Get Accurate Piping Estimates Earlier with Aspen Capital Cost

Estimator (ACCE)
Webinar Q&A
This document summarizes the responses to questions posed before and during the webinar. Additional
questions should be directed to AspenTech Support.

Submitted Before the Webinar:

Q: How do you calculate the required piping for spare equipment? How do you insert the data for two
identical equipment (one of them is spare) but the piping is not similar (default) for both?
A: Pumps in ACCE have a volumetric model that covers piping and instrumentation in a standard
configuration. For a Spare configuration, you would have to duplicate the pump and select the SPAR
installation option. This would reduce the piping and remove the flow instrumentation loop.
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Q: Is there a piping database creation and correction to local factors within ACCE?
A: There is not a piping database in ACCE. All costing is derived from models. Adjustment to local
costing is done by Indexing at the Code of Account level.
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Q: How easy is to input data to ASPEN ICARAS in regards to plant and piping layout to receive the
piping MTO?
A: ACCE does not have plant layout in the system. The Volumetric model includes piping that would
normally be sufficient to go to an adjacent piece of equipment in the same area. That is how we
generate our MTO. Users can override this information as more accurate line diameters or lengths
become available.
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Q: Please discuss how to address the added costs of insulating pipe, burying pipe, or including
instrumented control valves.
A: Insulation and paint are automatically supplied for piping by our volumetric model. Insulation uses
built-in or user supplied insulation tables. Any piping line can be selected to be buried and this is
accomplished using built-in rules and the soil type specified for the project.
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Q: What are the cost and weight ratios between piping components? What is the relation of piping
cost to equipment and civil and structural cost and quantities?
A: ACCE does not use ratios between cost and weight. Ratios are derived from the engineered
quantities that are developed by ACCE. They vary from project to project and are location dependent for
many of the quantities based on soil type, seismic requirements, ambient temperature, etc.

Q: How do I get more accurate estimates on small piping jobs? My experience with Aspen Capital
Cost Estimator is that it tends to overestimate.
A: You need to calibrate your experience to our costs and adjust the indexing to adjust those costs.
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Submitted During the Webinar:
Q: Does Aspen Capital Cost Estimator have the ability to estimate pharmaceutical grade piping?
A: ACCE has Food Grade piping and sanitary equipment. Much of this is the same equipment used in
pharmaceutical processes, but with adjusted pricing that is higher than sanitary. This can be
accomplished by using Indexing either at the Project or Area level or by using Custom Piping Specs with
pricing adjustments.
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Q: If I specify 20% Weld X-ray in project level and for a specific line I specify 50% Weld X-ray, could I
end up getting 80% Weld X-ray (120%x150%) for that line? In other words, does specification in lowerlevel override those in higher-level?
A: The specification at the component level will override the specification at the area level. Therefore,
you will get 50% X-Ray for the pipe in the example you gave in your first question, but won't get 80%.
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Q: How do area length, area width, and area height affect the piping quantities generated by
volumetric model?
A: If you have not specified the pipe envelope dimensions in the area level specs, then the pipe
envelope is determined based on the area dimensions. This then impacts pipe lengths as shown in the
presentation.
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Q: Is it correct that the wire lengths in each area are calculated/adjusted in the same way as the
piping shown on slide 33?
A: No, the wire lengths depend on "Distance to MCC" and "Distance to panel board" specifications in the
Areal level electrical specs.
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Q: Is the pipe envelope, from a technical level, the minimum volume surrounding the apparatus that
cannot be occupied by any other equipment? Does it depend upon the distance between equipment?
A: Yes, it is the volume around equipment. It depends on many variables including the type of
equipment, distance between equipment, etc. In Economic Evaluation, you can set an average envelope
size for the entire area.
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Q: What is a more conservative approach, specifying area dimensions or pipe envelopes?
A: The user should always specify the pipe envelope to have the most accurate control. Pipe envelops
are not adjusted by scaling rules, while area dimensions are adjusted.

Q: Are pipe diameter calculations from the volumetric model given somewhere in the software
documentation?
A: Chapter 18 of the Icarus Reference Guide contains the pipe diameter calculations that are used.
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Q: How does ACCE handle small bore piping quantities?
A: Small bore piping is generated by drains and vents on equipment and piping and instrument stub
outs. Users have control over some of this configuration. The methods of connections (e.g. screwed or
welded) are defined on the General or Custom Piping Specs forms. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Q: Do the volumetric models include the costs for piping supports, and if not, how are costs for
supports calculated?
A: Piping supports are included in the costs of the piping. They are a generic type with a determined
size and spacing based on pipe diameter.
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Q: Do pipe supports have the same material as the piping?
A: Pipe supports are always assumed to be Carbon Steel.
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Q: Can the system estimate the cost of piggable lines (due to these requiring special piping)?
A: This is part of the Pipeline components. ACCE has Scraper Launcher and Receiver for pigging
operations.
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Q: Does it include the price for scaffolding and support platforms?
A: Scaffolding is handled as an indirect and is entered as a Percent of Direct Field labor on the
Contractor forms.
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Q: Can the process piping from an AspenTech process simulation model be imported into the system?
A: If Activated Economics is used in the simulators, then the flow rates for the process lines are
transferred to APEA/ACCE and can be used to size the process lines.
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Q: How should I estimate piping passivation?
A: This would have to be included as an adjustment to piping hours. There is a method to do this using
the Customer Indirects and Proratables mechanism.
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Q: What is the level of estimating accuracy ACCE is targeting (+/-30% as an example)?
A: Accuracy is a function of scope completion and calibration. Many users can obtain accuracy for their
estimates of +/- 10%.