Plant and major equipment
Manually count boilers, chillers, pumps, and other scheduled equipment. Include the equipment tag in the row name when it helps distinguish the scope.
Relden Takeoff
Mechanical scope, organized across systems.
For mechanical estimators reviewing equipment, air distribution, and hydronic piping. Count items manually or review similar-symbol candidates, measure drawn routes, and keep the source of each quantity within reach.
Manual + smartOpen Relden
Smart symbol matching is implemented in Relden. Public rollout has not been announced.
A broader mechanical package
Separate the systems before adding up the work.
Mechanical scope can extend from a plant room through distribution routes to terminal equipment. Boilers, chillers, pumps, air handlers, and fan coil units may appear across several sheets and schedules. A useful takeoff keeps those references clear without counting the same equipment repeatedly.
Relden supports named rows and layers within a plan’s Takeoff workspace. Use that structure to organize the systems you need to review, then move between PDF pages to inspect the actual locations.
Distribution routes
Trace calibrated piping or duct routes. Keep systems, sizes, or drawing areas in separate rows so a reviewer can understand the measured length.
Terminal equipment
Count AHUs, FCUs, valves, and air devices manually. Review repeated appearances on floor plans, schematics, and enlarged details.
Match terminal symbols. Verify the system.
For repeated fan coils or valves, select a reference and use Find Similar on that page. Review each candidate against equipment tags and the system diagram. A similar outline does not prove capacity, connection, or scope. Only accepted detections contribute to the smart count; matching does not search or reconcile the whole drawing set.
An example review sequence
Follow a system from plant to terminal.
First, define the quantity boundaries
Read the equipment schedule and system diagram. Decide which sheet provides each count and which views show measurable routes. A schematic connection does not necessarily represent an installed length.
Calibrate a dimensioned plan page, then trace the routes you want to quantify. Use layer names that identify the system, such as heating water or chilled water.
Then, return to the evidence
Open a saved row to focus its route or count points. Check equipment references, route endpoints, and scope splits between mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work.
When a route changes, edit its vertices and review the resulting quantity. Resolve scope differences against the specifications and drawings as part of your estimating process.
Questions,
answered.
How is this different from the HVAC takeoff page?
This workflow covers a broader mechanical package, including plant equipment and hydronic systems. The HVAC workflow focuses more closely on air distribution, air-conditioning equipment, and associated routes.
Can I measure a schematic as installed pipe length?
A schematic may show relationships without representing physical distances. Use a properly scaled plan for a linear measurement and review other views separately. Relden measures the geometry you trace.
Does Relden combine multiple systems automatically?
No. You define the rows and layers and review their quantities. Automatic system interpretation, assembly generation, and priced estimates are not part of the current toolset.
From plan to quantity
Keep the drawing behind the number.
Already have a Relden account? Open your workspace to continue reviewing your plans.
Open Relden
A Relden account is required.