A labour day rate does not identify the full installation scope. The number of people, temporary works, access, equipment and making good all affect what is included. Earlier unsupported labour-price ranges have been removed.
Ask for a defined installation package
Request a written description of site preparation, temporary support responsibilities, lifting, beam placement, connections, inspections, fire protection and reinstatement. Identify who supplies the steel and who books delivery. Ask whether the price includes protection of occupied rooms and removal of waste.
A fixed quotation and a day-work arrangement allocate cost uncertainty differently. For day work, ask how labour, equipment and materials are recorded and how extra work is authorized. Do not compare totals until both contractors are pricing the same drawing revision and scope.
Separate engineering from site labour
The contractor’s installation price does not necessarily include permanent design or temporary-works design. HSE guidance on temporary works explains why support arrangements need design and management. A generic online propping diagram is not a substitute.
Record exclusions before work starts
Common questions to resolve include access restrictions, concealed services, repairs to supports, additional fabrication and decoration. Record the inspection plan and who will retain completion documentation. Enter only the agreed gross labour package in the budget calculator; the calculator cannot assess whether a contractor’s scope is sufficient.