact in question did notiong less then prove to myself how little of this trade I actually knew. Here in NY, in so many words, is from the other side of the tracks. Pre 911 I landed, on a regular basis, projects like New Roc Towers (34 story mixed-use), one of two towers in Yonkers, NY named City Center, etc. Prjects that many 40-50 person firms weren't even getting. As of late, meaning post Hurricane Sandy is where the most respected and followed requirement in our industry just upped and disappeared. On occassion when it tried to show it's face is nothing less then ignored and disrespected. The name this requirement went by was called "ETHICS". This is the primary reason why I find myself, like many others find themselves doing. I say this not because their is no design or engineering work,I say this because where there is design/engineering work the sickening realization is that the asst manager position at Wendy's nets more then designers with 10-15yrs under their belt. Unfortunately, only the individuals who are forced to endure the under payment being offered for there services, actually see this whole picture from the front row (sort-of-speak). The crary part of this is that it seems to be getting worse by more the small through the conglomerate size firms are ju8mping on this band wagon which the only definition I can give is nothing less than taking advatage of the industry'scurrent position and the state of the economy as a whole. An incident which surfaced as recent as 1.5 weeks ago, I landed a seemingly solid clien (engineer) which forward me requests for fee proposal's at a paceof at least two plus per week wnd awarded all but 3 in the past 6 months. The week before last was insane because I found myself working into a position where 7 deadlines occured in one week. By Thursday at approx 4pm IO submitted the sixth submission with one to go and 6 other active projects 95%complete. But when instrucvted to submit the 7th which required min. 2-2.5 work days by friday at noon I stated the impossibility mainly because i was endinga 38hr stretch. My client's reply was "evermind, I'kll do it myself. From this point on do not work an any projects". Two hours later a recieved via email a notice of termination and an offer of $300.00 which will be paid upon the reciept of the letter with my signature on it. Well, you have your answer and I do apologize for the length but as you see there is no short version that can offer its due diligence.