What would you do, if you had a laser distance meter to measure distance, instead of a regular measuring tape or wheel?The Fluke 421D, 416D and 411D laser distance meters measure distance to a target up to 100 m (330 ft) away using the unit’s laser spot, and can do a quick calculation of area (square feet/meters) and volume. Accuracy is up to 1.5 mm (1/16 in).
Fluke asked users for ideas on how to use a laser distance meter, and got back quite a few. We’ve collected 101 of the best.
Facilities: Layout 1. Provideaccurateestimates
forbiddingoutwork(HVAC,electrical,cable,main-tenance).Measuredistances,area,and/orvolume.
2. Measureheightorwidthofbuildings1andotherobjects,bytriangulationifneeded.
3. VerifyCADdrawingsforas-builtsanddesigndrawings.
4. Determinehowsquarearoomorobjectreallyis,orwhetherthesidesarecom-pletelyparallel.
Application Note
F r o m t h e F l u k e D i g i t a l L i b r a r y @ w w w. f l u k e . c o m / l i b r a r y
101 applications for laser distance meters
Incrementalmeasurementsusingthestakeoutfeature(421Donly).
Measuringlongdistances.
Automaticallycalculatesquarefootage.
5. Layoutparkinglots. 6. Verifythatnewconstruction
satisfiesusagerequirements. 7. Determinefootprintofequip-
mentorofficecubiclestobeinstalled,toaidinlayout.
8. Createas-builtbuildingdimensionswherenoblue-printsareprovided.
9. Calculatetotalinternalfloorspace/volumeofaroomorbuilding.
10.Measuredistancesoverareaswhereobstaclesinthewaydisallowtheuseofmeasur-ingtapesorwheels.
Facilities: Cranes11.Measuredistancesonroof1
toquoteoncraneliftneededforrooftopequip-mentreplacement.
12.Measureceilingheighttodetermineequipmentneededforaccess.
13.Quicklycalculatelengthofwireropeneededforcranes.
14.Setupcollisiondetectionforcraneswithoutpullingtapeandusingtwopeopleandtwoaeriallifts.
15.Measurespansonrunwaysforcranes.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be compromised by direct sunlight.
2FlukeCorporation101applicationsforlaserdistancemeters
Facilities: Safety16.Measuredistances(includ-
ingceilingheights)toinstallemergencylighting,sprin-klers,andfireextinguisherstocode.
17.DetermineaccurateroomdimensionstoensurecorrectchemicalconcentrationforCleanAgentFireSuppressionsystem.
18.Measuredistancesfrommachinesforsafetyequip-ment(fireextinguishers,fireblankets,etc.).
19.Measurewaterlevelsinfiresuppressiontanks.
Facilities: Other20.Useinsettingupfloorsup-
portsinlargecommunicationrooms.
21.Measureroomdimensionstocalculatehowmuchpaintisneeded.
22.Measureroomdimensionstocalculatehowmuchfloorcoveringisneeded.
23.Measureheightforappropri-ateladderselection.
24.Documentlocationofstand-ingwaterorleaksfoundwithathermal(IR)imagerorinfraredthermometer.
Electrical: Cable25.Measuredistancesforlinear
lengthofwireorcableruns.26.Measuredistancesforlinear
feet/metersofconduitneededfornewinstallations.
27.Measureheightofhighvolt-agelinestomeetclearancerequirements.
28.Calculatetotallengthneededinsettingupwireassembliesandharnesses.
29.Measuredistancestocalcu-latevoltagedrops(inpowersupply).
30.Measuredepth,distanceofundergroundconduit.1
31.Determinelengthofwireavailableonhand.
32.Measuredistancesofunder-groundcable1fromvariouslandmarksorobstacles/knownhazards.
33.Whenlocatingundergroundcablewithatransmitter/sen-sortoolcombo,tracedowncableandshootbackwithdistancemeter.1
34. Locateundergroundcablefaults1usingtheA-framemethod.Telltheexactdis-tanceoffaultfromstartingpointwithouttapemeasureortrundlewheel.
Electrical: Ceiling/Floor35.Measuredistancestoobjects
withinhard-to-reachdropceilingstodetermineover-headcableruns,lineofsight.
36.Measureceilingheightandsquarefeet/meterstodeter-minerodlengthsfordropceilinginstallationandlight-ingfixtures.
37.Measuredistanceundersubfloorsorstructuresfornetworkingorothercableinstallations.
Electrical: Safety38.Measuredistancesfrom
powersystemdevices(trans-formers,etc.)forelectricalsafety/arcflashprotectionandpowerstudies.
Electrical: Other39.Measuredisconnectplace-
mentforspasandpools.40.Measuredistancesbetween
electricalservicepoles.41.Ascertaindistancearound
wallsforproperreceptacleplacementpercode.
42.Decidewheretoplacepowerdrops/connectionstothepowersupplyinmanufactur-ingfloorlayouts.
43.Measureelectricalroomsquarefeet/metersforregu-lationverification.
Industrial Maintenance: Conveyors44.Determineconveyorbelt
length(for/atinstallation).45.Calculateconveyorbelt
capacity,basedonlength.
Industrial Maintenance: Layout46.Measuredistancebetween
machinestoestimateheatloading.
47.Determineequipmentventilationrequirements(massairflow).
Industrial Maintenance: Tanks48.Checktanklevel2and
verifyaccuracyoftankleveltransmitters.
49.Measurewaterlevelatpowerplantwaterintake.
Industrial Maintenance: Other50.Checkcalibrationofauto-
matedproductshuttledistancesensors.
51.Alignlargeweldingfixtures.52.Determinethevolumeof
industrialovensusedinpowdercoating,etc.
Measuringheighttotallceiling.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be compromised by direct sunlight.
2 Do not use laser measurement tools in the proximity of flammable materials.
3FlukeCorporation101applicationsforlaserdistancemeters
HVAC53.Measureroofheight1to
determinefluelengths.54.Calculateductlengths
forstaticpressuredroponlongruns.
55.Determineriseordropoverdistance,forpipedrainage.
56.Measuredistancesforductrunsforinstallationorreplacement.
57.Determineroomvolumeforcooling,airflow/exchangerequirements,sizingequipments.
58.Determineductruntype(size,forvolumerequirements).
59.Sizeductsfortraversals.60.Measuredistancesforair
handlerspacing.
Plumbing61.Determinedistancebetween
pumpsanddistancethepumpneedstopushliquid,todeterminepumpand/ormotorsize.
62.Determinedistanceforpumplinesandpipingruns,especiallywhenmeasuringpipelengthsbehindexistingwalls.
63.Measuredistancesbetweentowerdrivesforwaterpres-surecalculationsinirrigation.
64.Measurethesizeofayardtofigureoutsprinklerheadsrequired.
65.Measurecondensationlinesforinstallation/repair.
Construction66.Findhorizontallengths
(overhead)fordeterminingraingutter1length.
67.Measuredistancesfromroads1andpropertylinestocomplywithlocalbuildingcodes.
68.Determineamountsofstructuralmaterials(studs,plywood)neededforconstruction.
69.Determineinsulationrequire-ments(volumeneeded).
70.Determineoffsetsneededforsepticsystems.1
71.Determinetrench,holedepth.1
72.Determineamountofsheet-rocktocoversurfaces.
Lighting73.Findcenterpointofceiling
andotherkeylocationsforfan/lightinginstallation.
74.Determinelight/lumenrequirementsbasedonceilingheight,comparedtoelevationsofsuspendedlightingfixtures.
75.DeterminethenumberofpowersuppliesneededintemporaryLEDlightingapplications.
76.DeterminedistancefrompowersuppliesforLEDandlow-voltagelightingandotherelectronicloads.
77.Determinelengthtoaccesslightfixturesinhighceilingsformaintenance.
IT78.Determinenetwork
equipmentspacingincommunicationrooms.
79.MeasurereachanddistancebetweenwirelessnetworkelementsforITinstallationtechnicians.
Towers80.Estimateguy-cablelengths
forcelltowers.1
81.Setearthgroundsforcelltower;measuredistancefromgroundwhenconductingearth-ground3-polefallofpotentialtestsandsoilresis-tivitytests.1
82.Determinesafedistancefrommicrowavetransmittersoncelltowers.1
83.Measureheightofequipmentonutilitypolesinsurveyingforcelltowersites.1
84.Measureheightsoflinesandbracketsontransmissiontowersformaintenance.1
Solar85.Measureroofwidthandpeak
height1tocalculateroofpitchinestimatingoutputofsolarpanels.
86.Determineroofarea1forsolarpanelsizeestimates.
87.Documentlocationofshadinganalysis1forground-mountedPV(photovoltaic)array.
Calculatingequipmentfootprint.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be compromised by direct sunlight.
2 Do not use laser measurement tools in the proximity of flammable materials.
4FlukeCorporation101applicationsforlaserdistancemeters
Automotive88.Calibrateon-boarddistance,
parking,andwarningsystems.
89.Setupastoppingdistancecoursefortraining/demon-strationandbraketests.
90.Checkforvehicleoversizeloadclearances.
Video, audio, and theatre91.Measuredistancesforcam-
eralensselection,focusandzoomsettings.
92.Figurelengthforvideoandcameracablecompensationcalculations.
93.Measureheightofvideoprojectorandscreenforcalculationoflumensandforpixelperinch/qualityofprojection.
94.Whenevaluatingaroomornewsystemdesign,calculateviewingangles,andaudio-basedpredictedcoveragemaps.
95.Measuretheheightofalightingpipetoraisetheatri-callightingtrussestospecificheightsabovethestageortheseats.
Biomed96.Verifysource-to-imagedis-
tanceswhenservicingX-rayequipment.
97.Verifydiscretemedicalequipmentdistancerequire-mentsaremetwhensystemsareinstalled.
Other98. Checkdistancefromobjects
forsettingthermalimagerrangesanddeterminingdistancetospotaccuracyoninfraredthermometers.
99. Determinedistancebetweensurveillancecamerasandsubjectstogetdesiredcoverage.
100. Measurefromatargettotheopticalmicrometermountedonanalignmenttelescopeforsetupsinacalibrationlab.
101. Continuouslymeasureauto-matedmovingequipmenttoverifycorrectlocation.
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