Building Services (MEP)
Fire Protection Estimating Services in New Zealand
Active and passive fire protection quantities: sprinklers, alarms, detection, hydrants and fire stopping, measured from the fire design.
Fire protection is one of the most regulated parts of a building, and one of the most commonly underestimated. Active systems such as sprinklers and alarms are usually designed by specialists, while passive fire protection, such as fire-rated walls, doors and penetration seals, is spread across many trades and easy to miss.
We measure both. Active systems include sprinkler heads, pipework, valves, tanks and pumps, detectors, alarm panels, sounders and hydrants. Passive fire includes fire-rated walls and ceilings, fire doors and hardware, and penetration seals around every pipe, duct and cable that passes through a fire separation.
Penetration seals are counted by type and size, because each one has to be installed and documented, and they are often a source of late cost on commercial jobs.
Scope
What we measure in a fire protection takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinkler heads | no. | By type and coverage. |
| Sprinkler pipework | lm | Mains and branches by size. |
| Valves, tanks and pumps | no. | Control valves, water storage and pumps. |
| Fire alarm and detection | no. | Detectors, call points, sounders and panels. |
| Hydrants and hose reels | no. | Where required by the fire design. |
| Fire-rated separations | m² | Walls and ceilings by fire rating. |
| Fire doors | no. | By rating, with hardware and closers. |
| Penetration seals | no. | By service type and size at each separation. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Fire protection estimates separate active and passive scopes, so specialist contractors and general trades can each price their part.
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Built for the people who price the work
- Builders
- Avoid late passive fire costs by measuring penetration seals at tender.
- Subcontractors
- Sprinkler and alarm contractors can quote from measured quantities.
- Developers
- Budget for fire systems in a multi-unit residential building.
- Architects
- See how fire separation strategy affects construction cost.
Process
How a fire protection estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload the fire engineering report or fire design, fire services drawings and architectural plans.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm active and passive scopes and the fire ratings that apply.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Active systems are counted, separations measured and penetrations counted, then cross-checked against services drawings.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the fire protection schedule, PDF and marked-up plans.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Fire safety is covered by Building Code clauses C1 to C6 (Protection from fire), with the C/AS acceptable solutions or a specific fire engineering design. Automatic sprinkler systems are commonly designed to NZS 4541, and fire alarm and detection systems to NZS 4512.
Sprinklers, alarms and other fire safety systems are often specified systems under the Building Act, requiring a compliance schedule and regular inspection. We note where specified systems are shown because they bring commissioning and documentation costs.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of fire protection work
01
Building use
Residential, commercial and assembly uses have different fire safety requirements, which drive the type and extent of systems needed.
02
Sprinkler requirement
Whether a building needs sprinklers is a major cost decision, and it is set by the fire design.
03
Number of separations
More fire cells mean more rated walls, fire doors and penetration seals.
04
Services density
Buildings with many services passing through fire separations need many penetration seals, which add both cost and inspection effort.
Where fire protection estimates go wrong
Fire protection estimates commonly miss passive fire items. Penetration seals, fire-rated door hardware and fire-stopping at junctions are spread across trades and often fall between them.
Another gap is commissioning and documentation. Fire systems need testing, certification and a compliance schedule, all of which take time and cost money.
A further risk is design change late in the job. Moving a wall or adding a service run can change fire separations and add penetrations after the passive fire contractor has priced the work. We record the drawing revisions we measured from, so any later changes can be identified and costed clearly. Each revision we receive is re-measured and tracked. Producer statements and photographic records for passive fire installations are increasingly requested by building consent authorities, and preparing them takes time on site.
FAQ
Fire Protection Estimating questions
Do you estimate passive fire protection?
Yes. We measure fire-rated walls, ceilings, doors and penetration seals.
Do you count penetration seals?
Yes. Penetrations are counted by service type and size at each fire separation.
Do you need a fire report?
A fire engineering report or fire design makes the estimate more accurate. Without one, we make stated assumptions.
Can you estimate residential sprinklers?
Yes, including domestic sprinkler systems in multi-unit residential buildings.
Do you design fire systems?
No. Fire systems are designed by specialists. We measure and estimate from their design.
Related services
- Mechanical Estimating
Mechanical services quantities for commercial and industrial buildings: plant, ductwork, pipework, controls and commissioning.
- Electrical Estimating
Electrical points, lighting, cabling and switchboards counted and measured from your electrical plan, room by room.
- Drywall Estimating
Plasterboard wall and ceiling areas by board type and system, converted into sheets, fixings and stopping for ordering and labour.
- Commercial Estimating
Measured estimates for offices, retail, fit-outs and mixed-use buildings, packaged by trade so you can tender subcontractors cleanly.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a fire protection estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer