HFS Construction Consultants LTD.

About Us

HFS Consultants is a multifaceted construction consulting firm based out of Calgary, Alberta.

We specialize in tailored solutions that respond to the specific needs of our clients within the Construction Insurance Industries.

Our Philosophy

Our approach to consulting is founded upon integrity and supported by a focus of providing effective, quality solutions to our clients needs.

Our experiences team of consultants is the structure upon which our success is built. Each member of our team continually demonstrates fair and reasonable philosophy where our professionalism is a direct reflection of our Clients Brand.

Our team of Construction Cost Estimators, Roofing Consultants, Thermographers and Restoration Consultants have extensive experience providing quality services to our Clients all across Canada.

Services

Property Loss - Site Damage Assessment

Our dedicated team will attend the site to assist in the determination of an accurate damage scope. Our intent is to ensure that all parties involved on the project are confident the scope of work is complete and clearly defined.

We can then prepare an Initial Site Report, after attending the site. This report will detail our observations on site, identify the scope of damage observed on site and outline any emergency restoration or building stabilization work that will take place.

Our report will conclude with an estimated cost to complete the required work and identify project specific concerns that should be contemplated to effectively make decisions on the file.

Budgeting

Our Clients rely on our expertise and analysis of the local market conditions to provide timely, accurate, Loss Estimates or reserve recommendations for budgeting purposes.

Our experienced team can provide Order of Magnitude or Cost Estimates with the requisite level of detail to suit the specific needs of our Clients. Repair Cost Estimates or project budgets can be prepared for every kind of property loss, including: fire, water, wind, hail, ice, impact, mould, hazardous materials and structural failure.

Tendering & Bid Analysis

We regularly prepare Tender Packages for competitive bidding on repair or reconstruction projects. This includes working with Architects, Engineers and Design Professionals to ensure the updated design and intent is clear, concise and relates to the loss related damage.

We can also identify redesign or Owner requested upgrades to maintain a separation of loss related work and upgrade work. This process includes on-site meetings, tender management, scope clarification during the bid process and finally, bid analysis to provide cost effective recommendations.

Project Monitoring & Clerk of the Works

Project Monitoring is often practical when a project is completed on a Cost Plus or Time and Material basis. Project Monitoring also allows us to report on the progress of the work being completed and allows us to keep our Clients updated with actual and anticipated Costs, as the project develops.

Depending on the complexity of the project, we can also provide Clerk of the Works services with additional or full-time attendance on site. This may further mitigate unwarranted changes or costs associated with scope creep that are not loss related.

Project Monitoring requires experience to be able to identify issues and creativity to resolve them before they become problems. Project monitoring and clear communication can result in effective solutions so that additional costs are minimized or eliminated whenever possible.

Construction Cost Analysis & File Audits

When a project is completed on a Time and Material basis, cost analysis can provide a level of control to ensure the submitted costs are fair, reasonable and are entirely related to the scope of the loss.

We will define the scope of work and pre-negotiate pricing on the front end of the project, whenever possible. This will provide a greater level of cost transparency and integrity, often mitigating the need to dispute costs at the conclusion of the project.

When invoices are received, our team reconciles the costs to ensure accurate submissions and to ensure the costs are reasonable for the work performed. We have extensive experience in the unique markets that surround the vast and varying climates and conditions across Canada.

Our Consultants are immersed in construction costs, market conditions and changing construction practices so that we can opine on the reasonability of project costs with the level of confidence and expertise our Clients demand.

Construction Cost Estimating

In addition to the initial reporting, we can provide construction cost estimating which is developed using information gathered on site, building analysis, Architectural or Engineering reports and Construction Drawings or Specifications. We have the expertise, acquired through extensive experience, to prepare estimated costs for demolition work, emergency or restoration work, repair or replacement work scopes.

We can also prepare specialized Insured to Value (ITV) building appraisals. These estimates typically contemplate demolition and removal costs, current construction methods, Provincial and National Building Codes, National Energy Codes and contemporary construction materials.

We can provide Order of Magnitude cost estimates or detailed cost estimates based upon detailed quantity surveying and work scopes. The level of detail for each estimate is tailored to meet the needs of our Clients.

Our estimates are developed with supportable costs based on the local market for each specific building. We do not rely upon third party database pricing software; however, we do hold certification in that type of software, should a Client request its usage.

Actual Cash Values

We can prepare Actual Cash Value (ACV) depreciation calculations for repair or replacement cost estimates. Our ACV calculations are based on more than just the building age, used in a straight-line depreciation, as building elements have differing functionality, lifespan cycles and in some cases, have been replaced as part of ongoing building maintenance.

We will contemplate several factors including the quality of construction, the function of the building, specific life expectancies and current condition for individual building components; as well as, periodic maintenance or replacement of building components since the original date of construction.

Course of Construction

Our consulting team has experience in a wide variety of projects. We understand that projects damaged during the course of construction can be extremely complex and require a specific skill set and expertise to provide accurate cost recommendations.

Construction contract analysis and Change Order or Change Directive analysis is crucial to ensure the work is being completed according to the original agreement in place between the Prime Contractor and the Building Owner.

Course of Construction projects may require project monitoring, Clerk of the Works monitoring, identification of pre-existing conditions, conceptual and detailed estimating, repair cost monitoring, accelerated construction versus business interruption analysis, document review and analysis, contract negotiation and schedule or delay analysis. These actions may be required to ensure that repair work is entirely loss related and does not incorporate any of the originally contracted work.

Projects

Residential

Industrial, Manufacturing

Institutional Buildings

High Rise Apartments
Condominiums
Single & Multi-Family
Townhouse
Custom Luxury

Institutional Buildings

Industrial, Manufacturing

Institutional Buildings

University Laboratories
Educational Facilities
Schools
Churches

Healthcare

Industrial, Manufacturing

Hospitals
Specialized Care Centers
Assisted Living

Industrial, Manufacturing

Industrial Parks
Oil & Gas Batteries
Refineries
Warehousing
Recycling Facilities
Production Facilities

Hospitality

Commercial Properties

Infrastructure

Hotels
Restaurants
Health & Wellness Spas

Infrastructure

Commercial Properties

Infrastructure

Water Treatment Plants

Commercial Properties

Office Complexes
Retail Centers
Tenant Improvements

Recreational Centers

Commercial Properties

Swimming Pools
Ice Rinks
Community Centers

About HFS Construction Consultants LTD.

Steven Fries

Mr. Fries began construction estimating and cost consulting in 2008 and since then has gained a wide range of consulting experience in quantity surveying, project management and project cost analysis.

As a Project Coordinator for a construction management company in Calgary, Alberta, Mr. Fries’ project experience was related to tenant improvement projects and large scale commercial renovations across western Canada. Speciﬁcally, he was responsible for the creation and oversight of tender packages, issuing tender addenda and reviewing tender submissions. Additional responsibilities included initial space planning, issuing change orders, site instructions and conducting site inspections.

Mr. Fries then held a supervisory position as a Senior Estimator / Project Manager for a large consulting ﬁrm in Calgary, Alberta. He has provided consulting services to Insurance Providers, Adjusters, legal Counsel, Architects, Contractors and Owners relating to property losses, builder’s risk insurance claims, defective construction and project audits primarily in Canada and the high Arctic. He has also consulted on projects in the United States of America and the Turks and Caicos islands.

Upon starting HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. in 2015, Mr. Fries continued to provide his expertise on site damage assessments, construction contract analysis, scope of work determination, preparation of conceptual and detailed cost estimates; as well as, actual cash value depreciation calculations. Mr. Fries regularly completes analyses of project costs and mark‐ups, evaluations of property replacement appraisals, tender submissions and proposed budgets, evaluates costs relating to building codes and completes negotiations related to a variety of project costs.

Mr. Fries’ consulting project experience includes catastrophe project management, large institutional projects, laboratories, recreational complexes, religious facilities, resorts, northern construction projects, commercial and industrial buildings, retirement communities, single and multi-family residential complexes, high end hotels and condominiums, restaurants and earth work projects. His estimating and project management experience on these projects extends to the architectural, civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical and mechanical disciplines.

Mr. Fries has also participated in formal appraisal processes as a key member of the appraisal team to resolve project disputes relating to work scope, scheduling and project costs.

Tomas Herperger

Since beginning his career as a construction consultant, Mr. Herperger has gained a wide range of experience in the ﬁelds of Architecture, Roof Consulting, and Construction Cost Estimating.

Working for an architectural design ﬁrm, while earning his Architectural Technologies Diploma, Mr. Herperger gained practical experience in building design, construction technology and methods and spatial planning of buildings. His duties included preparation of construction plans using architectural drafting software and product research for building components used in the building designs he worked on. His architectural project experience included low‐rise commercial buildings, a level 3 disease control and research center and a greenhouse research facility.

Upon graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Mr. Herperger worked for a Roofing Consulting ﬁrm. As an Assistant Roof Consultant, he was involved with standards of construction and installation in the pre-construction design of roofing systems and waterproofing systems, roof failure analysis and redesign, on-site inspections of roofing assemblies and pre-start construction meetings. His roof consulting project experience includes low-rise commercial buildings, high-rise buildings, hospitals, an industrial waste treatment plant, office buildings, multiple schools and an airport terminal. Mr. Herperger also assisted in forensic analysis on the roofing system for a warehouse property in litigation between the building Owner and the Roofing Contractor.

Mr. Herperger then held an Estimator / Project Manager position for a large consulting ﬁrm in Calgary, Alberta. He completed detailed quantity surveys and construction estimates on property losses for buildings damaged by hurricane, flooding, fires and structural failures.

Mr. Herperger joined HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. in 2015. He continues to provide his services on site damage assessments, scope of work determinations, preparation of conceptual and detailed cost estimates and preparation of actual cash value depreciation calculations. Mr. Herperger regularly completes analyses of project costs and mark‐ups, evaluations of property replacement appraisals, tender submissions and proposed budgets. He also evaluates costs relating to building codes and completes negotiations related to a variety of project costs.

Mr. Herperger’s consulting experience includes many categories of buildings including commercial, industrial, multi‐unit residential, capital projects, hotels, universities, hospitals and outdoor sports stadiums. He has also consulted on schools, staﬀ accommodations, industrial plants including treatment facilities, projects in the oil and gas sector including batteries, treatment plants, reﬁneries, compressor stations and a hazardous materials processing plant.

Founded on Integrity

Founded on Integrity