Fire Fighting System BOQ for a Factory: Hydrants, Sprinklers, Pumps, Tank and Detection
A factory fire fighting BOQ should be built by subsystem, with a specification, unit and quantity for each item: fire water storage and pumps, piping, hydrants and hose reels, sprinklers where required, detection and alarm, extinguishers, accessories, testing and documentation. The items most often missed are civil work, pump power supply, valves and supports, testing and as-built drawings.
Structure the BOQ by subsystem
A BOQ that lists material in one long sheet is hard to check. Group it by subsystem so each can be reviewed against the design and the authority's requirements.
| Subsystem | Typical items | Often missed |
|---|---|---|
| Water storage | Underground or overhead tank, level indication, make-up arrangement, valves | Tank civil work, inlet and drainage arrangement |
| Pumps and pump room | Main electric pump, jockey pump, standby diesel engine pump, control panel, manifold | Pump room civil, ventilation, drainage, fuel storage, cabling |
| Piping | Underground ring main, above-ground risers, supports, valves, anti-corrosion coating | Trenching, thrust blocks, pipe supports, painting |
| Hydrants and hose reels | Landing valves, hose pipes, branch pipes, hose boxes, external hydrant posts | Hose cabinet accessories, signage |
| Sprinklers | Sprinkler heads, branch pipework, control valves, flow switches, test points | Alarm valve assembly, drain and test arrangement |
| Detection and alarm | Detectors, manual call points, panel, sounders, cabling | Cable protection, battery backup, integration with other systems |
| Extinguishers | Portable extinguishers by fire class, wall brackets | Class selection for electrical and process areas |
| Testing and handover | Hydrostatic tests, pump tests, alarm tests, as-built drawings | Records, certificates, training |
Our BOQ glossary entry explains the document, and the fire fighting systems page lists what each system includes.
Specify by standard, not by guesswork
A BOQ line such as 'fire pump, 1 no.' cannot be priced consistently. A usable line states the duty (flow and head), the type, the driver, and the standard it complies with. In India the National Building Code of India 2016, published by BIS, and the Indian Standards it refers to are the usual basis, along with the requirements of the state fire service. Say which standard governs each item, and require test certificates.
Do not copy quantities from another project. Hydrant count, tank capacity and pump duty follow from the building's size, use and hazard. The fire water tank calculator and the fire pump room calculator show how those quantities follow from the building.
Items that are usually missed
- Pump room civil works: foundations, drainage, ventilation and lighting.
- Power and control cabling for the electric pump, jockey pump and panel, including a standby supply.
- Diesel engine pump fuel: tank, day tank and exhaust arrangement.
- Valves, strainers, flexible joints and supports that do not appear on the first drawing.
- Underground work: trenching, bedding, thrust blocks and road crossings.
- Hydrant accessories: hose boxes, branch pipes and signage.
- Testing: hydrostatic tests, flushing, pump performance and alarm tests.
- Documentation: as-built drawings, test certificates and operation manuals.
Any one of these can add a visible amount to the final account. Ask bidders to state whether each is in or out of the price.
Detection, extinguishers and special areas
Detection and alarm need a layout by zone, a panel with enough loops, battery backup, and cabling that is protected. Portable extinguishers should be chosen by fire class: ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, electrical equipment and cooking oils need different agents. Electrical rooms, server rooms and some process areas may need gas-based suppression instead of water; see special hazard suppression. Include these in the BOQ as separate blocks rather than as 'miscellaneous'.
How to review a BOQ before you sign
Check the BOQ against the approved drawing. Every symbol on the drawing should have a line in the BOQ, and every BOQ line should be traceable to a drawing or a specification. Compare quantities with the hydraulic calculation: pipe diameters, pump duty and tank size must match. Ask whether the Fire NOC drawing and the BOQ are the same scope; a drawing that was approved and a BOQ that prices something smaller is a common gap.
The Fire NOC calculator shows which requirements your building triggers, and our guide on evaluating fire protection quotes shows how to compare bidders. If you hold a BOQ and want a second pair of eyes, our technical review is built for that.
A note on quantities and phasing
Many factories build in phases. If the fire system is installed for phase one only, the BOQ should show what is built now and what is left for later: pump capacity for the final build-out, tank size, ring-main routing and valves for future branches. Pumps and tanks that are sized only for phase one need replacement later, and that costs more than sizing them correctly at the start. Also list the spares: sprinkler heads of each rating, glass bulbs or links, hose couplings and detector heads, since commissioning and the first year of operation will use some.
Who signs off the BOQ
Agree who is accountable for each section before the contract is signed: the fire contractor for the system performance, the electrical contractor for power supply to the pumps and panels, the civil contractor for tanks, trenches and the pump room, and the owner for the fuel supply and access. A BOQ with named responsibilities leaves fewer gaps on site than one that assumes somebody else will do the rest. The Fire NOC application will ask for the system details, so keep the BOQ aligned with the approved drawing and update both whenever the design changes.
How Secured Engineers helps
We design, supply and install fire fighting systems and prepare the Fire NOC file in-house. Send us a BOQ or a drawing and we will mark missing items, mismatches with the design and exclusions that could change the price. Design is done in-house, and approvals (Fire NOC, CEIG, DISCOM net-metering) are filed in-house. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and solar work can sit under one contract. We work from offices in Noida and Ludhiana, with 535+ projects across 18+ states and 89.77% repeat clients.
If you have a bill, a drawing or quotations in hand, send them and we will tell you what is missing. See fire fighting systems, message us on WhatsApp, call +91 70099 85817, or ask for a free quote.
Frequently asked
What should a fire fighting BOQ for a factory include?
It should be organised by subsystem: fire water storage and pumps, underground and above-ground piping, hydrants and hose reels, sprinklers where required, detection and alarm, portable extinguishers, signage and accessories, testing and commissioning, and documentation. Each item needs a specification, unit and quantity.
Why do two fire BOQs for the same factory differ so much?
Often because one omits civil work, power supply for pumps, valves and accessories, testing or documentation. Compare by subsystem and check what each BOQ states as excluded.
What items are most often missed?
Commonly missed items include pump room civil and drainage, power supply and control cabling for pumps, the diesel engine pump fuel arrangement, valves and supports, pressure tests, hydrant landing valve accessories, signage and as-built drawings.
Should the BOQ name brands?
It should name specifications and approvals, and allow listed makes. Specifying the standard that equipment must comply with, and requiring approved or listed products where the authority asks for them, gives control without locking you to one brand.
Who prepares the BOQ?
A design consultant or the fire contractor prepares it from the hydraulic design. If the contractor prepares it, have it reviewed before you sign, because the contractor's BOQ sets the scope you are bound to.
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