HVAC estimating
Rooftop packaged units, hydronic heating, and cleanroom air distribution.
Remote estimating support
Commercial MEP Estimating Support for Columbus Projects
JLG Estimating provides remote commercial MEP takeoff and bid estimating support for trade contractors bidding projects across Greater Columbus. Send current architectural and MEP drawings, specifications, and addenda to receive an organized, audit-ready estimate in Microsoft Excel.
Local bid-set context
Information to confirm before a Columbus estimate
The City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) enforces commercial building, mechanical, and electrical permits under the Ohio Building Code (OBC). In the surging Central Ohio region—fueled by semiconductor manufacturing in New Albany, healthcare expansions, and distribution corridors—commercial estimating requires accounting for industrial process piping, cleanroom airflow distribution, 36-inch frost depths, and municipal plan review through the Citizen Access portal.
- Confirm whether the project is processed through City of Columbus BZS Citizen Access portal or Franklin County Building Department.
- Check industrial and semiconductor process piping specifications for welded carbon steel, chilled water loops, and high-purity utility distribution.
- Verify 36-inch frost line bury depths on all exterior civil, domestic water, and sanitary utility invert takeoffs.
- Review commercial rooftop packaged equipment and boiler schedules for Ohio Mechanical Code and energy efficiency compliance.
Jurisdiction note: The cited material describes City of Columbus BZS procedures. Confirm governing requirements for the specific site with Columbus BZS and the project engineers.
- City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (checked 2026-09-30)
- City of Columbus Public Utilities Development 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.
Plumbing estimating
Domestic water, sanitary drainage, industrial interceptors, and fixture schedules.
Mechanical piping estimating
Chilled water distribution, process piping headers, and gas loops.
Electrical estimating
Industrial service switchboards, motor control centers, and feeders.
Related project-type resources
- Industrial MEP estimating — A related scope resource when the bid package includes advanced manufacturing or data center systems.
Remote bid support
How to prepare a Columbus 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
Columbus estimating FAQs
Does JLG provide Columbus BZS permit application or code review?
No. JLG provides remote preconstruction takeoff and estimating support based on supplied drawings. Permit filings belong to the licensed contractor and design team.
How do you handle semiconductor and industrial manufacturing piping in Columbus?
We quantify industrial chilled water, compressed air, natural gas headers, and process piping schedules directly from engineering P&ID drawings.
What should be sent with a Columbus commercial MEP bid set?
Provide current architectural and MEP drawings, equipment schedules, specifications, addenda, and requested trade scopes.
Have a commercial MEP bid set to review?
Send the project scope, current drawings, specifications, and addenda to discuss estimating support.
Contact JLG Estimating