Feb 8 2004
A new spreadsheet program that helps steel fabricators, contractors, and designers quickly approximate the structural framing cost for a steel building is now available at no charge from the American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc.
RAM Estimator v2.0 is the latest in a group of Steel Tools™ from AISC that can be downloaded at no charge from the Steel Tools section of their website. A Visual Basic-enhanced Excel file, RAM Estimator works with the RAM Structural System and allows the user to compare not only the steel quantities of various framing options, but also the cost implications of each scenario.
The user begins by designing the structure using the RAM Structural System and then uses the RAM Estimator to estimate the overall frame cost of the building. RAM Estimator allows the user to enter cost data for steel weight, shear studs, moment and brace connections, cambering of a beam and much more. The cost data is applied to the quantities determined from a RAM Structural System analysis file.
Using the RAM Estimator, the speed and power of the RAM Structural System is extended to include timely cost estimates as well as steel quantities.
Source: AISC