Construction Codebooks > RS Means Estimating Guides > 2012 RS Means Mechanical Cost Data 35th Edition

Without a cost guide, you are going to leave some things out and get other things wrong. This is where the RS Means Mechanical Cost Data reference comes in. It's your key to effective bidding and profitable projects whenever you're doing building mechanical systems.

The 2012 RS Means Mechanical Cost Data enables you to handle every kind of mechanical estimating problem. Use it for:

• Feasibility Studies. Make accurate price comparisons between various mechanical components or entire systems.
• Labor Cost Data. Use the detailed labor cost, equipment, and productivity information for project scheduling purposes.
• Analyzing Costs Better. Serving the triple functions of designing, estimating, and checking, this manual helps you compare project costs in clear, easy-to-use terms.

• Thousands of unit and assemblies costs for almost every mechanical need.
• City Cost Indexes and Location Factors for over 930 U.S. and Canadian locations.
• Equipment rental costs.
• Crew sizes, labor hours, and labor rates.
• Detailed reference information.
• Square foot costs.

• FREE RS Means Hotline: Personalized help in using RS Means cost data effectively in your estimating.
• FREE email subscription to the RS Means quarterly update service online newsletter - a comprehensive report on market indicators and construction price trends.

From the Foreword

Since 1942, RS Means has been actively engaged in construction cost publishing and consulting throughout North America. Today, more than 65 years after RS Means began, our primary objective remains the same: to provide you, the construction and facilities professional, with the most current and comprehensive construction cost data possible. Whether you are a contractor, owner, architect, engineer, facilities manager, or anyone else who need a reliable construction cost estimate, you’ll find this publication to be a highly useful and necessary tool.

With the constant flow of new construction methods and materials today, it’s difficult to find the time to look at and evaluate all the different construction cost possibilities. In addition, because labor and material costs keep changing, last year’s cost information is not a reliable basis for today’s estimate or budget. That’s why so many construction professionals turn to RS Means. We keep track of the costs for you, along with a wide range of other key information, from city cost indexes, to productivity rates, to crew composition, to contractor’s overhead and profit rates.

RS Means performs these functions by collecting data from all facets of the industry and organizing it in a format that is instantly accessible to you. From the preliminary budget to the detailed unit price estimate, you’ll find the data in this book useful for all phases of construction cost determination.

• 1: General Requirements.
• 2: Existing Conditions.
• 3: Concrete.
• 4: Masonry.
• 5: Metals.
• 6: Wood, Plastics and Composites.
• 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection.
• 8: Openings. 9: Finishes.
• 10: Specialties.
• 11: Equipment.
• 13: Special Construction.
• 14: Conveying Equipment.
• 22: Plumbing.
• 23: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning.
• 26: Electrical.
• 28: Electronic Safety and Security.
• 31. Earthwork.
• 32: Exterior Improvements.
• 33: Utilities.
• 44: Pollution Control Equipment.
• 46. Water and Wastewater Equipment.

Assemblies:

• A: Substructure.
• D: Services.
• G: Building Sitework.

Reference Information:

• Equipment Rental Costs.
• Crews. Cost Indexes.
• Reference Tables.
• Square Foot Costs.
• Abbreviations.

1. Define the scope. Your estimate needs to be for a specific scope of work. Be sure your estimate articulates and defines this clearly so everyone understands exactly what's being estimated.
2. Use a good cost data source. Well, here you are looking at the RS Means. You've got this one nailed.
3. Don't include general "fudge factors." Include specific ones. For example, calculate the exact cost of a bad weather day. Then estimate how many such days are likely to occur. That's your bad weather cost estimate, not some arbitrary number like 10%.
4. List constraints. These include time constraints, access issues, and anything else that might cause delays, produce extra work, or require additional resources. In a separate section of your estimate, include a cost breakdown of these. You won't need this information for the purposes of submitting a bid, but you will need it for purposes of risk assessment, project management, and T&C negotiations.
5. Include testing and adjustment in your estimate. Cost over-runs are often due to failure to properly test as the work progresses.
6. Don't forget daily mobilization and start-up costs.