Mechanical Estimating
Pricing a mechanical package: pipework, ductwork, plant and the ancillaries that hide inside a rate.
Ask about this courseThe essentials
- Format
- Written and self-paced. No schedule, no deadline.
- Length
- 6 sections, 21 lessons
- Level
- No estimating experience assumed
- Access
- Permanent when bought outright. On a subscription, for as long as it runs.
- Standards
- UK contract forms, UK practice and sterling throughout
- Software
- None required
Where mechanical rates come apart
A pipework rate holds until the fittings density moves. Insulation and ancillaries get folded into a rate nobody rebuilt when the drawing changed. Plant is scheduled but the associated work is not. The estimate is only as good as the assumptions underneath it, and most of them are never written down.
What you will be able to do
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- structure a mechanical take-off that survives a drawing revision
- build and defend a labour rate rather than inheriting one
- price plant and specialist packages without absorbing their risk
- assemble and check a tender before it goes out
What it covers
- Reading a mechanical package — drawings, symbols, specifications and scope gaps
- Take-offs: pipework and fittings, ductwork and ventilation, plant and equipment schedules, insulation and ancillaries
- A full worked example on a small commercial unit
- Labour norms, material pricing and discounts, and specialist packages
- Preliminaries, overheads, risk and qualifications, and the review before submission
Enrol on Mechanical Estimating
Bought once and kept permanently, with revisions included.
Common questions
Who is it for?
Trainee estimators, quantity surveyors moving into building services, and tradespeople moving into estimating.
How long does it take?
There is no fixed length. It is 21 written lessons across 6 sections, and most people work through it over a few weeks alongside the job rather than in one sitting.
Is there a certificate, and does it count towards CPD?
No to both. This is training material, not a qualification, and it is not accredited by any awarding body. If you need a certificate for a professional requirement, this will not provide one.
How long do I keep access?
That depends how you buy. Bought outright, this course is yours permanently — one payment, no renewal, and revisions are included. On a subscription that covers it, you keep access for as long as the subscription runs, and access ends when you cancel.
