Reed Construction Data

For brazing use the Silver Solder adder (15%) 22 11 13.23 1440.
Example: 2” pipe 22 11 13.23 1260 is .200/ft plus an .300 adder(15%). Deduct for couplings and hangers 22 11 13.23 is 52%. Go to 22 11 13.25 0718 for 2” coupling, which shows .615 per than add the silver solder adder which is the .300 and divide by .615 equals adding 49% to each fitting labor hour unit shown for solder joints. My preference is to put the brazing in the fitting labor, not the pipe units due the variance in long runs vs short runs with a higher % of fittings.
P.S. Mel at RSM would know an accurate % adder, he knows his stuff (he’s an old-timer).
PLBGEST

Edit(correct) my January 10, 2009 post to: for estimating brazed joints to add 25% to solder fittings units instead of 49%. The 10 foot base only has one joint of the coupling included (e.g. one coupling per 20 ft length). I re-ran the math on Excel instead of my TI-1766 (1982) calculator. The 25% should be fairly accurate since most of the ells(off-sets) and tees can be pre-fabbed on the ground instead of doing all the joints in the air.

Mel Mossman, PE - one of our RSMeans experts says:

I understand what the writer David Shuman is suggesting and his reasoning is good.

Obviously we are making an estimate and there is no correct exact number. Different methods of approach will result in slightly different results but still be reasonable and defendable.

I agree with Mel, there is no correct exact number.