What $/Ton Do You Use to Estimate Cost? 1

[Wareagl487]

I get this question all the time - "So what will this system cost me". I don't know anymore. It seems the numbers I am used to using are way out of whack and severely on the low side -

Chilled water - $3,500/Ton
WSHP - $3,000/Ton
DX - $2,500/Ton

I've also used these when estimating on sq. ft basis for office type environment (obtained from a local contractor):

Chilled water - $15/16 sq. ft.
WSHP - $13/14 sq. ft.
DX - $11/12 sq. ft.
Demolition add $1/sq. ft.

I've been tasked to review an estimate based on design development documents I produced for a renovation/expansion to a retirement facility utilizing WSHP's. After churning the numbers I come back with a whopping +$4,500/Ton and +$23/sq. ft.

I'm sure the contractor is padding his numbers a little to cover his butt - even so it seems pretty high.

Anyone got more realistic numbers than I use?

Thanks

Andy W.

 

[gepman]

The costs will depend on the size of the installation with the cost per unit going down with increase in size. Unless you are designing the same types of systems and have a lot of feedback from the architects or owners it is difficult to keep up with costs.

I usually use the RS Means guides. Although everyone may not agree with them, they usually are close enough to get some type of feeling about the cost. The RS Means mechanical cost data book is available at

http://www.rsmeans.com/bookstore/detail.asp?sku=60028

Also it gives you some published backup if the owner or contractor questions your review of the cost.

They have other products (on CD ROM for which you can download updates throughout the year) for products which have been increasing in cost rapidly.

 

[Wareagl487]

Understood the size of a project greatly impacts the $/ton number. But I'm trying to get a handle on larger projects - say 600 tons and greater that would support the use of a chilled water plant. REAL rough numbers.

Andy W.

 

[willard3]

I have observed a 25-30% increase in mechanical system bids in the last 2 or 3 years.

I don't know why either.

 

[AbbyNormal]

VRV is up there with chilled water, by the time you jhave the ventilation worked in

Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[ChrisConley]

Typically I do a detailed take off, I use historical data, the last seven projects of similar size, RS Means 2007, add a decent safetly margin.... then double it.

We're in the middle of the most significant construction boom we've ever seen. Construction prices are moving 15-25% up each year.

I won't even hazard a guess other than to say the mechanical system will cost between $55 and $75 per square foot.