Federal Estimating
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Fireproofing Estimating Services Built Around UL Assemblies and Fire Ratings

Surface area alone is not enough for accurate fireproofing estimates. Fire rating requirements for each structural member determine SFRM thickness, which directly impacts material costs. Our fireproofing estimating services deliver UL-compliant, member-by-member cost breakdowns to provide specification-accurate numbers before bidding begins.

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Fireproofing Estimating Services
Why Firestopping Estimating Services Matter

Why Fire Protection Estimates Without UL Assembly Compliance Are Always Wrong

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Member Type and Rating Drive Thickness

Structural steel does not fail by melting during a fire but by losing load-bearing capacity. SFRM thickness depends on the required fire rating, member type, and the W/D ratio of each steel section. Estimates that apply a uniform thickness without reviewing UL assemblies are rarely accurate. This is where professional firestopping estimating services add value, ensuring fireproofing and penetration details are priced together for a complete fire-rated assembly.

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Density Category Changes Material Cost Significantly

Spray-applied fireproofing falls into three density categories: commercial density for concealed interiors, medium density for exposed and high-rise areas, and high density for industrial and parking structures. Since each category has significantly different installation costs, applying a single blended rate across a project leads to inaccurate estimates.

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MEP Patching Scope Is Always Missed

After SFRM installation, MEP penetrations often damage fireproofing and create patching work that many estimates overlook. In addition, IBC Section 1705.15 requires special inspections under ASTM E605. Inspection coordination and repair of damaged fireproofing add real costs that must be included for a reliable bid.

Complete Fire Protection Estimating Coverage

What's Included in Our Fireproofing Estimating Services

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SFRM Spray Fireproofing Estimating

Spray-applied fire-resistive material is the primary passive fire protection system for concealed structural steel in commercial construction, achieving one to four hour fire-resistance ratings per ASTM E119 and UL 263. We estimate SFRM from your structural drawings and fireproofing specification, calculating coverage area by member type, required thickness per UL design assembly by fire-resistance rating, density category by application environment, and material quantity by coverage rate, organized by floor level and structural zone for direct subcontractor pricing.

Intumescent Coating Estimating

Intumescent fireproofing, applied to architecturally exposed structural steel where spray-applied cementitious material is aesthetically unacceptable, expands when exposed to heat, creating an insulating char layer that delays heat transfer to the steel substrate. Intumescent estimates require dry film thickness calculations by fire-resistance rating and steel section W/D ratio, coverage rate by product system, primer and topcoat scope, and application labor adjusted for the high-access conditions frequently required for exposed structural steel in commercial and institutional projects.

Firestopping Estimating

Firestopping, sealing penetrations through rated wall and floor assemblies where pipes, ducts, conduits, and cables pass through fire-rated construction is a separate and distinct scope from structural fireproofing, governed by UL system listings that specify product, installation method, and annular space requirements by penetrant type and rated assembly construction. We estimate firestopping from your architectural and MEP drawings, counting every penetration by type, rated assembly, annular space configuration, and UL system requirement, so your firestopping contractor receives a complete, code-compliant scope package. 

Cementitious Fireproofing Estimating

Firestopping, sealing penetrations through rated wall and floor assemblies where pipes, ducts, conduits, and cables pass through fire-rated construction, is a separate and distinct scope from structural fireproofing, governed by UL system listings that specify product, installation method, and annular space requirements by penetrant type and rated assembly construction. We estimate firestopping from your architectural and MEP drawings, counting every penetration by type, rated assembly, annular space configuration, and UL system requirement, so your firestopping contractor receives a complete, code-compliant scope package.

Fireproofing Repair and Restoration Estimating

Fireproofing repair, such as patching MEP-damaged SFRM, restoring fire protection after renovation work, remediating areas failing IBC Section 1705.15 thickness inspection, and replacing asbestos-containing legacy fireproofing, carries scope complexity and labor costs that new-application estimating approaches don't reflect. We estimate fireproofing restoration from your inspection reports and repair drawings, quantifying patch areas by structural member type, access condition, and material specification so your fireproofing contractor can price remediation work with the accuracy restoration scope demands.

Structural Steel Fireproofing Estimating

Comprehensive structural steel fireproofing estimates require reading your structural framing plans member by member, identifying frame columns, structural frame beams, and filler beams separately, because IBC Section 601 assigns different fire-resistance ratings to each category within the same floor plate. Applying a single fire-resistance rating and SFRM thickness across all steel members is one of the most common and costly fireproofing estimating errors on commercial construction projects. We estimate each member category individually per the fire-resistance schedule on your construction documents.

Fireproofing Takeoff Services

Accurate takeoffs form the foundation of every fireproofing estimate. We measure exposed and concealed structural steel, beams, columns, joists, and decking directly from architectural and structural drawings, quantifying square footage by member type and fire-resistance rating. Takeoffs account for connections, bracing, and irregular geometries often missed in rough counts. Each measurement is cross-referenced against UL assembly requirements before pricing, giving your team a verified quantity baseline ready for material and labor estimating.  

Industry-standard Tools

Tools We Use for Fireproofing Estimating

  • PlanSwift
  • Bluebeam Revu
  • On-Screen Takeoff (OST)
  • RSMeans Fireproofing Cost Data
  • Microsoft Excel
  • STACK Estimating
  • Autodesk Revit
  • UL Fire Resistance Directory
  • Sage Estimating
  • ProEst
Software tools
Every Fireproofing Project Type

Who We Work With

Our budget fireproofing estimating services support every contractor and owner who needs UL-assembly-compliant, member-accurate passive fire protection cost data.

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Fireproofing Contractors

We give fireproofing contractors member-by-member SFRM estimates built from structural drawings and UL assemblies, so every bid is code-compliant, accurately scoped, and immediately ready for submission.

General Contractors

We give GCs complete fireproofing cost packages covering SFRM, intumescent coatings, firestopping, and repair scope, so fireproofing subcontractor buyout starts with UL-assembly-verified quantities that hold through inspection.

Steel Fabricators

We help structural steel fabricators quantify shop-applied intumescent primer scope and coordinate fireproofing requirements with field SFRM applications so fire-resistance continuity across all connection conditions is fully priced.

Real Estate Developers

We give commercial and industrial developers accurate fireproofing cost data anchored in UL-assembly-specific quantities, supporting development budgets and lender submissions before structural design or specifications are finalized.

Construction Managers

We support CMs with independent fireproofing quantity verification and proposal review, providing objective second opinions on every fireproofing subcontractor bid received during the buyout process.

Industrial Facilities

We estimate high-density cementitious fireproofing for industrial structures, process platforms, pipe racks, equipment support steel, and storage tank fireproofing at industrial-grade material specifications your industrial project requires.

From Structural Drawings to Code-Compliant Bid Numbers

How Our Process Works

We handle every UL assembly, hourly rating, and application thickness so your fireproofing bid goes out complete and stays that way through procurement.

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  1. Submit Plans

    Upload your drawings and project documents.

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  2. Review Scope

    We analyze every detail of your project scope using industry-standard tools, ensuring nothing is missed

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  3. Cost Estimate

    We build a precise, itemized estimate covering all materials, labor, and trade-specific costs.

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  4. Bid-Ready Delivery

    Your completed estimate lands in your inbox.

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Discuss Your Plans with Our Team

David Kay
Vice President

David Kay

With nearly a decade of hands-on experience in construction cost estimating, David has helped hundreds of contractors, subcontractors, and developers across the USA and Canada bid smarter, win more, and build profitably. Working with industry-standard tools including Bluebeam, PlanSwift, and RSMeans, David brings the same level of precision and speed to every estimate, whether it's a single-trade subcontractor bid or a full commercial project breakdown.

Project Samples

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What Our Clients Say

Douglas Bennett

We hired Federal Estimating for fireproofing estimating on a mid-rise commercial project, and the quality of the estimate was exceptional. The report included detailed quantities for spray-applied fireproofing, intumescent coatings, and related materials. Their understanding of fireproofing assemblies and project specifications gave us confidence in our bid numbers. The turnaround was quick, and communication was excellent throughout the process.

Christine Foster

Federal Estimating prepared a fireproofing estimate for our distribution center project, and we were extremely satisfied with the results. The estimate was accurate, well organized, and clearly identified structural members requiring fire protection. Their detailed breakdown helped us plan labor and material costs more effectively while reducing the risk of scope gaps. We look forward to working with them again.

Eric Sullivan

Our specialty contracting firm needed a reliable fireproofing estimate for a hospital expansion project with strict bidding requirements. Federal Estimating delivered a comprehensive takeoff that aligned closely with the project drawings and specifications. Their attention to detail and knowledge of passive fire protection systems saved our team significant time during bid preparation. We highly recommend their fireproofing estimating services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Fireproofing estimating fees are based on structural complexity, number of fire-resistance rating zones, fireproofing system type, and required turnaround. SFRM estimates for straightforward single-rating commercial structures typically start at $300 to $600. Full fireproofing packages covering SFRM, intumescent coatings, firestopping, and repair scope on mid-sized commercial projects range from $700 to $2,000. Industrial cementitious fireproofing and complex multi-rating high-rise estimates are quoted individually after reviewing your structural drawings and fire-resistance schedule. We provide a fixed price before any work begins.

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