in Accubid Enterprise refers to different variables which, when activated, affect the installation of various materials such as pipe, valves, and fittings.

Several attribute options allow specific automatic takeoff to be performed when taking off an item. Pipe may require several options depending on the specification, location of the work within the job, and preferences of the company doing the takeoff.

Automatics add elements or parts to a takeoff based on the item being taken off.

Fig. 2

When an automatic option is checked, it indicates specific additional items will be taken off with the main item. In the example above, Hangers, Insulation, and Joints will be added to a pipe takeoff. It is important to note: all the options must be defined in the current specification for the chosen items to be resolved correctly.

Automatic Cuts is used primarily with a digitizer board. Activating this feature allows one cut per segment of pipe. For example, if the standard length of pipe you’re taking off is 21’ long and the segment you’ve taken off is 25 feet, then one cut will be accounted for. Alternatively, if you choose to not activate Automatic Cuts, you have the ability to count your pipe cuts separately. Please note this feature is not available in LiveCount at this time.

When handling Insulation, Joints, Paint, and Tracing, it is important to note that any of the materials for which these Automatics are checked must be in the active specification to which they belong. For example, you will get a resolution error if you have Insulation checked and you’ve taken off piping in a Natural Gas spec. This happens because you typically wouldn’t have insulation on a Natural Gas line and therefore no insulation would appear in the spec.

Hanger options give the estimator control when automatic hangers are checked.

Fig. 3

Depending on the detail of the specification you’re using, options may include several types of hangers used in conjunction with multiple labor types (Figure 4) and upper attachment options (Figure 5).

In the following examples, we are choosing from two different types of Hangers (Figure 4), seven different Labor Types (Figure 5), and five different Attachment options (Figure 6).

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Each option carries with it a unique labor and material value, and gives you the flexibility to handle each installation method separately.

Spacing is based on the pipe selected in the specification but can be overwritten based on support availability like racks or joist spacing. Be sure to zero out the Spacing Override field once you wish to return to your default hanger spacing.

The length of rod needed to support your hanger is also defined in your specification. A typical length is 3 feet but can be changed permanently in your spec. If you need to adjust your hanger rod length on the fly to accommodate a ‘one off’ elevation difference for a determined section of pipe, simply input the required length in the Rod Length Override field. Be sure to zero out the Rod Length Override field once you wish to return to your default hanger rod length.

Miscellaneous options enable labor from takeoffs to be allocated to the Shop Labor screen, override the standard measure of pipe length in the specification, and determine the number of trace wires required if tracing is selected in Automatics.

Once the attributes are set, the options you've selected will apply to all items taken off going forward and will appear at the bottom of your audit trail.