Trade Topics
April 2006
HVAC Unit Costs
This is an informational Client Bulletin Prepared by TiCon, a General Contractor, for the Tenants, Owners, Brokers and Managers of Commercial and Industrial Properties in the Bay Area
This bulletin addresses mechanical (HVAC) unit costs common to commercial and industrial interior and site improvements. The costs presented are an average of those received in response to a survey of local mechanical contractors. These costs are presented in a 'rule of thumb' context; several factors will affect the actual cost: a) project size and conditions b) market forces at the time of bid c) number of RFQ responses.
The pricing does NOT include a general contractor's markup - if you have a general contractor running your job, prices will be somewhat higher.
Packaged Unit System Definition: This system utilizes mechanical heating and cooling provided by a single unit that has both heating and cooling modes but can only condition the air in one mode at a time. There is only one control (thermostat) for each unit. This system is the most common found in 1& 2 story office buildings, R&D facilities, retail and industrial buildings throughout the bay area.
The following table illustrates the pricing for packaged air conditioning units and systems. The pricing is based on a new system being installed in a single story building that has easy access to the roof from the parking area. The costs include ductwork distribution above an acoustic ceiling for a predominantly 'open landscape' design. It is important to note that in a new (where none previously existed) rooftop installation of an airconditioning unit there will be additional costs for:
- Structural engineering and reinforcement of the roof
- Electrical service, gas service, condensate drain line
- Economizer (If the unit is over 5 tons)
- Energy calculations
These additional costs are usually a minimum of $6,000.00 and will substantially exceed this figure for units above 10 tons
New packaged unit systems
| No. |
Description |
Unit |
Unit cost |
| 1 |
( 2) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 2 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$6,480.00 |
| 2 |
(2.5) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 2 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$6,814.00 |
| 3 |
(3) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 3 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$7,547.00 |
| 4 |
(4) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 4 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$9,475.00 |
| 5 |
(5)ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 5 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$10,540.00 |
| 6 |
(7.5) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 7 supplies and 2 returns |
Ea. |
$14,694.00 |
| 7 |
(10) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 9 supplies and 3 returns |
Ea. |
$16,295.00 |
| 8 |
(20) ton roof mounted airconditioning package unit with 20 supplies and 4 returns |
Ea. |
$34,057.00 |
|
|
Rule of thumb for AC unit sizing: The most commonly used method to determine the number of tons of cooling for general office and R&D space is to divide the gross area by 350 (one ton cools 350 square feet) -the product is the number of tons required.
Minor alteration costs when remodeling
| No. |
Description |
Unit |
Unit cost |
| 1 |
Relocate thermostat from one wall to another |
Ea. |
$ 252.00 |
| 2 |
Add a supply or ducted return air line and register to an existing system |
Ea. |
$ 400.00 |
| 3 |
Install return air tranfer registers and short line (economical return air) |
Ea. |
$ 300.00 |
| 4 |
Relocate a supply or return within a few feet of original location |
Ea. |
$ 140.00 |
|
Trade Contributor: Cold Craft Mechanical - Campbell Ca.
|
