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Contractormag 3064 Smartphone
Contractormag 3064 Smartphone
Contractormag 3064 Smartphone
Contractormag 3064 Smartphone
Contractormag 3064 Smartphone

Software for estimating & calculating

May 5, 2016
The software, which supports onscreen takeoff and has the ability to integrate digitized data, automates much of the estimating process The program performs calculations and extensions automatically and includes multi-level breakouts Plumbing Formulator 5.0 by Multieducator contains 120+ formulas that address pumps, piping, and HVAC calculations Users can create and save favorites and recent formulas and results can be emailed and printed

MEP Estimating is a program by Viewpoint, www.viewpoint.com, tailored to meet the needs of residential and commercial plumbing, mechanical, electrical and HVAC contractors. Three versions are available with escalating capabilities. At heart, it is a database driven digital takeoff package to which a contractor can add pricing of labor and materials and other items.

The software, which supports onscreen takeoff and has the ability to integrate digitized data, automates much of the estimating process. For example, by selecting a specification or pressure class, the user can measure out a duct run and have everything, including material type, gauges, joints, seams, styles, hangers, vanes, wrap and liner automatically selected. If fabricating duct or pipe, all the weight, square footage, material cost, and labor is processed to the shop configuration. Users can customize takeoffs using job-specific dynamic assemblies, and copy, save and re-use them for other areas of the job.

The program performs calculations and extensions automatically and includes multi-level breakouts, comprehensive databases, and reporting functions. The product includes Viewpoint Pricer for on-the-fly access to pricing from preferred suppliers. Viewpoint Pricer provides a column for receiving quotes from various vendors the contractor has emailed for pricing. When vendor quotes come in, the ones the contractor wants to use can be automatically included in the estimate.

The Project Forecast feature is for tracking and updating project status, predicting a profit or loss, and comparison of actual with estimated cost. Using the phase breakouts of the estimate, Project Forecast compares estimated costs with actual costs based on percentage of completion. It takes into account figures such as labor hours and expenses, material costs, and the amount billed to give an accurate view of the projected end result. Status can be updated daily, weekly, monthly or other interval.

MEP Estimating can be integrated into Viewpoint’s ProContractor, a suite of modules, including accounting, designed to help small and mid-sized contractors manage the entire lifecycle of a project, from bid to project completion. Other ProContractor modules include project management; service management; and ProContractor Mobile, which enables users with an iOS, Android, or Windows device to transmit daily reports, equipment usage, photos and voice memos from the field to ProContractor, with all data from the field syncing to the office for date stamping and storage.

Handy apps

Here’s an app for iPhone and iPad that can offer quick, potentially helpful calculations for contractors on the go. The newly updated Plumbing Formulator 5.0 by Multieducator Inc., www.multieducator.net, contains 120+ formulas that address pumps, piping, and HVAC calculations that could be useful for plumbers and HVAC installers in the field. For example, for pumps, it calculates pipe velocity, velocity head, water horsepower, brake horsepower; efficiency; and pressure. For piping, it calculates pipe walls; weights of steel, copper, and cast iron pipes; expansion of pipes; pipe length change due to temperature; piping elbows and gate valves; and total fall. The app can also calculate 45 degree offset.

HVAC calculations include length of pipe; building heat loss; water chilling load; fresh air in room; cooling load in Ls/Tons, and final temperature when two bodies of water are mixed. There are formulas for calculating optimum and volume of water flow, velocity of water, and supply water rate. For installers of water heaters, the app can calculate BTU input, gallons per hour of gas, and domestic daily hot water usage.

A contractor uses the camera to capture photos of locations prone to air and thermal leakage issues.

Users can create and save favorites and recent formulas and results can be emailed and printed. While the app is free, a one-time fee of $2.99 enables upgrade to the “pro” package, which unlocks the underlying formulas and gives access to an online version of International Plumbing Code, including a series of charts, and the U.S. Army’s guides to plumbing.

Here’s a handy app for iPhone, iPad or Android device that is designed to aid in detecting thermal leakage sources through the walls during a walk-thru insulation audit in a home. Working in concert with an accompanying FLIR One thermal imaging camera plug-in, the Owens Corning Comfort Tracker home energy assessment app can help HVAC techs detect anomalies in heat signatures that indicate air and thermal leakage areas that, left unchecked, can lead to increased homeowner heating and cooling bills as well as decreased comfort. (That said, the product is not designed to assess performance in ductwork.)

A contractor uses the camera to capture photos of locations in the home most prone to air and thermal leakage issues. Each location is recorded with both an infrared and a standard photograph. The software analyzes the photos and, using the data in them, can generate detailed geographically tailored product recommendations based on building codes by climate zones. The resulting email-friendly PDF home energy assessment report can be co-branded with company logo and information.

The app is downloadable free from the Apple App Store, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id977480871, and will be available soon on the Android Market. The FLIR One thermal plug-in camera for iPhones and Android can be purchased from FLIR at http://www.flir.com/flirone/display/?id=69324.

Bill and Patti Feldman write articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. They can be reached at [email protected]

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