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Estimating & Planning Man Hours

12 replies [Last post]
Thu, 2019-01-17 12:54
William Dwyer
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Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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Hi,

I've recently taken a job as an Estimator/Project Planner for a Mechanical & Civil Engineering Contractor. 

I'm developing estimates and project schedules from 1st Principles and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good 'rule-of-thumb' guidebook for manhours that I can use to cross-check against my own production rates.

Specifically I'm looking for a book that will detail manhours for activities such as pipe welding, pipe fitting, flange fitting, valve fittings etc. I'm also looking for manhour information on general civil activities such as trench excavation, bulk excavation etc.

Appreciate any help you can provide. 

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Replies

Mon, 2019-01-28 15:04
#1
Siarhei Trubila
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Joined: 25 Jul 2018
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Hi William.

I've got some books (Spon's Civil engineering, MEP and Architects). I can send you these pricebooks in pdf format if it appropriates for you. I can easily find essential activities and compare these rates with your own calculation.

Sergey.

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Mon, 2019-01-21 06:56
#2
Angelito Estrella
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Joined: 15 Nov 2008
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Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, Pinoy Planning Planet Community, TURNAROUND & SHUTDOWN (T/A & S/D)

Hi Sir William! whats your email add??

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Mon, 2019-01-21 06:55
#3
Angelito Estrella
User offline. Last seen 1 year 39 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 16
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, Pinoy Planning Planet Community, TURNAROUND & SHUTDOWN (T/A & S/D)

Hi Sir William! whats your email add??

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Fri, 2019-01-18 14:00
#4
bryc ali
User offline. Last seen 2 years 12 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 3 Nov 2009
Posts: 43
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas

It's the same thing for piping erection, we use Inch-meter, for exemple a pipe of 6Inch and 3 meters = 18 Inch-meters but for this 18 I.M it's possible to weld a joint of 6 ID but with different thikness. I thing that the best unit is IDC inch dimater corrected is a method to convert each diameter compared to a standard thikness for exemple 6 Inch standard epaisseur is 9.53 mm joint=6IDC but 6 Inch with 14.27mm joint = 6ID  * (14.27mm/9.53mm) = 8.98 ID 

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Fri, 2019-01-18 12:39
#5
Zoltan Palffy
User offline. Last seen 7 weeks 6 days ago. Offline
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 3089
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you have

RSMeans

Costdataonline - formerly Richardson

fast-inc

mep.trimble.com

quotesoft 

mccormicks

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Fri, 2019-01-18 10:31
#6
Anoon Iimos
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Joined: 22 Sep 2006
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Groups: Pinoy Planning Planet Community
Bill, for me, the rule of thumb is: There Is No Rule Of Thumb. Why? For Example: In Piping Works you may use "Inch-Dia" for calculating fabrication works for piping spools. While during erection and hydrotests, you may use "Inch-Meter". The unit "Inch-Dia" perse only represents the number of joints and diameter of pipes for a certain spool but cannot reveal the thickness and the type of pipes. In other words, these so-called specific units are just tools for "Guesstimates". Welding works depends on how many passes you need to make and you may need to grind before you can make another pass.
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Fri, 2019-01-18 08:36
#7
William Dwyer
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Joined: 17 Jan 2019
Posts: 5
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Thanks for your comments Anoon.

I understand what you are saying. The only way to get truly accurate manhour figures is to be very specific to the site and the task. I have already carried out this task and I have prepared very detailed manhours specific to the job I'm working on but I would like a general 'rule-of-thumb' just to cross-check what I have prepared to make sure I'm in the ballpark with my calculations. 

 

Dimitrios,

Thanks for your suggestion. I have located the book on Amazon. I also tracked down a number of books by John S Page with manhours. The books seem to be a little dated. Do you have any experience with his work and is it relevant?

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Fri, 2019-01-18 08:35
#8
William Dwyer
User offline. Last seen 5 years 46 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jan 2019
Posts: 5
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Thanks for your comments Anoon.

I understand what you are saying. The only way to get truly accurate manhour figures is to be very specific to the site and the task. I have already carried out this task and I have prepared very detailed manhours specific to the job I'm working on but I would like a general 'rule-of-thumb' just to cross-check what I have prepared to make sure I'm in the ballpark with my calculations. 

 

Dimitrios,

Thanks for your suggestion. I have located the book on Amazon. I also tracked down a number of books by John S Page with manhours. The books seem to be a little dated. Do you have any experience with his work and is it relevant?

Top
Fri, 2019-01-18 08:35
#9
William Dwyer
User offline. Last seen 5 years 46 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jan 2019
Posts: 5
Groups: None

Thanks for your comments Anoon.

I understand what you are saying. The only way to get truly accurate manhour figures is to be very specific to the site and the task. I have already carried out this task and I have prepared very detailed manhours specific to the job I'm working on but I would like a general 'rule-of-thumb' just to cross-check what I have prepared to make sure I'm in the ballpark with my calculations. 

 

Dimitrios,

Thanks for your suggestion. I have located the book on Amazon. I also tracked down a number of books by John S Page with manhours. The books seem to be a little dated. Do you have any experience with his work and is it relevant?

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Fri, 2019-01-18 04:53
#10
Anoon Iimos
User offline. Last seen 2 years 49 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1422
Groups: Pinoy Planning Planet Community
Too many books and too many options and conditions and maybe different in every specific scenario. Hence, no one can be a master of all disciplines. A bulk excavation is not as simple as it is. First you need to conduct soil analysis, boring tests etc. Which of course have its own production rates as well. After that, you'll need to construct ramps, slope protection, side cave-in protection, and perhaps sheet pilings etc. etc..which of course have their own unique production rates as well. Realistic production rates can only be derived after Engineering and specific method statements have been set or put in place.
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Thu, 2019-01-17 21:55
#11
bryc ali
User offline. Last seen 2 years 12 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 3 Nov 2009
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Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas

Could you give us a link to download it from the web ?

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Thu, 2019-01-17 16:49
#12
Dimitrios Theocha...
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Joined: 12 Jun 2014
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Hi

 

Look for  SPON’S CONSTRUCTION RESOURCE HANDBOOK by BRYAN SPAIN diificult to fing in hard copy but i bellieve it is available in Amazon Kindle format.

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