A duct takeoff is an important part of the HVAC system. It is used to transfer air from the central duct to the branch ducts. It is essential to install a takeoff correctly to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.
An accurate HVAC takeoff can save you time and money by reducing the amount of material you need to order. It can also help you make a more accurate estimate of labor costs.
Sheet metal and mechanical takeoffs
Sheet metal and mechanical contractors can use a digital construction takeoff process to prepare accurate estimates, proposals and quotations. It involves studying plans, specifications and related customer documents. This takes up to two days for an average project. Using the right tool for mechanical estimating and sheet metal takeoff reduces the time it takes to complete projects. Trimble’s Autobid Sheet Metal software is a sheet metal contractor’s best choice for estimating. It combines advanced productivity features, including automatic pipe and fitting generation, specification driven and customizable databases. This software also helps to streamline the process by automatically determining item properties.
The first step of the construction takeoff process is to create a comprehensive list of all the portions of material required for a project. This includes both quantity and dimensions of each set. The second step is to apply pricing to each item. The result is a detailed cost estimate of the entire project. This can be difficult, but it’s necessary to avoid overcharging or undercharging.
An accurate takeoff is crucial to winning a bid. A poorly executed takeoff can lead to overestimating, which can cause a project to lose money or overspend its budget. Whether you’re a small general contractor or an enterprise, an accurate takeoff will help you win more business by increasing your chances of winning the bid.
Digital takeoffs
Using digital takeoff software, contractors can save time and money by streamlining the process of estimating construction materials. This type of software allows estimators to measure distances, dimensions, and surfaces on a digital blueprint, generating a list of required building materials. Then, the software can apply a price to each item on the list based on the supplier’s pricing data. This helps to ensure that the contractor’s final estimate includes accurate cost and labor estimates.
Traditionally, contractors used manual measurement methods to perform their takeoffs. This involved reading and analyzing a blueprint, calculating measurements, and then inputting this information into spreadsheets. These types of calculations can be extremely time-consuming, especially if an estimator is working on a large project. And, as we all know, even a single error can snowball into costly project delays and overruns.
With digital takeoffs, contractors can use a computer with a stable internet connection to upload a digital blueprint and instantly calculate measurement results. This is much faster than the manual method, and it eliminates the need for a large number of printed blueprints that are often lost or damaged. Moreover, digital takeoff software is easy to update, which means that estimators can keep their takeoffs current with any changes made to the blueprint. This significantly reduces the risk of costly mistakes and enables estimators to finish their takeoffs more quickly.
Ductwork takeoffs
The ductwork system in your home or business is critical to keeping the air clean and free of germs. This is why it is important to ensure that the ductwork is properly designed to meet your needs. Ducts can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, wood and foam. In addition, they can be insulated to reduce energy costs.
In a typical forced air HVAC system, the main duct branches into subsidiary ducts, which then give the air to various openings in the building. The movement of air from the mother duct into the subsidiary ones is aided by fittings called takeoffs. These fittings are stationed in circular or rectangular holes drilled into the subsidiary ducts. There are different types of takeoffs, including round, square-to-round, and hex-to-square.
A hex-to-square takesoff has a larger diameter opening, which allows for better air flow. The hex-to-square can also be used with a rectangular-to-round duct, which provides a combination of cost-effectiveness and airflow performance.
It is important to keep the high and low side duct takeoffs separate, as their fabrication will require different labor. The reason for this is that the ducts may have to be fabricated at different pressure classifications. This will impact the duct size and materials needed to fabricate them. A computerized estimating software tool can help you make sure that your ductwork is sized correctly.
Plenum takeoffs
Plenums are the air distribution boxes that connect your HVAC equipment to the ductwork in your home or building. They distribute conditioned air throughout the entire space, and they also provide a return path for unconditioned air back to the HVAC system.
When pressurized air comes up against a takeoff for a branch runout, the turbulent flow stops and smooths out. Technically, this causes the pressure to drop. The air then needs to re-pressurize for it to continue down the runout. This takes about 24’ or two feet. Therefore, it’s recommended that you stagger a takeoff a minimum of 18 to 24’ on center from another one.
The supply plenum is located at the very beginning of your ductwork. It’s connected to the supply outlet of your heating and cooling units, furnaces, or heat pumps. The supply plenum is where an air filter is usually found.
A system supply plenum supplies all of the zones in a multi-zone system. It’s located either on top of the AHU or AC coil in an up-flow configuration, or below them in a down-flow configuration. It’s usually fitted with a ductwork connection that leads to all of the zones in the house. It may also have a ductwork connection that leads to one diffuser or grille. There are several different types of duct takeoffs available in the market, from those made with scrap sheet metal to those that use a tab-in side collar or sheet metal elbow. However, the HETO, or High-Efficiency Takeoff, is a favorite among many professionals. It’s designed with a rectangular-to-round opening that allows for easy airflow entry. It also has a gasketed flange for duct mounting and a preinstalled balancing damper.