Why Fireproofing Gets Misestimated on Large Projects?

[Alec_Guinness]

Fireproofing rarely gets the spotlight in construction discussions, but it plays a huge role in life safety and code compliance especially in high-rise or industrial projects. I’ve noticed that this trade is often underestimated early on, either because it’s bundled into structural scope or because people assume the quantities will be straightforward once steel is up.

In reality, fireproofing coverage can change fast with design tweaks, beam sizes, floor assemblies, and rating requirements. Missed areas or incorrect thickness assumptions can turn into expensive change orders later. That’s where fireproofing estimators become incredibly valuable. Having specialists measure surfaces from drawings and specs early helps teams lock budgets, coordinate sequencing, and avoid scrambling after fabrication is complete.

It also ties directly into scheduling. If fireproofing is delayed or re-scoped mid-stream, steel erection and follow-on trades can stall. Getting that scope right from the beginning keeps the whole project moving.

Curious how others here handle fireproofing takeoffs do you treat it as a standalone package or roll it into structural pricing during early budgets?