Fire Safety Works Costs

[nearlythere]

Is it a permanent non combustible structure or temporary prefab DD?

It is a permanent structure built in the 70`s extended in the 90`s false ceilings throughout it isn`t a dirty or difficult installation.

The problem we have is the council has a preferred contractor which is a licence to print money.

As a FSO I have seen the same company quote £18000 for a job that eventually cost £4000. The £18K quote would have put the company concerned out of business.    
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In short I think the school has been screwed.

[Mike Buckley]

The council should have more than one preferred contractor, if it doesn't there is something fishy going on. The other side of the prefered contractor scheme is that the contractor may have to put a bid in just to show interest. If contractors don't want the job then they tend to put in silly quotes so they will be rejected. They have quoted so maintainign their status in intereast and they don't get the job they didn't want in the first place. If they do get the job at the silly price then they grin and bear it all the way to the bank!

Contractors do their best to get onto the preferred supplier scheme as even though councils are slow to pay they will pay in the end.

[AnthonyB]

 I often find that alarm & extinguisher contractors sting customers with over provision & over pricing - I do an FRA and make recommendations, return the year after to find that the works have been done to a category above what is required, the cost was equivalent to using gold plated MCP's and often an important aspect of the cover has been omitted.

I'm doing more & more project work now with clients to supervise specification and quoting of systems, etc and the cost savings are amazing, even though I don't always recommend lowest quote (usually due to concerns about quality/competency).

I've reduced a £20k L2 quote to a £6k L5 in the past, resulting in the works being done and a wholly inadequate existing system finally (after years of trying) being replaced.

I see too much of £80 for a £13 8w fitting, £180 for a £50 extinguisher, plus lots of over specification (look the room has a sink and a kettle - fire blanket & 2kg Powder extinguisher needed!), plus incorrect specification (6 kilo Powder in an office, foam for a 40 Litre fryer, heat where smoke head required, missed exit lock interfaces).

[Mr. P]

K if this was Benz asking, yes it would likely be a tardis type facility!
The reason I started this was because I am often asked how much this or that will cost. That side of it is not my line, However I am concerned that some people will get away with £££'s because of who their customers are. Some try to over specify etc. that was a point trying to be made. I always say get several quotes.
Anyway guys, some DALEKtable responses!!