Software Based Mechanical Estimating Services
10 - 24 Hours Turnaround
Licensed in 45+ U.S. States
24/7 Customer Assistance
All CSI Divisions Covered
14+ Years in Business
The Industry Codes Behind Every FastEST Assembly
FastEST assemblies are not priced in a vacuum. Each one reflects the governing standard for that scope. From process piping to ductwork fabrication, we price against the codes your installed system actually has to meet, so your estimate holds up against inspection, not just against the drawing set. Have a look at the industry codes we follow while preparing FastEST-based estimates.
ASME B31.1 (Power Piping)
Governs piping in power generation and central heating plants. FastPIPE assemblies for boiler and steam piping scope reflect B31.1's material, fabrication, and testing requirements for these systems.
ASME B31.3 (Process Piping)
Covers piping in chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial process facilities. Process piping estimates in FastPIPE apply B31.3-governed material and fabrication logic for these higher-risk fluid services.
SMACNA HVAC Duct Construction Standards
Referenced directly by the International Mechanical Code for metallic duct construction. FastDUCT assemblies reflect SMACNA's gauge, reinforcement, and sealing requirements by pressure class.
ASHRAE Standards
Uses for HVAC system design, ventilation rates, and performance criteria. FastDUCT sizing and equipment assemblies are built around the design parameters ASHRAE standards define for commercial systems.
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
Integrates in commercial and multi-family mechanical installations nationwide, referencing SMACNA for duct construction. FastDUCT and FastPIPE assemblies align with IMC-adopted requirements in most jurisdictions.
Uniform & International Plumbing Codes (UPC/IPC)
Govern plumbing system design and installation, varying by state adoption. FastPIPE plumbing assemblies are priced to reflect fixture, drainage, and supply requirements under the applicable local code.
Three Programs, One Connected Estimating System
FastEST is not a single tool stretched across every trade; it is three purpose-built programs sharing one interface. Each one handles a distinct scope with its own catalog and assemblies, then integrates with the others so mechanical, ductwork, and insulation estimates stay connected instead of disconnected across separate spreadsheets or software.
FastPIPE
Estimates plumbing, mechanical piping, and process piping using a 150,000+ item catalog from major manufacturers, with an on-screen digitizer for direct takeoff from digital plan files.
FastDUCT
Prices HVAC ductwork and sheet metal fabrication, handling both standard runs and custom-built sections, then feeds reports directly into FastPIPE for combined mechanical-HVAC estimates.
FastWRAP
Estimates mechanical insulation and jacketing scope, importing takeoffs directly from completed FastPIPE or FastDUCT jobs so insulation pricing never gets left out of the bid.
Stop Losing Bids to Guesswork. Win Them With FastEST-Powered Precision.
Rough takeoffs cost you on bid day and again at change order time. Send us your plans and get a FastPIPE, FastDUCT, or FastWRAP estimate built on real manufacturer pricing and trade-specific assemblies. Our prepared estimates are accurate enough to bid with confidence and revise without starting over.
Why Do Contractors Outsource With Our Estimating Services Instead of Owning FastEST?
Running all three programs (FastPIPE, FastDUCT, FastWRAP) in-house adds up fast. According to FastEST, Inc.’s own pricing, FastPIPE starts at $4,995, with each additional program like FastDUCT or FastWRAP priced at $2,495; Plus $1,250 a year in maintenance for the first system, and $250 a year for each additional one, just to keep pricing data current.
That upfront investment only pays off if the software runs constantly; outsourcing to our FastEST team delivers the same output without carrying the cost between bid cycles.
- 14+ years of dedicated mechanical, HVAC, and insulation estimating experience
- 10-24 hour average turnaround on standard commercial mechanical and HVAC estimates
- 99% bid accuracy rate, measured against final awarded project costs
- 98% client bid win ratio on estimates we’ve prepared and submitted
- Zero missed deadlines on time-sensitive bid submissions
What Our Specialzied FastEST Estimate Includes
Accurate takeoffs of material are the first step to a successful drywall project. Our team reviews your drawings and specifications thoroughly and ensures that we create precise takeoffs, which enhance procurement, budget planning, and competitive bidding. Our drywall takeoff services reports ensure contractors can purchase with ease, mitigate project risks, and ensure timely ordering.
- Manufacturer-matched material lists
- Assembly detail breakdown
- Digitizer takeoff records
- Insulation and jacketing detail
- Editable native project file
- Labor unit reports
- Job/quote summary reports
- Pipe and duct schedules
- Cost breakdown by system
- Job template reference
How We Turn Your Drawings Into a FastEST-Priced Bid
Digital Takeoff via On-Screen Digitizer
We take off quantities directly from your PDF, scanned, or CAD plan files using FastEST's built-in digitizer, capturing pipe runs, duct sections, and fixture counts without separate takeoff software.
Trade-Specific Pricing in FastPIPE, FastDUCT & FastWRAP
Quantities get priced against each program's dedicated catalog and assemblies, applying manufacturer-specific material costs and labor units matched to plumbing, ductwork, or insulation scope.
Cross-Program Integration & Job Coordination
FastDUCT and FastWRAP outputs sync into FastPIPE, combining mechanical, HVAC, and insulation pricing into one coordinated estimate instead of three disconnected trade totals.
Reporting & Bid-Ready Delivery
Finished estimates export into structured material and labor reports, delivered as editable FastEST project files ready for bid submission and future change-order revisions.
Bid More Without Waiting in Line for Your Own Estimator
During peak bidding season, an in-house estimator can only move through one takeoff at a time. Projects stack up, and the ones that wait longest often get the weakest numbers. Outsourcing removes that bottleneck entirely, so every bid gets the same attention whether it’s the first one this month or the fifteenth.
Internal Estimating
- One estimator working through jobs sequentially
- Later bids in the queue get rushed or shortcut
- Overtime becomes routine during busy stretches
- Peak-season bottlenecks limit how many bids you can chase
- Slower turnaround exactly when speed matters most
VS
Outsourced Estimating
- Multiple estimates handled in parallel, not in sequence
- Every bid gets full attention, regardless of volume
- No overtime dependency during high-demand months
- Capacity scales instantly with your bidding pace
- Consistent turnaround, even during your busiest season
Who Turns to Us for FastEST-Based Piping & Mechanical Estimates
- Mechanical Contractors
- HVAC & Sheet Metal Contractors
- Industrial Process Facilities
- Healthcare Facility Contractors
- Cold Storage & Refrigeration Contractors
- Plumbing Contractors
- Mechanical Insulation Contractors
- Design-Build Firms
- General Contractors
- MEP Coordination Firms
Where FastEST Precision Meets Real Building Complexity
Not every project is a straightforward pipe run or duct layout. The jobs mentioned below tested different corners of the FastEST platform, such as medical gas piping, VRF retrofit ductwork, and combined mechanical-insulation scope. Each was taken off with the built-in digitizer and priced against FastEST’s trade-specific catalogs before a single bid number left our hands.
Willowbrook Regional Hospital
Denver, CO
Priced oxygen, vacuum, and nitrous piping runs using FastPipe’s digitizer takeoff that is quantized from scanned mechanical drawings to unmarked branch lines.
Fairview Corporate Center
Charlotte, NC
Used FastDUCT to estimate ductwork modifications around new VRF units, reusing a prior office-tower job template to cut takeoff time significantly.
Northgate Cold Storage Facility
Boise, ID
Ran FastPIPE and FastWRAP together, pricing refrigerant piping alongside insulation wrap specs as one coordinated, cross-checked estimate.
What Sets FastEST-Based Estimates Apart From Generic MEP Bids?
Not every mechanical estimate is built the same way. Generic MEP bids often rely on blended per-square-foot pricing and rounded material allowances, while FastEST-based estimates are built from trade-specific catalogs and assemblies. Here is what that difference actually looks like in practice, line by line.
Trade-Specific Catalogs
Generic bids apply one blended rate across plumbing, HVAC, and insulation. FastEST prices each trade against its own catalog, so pipe, duct, and wrap costs reflect how each system is actually installed.
Built-In Digitizer Takeoff
Many estimating workflows require separate takeoff software before pricing can begin. FastEST's digitizer performs takeoff directly inside the estimating program, so quantities flow straight into pricing without re-entry.
Manufacturer-Matched Material Costs
Generic estimates often use rounded per-unit allowances. FastEST pricing draws from named manufacturer catalogs and supported pricing services, so material costs reflect real supplier data, not estimated averages.
Assembly-Level Detail
Blended pricing hides what is actually included. FastEST breaks every estimate into priced assemblies, so you can see exactly what's covered instead of trusting a single lump-sum number.
Labor Units Matched to Trade Conditions
Generic bids often apply flat labor hours regardless of install complexity. FastEST adjusts labor pricing per trade and job condition, reflecting real field variables rather than a single average rate.
Code-Aware Assembly Structure
Rounded, generic pricing rarely accounts for governing standards. FastEST assemblies are built around trade-specific requirements like ASME B31 and SMACNA, keeping quantities aligned with what inspection will require.
Software Stack Behind Our Estimation
Contractors Talk About Working With Our FastEST Team
Daniel R.
Plumbing Contractor
We handed them a boiler replacement job with a messy scanned drawing set. Their team pulled quantities straight off it using FastPipe’s digitizer, and the piping bid came back cleaner than what our own shop usually produces.
Melissa K.
HVAC Project Manager
Ductwork takeoffs used to eat two full days of our HVAC professionals. Now FastDUCT handles the sheet metal counts, and we get a bid back fast enough to still hit tight commercial deadlines.
Tom A.
Mechanical Contracting Owner
Insulation scope always got forgotten in our old process. Smart Constructs now runs it through FastWRAP alongside the mechanical estimate, which means nothing slips through, and our bids finally price the whole job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use FastEST instead of a generic construction estimating tool for mechanical and HVAC work?
Generic estimating software treats every trade the same way. FastEST was purpose-built for plumbing, ductwork, and insulation separately. This allows this tool to provide pricing logic and material catalogs that actually match how each trade gets installed and priced.
Does one estimate cover plumbing, HVAC, and insulation together, or are they priced separately?
We price each trade in its dedicated FastEST program, then combine the outputs into one coordinated bid. This strategy ensures your mechanical, ductwork, and insulation numbers stay consistent throughout the project.
How do you handle projects with incomplete or scanned drawings?
FastEST’s digitizer takes off quantities directly from scanned plans or hand-marked drawings without needing clean digital files first. We flag any unclear scope so nothing gets priced on assumption.
What happens when a job has custom piping or ductwork specs outside standard assemblies?
Built-in assemblies for HVAC systems can be copied and modified per job. When specs fall outside standard catalog items, we adjust pricing manually against your actual specification sheets.
Do you deliver a file we can reopen for change orders later?
Yes. Estimates are built natively inside FastEST software, so you receive an editable project file, not a flattened PDF. Change orders get repriced against the original takeoff instead of starting over.
