QWS Help

• Overview
• Getting started
• Projects
• Estimates
• New estimates
• Drawing to List - Definition of a drawing
• Drawing to List - Example output
• Payment
• Results

Overview

Quantifire Web Services is a self-service portal for estimation of fire protection requirements for structural steelwork.

It uses advanced calculation methodologies to match structural steel sections and apply common industry approaches, returning results by email rapidly.

Each estimate calculated by QWS is given a unique ID.

The basis for each estimate can either be a structural steelwork list, or a set of structural drawings. In the case of drawings, a manual intervention is adopted to allow our Quantity Surveyors to turn them into a steel list.

The system adopts Credits as the form of payment for a pay-as-you-use basis.

The portal can be used in a fully automated mode, or users can request additional services for assistance for a more advanced calculation. Note that requesting services will require manual intervention and extend the time required.

Getting Started

The following steps will help you get started with QWS:

1. Sign up or login using your credentials.

2. You are shown a list of your estimates. Choose one to edit or duplicate, or click on Projects above the table

3. A list of your company's Projects is now shown. Click on a project name to create an estimate assigned to that project, or click on Create new project

4. If creating a new project complete the necessary filed and click Create Project. You will be sent to the New Estimate page. If working in an existing project click New Estimate.

5. The New Estimate page allows you to build an estimate, pay, and submit. Start by selecting where the estimate is based on a list or drawings, then click Browse and select the file(s).

6. Select any services you require. Note these will increase the cost and the response time due to the need for involvement of PFP Specialists' quantity surveyors or estimators.

7. Set the fire duration and critical temperature (Tcrit).

8. Let QWS detect the columns in the steel list or set them manually by un-checking "Auto-detect columns" and setting them manually.

9. Select the products you want to be reported by dragging them from the products list to the box on the right side. All single products are reported in separate columns. More advanced product-comparison columns can be added.

10. Set any advanced options. Note the default values are generally set to widely accepted conservative defaults and are typically safe to leave unchanged if unsure.

11. Add a description to help you find the job later

12. Go to checkout, enter a voucher code if applicable, check the final cost, and click Pay.

13. Await the results by email. Fully automatic estimates are typically returned in seconds.

Projects

All estimates in QWS must belong to a project. A project can be the overall construction project or a specific part of one, e.g. a specific building name. Note that larger projects can be divided into packages are described below.

Creating a new project

From the Projects tab, click on ‘Create a new project’.

Mandatory fields

Project name

Please note that the Project name must be unique. Any entered name will be checked against the database and the user warned if the name is a duplicate. The name must then be changed before the user can create the project. The exception to the above is the project name "N/A". It is recognised that sometimes the project name is unknown. In these cases, "N/A" may be entered, and there is no limit in the number of projects that can have this name.

Region

The regional location of the project

Market segment

A market segment relevant to the project. Note that market segments for Quantifire desktop app full license holders are set by the organisation.

Optional fields

The remaining fields are typically non-mandatory, but use is recommended when the information is available to assist in future project recognition.

Packages

A package is a part of the overall project bid separately to other parts of the project (i.e., a sub-project). For example, a specific building within a larger development or the internal steelwork only. Not all projects are divided into packages. Packages can be set up at the time of creating a project or added to a project later.

Estimates

All estimates are associated with a Project (and a Package if applicable).

Estimates list

Clicking 'home' will always return the user to a list of their estimates

The Estimates list view shows all visible estimates and their associated project name. A Description column shows user-defined text to help identify a specific estimate. By default, the most recent estimate is displayed first. The list itself shows the estimate ID, date, the Project name, and the Description

The fields can be sorted by clicking on the relevant column header. They can also be searched between two specific dates or by keyword(s).

Icons to the right of the page indicate the functions availably to the user as follows:

Pen icon

Edit a draft estimates.

Hourglass with sand only in top half

Estimate queued awaiting processing

Hourglass with sand falling

Estimate currently being processed

Green page

View report (available for single products only at present)

Blue pages

Duplicate the estimate using the same steel list. Note that a steel list can be used a 2nd and 3rd time without incurring a basic fee, allowing options to be corrected (note expert services will incur a fee each estimate).

New Estimates

Choose a source

Define the basis of your estimate.

Spreadsheet

Browse to select a single file that contains a steel list and any associated inputs.

This can be a spreadsheet file (e.g., .xls, xlsx, xlsm or a text file e.g., .csv or .txt equivalent).

It can be a file you have prepared yourself, a file given to you by your client or a file that has been prepared using a Quantifire template.

QWS will read only the first sheet in the workbook - please ensure your list is on this page. If the file is open in the background the portal may not allow you to upload it.

You can add some descriptive text to be associated with the file. This will be saved with the estimate.

Please ensure the profile column is clearly marked or QWS will not be able to process your data.

Drawings

If you have a steelwork drawing or set or drawings that need to be converted into a steel list, then QWS can be used to do this.

Upload the drawing file(s) to be assessed. Multiple files can be uploaded at the same time. For each file, you can provide comments for our team to be aware of. For example, “Perimeter steelwork to be excluded”. 

You must indicate the number of drawings that you will upload. A ‘drawing’ in this context can sometime be subjective, but for QWS, it is taken as a typical structural general arrangement steelwork drawing that may be printed as a .pdf for tender or construction. 

As an example, a set of drawings may be uploaded as a single .pdf file. The file has 5 pages which comprise Levels 01, 02 and 03 on pages 1, 2, and 3 respectively and then a range of elevations and sections on pages 4 and 5. This would be declared as 5 drawings.

Note that you may uploaded supporting files which are not drawings, e.g., steelwork specifications, structural fire engineering reports, etc. These do not need to be declared as drawings, but you should indicate in the comments why they are being uploaded, e.g., ‘they contain fire rating definitions’, or ‘they provide a descriptive overview of what needs to be fire protected’.

Upon receipt of your drawing submission, our team will cross-check the declared number of drawings against the actual number. If there is any discrepancy or uncertainty, they will contact you for clarification before proceeding. As part of the clarification, this may include a revision to the declared number of drawings.

Upon conversion of the drawing(s) to a steel list, our team will modify your submission to a steel list together with your requested inputs. When you receive your results, a link to the set of marked-up drawings will be provided to you so that you can cross-check what has been included in the take-off.

Services

These services provide manual intervention by our team to help you with your project estimate and to undertake specialist activities.

Expert checks

Upload check

Our team will review your submitted steel list to ensure that the section profile is correctly matched to a Quantifire profile, and that associated data in the columns are captured properly. This service will also look to ensure that no information is missing to enable an accurate estimate first time.

Results check

Our team will check a sample of the project estimate’s product thicknesses against certified values to give you confidence in the results. This will be undertaken before you receive the results and acts to give you peace of mind in that an independent review of the output has been done outside of an otherwise automated service.

Expert services

Tcrit calculation

Our in-house structural fire engineer will review your project estimate with an aim to assess accurate critical temperatures (T_crit). This can potentially bring benefit in terms of reduced thicknesses and associated cost.

This manual service will typically require a degree of correspondence with you. It is likely only feasible when project specific structural utilisations or structural loading information is readily available. 

All calculations will be underpinned by typical structural references together with any assumptions. The output will be provided in such a way that the project’s Structural Engineer can review accordingly. 

If insufficient information is provided to allow a meaningful assessment, then we will contact you to clarify accordingly.

Drawing annotation

This option is only available when the source of the estimate is ‘Drawings’.

Our team can annotate your uploaded drawings with a tabulated list of product thicknesses for quick reference by an applicator or installer.

The actual output may vary between projects and drawings, but it will essentially be a member profile, fire protection product name, and associated thickness (e.g., DFT).

Cellular beams (CB)

Expert CB calculation

This option requires you to select a product that has certification for cellular beams.

The calculation of critical temperature for a beam with web-openings is a complex assessment. Our team will undertake this assessment for you. For each beam, a full structural check will be undertaken to determine failure criteria and ultimately a product thickness.

All calculations will be underpinned by typical structural references together with any assumptions. The output will be provided in such a way that the project’s Structural Engineer can review accordingly. 

If insufficient information is provided to allow a meaningful assessment, then we will contact you to clarify accordingly.

Fire rating

Define how your required fire resistance period is to be considered for your estimate.

From uploaded file(s)

Use this option when the fire resistance period is defined clearly within your uploaded files.

This could be a unique column in your spreadsheet steel list, or it could be instructions on your uploaded drawing(s).

Fire resistance periods can be different for individual lines of the estimate using this approach.

User set

Use this option to use a single fire resistance period (in minutes) across your entire estimate.

Jet fire

This option can only be selected when the total fire resistance time is ‘User set’ and requires you to use a product that has jet fire certification.

The value must be less than or equal to the ‘User set’ duration.

Jet fires are an extreme form fire resulting from a gaseous of liquid inventories, typically in the oil and gas industry. 

Example 1: a 15-minute jet fire would be entered as ‘User set = 15 minutes’ and ‘Jet fire = 15 minutes.

Example 2: a 60-minute hydrocarbon pool fire with an inclusive 30-minute jet fire would be entered as ‘User set = 60 minutes’ and ‘Jet fire = 30 minutes.

Critical temperature

Define how the critical temperature of your steel profiles is to be considered for your estimate.

From uploaded file(s)

Use this option when the critical temperature is defined clearly within your uploaded files.

This could be a unique column in your spreadsheet steel list, or it could be instructions on your uploaded drawing(s).

Critical temperatures can be different for individual lines of the estimate using this approach.

User set

Use this option to use a single critical temperature (in °C) across your entire estimate.

Note that the blanket use of a high critical temperature (e.g., 750°C) may not be safe in the absence of a structural fire engineering assessment. The use of a high temperature such as this is not advised without appropriate justification. If in doubt, request clarification on the temperature from the project’s Structural Engineer.

Industry default

This option provides you with a common set of default critical temperatures. If in doubt of the inputs, please review the industry reference directly or request clarification on the temperature from the project’s Structural Engineer. A brief description is given as follows: -

BS 5950: ASFP Yellow Book adopts the temperatures in the table in the ASFP’s Yellow Book for designs based on the structural engineering standard BS 5950. When using this as the input, you will need to select an occupancy type and a column slenderness limit to adopt.

Eurocode: ASFP Yellow Book This adopts the temperatures in the table in the ASFP’s Yellow Book for designs based on the Eurocode structural engineering standard. These temperatures are based on UK-specific guidance. You will need to define an occupancy type.

620/550/520 This option considers all beams supporting concrete as 620°C, all other non-hollow section members as 550°C and all hollow members as 520°C. These temperatures have been used globally for a long time, although their basis with respect to modern-day structural engineering design standards is often questioned. They were originally based on BS 449 permissible strength methods and historical fire tests.

593/538 This option considers all beams supporting concrete as 593°C (1100°F) and all other members as 538°C (1000°F). This aligns with common North American approaches and aligns with the temperatures set out in the ASTM E-119 fire test standard.

Note that default temperatures are typically considered to be conservative, however, they may not always be safe. It may be possible to derive lower failure temperatures for members subject to extreme loads in certain design scenarios.

Steel list options

These inputs are only relevant when the source of the estimate is a ‘Spreadsheet’. The settings here allow you to define how your uploaded file is laid out and interpreted by Quantifire.

Auto-detect columns

If this is entry is ticked, then Quantifire will automatically determine the content of your submitted steel list based on commonly recognised column headers and content. The profile names will be matched against to the same section stored within Quantifire’s internal database.

It can be a file you have prepared yourself, a file given to you by your client or a file that has been prepared using a Quantifire template.

When this this entry in unticked, you can manually define the content of file with respect to the location of the column. Columns in this context are denoted alphabetically from the letter A and are taken as being located left to right in the file. This aligns with common spreadsheet layouts. In the case of comma separated (.csv) file, the comma acts as the column separator.

The following entries are accepted and recognised by Quantifire, noting that there must always be at least one of the columns set to be ‘Profile’.

Section options

Replace section factor values

Setting this option will replace all section factor values in your steel list with Quantifire’s calculated section factor.

Replace area values

Setting this option will replace all surface area values in your steel list with Quantifire’s calculated surface area based on given lengths.

Convert beam areas from 4 sides to 3

Use this option if your areas for beams in your steel list are 4-sided but you wish Quantifire to calculate and report the equivalent 3-sided area, i.e., a beam supporting a concrete slab.

Units in uploaded file

Length units

Define the unit for length within the uploaded steel list. The unit can be metric or imperial.

Area units

Define the unit for area within the uploaded steel list. The unit can be metric or imperial.

Weight units

Define the unit for steel weight within the uploaded steel list. The unit can be metric or imperial.

Measurements are per section or as total

Length

This lets you indicate whether the length inputs on each line of your steel list (if provided) represent individual members (e.g., 6 m) or a total cumulative length (e.g., 4,586 m). This information is only relevant if you require a critical temperature calculation to be made as part of your estimate.

The entry can also be left as ‘Not stated’.

Area

This lets you indicate whether the surface area inputs on each line of your steel list (if provided) represent individual members (e.g., 12 m²) or a total cumulative area (e.g., 9,261 m²). This information is only relevant if you require a critical temperature calculation to be made as part of your estimate.

The entry can also be left as ‘Not stated’.

Weight

This lets you indicate whether the steel weight measure on each line of your steel list (if provided) represent individual members (e.g., 640 kg) or a total cumulative area (e.g., 22,437 kg). This information is only relevant if you require a critical temperature calculation to be made as part of your estimate.

The entry can also be left as ‘Not stated’.

Products

Choose which fire protection product(s) you want to use for your estimate.

Products tree

Products are organised across three levels as follows: -

 + Fire test standard

  + Manufacturer

   + Product name, certificate reference and section types it can cover

Clicking on the fire test standard will display the list of manufacturers. Clicking on the manufacturer will show an expanded view of their products. For each product, the certification reference is shown together with an indication of the type of section it can protect. Examples of types of section include: -

• I-section
• CHS
• RHS (including both RHS and SHS)
• Cell (cellular beam)

Product columns

Product thicknesses are displayed in the results as their own unique column. These can be individual columns or a product comparison column.

There is no limit to the number of product columns that can be specified.

To be able to submit a job, at least one product must be selected in either an individual product column or a product comparison column.

Product simply need to be dragged from the products tree across to the relevant product column area.

Product comparison column

Product comparison columns are used when you want to consider options when using a more than one product. Examples of this are given in the table below.

Options

Use these settings to define how Quantifire will interpret your steel list and determine product thicknesses from the relevant certification.

Composite beams and decking voids

Assume all beams to be composite

3-sided beams in the building (cellulosic) market support concrete slabs. However, these can be classified as one of two options: -

• Non-composite: The slab rests on the upper surface of the top flange of the beam
• Composite: The slab is connected to the top flange using shear studs

It is important to understand if a beam is composite or non-composite since it influences the critical temperature of the beam and may need consideration of how to treat protection of the upper surface of the top flange.

The user should verify whether beams are composite or not with the project team. For example, in UK buildings, most beams in multi-storey construction are composite.

Apply ASFP Yellow Book unfilled decking voids method

If the beam is composite, then you must define the shape of the metal deck that supports the concrete. The input choices for this are given in the drop-down box: -

Re-entrant The shape of the decking resembles a ‘dovetail’ and it appears to be in almost continuous contact with the beam along its top flange.

Trapezoidal (filled) The decking shape is trapezoidal in profile and the voids it creates at the position of the top flange of the beam are filled with a suitable fire stopping material to provide protection to the flange’s upper surface.

Trapezoidal (unfilled) The decking shape is trapezoidal in profile and the voids it creates at the position of the top flange of the beam are left unfilled, i.e., little to no protection to the flange’s upper surface.

3-sided beam certified protection thicknesses are derived based on fire testing of non-composite beams with a solid concrete slab on the top flange. In the case of composite beams with trapezoidal decking and unfilled voids, there is a risk that the exposed surface of the top flange at the void location could heat and cause failure of the beam. 

Guidance in the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) in the UK outlines when these voids can be left unfilled. The guidance provides a method to increase the passive fire protection thickness on the beam to compensate for not filling a void.

Note the ASFP guidance is UK centric. Its use may not be permitted in other geographical regions. Users are advised to verify acceptance of this approach with the design team.

Bracing members

Apply ASFP Yellow Book bracing guidance

Bracing members are typically very thin and can have high section factors which are not possible to protect as they fall outside the limits of certified product thicknesses. Some geographical regions and markets permit bracing elements to be treated as a special case. 

Quantifire allows the user to set a maximum section factor and to be defined for members designated as bracing elements. By default, this is set to 200m^-1 with a critical temperature of 500°C. 

You are encouraged to verify the acceptance of this approach on the project. For example, parts of Europe and the oil and gas (hydrocarbon) industry may not accept this modification since it is based on UK guidance for the built environment. 

The following explanatory text is taken from BS 5950-8 (similar text is given in the ASFP Yellow Book): -

“Steel bracing members required to provide stability to the structure at the fire limit state should have adequate fire resistance unless alternative load paths can be identified.

Where fire protection to bracing members is necessary, the protection thickness should be based on the section factor of the member or a value of 200 m^–1, whichever is the smaller value.

In some cases, it might not be necessary to apply fire protection to bracing members and consideration should be given to:

— shielding bracing members from fire by placing them in vertical shafts or within walls;

— the use of infill masonry walls which, although they are typically ignored in terms of overall stability at ambient temperature, can provide the sufficient shear capacity during a fire instead of relying on the steel bracing systems;

— the possibility that only bracing systems within a fire compartment might be subjected to elevated temperatures and the other unaffected bracing systems might be sufficient to provide the required stability at the fire limit state;

— the possibility that the steel beam to column connections might have sufficient stiffness to ensure stability at the fire limit state.”

Certification options

Interpolate section factors

This setting permits interpolation of fire protection thicknesses at values between section factors shown on the certification.

Interpolate Tcrit

This setting permits interpolation of fire protection thicknesses at values between critical temperatures shown on the certification.

Interpolate duration

This setting permits interpolation of fire protection thicknesses at values between fire resistance periods shown on the certification.

Use minimum DFT below the minimum section factors

Select this to permit sections with a section factor below a product’s minimum certified value to adopt the protection thickness associated with the minimum certified section factor. 

Example: Thicknesses for a product are certified for a section factor down to 25m^-1. A steel member has a section factor of 13m^-1. The thickness for 25m^-1 is adopted for the section.

If unchecked the notification message ‘<SF min’ will be displayed in the results.

Use column certification for beams

Selecting this will only provide a fire protection thickness from column certification for beams if there is no beam certificate available. Note that for situations where 4-sided beams use column thicknesses anyway, this setting will have no effect.

Apply the UL 1709 single thickness method

The historical approach to using UL 1709 certification was to test a W10x49 column and to apply the thickness derived for a given period of fire resistance to all sections, regardless of section factor.

This approach is changing over time, due in part to evolution of the UL 1709 standard and in part to increasing understanding in industry of how the section factor concept reflects rate of heating, however it is still common in some areas.

To allow Quantifire users to meet the expectations of clients requesting a single-thickness approach, this option will give a thickness regardless of the section factor of the section entered.

Please note this methodology is only applicable to certificates with a single thickness, and the use of this approach is not endorsed in any way by PFP Specialists.

Section options

Use CHS certification for solid rods

This setting allows protection thicknesses for solid rods to be based on hollow section profile certification in the absence of specific solid rod certification, e.g., EN 13381-10.

Users should verify this approach with the project design team.

Use CHS certification for concrete filled tubes

This setting allows protection thicknesses for concrete filled tubes to be based on hollow section profile certification in the absence of specific concrete filled tubes certification, e.g., EN 13381-6.

Users should verify this approach with the project design team.

Use Corus method for concrete filled tubes section factor

The publication “Design Guide for SHS concrete filled columns, Corus Tubes, The Steel Construction Institute, 2002”, includes a calculation methodology to evaluate a modified section factor of a steel tube to account for concrete filling. 

Note that acceptance of this approach may vary across the globe and therefore users should verify its permitted use.

Use 350°C for concrete filled tubes

Setting this option will force the critical temperature to be 350°C.

EN 1994-1-2 states that the critical temperature of a steel tube filled with concrete may be taken as 350°C. Although not explicitly stated, this is understood to be based on the possibility of localised buckling of Class 4 sections which could occur as the steel tube expands at a faster rate than the concrete infill. 

Description

This is a mandatory field, displayed in the estimates list and in the results returned by email. Use to help identify the estimate in the future.

Save for later, or go to checkout

Go to checkout will save the estimate and then take the user to a page where they can apply a voucher, confirm the final cost, and submit the estimate.

Save and return will save the estimate and return the user to the estimate list.

Note that once an estimate is saved the steel list is uploaded and becomes assigned to the estimate. This allow QWS to detect repeat estimates for a given steel list to avoid charging the basic cost each time. Removing the steel list when editing the estimate will result in the basic charge being applicable.

Drawing to List - Definition of a drawing

Given the wide variety of drawing formats that exist in the construction industry, different people may have different interpretations of what a ‘drawing’ constitutes from an estimator’s perspective. Our Quantity Surveyors define a drawing as being similar to those shown below which align with common drawings issued for construction. For example, a general arrangement steelwork drawing of a floor plan or entire or partial sections or elevations.

Some drawings may contain pertinent details such as cellular beam web opening geometry. Typically these are not included in our definition of a drawing unless there is sufficient detail to warrant extensive time to review and extract the relevant information.

Our Quantity Surveyors will cross-check the number of drawings received against the number declared as part of your estimate. In the event of any discrepancy, we will contact you to agree of course action before progressing – this may delay your job.

When submitted drawings, please bearing in mind the following: -

• Members may be defined by a reference only, e.g. ‘B1’. Please ensure that the key to any references is provided.
• Drawings may reference details on other drawings or reports, please review prior to submission to ensure that all information is provided.
• Please use the comments section of the upload form to advise of anything you wish us to consider, e.g. splits of perimeter members and internal members.

Drawing to List - Example output

The output from our Quantity Surveyors will be a set of marked up drawings and a spreadsheet steel list. These can either be used for your own needs, or the steel list can be submitted to the Quantifire Web Service to produce estimate(s) of fire protection materials.

An extract from a sample example project is given below. The original drawing is from a full set of plans and shows structural steelwork for a single floor. The blue shading denotes a different fire resistance period compared to the areas not shaded.

Also shown is the marked-up drawing sent back to client and the associated spreadsheet steel list following the estimate. The drawing indicates by coloured lines which members have been accounted for. Similarly, colour dots indicate which columns have been accounted for. This allows you to cross-check what has been measured. The spreadsheet list subsequently was submitted to the Quantifire Web Service to generate a fire protection estimate.

Payment

Payment in QWS is handled using credits. Credits can be purchased from PFP Specialists. Please contact PFP Specialists for a quote.

Vouchers can also be used in lieu of credits. Vouchers may be applicable to the fully-automatic process only, or may also be available for expert services. Vouchers are never valid for the cost associated with drawings but may be applicable to extra services applied to submissions based on drawings.

Vouchers are issued via email and are restricted to a specific company. The value, scope and expiry date of the voucher will be given in the email

Results

Steel list submissions

Your results will be emailed directly to you as soon as possible, typically in a few seconds. The results will be an attachment in the form of an Excel file containing the following sheets:

Results

A formatted list of steel sections product DFTs and product quantities required

Detail

This is the underpinning detail associated with each section, provided for user reference to understand the basis for resultant product thicknesses.

Unmatched profiles

Any profiles that were not recognised by QWS will be listed here, for reference.

Original

The original source data for reference and checking.

Drawings submissions

You will be emailed with your results in the form of an Excel file in the same manner as when the source is a steel list. The steel list will have been created from the drawings.

You will also receive a link to a sharepoint folder where you can download your marked-up drawings showing what the Quantity Surveyor has included as part of the take-off.

Refining your submission

Note that you will not be able to modify your original steel list, nor the take-off from drawings that led to the steel list, via the portal. A new submission would be needed.

If the Upload Check service was selected PFPS may modify the steel list on your behalf if profiles were unmatched. Please email quantifire@pfpspecialists.co.uk stating the estimate ID and the issue.