Interior Door Ratings
For walls to be considered fire-rated, any doors in those walls must be fire-rated. Most plans do not spell out which interior partitions are to be considered fire-rated. In commercial applications, a rule of thumb is that all partitions that have drywall (or masonry) from the floor to the above structure, and few, if any, penetrations should be considered fire-rated.

Door Schedule
If the drawings do not include a door schedule, it may be worth the estimator’s time to develop one, especially if the project is large or complicated. The schedule should indicate the opening number, door type,size material, glass or louver requirements, and remarks.

The door schedule should include a frame schedule listing the frame material, type, and jamb, head, and sill details.

Hardware requirements should be listed on the door schedule as well. Keep in mind the fact that the hardware can, in some instances, be more costly than the door itself.

Handicap Access
While the drawings may not show it, local codes may require special hardware and opening systems to allow a structure to be accessible to the handicapped. Contact the local authorities for their codes and requirements.

Special Doors
Special attention should be given to any oversized or unusual type of doors. These items should not be priced on a prorated basis, as they are generally special order items. The costs of special doors can skyrocket, especially if they involve exotic woods, special finishes, or special attention (which usually means higher labor costs). Note also that special doors may require a considerable amount of lead time for ordering and shipping.

Window Schedule
As with all doors to be included in the project, all windows should be listed on the drawings in a window schedule. If none is included, it may be well worth the time to create one. The schedule should contain the opening number, window type, window size, glass type, frame material and details, and required accessories and hardware.

Building Hardware
As a rule of thumb, building hardware for an average quality building can be expected to run in the neighborhood of 2% of the entire building cost.