COMMON BUILDING Construction documents where the pertinent
information is placed into a bidding package
TERMS by the contractor.
1. All-In Rate: 9. Bid Selection:
Total expenses for a project that
includes all direct and indirect costs. The process of examining and comparing
contractors’ bids to select the right one
2. Architect-in-Record: based on price and services provided.
The name of the architectural
company that is listed on the issued 10. Bid Solicitation:
permits, yet who may not actually do
the design for the construction
project. Notifying potential bidders regarding a bid
opportunity as it may be a request to submit
3. ASTM (American Society of a bid or obtain a request for proposals.
Testing Materials):
An International standards 11. BIM (Building Information
organization that offers technical Modeling):
standards for products, materials,
systems and services in a range of
industries, including construction A 3-D modeling process that feature the
standards. details of the building.
4. Best Value Method:
12. Blocking:
A construction procurement
method where contractors are
awarded the bid based on prices and A construction technique to join, fill or
quality measurements from previous reinforce the building structure.
work performance.
5. Bid: 13. Blueprints:
Price proposal typically based on the
design specification and documents. A 2-dimensional technical drawing that has
all of the project’s details.
6. Bid Package:
Construction documents where the 14. BOQ (Bill of Quantities):
pertinent portions of information are
placed into a suitable bidding
package by the contractor. An itemized contract document featuring all
the materials and workmanship used to help
7. Bid-Hit Ratio: price out the project.
Ratio involving where you have
successfully bid on a construction 15. Box Crib:
project.
8. Bid Package:
A temporary structure used to add support or Changing or modifying the existing
to reinforce heavy objects that are used commercial space to make it usable for
during the construction process. business functions.
16. Building Engineer: 24. Construction Drawings:
An expert in design, construction and The final preconstruction drawings of the
assessment technologies. whole building.
17. CAD (computer-aided design): 25. Construction Estimate:
Architecture software used to create detailed Forecasting the construction costs for the
building models. building as it may be used to determine the
feasibility of the project.
18. Cant:
26. Construction Management at Risk
(CMAR):
An angled surface or line that cuts a corner
off.
Project delivery method where the
construction manager commits to delivering
19. Catastrophic Failure: the project at within the guaranteed
maximum price.
An accident in the construction process that
causes severe damage that creates a 27. Construction Management Software:
permanent loss.
An application used by construction
20. Change Order: managers to efficiently run the project as it
features accounting, documentation and team
workloads.
A written document that modifies or changes
the project’s plans, price or specifications in
the construction contract. 28. Contract Formation:
21. Concrete Cover: A contract in the construction industry that
indicates the offer and the acceptance
between to agreeing parties as the agreement
Reinforced concrete as it is the least is signed.
distance between the outer concrete surface
and the reinforcement.
29. Cost Codes:
22. Concrete Slab:
Codes used to track budgets and expenses of
labor activities.
A horizontal platform used to construct the
ceiling or the floor of the building.
30. Cost-Plus Contract:
23. Construction Build Out:
A contract where the contractor is paid for 38. Encasement:
all of their allowed expenses as well as an
additional profit payment.
The encasing of underground pipes in
concrete or when encasing hazardous
31. Course: materials that have been installed.
Concrete blocks, stones or bricks in a 39. Falsework:
continuous masonry row.
A temporary structure used to support an
32. Cross Bracing: arch or bridge during the construction or
repair process.
Reinforcements in an X-shape that provides
enhanced durability to a structure. 40. Field Measure:
33. Daily Report: Measurements taken inside the structure that
do not rely on the blueprints.
A report that documents materials installed,
crew information, safety incidents and work 41. Field Work Order:
completed as the document is created by the
foreman at the end of each day.
The general contractor’s document given to
the subcontractor regarding the completion
34. Damp Proofing: of work that is not included in the original
scope of the project.
A procedure used to keep the drywall
interior dry and to prevent moisture 42. Floor Plan:
absorption.
Drawing of the building’s layout as it
35. Design-Bid-Build: provides details of each room space from an
above view.
A traditional project delivery method where
the owner or agency contracts separate firms 43. Foreman:
to design and construct the building.
The leading supervisor at the construction
36. Design-Build: site who is in charge of the work crews. He
ensures workers perform daily tasks based
on established schedules while creating
A project delivery method where the owner documents regarding completed work.
or agency hires a single firm or company to
handle both the design and construction of
the building. 44. Elevation Drawing:
37. Diagrid: A drawing of a structure that shows the
front or side of the buildings facades; it is a
first angle projection.
Structure reinforcement technique using
steel beams placed in diagonal grids.
45. General Contractor: Accounting method used to track
construction work that is completed and
measures whether the amount of activity
Bn The main contractor for the building aligns to the project budget.
construction. Their main responsibility is the
oversight of the project as they manage
subcontractors, handle scheduling and 52. Joint:
monitor the budget.
A construction interface between two
46. GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price): separate building elements that do not have a
physical connection to each other but may
overlap or align to the other element.
A contract where the contractor is paid for
the actual costs that are incurred in addition
to a fixed fee that has a price ceiling cap. 53. Joist:
47. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Horizontal elements that are connected to
Conditioning): beams perpendicularly to provide load
transfer functions.
Abbreviation used to signify the heating,
ventilation and cooling structures and 54. Lean Construction:
systems of the building.
A construction methodology where all
48. IFB (Invitation for Bid): stakeholders share relationships and goals to
manage the project so as to reduce waste
while maximizing the project’s value.
Request given to contractors for them to
submit a project proposal regarding their
provided services and products. 55. Lease-leaseback:
49. Integrated Labor Delivery: A project delivery method where a school
will lease a site to a contractor who will
construct a building to be used by the
A construction model where the project school. The contractor will then lease the
labor is brought in at the design phase as constructed building back to the school. At
subcontractors perform roughly 80% to the end of the lease, the title of the building
100% of the labor. would be vested to the school.
50. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): 56. Lien:
A construction model where a single multi- A property claim made by the contractor
party contract is established between the against the owner when they are not paid for
owner, architect and builder. The contract the completed work.
outlines that all stakeholders will share both
the risks and incentives of the project.
57. Lift Slab Construction:
51. Job Costing:
Construction method where concrete slabs
are cast on the ground level and then are
lifted into place using hydraulic jacks.
58. Low Bid Procurement: Concrete elements created offsite that are
transported to the construction site for final
assembly.
A construction bedding method where the
lowest bid is automatically accepted and
awarded the job. 66. Project Manager:
59. Lump Sum Contracts: The project manager handles the entire
management of the construction project.
They oversee project deliverables, schedules
A contract where a single price is quoted for and budgets.
the entire construction project.
67. Public-Private-Partnership:
60. Moling:
A project delivery method where a
A pneumatically-driven device inserted into government agency and a private sector
the ground to create holes for construction company collaborate to fund, build and
elements such as pipes and heat pump maintain construction projects as the private
systems. generates income from the project.
61. Monocrete Construction: 68. Punch List:
A construction method that uses precast A document listing construction work that
concrete panels which are bolted together to does not meet the customer’s specifications.
make concrete structures. It is made at the end of the project as the
contractor needs to complete the job to
receive the payment.
62. Negotiated Procurement:
69. Purchase Orders (PO):
A government procurement method where a
contractor is chosen without formal price
competition or formal advertising. In construction, a purchase order is a
document from the buyer that indicates their
intent to purchase services and products
63. Pay Applications: from the seller, such as a supplier.
A construction document that details how 70. Purlin:
the contractor will be paid.
A horizontal and longitudinal beam used on
64. Performance Gap: the roof structure to support the rafters.
is an instance where the expected work 71. RFI (Request for Information):
progress does not match to the results that
are given.
This preliminary document contains general
information about the capabilities provided
65. Precast Concrete: by potential vendors or suppliers.
72. RFP (Request for Proposal): A detail in the agreement outlining the work
that will be performed for the project.
A document request to vendors to obtain an
overview of their costs and offerings for 80. Section Drawing:
specific services.
A drawing that shows the building’s view as
73. RFQ (Request for Quote): if cut on a vertical plane.
A document featuring predetermined 81. Shiplap:
specifications for the project as it requests
the vendor’s costs to fulfill these
specifications. Wood panels on the sides of buildings, barns
and other structures.
74. Rim Joist:
82. Shop Drawings:
In flooring, a rim joist is attached to the end
of the main joists to give lateral support. A contractor’s drawings that details the
fabrication of components.
75. RTT (Request for Tender):
83. Shoring:
A formal invitation to vendors to submit
their bid to supply products and services to A construction method that uses wood or
the construction project. metal props to support the structure while it
is worked on.
76. Rubblization:
84. Soil Stockpile:
During the construction project, unwanted
concrete is broken down into small pieces A pile of soil created when bulldozers
that are used in the base for new surfaces. excavate the site as the soil may later be
used for grading purposes.
77. Schedule of Values:
85. Soul Source Procurement:
A project’s work item list that corresponds
the items to their value as the list represents A procurement method where only one
the entire amount of the work project. contractor is selected without a competitive
process to fulfill all the project’s
requirements.
78. Scope Creep:
86. Specifications:
involves when continuous changes and
modifications are made or when the work
grows uncontrollably beyond the original The specifications provide details regarding
scope of the project. the materials and work quality desired for
the building design.
79. Scope of Work (SOW):
87. Subcontract: they can offer to the project when receiving
a bid invitation.
An agreement made with the contractor and
subcontractor that outlines the specific work 94. Tie:
services for the project.
Construction elements used to tie to separate
88. Subcontractor: materials together inside cavity walls.
The subcontractor is specialized in a specific 95. Time and Materials Contracts:
construction or building trade, such as
electrical or plumbing. They are contract
workers who are hired by the general A contract method where the contractor is
contractor. paid for the actual costs, which include time
and materials.
89. Submittals:
96. Underpinning:
Material data, shop drawings, and product
data for architects and engineers so they can Construction technique to strengthen the
verify that the correct products were foundation of an existing structure with the
installed. use of beams, concrete or base pining.
90. Superstructure: 97. Unit Price Contracts:
A structure that is built on top of another A contract where the contractor is paid based
structure. on the estimated quantity of items for the
project and their unit prices.
91. Takeoff:
98. Virtual Design and Construction
(VDC):
A document that lists the types
and quantities of materials that will be
required for the construction project. All of the multi-disciplinary project models
which can include the analysis model,
visualizations, costs, and engineering
92. Target Value Design: modeling.
This design method involves all key 99:
stakeholders — including the owner,
subcontractors, designers and contractors —
who will design the construction project to Voided Biaxial Slab: Concrete blocks with
meet the owner’s goals and budget. voids inside that maintain their strength and
durability while using less concrete.
93. Tender:
100. Zoning:
A contractor’s or supplier’s submission
response about the supplies and services that Government regulations that dictate how
property areas can be used.
