Subcontract, Specials, and Labour-Only Items — Help Centre

Subcontract and specials items

Use the Subcontract & Specials item type for large quoted items or work being carried out by a subcontractor. These items are kept completely separate from standard materials in the estimating module, so you can apply a different markup percentage to them.

Common examples

A lighting package quotation from a specialist supplier.
A fire alarm installation by a subcontractor.
A generator supply and commissioning quote.
A specialist ventilation or BMS package.
Any large lump-sum allowance for work outside your direct scope.

How subcontract and specials differ from free type

The key difference is how the items are treated in the estimating module:

	Free type	Subcontract & Specials
Categories	Standard material groups (cables, containment, accessories, etc.)	Own separate list of categories
Summary table	Included in material markup with the relevant category	Kept completely separate with its own markup line
Typical markup	Same as other materials (e.g. 20%)	Often lower (e.g. 7% on a subcontract quote)

This separation ensures that a large subcontract quotation does not have the same percentage markup applied as your standard materials, which could make your tender uncompetitive.

Adding a subcontract or specials item

1
Make sure the correct service is active in the service panel.
2
Click the Subcontract & Specials button in the toolbar.
3
Enter a description — for example, Lighting package — Thorn quotation ref. 12345.
4
Enter the cost (the quoted amount).
5
Fill in any other fields as needed — hours, product code, or notes.
6
Press Start.
7
Left-click on the drawing to place a single unit marker. This is typically just one click to represent the allowance.
8
Right-click to finalise.

The item is logged in the service panel as a unit count — usually a quantity of one, representing a single allowance or quotation.

If you are using section multipliers in the estimating module (e.g. 20 identical rooms), be careful with subcontract items. A lighting quotation that covers all rooms should not be multiplied by the room count. Either enter it in a section with a multiplier of one, or divide the quote by the number of rooms and enter the per-room amount.

Labour-only items

Labour-only items let you allow a set number of hours against a task while you are actively looking at the drawing — rather than waiting until you are in the estimating module. They are taken off as a single unit count with an hours allowance.

When to use labour-only items

When you can see from the drawing that a particular task will require a specific labour effort — for example, builder's work, making good, or commissioning.
When you want to capture an allowance while the context is fresh in your mind, rather than trying to recall it later.
When the task has no material component — only labour.
When you want to record a provisional labour allowance based on your assessment of the drawing's complexity.

Adding a labour-only item

1
Make sure the correct service is active in the service panel.
2
Click the Labour Only button in the toolbar.
3
Enter a description — for example, Builder's work for riser cupboard or Commissioning allowance — ground floor DB.
4
Enter the number of hours you want to allow.
5
Press Start.
6
Left-click on the drawing to place a single unit marker.
7
Right-click to finalise.

The allowed hours are logged in the service panel and carry through to the estimating module, where they are costed at whatever labour rate you have set for the job.

Adding labour-only allowances during takeoff can be more accurate than waiting until later, because you are actively reviewing the drawing and can make informed judgements about installation effort, access constraints, and working conditions. It only takes a moment and the allowance is captured while the context is fresh.

Choosing the right item type

Scenario	Recommended item type
You need to leave a note or reminder	Comment line
You are taking off a material not in the database	Free type (unit or linear)
You have a supplier or subcontractor quotation	Subcontract & Specials (this page)
You want to allow labour hours for a task	Labour-only (this page)
The item is in the Ensign database	Use Add Item (see Browsing and Searching the Database)
You need a grouped set of components	Use Assemblies (see Browsing and Using Assemblies)

You can mix all of these item types within the same service. For example, under a Containment service you might have database items for trunking, a free type item for a bespoke bracket, a labour-only allowance for builder's work, and a comment line noting that riser heights need site verification.