CONSTRUCTION TERMS PART 2 (finalize) Flashcards
supports the weight of the structure and its applied loads
foundation
the simplest and probably the most common type of building foundation that include individual footings, combined footings, and mat foundations
spread footing
consist of a heavily reinforced concrete slab extending under the entire structure, in order to spread the structure’s load over a large area
mat or raft foundations
a type of mat foundation in which the weight of the soil excavated approximately equals the weight of the structure being erected
floating foundation
the process of improving soils in place
ground modification or soil stabilization
nothing more than a column driven into the soil to support a structure by transferring building loads to a deeper and stronger layer of soil or rock
pile
may be manufactured in almost any desired size or shape
precast concrete piles
also called shell piles
cast–in–place concrete piles
constructed by driving a steel shell into the ground and then filling it with concrete
cast–in–place concrete piles
capable of supporting heavy loads, can be driven to great depth without damage, and are easily cut and spliced
steel piles
piles made up of two or more different materials
composite piles
they are a special form of cast–in–place concrete pile in which an enlarged base (or bulb) is formed during driving
bulb piles
simply a column, usually of reinforced concrete, constructed below the ground surface
pier
a structure used to provide all–around lateral support to an excavation and may be either open or pneumatic
caisson
also known as quicksand
liquefaction
a condition wherein the soil behave like a liquid when the water pressure exactly equals soil weight
liquefaction
a condition wherein the water pressure is strong enough to move subsurface soil up through the bottom of the cut
boiling or piping
provides lateral support for the sides of an excavation
shoring
nothing more than sheeting placed horizontally
lagging
sheeting of concrete, steel, or timber that is designed to be driven by a pile driver
sheet piling
used in place of shoring to protect workers during trenching operations
trench shields or trench boxes
the process of removing water from an excavation
dewatering
the ease with which water flows through the soil and primarily a function of a soil’s grain size distribution
soil permeability
the perforated assembly placed on the bottom of the inlet pipe for a well
wellpoint
wellpoints that are sealed at the surface by placing a ring of bentonite or clay around the well casing
vacuum wells
the process of accelerating the flow of water through a soil by the application of a direct current
electroosmosis
the process of injecting a grouting agent into soil or rock to increase its strength or stability, protect foundations, or reduce groundwater flow
grouting or pressure grouting
slabs that are supported directly by columns without the use of beams or joists
flat slabs
concrete that has been cast into the desired shape prior to placement in a structure
precast concrete
concrete to which an initial compression load has been applied
prestressed concrete
places the prestressing material (reinforcing steel or prestressing cables) under tension in the concrete form before the member is poured
pre–tensioning
places the prestressing steel (usually placed inside a metal or plastic tube cast into the member) under tension after the concrete member has been erected
post–tensioning
the process of removing air voids in concrete as it is placed
consolidation
the process of bringing the surface of concrete to its final position and imparting the desired surface texture
finishing
may be employed to reduce the amount of free water present in plastic concrete after the concrete has been placed and screeded
vacuum dewatering
five (5) most common masonry pattern bonds
- running bond
- common bond
- Flemish bond
- English bond
- stack bond
uses only stretcher courses with head joints centered over stretchers in the course below
running bond
uses a header course repeated at regular intervals; usually every fifth, sixth, or seventh course
common bond
alternates stretchers and headers in each course with headers centered over stretchers in the course below
Flemish bond
made up of alternate courses of headers and stretchers, with headers centered on stretchers
English bond
provides no interlocking between adjacent masonry units and is used for its architectural effect
stack bond
a continuously reinforced horizontal beam of concrete or masonry designed to provide additional strength and to prevent cracking in a masonry wall
bond beam
in masonry walls, these are used to permit differential movement of wall sections caused by shrinkage of concrete foundations and floor slabs, temperature and moisture changes, and foundation settlement
expansion or control joints
consists of layers of impervious material used to seal out moisture or to direct any moisture that does penetrate back to the outside
flashing
a graphical schedule relating progress of items of work to a time schedule
bar graph or bar chart schedule
utilizes probability concepts to deal with the uncertainty associated with activity time estimates
Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)
assigns each activity a single fixed duration
Critical Path Method (CPM)
in this format, each activity is represented by an arrow that has an associated description and expected duration
activity–on–arrow
they do not represent any work and, hence, always have a duration of zero
dummy activity
the earliest time at which each event may occur based on an arbitrary starting time of zero
early event time
that path through the network which establishes the minimum project duration
critical path
the amount of scheduling leeway available to an activity
float (slack in PERT terminology)
a simple form of the activity on–node diagram
circle diagram or circle notation
each activity is represented by a circle containing the activity description, an identifying number, and the activity duration
circle diagram or circle notation
an extension of the activity on–node format that provides for incorporation of lag-time factors as well as permitting additional precedence relationships
precedence diagram
all activities are scheduled to start at the earliest allowable time, such a schedule
early start schedule
all activities are started at their latest allowable starting time
late start schedule
fixed costs that are incurred each year whether the equipment is operated or not
owning costs
five (5) principal elements of owning cost
- depreciation
- investment cost or interest
- insurance cost
- tax cost
- storage cost
incurred only when the equipment is used
operating costs
represents the decline in market value of an item of equipment due to age, wear, deterioration, and obsolescence
depreciation
represents the annual cost (converted to an hourly cost) of the capital invested in a machine
investment cost or interest
represents the cost of fire, theft, accident, and liability insurance for the equipment
insurance cost
represents the cost of property tax and licenses for the equipment
tax cost
represents the cost of rent and maintenance for equipment storage yards and facilities, the wages of guards and employees involved in handling equipment in and out of storage, and associated direct overhead
storage cost
sum of depreciation, investment, insurance, tax, and storage
total equipment owning cost
represents the cost of oil, hydraulic fluids, grease, and filters as well as the labor required to perform routine maintenance service
service cost
represents the cost of all equipment repair and maintenance
repair cost
it includes cost estimating prior to bidding or negotiating a contract, forecasting project income and expenditure (or cash flow), and determining the amount of work that a construction firm can safely undertake at one time for a construction project
financial planning
it involves estimating the total cost to carry out a construction project in accordance with the plans and specifications
cost estimating
involves the measurement and recording of project costs and progress and a comparison between actual and planned performance
project cost control
determination that the contractor possesses both the technical and financial ability to perform the work required by the contract
qualification of a contractor
under this procedure only those contractors determined to be capable of performing are invited to submit bids for the project
prequalification
guarantees that a contractor will provide the required performance and payment bonds if awarded the contract
bid bond
guarantees completion of the project as described in the contract documents
performance bond
guarantees the payment of subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers by the contractor
payment bond
contracts between a prime contractor and secondary contractors or suppliers
subcontracts
one negotiated between an owner and a construction firm
negotiated contract
provides a specified payment for completion of the work described in the contract documents
lump–sum contract
specify the amount to be paid for each unit of work but not the total contract amount
unit–price contracts
contains a provision whereby the contract value is adjusted according to a specified price index
fixed price with escalation contracts
part of a cost contract in which the contractor is paid a fee that is a percentage of the project’s actual cost
cost–plus percentage
four (4) construction contract documents
- agreement
- conditions of the contract (usually general conditions and special conditions
- plans
- specifications
describes the work to be performed, the required completion time, contract sum, provisions for progress payments and final payment, and lists the other documents making up the complete contract
agreement
contain those contract provisions applicable to most construction contracts written by the owner
general conditions
contain any additional contract provisions applicable to the specific project
special conditions
the analysis of a design with the objective of accomplishing the required function at a lower cost
value engineering
the time allowed (expressed as either days allowed or as a required completion date) for completion of a construction project is normally specified in the contract along with the phrase “time is of the essence”
contract time
part of a contract which may be used to simplify the process of establishing the amount of damages resulting from late completion
liquidated damages clause
drawings that show the location, dimensions, and details of the work to be performed
construction plans
provide the detailed requirements for the materials, equipment, and workmanship to be incorporated into the project
construction technical specifications
drawings, charts, and other data prepared by a contractor or supplier which describe the detailed characteristics of equipment or show how specific structural elements or items of equipment are to be fabricated and installed
shop drawings
these are made at the interval specified in the contract, usually monthly or upon completion of certain milestones
progress payments
it is customary to withhold a percentage of the value of work completed as a guarantee against defective work and to ensure that the remaining work can be completed within the unpaid amount of the contract; the amount withheld is referred to as _____
retainage or retention
the usual construction contract contains a clause authorizing the owner or owner’s representative to order changes to the project within the general scope of the contract; the document directing such a change is referred to as a _____
change order
frequently, it will be found that changes or delay in one activity will necessitate changes in resource allocation or progress on other activities that result in additional project cost; these costs are sometimes referred to as _____
consequential costs
_____ in the orderly progress of a construction project may result from a multitude of causes
delays
three (3) general categories of delay include
- those beyond the control of either the contractor or the owner (“acts of God”)
- those under the control of the owner
- those under the control of the contractor
the list of deficiencies to be corrected which is prepared at the final inspection
punch list of record
a request by the contractor for a time extension or for additional payment based on the occurrence of an event beyond the contractor’s control that has not been covered by a change order
claim
disagreements between the contractor and owner over some aspect of contract performance
disputes
construction documents that show in graphic and quantitative form the extent, design location, relationships, and dimensions of the work to be done
drawings
a single volume that contains all written requirements for a building construction project
project manual
constitute that portion of the written requirements for a building construction project that are contained in the divisions of a project manual
specifications
presents a database that includes design data, drawings, specifications, materials and systems parameters, and life cycle data, for all the various disciplines involved in a project and relates those data to each other and to the project as a whole to present an overall view of the project
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
a process whereby a prime design professional engaged by an owner, and the design professional’s consultants, prepare bidding documents and issue them to a group of constructors
bidding
a process whereby an architect engaged by an owner, and the architect’s consultants, prepare negotiation documents
negotiation
