Construction Evaluation Flashcards
Schedule of values
A schedule of values (SOV) is a document that lists the costs and value of each billable work item on a construction project. It’s a legal document that’s used to track project progress and manage payments.
contractor needs to provide the schedule of values before the first application for payment
transitional forms
single purpose entity documents
multi-party agreements
Transitional Forms
The Transitional Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) agreements facilitate collaboration among owners, architects, and contractors without forming a single-purpose entity. They outline distinct duties in six project phases, from design to construction, and emphasize cost design, dispute resolution, and building information modeling (BIM). Key documents include A195–2008, A295–2008, and B195–2008, which adapt traditional contract models to IPD principles while maintaining risk allocation and compensation structures.
single purpose entity documents
“single purpose entity” documents are primarily referred to as AIA Document C195-2008, which is the “Standard Form Single Purpose Entity Agreement for Integrated Project Delivery” - essentially a contract used to establish a limited liability company (LLC) where the owner, architect, and construction manager collaborate as a single entity to achieve project goals through Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) principles.
multi-party agreements
AIA Document C191-2009 establishes a Standard Form Multi-Party Agreement for Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). It fosters collaboration among project participants to meet shared goals, reduce project claims, and achieve cost efficiency. Key components include a Target Cost model, Project Goals, and dispute resolution structures through a Project Management Team and Project Executive Team, without the need for forming an LLC. C191 provides incentive compensation tied to goal achievement.
Contract Documents
The contract documents:
owner-contractor agreement
the general conditions of the contract
the supplementary conditions of the contract (if any)
the drawings
specifications
addenda issued prior to execution of the contract
any other documents specifically listed in the agreement
modifications issued after execution of the contract – change orders, change directive, minor change.
What is included in bidding documents
Specifications
Invitation to bid
Owner contractor agreement
Performance bond requirements
Addendum
Used to modify contract requirements during bidding only, not after contract is awarded
Issued prior to receipt of bids
Open bidding
Open bidding means that nearly anyone can beat regardless of experience. This encourages of variety of contractors to participate, but when bidding is open, it can be difficult to evaluate qualified bitters. In addition the cost and complexity of advertising and administering the bidding process may increase.
Float time
Float represents the range of time during which non-critical activities may start or end without affecting the overall schedule. Total float is individual float times added together, and it does not influence a critical path time interval.
Contractors overhead and profit are typically
15–40%
Minor change
Not needed to be signed or approved like moving a window 8”
E204 sustainable projects exhibit
During construction, the architect must notify the owner of any deviation from the contract documents that could affect the project sustainability
AIA Document E204, Sustainable Projects Exhibit, may be appended as an exhibit to a primary agreement when the project requirements include achieving a stated sustainability goal, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification or a certain measurable level of energy efficiency. The agreement complements the sustainability plan that is developed by the owner and architect early in the design process; the plan describes the sustainable measures to be employed, implementation strategies, details about design reviews, and documentation required for certification submissions, among other requirements.
AIA Document E204 also sets forth more specific roles and responsibilities of the architect related to sustainable design, including the responsibility to notify the owner of any known deviations from the contract documents that might affect the achievement of sustainable measures.
These changes may be noted during a regular site visit or through other project communications.
Under AlA Document E204, the contractor is not required to include specific sustainability steps in the schedule. The architect is not required to make additional visits to verify compliance with the project schedule, and the architect does not guarantee to the owner that the project will achieve the stated sustainable objective.
Laitance
Surface deposit of low strength material containing cement in fine aggregates brought to the surface of concrete caused by having too much water in the concrete mix which results in water bleeding to the top
Hydration
Chemical process of the hardening of concrete when water mixes with cement
Efflorescence
White crystalline deposit of water, soluble salts on the surface of masonry and sometimes concrete cost when a water seeps into the masonry and dissolves soluble salt which are brought to the surface
Cold weather
Construction operations are generally discontinued or switch from regular activity to cold-weather mode at 40°F.
A concrete pour can proceed at temperatures below 40°F.
However, the water and sand must be heated to ensure that none of the constituents have frozen, and the concrete must be heated for at least seven days after place-ment, during the eatly curing stage.
Other temperature-sensitive materials, such as sealants, should not be applied when the mercury dips below 40°F.
Who pays for the costs associated with special inspections required by the international building code?
Owner
The design professional is required to develop a statement of special inspections listing to systems that must be tested the types and extend of the tests that must be performed, and the design professional must submit this to the court official for review and approval. Inspections may be required for seismic resistance, wind requirements or steel masonry, or foundation construction as described in IBC . The results of the tests and inspections must be submitted to the code official so that the official may be evaluate whether the requirements outlined in the contract documents have been fulfilled.
Which window performance criteria are required by the international energy conservation code
NRFC U factor and solar heat gain coefficient
Concrete moisture tests
polyethylene sheet test: This test uses a plastic sheet taped tightly to a concrete floor. After 16 hours the underside of the plastic is inspected for moisture.
• electrical resistance test: This test determines moisture by measuring the electrical conductivity of the concrete between the meter probes.
•
quantitative calcium chloride test: This test uses a quantity of calcium chloride sealed under a plastic dome placed on the concrete for 60-72 hours. The amount of moisture the chloride absorbs is mathematically converted to a moisture emission expressed in pounds per 1000 ft? per 24 hour period.
• bygrometer test (relative humidity test): This test determines moisture emission by measuring the relative humidity of the atmosphere confined adjacent to the concrete floor.
Concrete tests
The impact hammer test involves snapping a spring-loaded plunger against a concrete surface and measuring the amount of rebound. The amount of rebound gives an approximate reading of concrete strength.
A cylinder test requires that a sample be taken at the time the concrete is poured, before it has hardened. A core cylinder test can give the strength of hardened concrete, but the test is destructive to the concrete, and the sample needs to be tested in a laboratory. Both the core cylinder test and the Kelly ball test require the use of fresh concrete.
Who is responsible for arranging and coordinating field tests?
Contractor
If a subcontractor makes a claim
And the contractor determines the claim to be valid the contractor may intern make a claim to the owner. This claim would then be reviewed by the architect.
Substitutions approval
Any request for substitution by the contractor must be made in writing and must be accompanied by a complete description of the proposed substitution, including drawings, test data, and other information necessary for an evaluation. The burden of proof of the merit of the substitution falls upon the contractor. The architect is required to review the submission and either approve or disapprove it.
The contractor may make substitutions only with the consent of the owner after evaluation by the architect and with a change order
Site visits are
Conducted as appropriate to the stage of the contractors operations
Who pays for testing
AIA document a 201 states that tests, inspections and approvals of portions of the work required by the contract documents or bylaws, ordinances rules regulations or orders of public authorities shall be paid for by the con-tractor. The contractor must also make arrangements for the tests and notify the architect of when they will be conducted.
If testing becomes required after receipt of bids or after contract negotiations and is not part of the original contract documents, then the owner becomes responsible for paying for the testing. This provision applies to testing required by the architect, owner, or public authorities having jurisdiction. This situation might happen if the building field inspector requires a test that was not anticipated.
In some situations, the owner may not be legally permitted to pass responsibility for the costs of tests to the contractor; in this case, the owner is responsible for the fees.
Certificate of payment
AIA Document A201, Sec. 9.4.2, specifically states that the issuance of a certificate for payment is not a representation that the architect has 1) made exhaustive or continuous on-site inspections
2) reviewed construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, or procedures
3) reviewed copies of requisitions received from subcontractors and other data
4) made examination to ascertain how or for what purpose the contractor has used money previously paid.
Comparing work done in material store to the contractor schedule of values
Approving a certificate for payment if the architect feels, the contractor is due payment in the amount stated
Using information gathered during previous site visits to determine that the work is in accordance with contract documents
Determining that the amount of retainage is appropriate to the stage of construction
Amount of retainage withheld from each application for payment
Determined by the owner with advice from legal council and defined in American, two of Architects, a 101
The exact percentage is whatever is agreed to by the parties to the contract, the contract may specify that the percentage of retainage should be reduced as the project completion, or it may establish different percentages of retainage for work done and for stored materials
The initial decision-maker must respond to a contractor who makes a claim for additional money for extra work caused by unforeseen circumstances within
10 days the initial decision maker may request supporting data to further document the claim
Submittal review
The architect’s submittal review would include notation of action taken, tracking of the date of receipt and distribution of the submittal, determination if the submittal should be reviewed by a consultant, and if so, coordination of this review, and verification that the contractor reviewed the sub-mittal before submitting it to the architect.
The architect’s submittal review may not change the scope of the work as defined in the contract documents, and it does not include verification or correction of dimensions. If changes to the scope are necessary, they should be made through change order or construction change directive. The contractor is responsible for accuracy and verification of all dimensions.
Substitutions are typically not considered after the bid period. When a substitution is requested the architecture first verify that the specifications allow this at the current stage of the project.
Are submittals part of the contract documents
No.
During punchlist inspection architect notices several items that are not complete. That will make it impossible for client to occupied space what to do.
Notify the contractor that there are unfinished items that must be finished before the project will be determined substantially complete
Surety bond
Involves a third-party the surety who ensures completion of the project if the contractor fails to meet his or her obligations
Liquidated damages
Amount specified in advance of the contractor must pay to the owner if the project is not completed on time
Substantially complete
When owner can occupy building
Upon completion of the work, the contractor must submit
Extra stock of material materials are listed in the specifications
Certificate of occupancy issued by the Building official
Warranties and operating instructions as required in notes on the mechanical electrical drawings or in the specifications
Included in the architect basic services
Forwarding written warranty to the owner
Forwarding consent of surety from the contractor to the owner allowing final payment
Meeting with the owner to review facility operations and performance within one year of substantial
Issuing a certificate of substantial conclusion
An exit sign is required in the middle of a quarter if
The corridor is more than 100 feet in length
contractor wanting money for materials stored off site
nope, refuse payment unless contractor and owner had agreed in advance.
Steiner tunnel test
determines the surface burning characteristics of interior finish materials
Kelly balll test
measuresd the workability of uncured concrete. Measures and compares the dent of a ball dropped to the slump test
electrical impedance test
measures moisture content
cylinder test
measures the strength of concrete after 7, 14, 21, and 28, days by coring through concrete
when does concrete gain the most strength
During the first 0-3 days. It has to be well protected during these days. COncrete continues to gain strength after 28 days but the compressive strenght is usually referred to at what it is at 28
grade pins
used to indicate how much cut or fill is required at a specific location to reach finish grade
transit
surveying tool used to determine the elevations of points on a site
batter boards
temporary supports erected to hold wires or strings that indicate the excavation line for a building site. The Corners of the building or limits of excavation are marked at the intersection of the lines using a plumb bob Batter boards are set back from the excavation line and are preferred to corner stakes or pins placed at the corners of the structure because they will not be disturbed during construction operations
nanometer
blower door
flow hood
duct blower
nanometer measures differences in pressure between two spaces.
Flow hood is placed over a register or diffuser to measure output
duct blower is a fan attached directly to the ductwork to check for leaks
blower door is a fan that can be mounted in a door frame used to pressurize or depressurize a building to measure air infiltration leakage
Building Commissioning
helps to assure that a building owner “gets what he paid for”
Commissioning agent abbreviated as CxA or CSXA
provides increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, a comprehensive training program for maintenance staff (provided either by the commissioning agent or the contractor) and organized operations and maintenance manuals (assembled by the contractor, design professional, or commissioning agent)
action submittals
shop drawings, samples, and cut sheets which must be reviewed and approved by the architect before work can proceed
at the completion of a project, the architect is required to provide to the owner
Final certificate of payment
consent of surety to release retainage and lien and bond waivers
inspection
