Division 28 safety and security
Fire alarm and security estimates counted device by device
Life safety and security systems look small on the drawings and large on the invoice. Hundreds of devices, thousands of feet of cable and a head-end that has to talk to everything else all need a count before they have a price. LEEDS takes off every door, camera, detector, horn strobe and panel, adds cabling and labor by device type, and delivers a bid that stands up when the integrator's proposal arrives.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
Specification sheet
- CSI divisions
- 28 Electronic Safety & Security · 26 Electrical · 27 Communications · 21 Fire Suppression
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours (rush available)
- Deliverables
- Excel workbook, marked-up PDFs, material list
- Software
- Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift, Trimble Accubid
Scope of takeoff
Safety and security scope we quantify
Every device and run is counted from plans, riser diagrams and the security and life safety specifications.
- 01Access control doorsReader, electrified lock or strike, door contact, request-to-exit and power supply per openingReader, electrified lock or strike, door contact, request-to-exit and power supply per openingEADoor hardware and security schedules
- 02Access controllers and powerDoor controllers, power supplies, batteries and enclosures in IDF locationsDoor controllers, power supplies, batteries and enclosures in IDF locationsEARiser diagrams
- 03CCTV camerasFixed, PTZ and multi-sensor cameras with mounts, lenses and PoE injectorsFixed, PTZ and multi-sensor cameras with mounts, lenses and PoE injectorsEACamera layout plans and schedules
- 04NVR and video storageRecorders, servers and drive capacity sized by retention days and resolutionRecorders, servers and drive capacity sized by retention days and resolutionTB / EASpecification and retention policy
- 05Intrusion detectionPanels, keypads, motion detectors, glass break and door contactsPanels, keypads, motion detectors, glass break and door contactsEASecurity plan device legend
- 06Fire alarm initiating devicesSmoke, heat, duct detectors, pull stations and monitor modulesSmoke, heat, duct detectors, pull stations and monitor modulesEAFire alarm plans and device schedule
- 07Notification appliancesHorns, strobes, speakers and combination units by candela and dB ratingHorns, strobes, speakers and combination units by candela and dB ratingEALife safety plans
- 08Fire alarm panels and annunciatorsControl panel, power extenders, batteries, remote annunciators and communicatorsControl panel, power extenders, batteries, remote annunciators and communicatorsEARiser diagram and battery calculation
- 09Mass notificationSpeakers, amplifiers, desktop paging stations and exterior sirensSpeakers, amplifiers, desktop paging stations and exterior sirensEAMass notification spec section
- 10Cabling and racewayPlenum cable, fire-rated cable, conduit, J-hooks and firestoppingPlenum cable, fire-rated cable, conduit, J-hooks and firestoppingLFPlan runs and riser lengths
- 11Head-end software and licensingAccess, video management and alarm integration licenses per door and cameraAccess, video management and alarm integration licenses per door and cameraEA / LSManufacturer quote basis
- 12Programming and testingDevice addressing, programming, acceptance tests with the authority and trainingDevice addressing, programming, acceptance tests with the authority and trainingHRSPer-device and per-system labor
Estimate types
What type of electronic safety & security estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
| Estimate type | Accuracy | Turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Per-device budget Rapid system budget using installed cost per door, camera and fire alarm device, adjusted for building type, ceiling conditions and cabling distances. | ±12% | 24 hours | Owners and early design |
Hard-bid device takeoff Full device counts, cable lengths, panels, software and labor from the construction set, with a scope matrix against electrical and general trades. | ±5-7% | 48 hours | Electrical and low-voltage bids |
Tenant fit-out estimate Access, camera and fire alarm modifications for tenant spaces, with panel capacity checks and coordination of landlord-controlled head-end systems. | ±8% | 24-48 hours | Tenant improvement contractors |
Retrofit and upgrade estimate Existing panel replacement, device swaps, analog-to-IP camera conversion and phased cutover labor in occupied buildings. | ±10% | 48-72 hours | Facilities and campuses |
CSI divisions
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Highlighted divisions are the primary scope on this page.
Tools
Estimating software and cost data we work in
Deliverables fit the tools your team already uses.
Bluebeam Revu
Calibrated PDF markup and measurement
PlanSwift
Digital takeoff and assemblies
Trimble Accubid
MEP estimating and pricing
Procore
Bid management and documents
Microsoft Excel
Deliverables formatted to your template
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbookXLSX
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plansPDF
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement listXLSX
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by taskXLSX
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions logPDF
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheetPDF
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Free quote
Get a fixed quote for this scope
Upload drawings or a plan link and tell us the bid date. A senior estimator confirms scope, price and delivery before any work starts.
- Scope confirmation and a fixed price within two business hours
- Most estimates delivered in 24–48 hours
- Unlimited revisions until bid day
- Plans stay confidential and are deleted on request
Prefer to talk? Call +1 (800) 555-0199 or email info@leedsestimating.com.
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 01
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 02
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 03
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 04
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
- Door-by-door access control packages, so hardware furnished by Division 08 is not counted twice or missed entirely.
- Camera counts converted to storage in terabytes using retention days, frame rate and resolution rather than a flat allowance.
- Fire alarm quantities follow device schedules and battery calculations, aligned with NFPA 72 design requirements in the specification.
- Cable and raceway are quantified from plan runs and risers, with plenum, fire-rated and conduit requirements separated.
- Software, licensing and cloud subscription costs appear on their own lines, ahead of any surprise at proposal time.
- Firestopping, wall penetrations and ceiling access are noted so the general contractor sees where trades overlap.
Nationwide
Priced for your zip code in all 50 states
Labor rates, material costs and code requirements are adjusted to the project location, not a national average.
Clients
Who relies on our estimates
From single-trade subs to national developers, every client gets the same measured-twice standard.
General Contractors
Bid more work without adding estimating headcount. We deliver division-by-division numbers you can level against sub quotes.
Subcontractors
Trade-specific takeoffs with labor hours and material lists, ready to drop into your proposal.
Design-Build Firms
Conceptual through GMP pricing that moves as fast as your design iterations.
Construction Managers
Independent cost checks, change-order pricing and schedule-of-values support.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowances in a format our clients actually understand. The assumptions log alone has saved us from two scope disputes.”
Luis Herrera
Project Manager, Sierra Ridge Homes · Phoenix, AZ
“We were turning down bids because our two in-house estimators were buried. LEEDS gave us division-by-division numbers in 48 hours that leveled cleanly against our sub quotes. We bid 40% more work last quarter and our hit rate went up, not down.”
Marcus Whitfield
Chief Estimator, Whitfield Commercial Builders · Charlotte, NC
“Having a design-development estimate before we finished CDs let us value-engineer the envelope while it still mattered. Clear, fast, and the estimators speak our language.”
Aisha Bello
Principal, Bello Architecture Studio · Atlanta, GA
Overview
What safety and security estimating covers
Division 28 groups the electronic systems that protect people and property: access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, fire detection and alarm, and mass notification. Each system has field devices, cabling, a control panel or server, and software. The estimate quantifies all four, because the cheapest-looking device scope can carry the most expensive head-end.
On the access control side, every controlled door becomes a package of reader, lock or strike, door position switch, request-to-exit device and power supply, with cable runs to a controller. Video is counted by camera type, lens and resolution, then converted to NVR storage in terabytes based on retention days and frame rate. Fire alarm is counted by initiating device, notification appliance, module and panel, with NFPA 72 circuit and battery calculations reflected in the equipment list.
The less visible costs include conduit and raceway in plenum or concrete, firestopping at penetrations, programming, acceptance testing with the fire marshal, owner training and annual inspection contracts. We separate those items so owners can decide what to bid, what to furnish and what to defer.
FAQ
Electronic Safety & Security Estimating FAQs
Which systems fall under electronic safety and security?
Division 28 covers access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, fire detection and alarm, and mass notification. We estimate each by device count, cabling, control equipment, software and labor, and we flag where the specification assigns pieces to other divisions such as door hardware or electrical power.
How do you size camera storage?
We use camera count, resolution, frame rate, compression assumptions and required retention days to calculate storage in terabytes, then select recorders or servers to match. If the specification states retention, we follow it. Otherwise we note the assumption so the integrator can confirm.
Do you include fire alarm panel and battery sizing?
We reflect the equipment shown on the riser and battery calculation sheets, including power supplies, extenders and batteries. We do not engineer the system or certify code compliance, but our counts follow the NFPA 72 requirements written into the project documents.
Can you estimate a system upgrade in an existing building?
Yes. Upgrades include panel replacement, device swaps, camera conversions, cabling reuse assumptions and phased cutover labor. Unknown conditions, such as inaccessible ceilings or unlabeled circuits, are carried as allowances and documented for the contractor's site walk.
Who furnishes door hardware for access control?
Responsibility varies by project. We build a door-by-door matrix showing who supplies locks, strikes, hinges with power transfer, readers, contacts and power supplies, then price only our assigned scope while flagging mismatches between Division 08 and Division 28.
Do you price annual inspections and monitoring?
We can carry first-year inspection, testing and monitoring service as optional lines. They are shown separately from installation so the owner can compare proposals with and without recurring service agreements.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a electronic safety & security estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.