🎯 Learning Objectives

• Build a burdened labor rate and convert production into crew-hours and duration.
• Apply productivity factors (height, access, congestion, occupied/ICRA, weather).
• Select equipment & attachments that maximize safe production.
• Compare manual vs. mechanical approaches and find the break-even point.
• Quantify shift/OT and load-out logistics impacts on cost and schedule.

💼 Estimating Labor Costs

Start with hours (not dollars). Multiply a defendable production rate by real conditions, then price with a burdened rate.

• Sources: your historicals, timecards, vendor production sheets, RSMeans/NECA/SMACNA (as ROM only).
• Burdened Rate: wage + taxes + benefits + comp + small tools + supervision allocation.
• Scheduling: night work, phasing resets, inspection windows → add time or premium.
• Traceability: log sheet & area tags for each rate. If challenged, you can show your math.

🤝 Union vs. Non-Union Considerations

• Union/Prevailing Wage: higher wage & burden; predictable classifications; certified payroll admin.
• Open Shop: flexible assignments; verify training for saws, torching, rigging, silica plans.
• Public/Urban work: often mandates prevailing wage & specific ratios/dispatch rules.
• Subcontracts: align bid with labor expectations and include escalation clauses where allowed.

📊 Productivity Factors & Ranges (guide)

🚜 Equipment Selection & Attachments

Pick the smallest machine that safely achieves the rate—then add attachments that unlock productivity.

• Excavators: shear (steel), breaker/hammer (slab/footings), pulverizer (concrete processing).
• Skids/CTLs: tight interior load-out, grapple buckets for debris sorting.
• Robotics: remote hammers for elevated slabs or high-risk spaces.
• Lifts: scissor/boom for above-ceiling demo and façade removals.
• Support: buggies, dumpsters, conveyors, debris chutes for vertical moves.

⚖️ Manual vs. Machine-Assisted Cost Comparison

• Manual: best for selective interiors, delicate salvage, low-volume removals; higher crew-hours.
• Mechanical: best for structural and bulk debris; adds rental/fuel/operator but slashes hours.
• Break-Even: choose the path with the lower total cost at your required duration/risk.

🛡️ Safety, Compliance & Supervision (Don’t Bury It)

• Spotters/flaggers, LOTO, daily JHAs, silica controls & water, debris chute attendants.
• Supervisor/foreman planning time and inspections—budget real hours.
• ICRA resets, negative air checks, final cleaning between phases.

👥 Sample Crew & Rate Sheet (ROM)

✍️ Suggested Clarifications (copy/paste)

• Rates assume access per plans; height above 12' and night work carry listed productivity premiums.
• Equipment includes rental days noted; additional days billed at published daily rates.
• Spotters, LOTO, silica controls, negative air resets included as separate line items.
• Owner/GC to provide shutdown confirmations before demo start; delays beyond control are change order eligible.

🧰 Labor & Equipment Mini Tools

*Replace ROM factors and dollar values with your company’s actual rates and historic production.