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Service 06 / 07

Specialist Estimating

Estimating for specialist trades and packages. Each package is measured from its own discipline drawings, with the scope boundary stated and every quantity reviewed.

Output
Package estimate
Workflow
Covers Drawing, Intelligence, Takeoff, BOQ, Estimate, then human review.
M-101 · Level 1 · ventilation layout · Rev BIllustrative Example
Illustrative ventilation layout for a specialist package: the package boundary is marked, the air handling unit connection is by others, and the supply ductwork, five bends, eight grilles and four dampers are taken off, with a revision B marker on the added grilles.2345AHUBY OTHERSPACKAGE M BOUNDARYDU-01BGR-01 × 8DA-01 × 4BENDS × 5M-101 · LEVEL 1 VENTILATION · REV B

Package schedule

Package schedule (illustrative)
RefItemQty
DU-01Ductwork, straight42.50 m
DU-02Bends5 nr
GR-01Supply grilles8 nr
DA-01Volume dampers4 nr
—Plant connectionBy others

Package M · scope boundary recorded

What it does

Discipline-specific measurement for specialist packages

Specialist trades, such as building services, have their own drawings and ways of measuring. Runs, fittings and equipment are measured and counted from the package drawings.

The package scope is stated: what is included, what is by others, and where the boundary sits on the drawings. The estimate is then reviewed against that scope.

SHEETPackage drawings
Discipline drawings read on their own terms
mRuns
Ducts, pipes and cable routes
nrFittings and equipment
Bends, dampers, grilles and units counted
SCOPEScope boundary
Included and by-others items, marked on the drawing
PKGPackage structure
Items grouped within the package
CHECKSpecialist review
Checked against the package scope

Inputs

What we work from

The project's own documents. Core inputs are needed for this service; the others are used where the project has them.

  • Discipline drawings

    Core

    Building services or other package drawings.

  • Specifications

    Core

    Defines components and materials.

  • Equipment schedules

    Where relevant

    Plant, terminals and fittings.

  • Architectural drawings

    Where relevant

    Plans, sections and elevations.

  • Package scope documents

    Where relevant

    Anything that defines the package boundary.

Workflow

Read the discipline, set the boundary, then measure

The scope boundary is fixed on the drawings before any run is measured or fitting counted.

  • Estimator
  • AI-assisted suggestion
  • Controlled calculation
  • Human review
  1. 01

    Drawing

    Read the package drawings

    Discipline sheets are registered by revision.

    Who: Estimator

  2. 02

    Drawing

    Set the scope boundary

    Included and by-others items are marked before measuring.

    Who: Estimator

  3. 03

    Intelligence

    Identify components

    AI-Assisted Drawing Intelligence can suggest symbols and runs for the estimator to confirm.

    Who: AI-assisted suggestion

  4. 04

    Takeoff

    Measure and count

    Runs are measured, and fittings and equipment are counted.

    Who: Estimator

  5. 05

    Estimate

    Build the package estimate

    Items are priced with controlled rates within the package.

    Who: Estimator

  6. 06

    Review

    Specialist review

    The package is checked against its scope and drawings.

    Who: Human review

Deliverable

Package estimate

Package items with their units, quantities and named rates. Each item is marked in scope or by others.

Every output includes

  • Package scope and boundary
  • Measured runs and counted items
  • Quantity and rate reference per item
  • By-others list and review record
PK-01Package estimate
Illustrative Example
Illustrative specialist package schedule
RefItemQtyScope
Package M · Ventilation · M-101 Rev B
DU-01Ductwork, straight42.50mIn
DU-02Bends5nrIn
GR-01Supply grilles8nrIn
DA-01Volume dampers4nrIn
—Air handling unit and plant connection—By others
Illustrative Example — not a real projectSheet 1 of 1

Checked and traceable

Checked against a stated scope

A package estimate can only be reviewed against a boundary that is written down.

Checked before issue

  1. 01Scope boundary recorded on the drawing
  2. 02By-others items listed, not priced
  3. 03Runs and counts checked against the layout
  4. 04Unit suits each component
  5. 05Package reviewed before issue

One line followed back to its source, and one drawing revision handled. Neither is real project data.

Illustrative Example
Trace · package line DU-01
  1. Source

    M-101 · Ventilation layout · Rev B

  2. Run

    Supply duct · grid 2–6

  3. Measurement

    42.50 m

  4. Package line

    DU-01 · Ductwork, straight

  5. Scope

    Inside package M boundary

  6. State

    Reviewed

Revision · GR-01 · Supply grilles

Was 6 nr · Rev A

changed to 8 nr · Rev B

The added grilles are counted and flagged for specialist review.

Specialist Estimating

Measure the package, state the boundary

Specialist packages often sit inside a larger estimate. See how commercial estimating structures a project by trade.

Related services

  • Output · Trade-structured estimate

    Commercial Estimating

    Estimating for commercial building projects, structured by trade and work section.

  • Output · Material schedule

    Material Takeoff

    Material schedules derived from the drawings, listing each material with its unit and quantity.

  • Output · Tender estimate pack

    Tender Estimating

    Quantities and estimates prepared to support tender submissions, with scope assumptions recorded.