Division 07 · Fireproofing & Firestopping
Fireproofing priced by the UL design, the hourly rating and the pound of steel it protects
Two beams with the same span can need very different fireproofing. One carries a 2-hour rating under a UL design that wants 1-3/8 inches of SFRM; the other is architecturally exposed and gets an intumescent coating whose mil thickness depends on its W/D ratio. Our fireproofing estimators read the structural framing plans, the fire-resistance schedule and the UL designs the architect cited, compute the surface area of every protected member by section size, and price material, equipment and labor at the thickness each rating actually requires.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
the weight-to-heated-perimeter ratio we compute for every member before assigning thickness
Senior estimator reviewed
Scope of takeoff
Fireproofing and firestopping quantities we take off
Every member listed by section size, rating and UL design; every penetration counted by type from the MEP overlay.
SFRM on beams and girders
Cementitious and fiber SFRM by thickness per UL design for 1, 2 and 3-hour ratings, listed by section size
SFRM on columns
Column fireproofing at 2 and 3-hour ratings, full contour or boxed, by story height and section
Metal deck and joist fireproofing
SFRM on fluted and cellular deck undersides, bar joists and bridging, with bonding agent
Intumescent coatings
Thin-film intumescent on exposed steel by W/D ratio and dry mil thickness, with primer and topcoat
Board and enclosure systems
Gypsum, calcium silicate and mineral board column and beam enclosures by layers and framing
Through-penetration firestopping
Pipe, conduit, duct, cable tray and bus duct penetrations through rated walls and floors by tested system
Joint and perimeter firestopping
Head-of-wall, edge-of-slab, curtain wall perimeter and control joint systems
Patching and repair allowance
SFRM patching after MEP hangers, deck penetrations and steel modifications by following trades
Overspray protection and masking
Poly, tape, masking of glazing, finishes and equipment, and cleanup of overspray
Bonding agent, primer and sealer
Bonding adhesive on deck, metal lath where required, primer under intumescent, topcoat and sealer
Access, scaffold and lift time
Scissor and boom lift days, rolling scaffold and mast climbers by floor height and area
Thickness and density testing
Thickness gauge checks, density sampling, adhesion testing and special inspection support
Overview
How fireproofing quantities are actually derived
Spray-applied fire-resistive material is not measured by floor area. It is measured by the surface area of each structural member multiplied by the thickness the governing UL design requires for the rating on the fire-resistance schedule. We list every beam, girder, column, joist and deck span from the structural framing plans by section size, compute surface area per linear foot from the steel tables, and read the required thickness from the UL design for that member's W/D ratio. Columns at 3 hours, beams at 2 hours and roof deck at 1 hour all land in different rows with different thicknesses, and the material total is in board feet of applied product, not square feet of plan.
Intumescent coatings follow the same logic with a different unit. Exposed columns, moment frames, canopies and feature trusses are listed by member with their W/D ratio, and the dry film thickness in mils comes from the manufacturer's tested design for that ratio and rating. Primer compatibility, topcoat, masking of adjacent finishes and the number of coats drive the labor far more than the square footage does. Board systems such as gypsum or calcium silicate enclosures are measured as square feet of board by number of layers, with framing, fasteners and joint treatment, and are typically used where SFRM would be damaged or where the architect wants a crisp finished column.
Firestopping is a count, not an area. Every pipe, conduit, duct, cable tray and bus duct that passes through a rated wall or floor is a penetration that needs a tested system, and the price depends on the penetrant, the assembly and the annular space. We overlay the MEP sheets on the life safety plan to count penetrations by type, measure head-of-wall and perimeter edge-of-slab joints in linear feet, and separate through-penetrations from membrane penetrations. A patching allowance is carried for SFRM damaged by following trades, and overspray protection, scaffold or lift time and bonding agent for deck are listed so the number holds after the steel is topped out.
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.
Estimate types
What type of fireproofing estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Plan-and-spec fireproofing bid
Complete SFRM, intumescent, board and firestopping pricing from the structural set, fire-resistance schedule and cited UL designs, organized by floor and rating.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Structural steel fireproofing budget
An early number from the framing plans and member schedule before the fire-resistance schedule is final, using assumed ratings by occupancy and construction type.
- Accuracy
- ±10%
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours
Intumescent exposed-steel estimate
Exposed columns, canopies and feature structure listed by W/D ratio with mil thickness, coats, primer, topcoat and finish-grade masking priced for architectural visibility.
- Accuracy
- ±6%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Firestopping-only takeoff
Penetrations counted by type, size and assembly with head-of-wall and perimeter joints in linear feet, matched to tested systems without SFRM scope.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 24 hours
Patch, repair and re-rating pricing
Pricing for SFRM damaged during fit-out, retrofit of unrated steel in tenant improvements and re-rating after occupancy changes, with access and masking.
- Accuracy
- ±8%
- Turnaround
- Same day to 24 hours
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Every protected member listed by section size with its W/D ratio
so thickness comes from the UL design and not a guess.
SFRM totaled in board feet of applied product
And converted to bags by manufacturer yield, with waste and overspray loss.
Intumescent priced by dry mil thickness and coat count per member
with primer compatibility and topcoat called out.
Firestopping counted by penetration type
From an MEP overlay on the life safety plan, matched to tested system categories.
Patching allowances carried by project sequence
since SFRM applied before MEP rough-in is always damaged by it.
Access time estimated from floor-to-floor heights and congestion
with lift and scaffold rental on separate lines.
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 workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“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
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.
FAQ
Fireproofing Estimating FAQs
Straight answers on scope, turnaround, pricing and deliverables.
How do you determine SFRM thickness for each member?
We start with the fire-resistance schedule and the UL designs cited on the structural or architectural general notes. For each beam and column we compute the W/D ratio from the section size, then read the thickness the UL design requires at that ratio for the specified rating. Where the drawings cite only a rating and no design, we select a common design, state it in the assumptions and price it as a basis of bid.
Do you quantify fireproofing in square feet or board feet?
Both appear in the workbook. Surface area in square feet is what the crew sprays and what inspectors measure; board feet, which is square feet times thickness in inches, is what determines how many bags you buy. We convert board feet to bags using the manufacturer's published yield for the product and density specified, with a loss factor for overspray and rebound.
How is intumescent coating priced differently from SFRM?
Intumescent is priced per square foot of steel at a dry film thickness in mils that depends on the member's W/D ratio, the rating and the manufacturer's tested design. Labor is driven by the number of coats, primer and topcoat requirements, masking of adjacent finishes and the finish quality expected on exposed architectural steel, so it is often several times the cost of SFRM per square foot.
How do you count firestopping penetrations without a firestop schedule?
We overlay the mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire protection sheets on the life safety plan and count every penetrant that crosses a rated wall or floor, grouped by type and size: metallic pipe, plastic pipe, insulated pipe, conduit, cable bundles, ducts and bus duct. Each group is matched to a tested system category and priced per penetration, with head-of-wall and perimeter joints measured separately in linear feet.
What patching allowance do you carry for damaged fireproofing?
It depends on sequence. When SFRM is applied before MEP rough-in, hangers, deck penetrations and welded attachments will remove material, and we carry a patching allowance as a percentage of applied area that reflects the trade density on the project. When the schedule allows fireproofing after rough-in, the allowance drops. Either way it is a visible line you can adjust, not a buried contingency.
How quickly can you turn around a fireproofing estimate?
Most structural sets up to a few hundred thousand square feet of steel-framed floor area are returned within 48 hours. High-rise towers and projects with mixed SFRM, intumescent and board systems are scheduled individually, usually three to four working days. Firestopping-only takeoffs and patch pricing for tenant improvements are typically same day or next morning.
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 fireproofing estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.