Fluke 424D Application Note 101 Applications For Laser Distance Meters

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What would you do if you had a laser

distance meter to measure distance

instead of a regular measuring tape

or wheel?

The Fluke 424D, 419D and 414D 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 ± 1.0 mm.

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. Provide accurate estimates

for bidding out work (HVAC,

electrical, cable, main-

tenance). Measure distances,

area, and/or volume.

2. Measure height or width of

buildings1 and other objects,

by triangulation if needed.

3. Verify CAD drawings for as-

builts and design drawings.

4. Determine how square a

room or object really is, or

whether the sides are com-

pletely parallel.

Application Note

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

101 applications for

laser distance meters

Fluke 414D, 419D and 424D Laser Distance Meters.

Measuring long distances.

Measuring hard to reach areas.

5. Lay out parking lots.

6. Verify that new construction

satisfies usage requirements.

7. Determine footprint of equip-

ment or office cubicles to be

installed, to aid in layout.

8. Create as-built building

dimensions where no blue-

prints are provided.

9. Calculate total internal floor

space/volume of a room or

building.

10. Measure distances over areas

where obstacles in the way

disallow the use of measur-

ing tapes or wheels.

Facilities: Cranes

11. Measure distances on roof1

to quote on crane lift

needed for rooftop equip-

ment replacement.

12. Measure ceiling height to

determine equipment needed

for access.

13. Quickly calculate length of

wire rope needed for cranes.

14. Set up collision detection for

cranes without pulling tape

and using two people and

two aerial lifts.

15. Measure spans on runways

for cranes.

1 Laser measurement

outdoors can be

compromised by

direct sunlight.

2 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters

Facilities: Safety

16. Measure distances (includ-

ing ceiling heights) to install

emergency lighting, sprin-

klers, and fire extinguishers

to code.

17. Determine accurate room

dimensions to ensure correct

chemical concentration for

Clean Agent Fire Suppression

system.

18. Measure distances from

machines for safety equip-

ment (fire extinguishers, fire

blankets, etc.).

19. Measure water levels in fire

suppression tanks.

Facilities: Other

20. Use in setting up floor sup-

ports in large communication

rooms.

21. Measure room dimensions to

calculate how much paint is

needed.

22. Measure room dimensions

to calculate how much floor

covering is needed.

23. Measure height for appropri-

ate ladder selection.

24. Document location of stand-

ing water or leaks found

with a thermal (IR) imager or

infrared thermometer.

Electrical: Cable

25. Measure distances for linear

length of wire or cable runs.

26. Measure distances for linear

feet/meters of conduit

needed for new installations.

27. Measure height of high volt-

age lines to meet clearance

requirements.

28. Calculate total length needed

in setting up wire assemblies

and harnesses.

29. Measure distances to calcu-

late voltage drops (in power

supply).

30. Measure depth, distance of

underground conduit.1

31. Determine length of wire

available on hand.

32. Measure distances of under-

ground cable1 from various

landmarks or obstacles/

known hazards.

33. When locating underground

cable with a transmitter/sen-

sor tool combo, trace down

cable and shoot back with

distance meter.1

34. Locate underground cable

faults1 using the A-frame

method. Tell the exact dis-

tance of fault from starting

point without tape measure

or trundle wheel.

Electrical: Ceiling/Floor

35. Measure distances to objects

within hard-to-reach drop

ceilings to determine over-

head cable runs, line of sight.

36. Measure ceiling height and

square feet/meters to deter-

mine rod lengths for drop

ceiling installation and light-

ing fixtures.

37. Measure distance under

subfloors or structures for

networking or other cable

installations.

Electrical: Safety

38. Measure distances from

power system devices (trans-

formers, etc.) for electrical

safety/arc flash protection

and power studies.

Electrical: Other

39. Measure disconnect place-

ment for spas and pools.

40. Measure distances between

electrical service poles.

41. Ascertain distance around

walls for proper receptacle

placement per code.

42. Decide where to place power

drops/connections to the

power supply in manufactur-

ing floor layouts.

43. Measure electrical room

square feet/meters for regu-

lation verification.

Industrial Maintenance:

Conveyors

44. Determine conveyor belt

length (for/at installation).

45. Calculate conveyor belt

capacity, based on length.

Industrial Maintenance:

Layout

46. Measure distance between

machines to estimate heat

loading.

47. Determine equipment

ventilation requirements

(mass air flow).

Industrial Maintenance:

Tanks

48. Check tank level2 and

verify accuracy of tank level

transmitters.

49. Measure water level at

power plant water intake.

Industrial Maintenance:

Other

50. Check calibration of auto-

mated product shuttle

distance sensors.

51. Align large welding fixtures.

52. Determine the volume of

industrial ovens used in

powder coating, etc.

Measuring height to tall ceiling.

1 Laser measurement outdoors can be

compromised by direct sunlight.

2 Do not use laser measurement tools in

the proximity of flammable materials.

3 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters

HVAC

53. Measure roof height1 to

determine flue lengths.

54. Calculate duct lengths

for static pressure drop on

long runs.

55. Determine rise or drop over

distance, for pipe drainage.

56. Measure distances for duct

runs for installation or

replacement.

57. Determine room volume

for cooling, air flow/

exchange requirements,

sizing equipments.

58. Determine duct run

type (size, for volume

requirements).

59. Size ducts for traversals.

60. Measure distances for air

handler spacing.

Plumbing

61. Determine distance between

pumps and distance the

pump needs to push liquid,

to determine pump and/or

motor size.

62. Determine distance for

pump lines and piping runs,

especially when measuring

pipe lengths behind existing

walls.

63. Measure distances between

tower drives for water pres-

sure calculations in irrigation.

64. Measure the size of a yard

to figure out sprinkler heads

required.

65. Measure condensation lines

for installation/repair.

Construction

66. Find horizontal lengths

(overhead) for determining

rain gutter1 length.

67. Measure distances from

roads1 and property lines to

comply with local building

codes.

68. Determine amounts of

structural materials (studs,

plywood) needed for

construction.

69. Determine insulation require-

ments (volume needed).

70. Determine offsets needed for

septic systems.1

71. Determine trench, hole

depth.1

72. Determine amount of sheet-

rock to cover surfaces.

Lighting

73. Find center point of ceiling

and other key locations for

fan/lighting installation.

74. Determine light/lumen

requirements based on

ceiling height, compared

to elevations of suspended

lighting fixtures.

75. Determine the number

of power supplies needed

in temporary LED lighting

applications.

76. Determine distance from

power supplies for LED and

low-voltage lighting and

other electronic loads.

77. Determine length to access

light fixtures in high ceilings

for maintenance.

IT

78. Determine network

equipment spacing in

communication rooms.

79. Measure reach and distance

between wireless network

elements for IT installation

technicians.

Towers

80. Estimate guy-cable lengths

for cell towers.1

81. Set earth grounds for cell

tower; measure distance from

ground when conducting

earth-ground 3-pole fall of

potential tests and soil resis-

tivity tests.1

82. Determine safe distance from

microwave transmitters on

cell towers.1

83. Measure height of equipment

on utility poles in surveying

for cell tower sites.1

84. Measure heights of lines and

brackets on transmission

towers for maintenance.1

Solar

85. Measure roof width and peak

height1 to calculate roof pitch

in estimating output of solar

panels.

86. Determine roof area1 for solar

panel size estimates.

87. Document location of shading

analysis1 for ground-mounted

PV (photo voltaic) array.

Calculating equipment footprint.

1 Laser measurement outdoors can be

compromised by direct sunlight.

2 Do not use laser measurement tools in

the proximity of flammable materials.

4 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters

Automotive

88. Calibrate on-board distance,

parking, and warning

systems.

89. Set up a stopping distance

course for training/demon-

stration and brake tests.

90. Check for vehicle oversize

load clearances.

Video, audio, and theatre

91. Measure distances for cam-

era lens selection, focus and

zoom settings.

92. Figure length for video and

camera cable compensation

calculations.

93. Measure height of video

projector and screen for

calculation of lumens and

for pixel per inch/quality of

projection.

94. When evaluating a room or

new system design, calculate

viewing angles, and audio-

based predicted coverage

maps.

95. Measure the height of a

lighting pipe to raise theatri-

cal lighting trusses to specific

heights above the stage or

the seats.

Biomed

96. Verify source-to-image dis-

tances when servicing X-ray

equipment.

97. Verify discrete medical

equipment distance require-

ments are met when systems

are installed.

Other

98. Check distance from objects

for setting thermal imager

ranges and determining

distance to spot accuracy

on infrared thermometers.

99. Determine distance

between surveillance

cameras and subjects to get

desired coverage.

100.

Measure from a target to the

optical micrometer mounted

on an alignment telescope

for setups in a calibration

lab.

101.

Continuously measure auto-

mated moving equipment to

verify correct location.

Fluke Corporation

PO Box 9090, Everett, WA 98206 U.S.A.

Fluke Europe B.V.

PO Box 1186, 5602 BD

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

For more information call:

In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or

Fax (425) 446-5116

In Europe/M-East/Africa +31 (0) 40 2675 200 or

Fax +31 (0) 40 2675 222

In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or

Fax (905) 890-6866

From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or

Fax +1 (425) 446-5116

Web access: http://www.fluke.com

©2009-2012 Fluke Corporation.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

Printed in U.S.A. 5/2012 3361276C_EN

Modification of this document is not permitted

without written permission from Fluke Corporation.

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