Plumbing estimating
Fixture schedules, piping scope, and municipal utility boundaries.
Remote estimating support
Commercial MEP Estimating Support for Chicago Projects
JLG Estimating provides remote, plan-based commercial MEP takeoff and bid estimating support for contractors bidding projects in Chicago. The takeoff is built from the drawings, schedules, specifications, and addenda you provide; code compliance and permit filing remain with the architect, engineer of record, and Chicago Department of Buildings.
Local bid-set context
Information to confirm before a Chicago estimate
The City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) enforces the Chicago Construction Codes, which include distinct municipal mechanical and electrical provisions such as rigid conduit requirements under Title 14E. For commercial estimating, project address, building occupancy, frost-depth requirements (60 inches), and local grease basin details provide essential preconstruction context before quantities are locked.
- Confirm the project address and whether the permit path falls under the City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) or suburban Cook County.
- Verify compliance with Chicago Electrical Code Title 14E conduit mandates, ensuring raceway takeoffs reflect rigid metal conduit (RMC) or electrical metallic tubing (EMT) rather than non-metallic sheathed cables.
- Check municipal frost-depth requirements (60 inches) on all exterior civil, domestic water, and sanitary utility invert takeoffs.
- Confirm grease interceptor, catch basin, and triple-basin separator details required by the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM).
Jurisdiction note: The cited material describes City of Chicago DOB procedures and Title 14 provisions. It does not establish jurisdiction for every metropolitan-area address, certify code compliance, or replace review by the responsible design professionals and applicable authorities.
- Chicago Department of Buildings Construction Codes (checked 2026-09-30)
- Chicago Department of Buildings Plan Review Services (checked 2026-09-30)
Commercial MEP estimating
Related estimating scopes
Choose the trade scope that matches the bid package. JLG's estimating work is based on the supplied drawings, specifications, scope, and revisions; the project team remains responsible for design and code decisions.
HVAC estimating
Mechanical equipment, ductwork, and hydronic piping takeoffs.
Ductwork takeoffs
Sheet-metal quantities measured from the project drawings.
Electrical estimating
Rigid conduit, EMT raceways, power distribution, and panel schedules.
Related project-type resources
- Industrial MEP estimating — A related scope resource when the bid package includes industrial manufacturing or logistics systems.
Remote bid support
How to prepare a Chicago MEP estimate request
Estimating is performed from the project information supplied by the contractor. A clear package helps keep scope, revisions, and assumptions visible through the takeoff; it does not transfer design or code responsibility to the estimator.
Include with the request
- Project address, known permitting jurisdiction, bid deadline, and requested trade scopes.
- Current architectural and MEP drawings, specifications, schedules, bid instructions, and issued addenda.
- Scope boundaries and exclusions, including any site utility or fire-protection items that are outside the requested package.
- Any scope questions or document conflicts you want identified for clarification.
Review and delivery
- Check the received document list and revisions against the bid set.
- Measure the requested quantities from the applicable plans and schedules.
- Flag unclear scope, mismatched schedules, or addenda changes for review.
- Use the estimating methodology and sample deliverables pages to review the stated workflow and illustrative file structure.
Read the estimating methodology · See illustrative deliverable structure
Common questions
Chicago estimating FAQs
Does JLG provide Chicago Department of Buildings code plan review?
No. JLG provides remote preconstruction takeoff and estimating support based on supplied drawings. Permitting and code certification belong to the project design team and DOB.
How do you handle Chicago's rigid electrical conduit requirements?
We measure conduit linear footages, pull boxes, and raceway fittings according to the engineer's electrical schedules, factoring Chicago Title 14E conduit requirements.
What Chicago project documents help prepare an accurate MEP takeoff?
Send the complete architectural and MEP plan set, equipment schedules, specifications, issued addenda, and any documented utility connection requirements.
Have a commercial MEP bid set to review?
Send the project scope, current drawings, specifications, and addenda to discuss estimating support.
Contact JLG Estimating