Construction Documents & Services Flashcards
Describes the positive and negative environmental effects of a proposed action, and usually lists one or more alternative actions that may be chosen instead of the described action.
Environmental Impact Statement
SMACNA
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association
A forecast of probable costs, as opposed to a firm bid
Estimate
Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called ‘instructions to bidders’
Notice to bidders
A specification which calls for desired materials, products, systems and equipment by their trade names and model numbers
Proprietary Specification
A contractor’s written request for payment due on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored on site. Also called ‘application for payment’
Payment Request
An ordinance which specifies the period of time within which legal action must be brought to obtain legal relief for damage or injury
Statute of Limitations
A document issued by the governing authority stating that a building complies with applicable laws and permitting occupancy for its designated use
Certificate of Occupancy
Fire and property damage insurance for a project during construction, usually purchased by the owner. Also called ‘property insurance ‘
Builder’s Risk Insurance
IPC
International Plumbing Code
Abbreviation for not-in-contract, referring to items neither furnished nor installed by the contractor
NIC
Investigation involving remediation of a site with the aim to delineate the physical extent of contamination based on recommendations made in Phase II assessments
Phase III Environmental Assessment
A method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity
Design Build
An agreement under which one party (the surety or bonding company) guarantees to make good to another party (the obligee or owner) the debt, default, or failure to preform of a third party (the principal or contractor). Also called a ‘bond’
Surety Bond
MERV
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value
A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from or added to the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted. This may be either a deductive or additive alternate
Alternate Bid
An amount not included in the contract sum to cover the cost of certain items not specified in detail. Hardware and other finish items are often handled in the manner
Cash Allowance
A bond obtained by the contractor or owner, which guarantees that the project will be completed free of liens
Completion Bond
The sum of money stated in the bid for which the bidder offers to do the work, not including any alternate bids
Base Bid
Direction of the work by the contractor’s personnel. Supervision is not the responsibility of the architect
Supervision
The invitation to bed, instructions to bidders, bid form, and the contract documents
Bidding Documents
Expense items directly incurred by or attributable to a specific project.
Direct Expense
An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more arbitrators hears the evidence and renders a decision
Arbitration
A shop drawing, project data, or sample submitted by the contractor to the architect for review prior to incorporation in the work
Submittal
An invitation to a selected list of contractors soliciting bids for a project.
Invitation to Bid
ESA
Environmental Site Assessment
A proprietary specification which requires a particular brand or trade name and does not permit any substitution
Closed Proprietary Specification
A term used to describe poor air quality, which can lead to discomfort and possible disease
Sick Building Syndrome
Building air quality
BAQ
Indirect expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specific project. Also called ‘indirect expense’
Overhead Expense
Coverage by contract (insurance policy), whereby one party (the insurance company) agrees to indemnify or reimburse another (the insured) against loss from a specified hazard
Insurance
Report prepared for a real estate holding that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities
Phase I Environmental Assessment
Intrusive investigation which collects original samples of soil, groundwater, or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants
Phase II Environmental Assessment
Energy Standard for Building Except low-Rise residential Buildings is a standard that provides minimum requirements for energy-efficient designs for buildings except for low-rise residential buildings
Ashrea 90.1
A measurement scale designed to rate the effectiveness of air-filters
MERV Rating
Failure to meet the ordinary standard of care expected of an architect or other professional in a specific circumstance
Negligence
Analysis typically addressing both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to a property
Environmental Site Assessment
NFPA
National Fire Protection Agency
NEC
National Electrical Code
IMC
International Mechanical Code
IFC
International Fire Code
IECC
International Energy Conservation Code
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
AHJ
Authority Having Jurisdiction
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers
ASTM
American Society of Testing Materials
IBC
International Building Code
ICC
International Code Council
IEBC
International Existing Building Code
The process of verifying that a building’s systems are performing as required by the owner and as specified in the contract documents.
Building commissioning supports training of maintenance personnel and documents that the goals for energy efficiency, HVAC efficiency, water conservation and occupant health are being meant
Building Commissioning
A collaborative approach to designing, fabricating, and constructing buildings where the architect, technical consultants and contractors work as one team to reduce delivery times, reduce costs, reduce wastes, and eliminate litigation
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
BIM
Building Information Modeling (BIM) refers to the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle.
BIM can incorporate nongraphical statistical data modeling as well as geometric modeling. Computer modeling facilitates linking nongraphic data to a 3-D graphic model
A legal document addressing the sustainability issues within a project.
The sustainability plan details the sustainable objective; sustainable measures targeted and implementation strategies; roles and responsibilities of owner, architect and contractor for achieving sustainable measures; details of design reviews, testing, or validation of sustainable measures; and documentation required for certification
Sustainability Plan
A legal term for a specific design feature or construction process that must be enacted, or a post-occupancy condition that must be met, in order to achieve a sustainable objective
Sustainable Measure
A legal term for the owner’s intent to implement sustainable measures in a project for the purposes of achieving green building certification or other environmental benefits
Sustainable objective
Refers to the evaluation of a building’s design construction methods, and post-occupancy performance in comparison to a set of predefined criteria related to sustainable building practices, consequently achieving specific performance thresholds.
Examples of green rating systems include ENERGY STAR, Green Globes, LEED, and BREAM
Green Building Certification
Design and construction projects incorporating positive environmental considerations such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, occupant health, and the conservation of material resources, while reducing negative impacts such as pollution and waste generation,
Also called ‘green design’
sustainable design
Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called ‘notice to bidders’
Instructions to Bidders
A memorandum which outlines the types and limits of the insurance coverages carried by the contractor for a project
Certificate of Insurance
A statement furnished to the architect by the contractor reflecting the amounts to be allotted for the principal divisions of the work. It serves as a guide for reviewing the contractor’s periodic applications for payment
Schedule of Values
An amount established in an agreement between an owner and a contractor as the maximum cost of performing specified work. Also called the ‘upset price’
Guaranteed Maximum Cost
An engineer or other specialist retained by the architect to provide specified professional services to the architect which the architect is required to provide to the owner under the owner-architect agreement
Consultant
Insurance which financially protects the insured against liability on account of bodily injury or property damage sustained by another
Liability Insurance
An agreement under which the architect or contractor is paid a specific amount as the total fee for services performed. Also called a ‘stipulate sum contract’
Lump Sum Contract
A letter signifying intention to enter into a formal agreement and setting forth the general terms thereof
Letter of Intent
Additional services rendered to the owner by the architect following completion of the project
Post-Completion Services
A material, systems, or product proposed by a contractor as being equivalent to that required by the contract documents
Substitution
A specification which defines products or systems by describing end results
Performance Specification
As defined in the AIA General Conditions, completion of a project to the point where the owner can occupy all or designated portions of the work for the purpose for which it is intended
substantial completion
A claim on property by those who furnish material or labor for the construction of a building. Clear title to the property cannot be obtained until the claim is settled
Mechanic’s lien
A material or method that is approved by the architect as being equivalent to what was originally specified
approved equal
The requirements that a professional exercise reasonable ability and judgement in a specific circumstance, the absence of which constitutes negligence. Also called ‘standard of care’
due care
A document by which one relinquishes the right of a mechanic’s lien against the property of another
waiver of lien
One who has a contract with a prime contractor to perform a portion of the work
subcontractor
Fire and property damage insurance for a project during construction, usually purchased by the owner. Also called ‘builder’s risk insurance’
property insurance
An item of work involving additional cost
extra
a written statement of the owner’s conditions and requirements for the project
program
Professional services rendered by the architect, upon the owner’s request, in addition to the basic services identified in the owner-architect agreement. Also called ‘additional services’ (of the architect)
extra services
A document signed by the owner and the architect, which authorizes a change in the work, the contract sum, or the contract time. it is used when there is not complete agreement on the terms of a change order
construction change directive
A systematic listing of construction trades, materials, systems, and administrative requirements published by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) for the purpose of organizing construction specifications
CSI MasterFormat
The elements which comprise an exit to the outside, including aisles, corridors, doors, and stairways
means of egress
An owner-architect agreement under which the professional fee is based upon a percentage of the construction cost of the project
percentage agreement
Insurance which financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called ‘professional liability insurance’
errors and omissions insurance
An amount established in an agreement between an owner and a contractor as the maximum cost of performing specified work. Also called the ‘guaranteed maximum cost’
upset price
Overhead expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specific project. Also called ‘overhead expense’
indirect expense
A specification which refers to quality standards established by recognized testing authorities or by the federal government
reference specification
A term sometimes erroneously used to describe drawings revised to show changes made during construction. Sometimes erroneously called ‘as-built drawings’
record drawings
A contract for building construction under which one prime contractor is responsible for the entire project, in contrast to having separate contracts
single prime contract
The agreement between the owner and the contractor for the construction of a project
general contract
An amount stated in dollars per unit, provided by the contractor with his or her bid for adding or deleting specific portions of the work
unit price
A surety bond guaranteeing that the bidder will sign a contract, if offered, in accordance with his or her proposal
bid bond
The maximum allowable cost of the construction work, as established in the owner-architect agreement
fixed limit of construction cost
Part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, which may modify provisions of the general conditions of the contract
supplementary conditions
A deposit of money required for each bidder as security for the bidding documents, to ensure the return of the documents by unsuccessful bidders
deposit for bidding documents
The substitution of one entity for another with regard to legal rights
subrogation
A proprietary specification which names several acceptable materials, products, or systems, any of which may be used by the contractor
open propriety specification
Professional services rendered by the architect, upon the owner’s request, in addition to the basic services identified in the owner architect agreement. Also called ‘extra services’
additional services (of the architect)
A choice given to the contractor to provide specified alternates without prior approval of the architect
option
A specification which describes all product components, arrangements, assembly methods, properties, and other details and requirements
descriptive specification
On-site examination of the contractor’s work by the architect to determine in general if it is proceeding in accordance with the contract documents
observation
PERT
Acronym for project evaluation review technique. A form of network analysis developed for military work and similar to the critical path method
XCU
The exclusion from insurance coverage for liability arising out of (X) explosion or blasting, (C) collapse of or structural damage to a building, and (U) underground damage caused by mechanical equipment
Salaries and wages attributable to a specific project, plus benefits such as employment taxes, insurance, sick leave, holidays, vacations, pensions, and similar contributions and benefits
direct personnel expense (DPE)
Working drawings, specifications, addenda, general conditions of the contract, supplementary conditions, and the owner-contractor agreement
contract documents
An approach to the delivery of goods or services in which quality is determined by customer satisfaction and conformance to requirements
total quality management (TQM)
A document prepared by the architect stating that the work is substantially complete, thereby establishing the date of substantial completion. It generally fixes the time within which the contractor must complete the unfinished work listed
certificate of substantial completion
The lowest bid which complies with all the stipulated requirements
lowest acceptable bona fide bid
The sum established by the owner as available for the entire project, including the construction budget, land cost, equipment cost, financing cost, cost of professional services, and contingency allowances
project budget
Federal civil rights legislation which establishes the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to sites and buildings and sets design guidelines for its implementation
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A legal document signed by a supplier of material or labor for a project, which releases his or her mechanic’s lien against the property
release of lien
Published public notice soliciting proposals for a construction project
advertisement for bids
Describing a construction procedure in which construction on each phase of a project is begun when its design is completed, without waiting for overall project design completion
fast-track
A material or assembly submitted for the architect’s approval prior to manufacture or delivery to the project
sample
A legally enforceable assurance of the quality of materials and labor furnished for a project, or of the length of time that a project or a part thereof will perform satisfactorily. Also called a ‘guarantee’
warranty
Part of the contract documents, other than the general and supplementary conditions, describing unique conditions of a project
special conditions
The architectural services normally required for a building project, usually consisting of schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding or negotiation, and construction contract administration
basic services
An individual or company that guarantees to make good to another party the debt, default, or failure to perform of a third party
surety
The contractor’s representative at the site
superintendent
A legally enforceable assurance of the quality of materials and labor furnished for a project, or of the length of time that a project or a part thereof will perform satisfactorily. Also called a ‘warranty’
guarantee
An amount included in a construction budget, normally 5 to 10 percent, to provide for unforeseen or unpredictable costs
contingency allowance
Federal legislation that requires the Department of Labor to set prevailing wages for government-financed construction projects
Davis-Bacon Act
The completion of all work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract documents
final completion
The extra time available for a construction activity above its estimated time duration, without causing any delay of project completion
float
A contractor’s written request for payment of the amount due on account of work completed and/or materials suitable stored on site. Also called ‘payment request’
application for payment
A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be added to the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted
additive alternate
An agreement providing for payment for professional services based upon the direct personnel expense multiplied by an agreed factor
multiple of direct personnel expense agreement
The date, certified by the architect, when the construction is sufficiently completed, in accordance with the contract documents, so that the owner can occupy the project for the intended use
date of substantial completion
An agreement under which the architect or contractor is paid a specific amount as the total fee for services performed. Also known as a ‘lump sum contract’
stipulated sum contract
The part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, which graphically illustrates the construction required for the project
working drawings
One who acts on behalf of another
agent
the difference between the list price and the actual price paid
trade discount
A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted
deductive alternate
A clause in a cost plus fee contract between the owner and contractor in which the savings between the guaranteed maximum cost and the actual project costs are proportionally shared
incentive clause
A list of items to be corrected or completed, which is provided by the contractor and usually expanded by the architect based on a detailed inspection of the work prior to substantial completion
punch list
Regulations which provide for accessibility to buildings and sites for persons with disabilities
barrier-free provisions
A charge against the contractor for failing to complete the project by a specific date
penalty
a term sometimes erroneously used to describe drawings revised to show changes made during construction. The correct term is ‘record drawings’
as-built drawings
An agreement under which one party (the surety or bonding company) guarantees to make good to another party (the obligee or owner) the debt, default, or failure to perform of a third party (the principal or contractor). Also called a ‘surety bond’
bond
An amount withheld from each payment to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the owner-contractor agreement
retainage
One of several owner-contractor agreements for a project, each of which provides for constructing a major portion of the work (general construction, electrical, mechanical, etc) by a different contract
separate prime contract
The requirement that a professional exercise reasonable ability and judgment in a specific circumstance, the absence of which constitutes negligence. Also called ‘due care’
standard of care
An amount added to the contract sum either by an accepted additive alternate or by a change order
addition (to the contract sum)
A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called the ‘hold harmless clause’
indemnification
Drawings prepared by the contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or supplier, showing how specific portions of the work shall be fabricated and/or installed
shop drawings
A small-scale plan of a building or complex of buildings
key plan
Insurance which covers workers’ job-related injuries, usually required by law
workers’ compensation insurance
The owner’s job site representative
clerk of the works
A provision in the construction contract for payment of a bonus to the contractor for completing the project prior to a specific date, and for a charge (penalty) against the contractor for failing to complete the project by that date
bonus and penalty clause
The total amount payable by the owner to the contractor, as stated in the owner-contractor agreement, for performing the work under the contract documents
contract sum
Part of the contract documents, comprising written descriptions of materials, construction systems, and workmanship
specifications
A statement by the architect informing the owner of the amount due the contractor on account of work completed and/or materials suitable stored
certificate for payment
A legally enforceable promise made by the warrantor
express warranty
All materials and/or labor required for a project
work
The manual prepared by the architect for a project, including the technical specifications, bidding instructions and forms, general conditions, supplementary conditions, special conditions, and other legal and administrative documents
project manual
An agreement under which the contractor, or the architect, is reimbursed for his or her costs, and, in addition, is paid a fee for his or her services
cost-plus-fee contract
A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called ‘indemnification’
hold harmless clause
The architect’s basic services expanded to include certain additional services, such as programming, land use studios, and so on
comprehensive services
The General Requirements Division of the specifications which establishes the administrative and procedural duties of the contractor, architect, and owner during construction
Division One
A bond which guarantees to the owner that the contractor will perform the work in accordance with the contract documents
performance bond
a bond guaranteeing to the owner that the contractor will pay for all labor and materials used for the project
labor and material payment bond
A system of planning and scheduling construction operations which analyzes sequences and durations of time using network diagrams
critical path method (CPM)
The part of the contract documents which states the rights, responsibilities, and relationships of the parties involved, usually by means of standard documents published by the American Institute of Architects
general conditions
A proposal by a contractor to do the work required by the contract documents for a stipulated sum of money
bid
Any contractor on a project who has a contract directly with the owner
prime contractor
the architect’s representative at the site, who assists in the general administration of the construction contract for a project
project representative
Payments made to the contractor during progress of the work on account of work completed and/or materials suitable stored
progress payments
The period of time within which the work must be completed, as established in the contract documents
contract time
A sum chargeable against the contractor as reimbursement for damages suffered by the owner because of the contractor’s failure to complete the work within a specified time
liquidated damages
Statements or drawings which modify the basic contract documents after the latter have been issued to the bidders, but prior to taking of bids
addenda
A written order to the contractor, prepared by the architect and signed by the owner, contractor, and architect, which authorizes a change in the work, the contract sum, or the contract time
change order
management services performed by the architect or others, over and above normal architectural services, that contribute to the control of time and cost in the construction project
construction management (CM)
the sum established by the owner as available for construction of the project
construction budget
insurance which financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called ‘errors and omissions insurance’
professional liability insurance
working drawings and specifications
construction documents
