WebLEM

The next generation WebLEM brings new benefits to the industry’s most reliable,authoritative source for comprehensive labor units for typical project tasks. With the WebLEM, you can quickly search for and retrieve information. Data in the WebLEM is reviewed and up-dated periodically to reflect the latest products and joining methods.

The WebLEM is a reference document on labor hours for assembly of the following products:

Piping systems can be estimated using two different methods—the traditional Component Method and Work Activity Method.

With the Component Method, contractors can choose to estimate labor for items such as branch connections, flanges, pipe, valves, and fittings. In this method, the labor for the item includes joint labor, material handling, testing, and installation.

In the Work Activity Method, labor units are associated with each specific activity. Contractors can choose items such as    joint labor, cut and bevel, handling and installation, and more. This method assists the contractor in easily estimating shop labor hours versus field labor hours.

The WebLEM also includes basic assumptions that were used to develop the labor hours, correction factors to help you adjust to your individual job situation, and a glossary of abbreviations and terms used throughout the WebLEM. Copies of the Management Methods Bulletins referenced in the WebLEM are also included, providing additional information  on calculation of delay claims, cost of overtime, impact of shift work, and factors affecting productivity.

Several estimating software providers are licensed to include MCAA labor units in their software packages. To find out if your vendor is included on this list, visit www.weblem.org.

MCAA members will be provided with a password and username to access the WebLEM free of charge, and there’s no need to sign a subscription agreement.

Non-members must complete and sign a subscription agreement before they can access the WebLEM. If you need a subscription agreement form, please visit www.weblem.org, email saorantes@mcaa.org or call us at 301-869-5800.

Non-members pay an initial fee plus an annual maintenance fee in order to retain uninterrupted access to the WebLEM. Our current pricing structure follows.

Data in the WebLEM is reviewed and updated periodically to reflect the latest products and joining methods. MCAA mem- bers will be provided with a password and username to access the WebLEM free of charge, and there’s no need to sign a  subscription agreement.

In order to reactivate their subscriptions, non-members must pay any overdue maintenance fees. Please contact us at saorantes@mcaa.org if you need a replacement invoice.

MCAA is committed to producing a high-quality product that helps you excel in your business. If at any time you have questions or suggestions, we want to hear from you. Please email saorantes@mcaa.org or call 301-869-5800 with general questions/suggestions. If your questions or suggestions involve the content and functionality of the WebLEM, please email rking@mcaa.org.

A WebLEM labor unit is expressed in terms of manhours to install a unit of material (such as a foot of pipe), an individual item (such as a fitting or valve), or perform a specific task (such as welding a joint).

In the Component Method, a labor unit includes labor hours for receiving, unloading, stockpiling, distributing, handling and erecting, fitting and joining, and normal pressure testing. In the new Work Activity Method, the labor units are for specific tasks alone, such as the labor to make a joint, to cut and bevel pipe, install a fitting or perform a hydro test.

Labor to perform X-ray quality welding is not included in the labor units and must betaken into consideration separately when estimating.

The labor units do not include purge, which must betaken into consideration separately.

Labor units are developed based on field assembly. Any savings resulting from shop fabrication would have to be reflected by adding a productivity multiplier to the labor units.

In the Component Method, the labor unit for installing pipe includes one joint, which includes the cutting, beveling, and threading or welding. Therefore, no additional labor per standard length of pipe is required. In the Work Activity Method, each activity, such as cut and bevel, is a separate labor unit.

The Component Method labor units include the installation of the coupling. In the Work Activity Method, installation of the coupling is part of the joint labor unit.

The pipe installation labor units do not include the installation of hangers. The labor unit to install the hangers must be taken into consideration separately.