Means Mechanical Cost Data

Means Mechanical Cost Data
Name	Means Mechanical Cost Data
Publisher	Reed Construction Data; later CN Johnson Company
Firstdate	1942
Country	United States
Language	English

Means Mechanical Cost Data

Means Mechanical Cost Data is a published cost estimating reference used in United States construction, Canada, and international projects, serving estimators, engineers, contractors, and facility managers. The title functions alongside other industry works and organizations such as RSMeans, Associated General Contractors of America, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and American Institute of Architects as a standard resource for mechanical system pricing, labor, and material allowances. It is widely cited by firms, municipal agencies, and educational programs including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University in curricula and procurement guidelines.

Overview and Purpose

Means Mechanical Cost Data provides cost information for mechanical trades including piping, plumbing, HVAC, and fire protection for use by professionals at firms such as Turner Construction Company, Bechtel, AECOM, and Jacobs Engineering Group. The publication supports project planning, budgeting, and bid preparation used by owners like General Services Administration and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and by consulting firms including Arup and WSP Global. It complements standards and codes maintained by bodies such as International Code Council, Underwriters Laboratories, and National Fire Protection Association.

History and Publication Format

Originally developed in the mid-20th century, the work evolved alongside trade journals and publishers including McGraw-Hill, Engineering News-Record, and Dodge Data & Analytics. The publication format has transitioned from annual print volumes distributed through distributors like Barnes & Noble and professional bookstores to digital subscriptions hosted by companies such as Gordian and data platforms used by firms like Procore Technologies and Autodesk. Editions have been cited in court matters and agency procurement manuals from entities like U.S. Department of Defense, New York City Department of Buildings, and California Division of the State Architect.

Data Scope and Content

Content covers unit costs, assemblies, installed equipment prices, and productivity factors for components specified by manufacturers like Carrier Global Corporation, Trane Technologies, Johnson Controls, Honeywell International, and Siemens. Entries include labor hours, material lists, and common subcontractor markups relevant to projects by developers such as Related Companies and Hines Interests Limited Partnership. The scope spans residential, commercial, and industrial work encountered by practitioners in firms like Skanska, Fluor Corporation, and Kiewit Corporation and referenced in municipal standards from City of Chicago and King County, Washington.

Methodology and Cost Estimation Techniques

Estimating techniques combine data-gathering methods used by associations such as National Institute of Building Sciences and standards bodies like ISO with trade-survey approaches employed by publishers including Dodge Data & Analytics and RSMeans. Methodology references manufacturer catalogs from Grundfos, Honeywell, and Apollo Valves, labor wage data from sources such as Bureau of Labor Statistics, and regional adjustment factors used by state agencies like Texas Department of Transportation. Techniques include unit-cost assembly modeling, parametric estimating like that used in Monte Carlo methods-based risk analyses by consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company and productivity benchmarking invoked by Lean Construction Institute.

Applications in Construction and Engineering

Users apply the data in estimating for projects by contractors like Gilbane Building Company and Mortenson Construction, for facility upgrades by institutions such as Harvard University and University of California, and for public works overseen by agencies including Federal Highway Administration and Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The data is incorporated into estimating software produced by firms like Sage Group, Trimble Inc., and Oracle Construction and Engineering and used in BIM workflows alongside tools from Autodesk Revit and Graphisoft. It informs lifecycle cost studies referenced in reports from National Renewable Energy Laboratory and retrofit plans used by U.S. General Services Administration.

Licensing, Access, and Updates

Access is provided through annual subscriptions, digital platforms offered by publishers related to entities like Gordian and institutional licenses used by universities such as Stanford University and municipal libraries like New York Public Library. Updates align with market shifts reported by trade media including Mechanical Contractor and regulatory changes from bodies like Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. Licensing agreements often involve enterprise contracts negotiated with companies such as CBRE Group and JLL, and procurement follows purchasing procedures used by organizations like NASA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Category:Construction cost estimating