Construction Contracts and Contract Documents

Vocabulary flashcards covering construction contract documents, drawing classifications, specification formats, and contract types.

Contract Documents

The construction drawings, conditions, terms, and specifications setting forth the requirements for constructing a project.

Drawings

A graphical set of directives prepared by the architect/engineer expressing the wishes and desires of the owner, serving as the primary communication tool used to convey the work.

Standard Drawing Sheet Dimensions

A single drawing sheet typically measures from $24'' \times 36''$ to $36'' \times 48''$.

Civil Drawings

Drawings prepared by a civil engineer describing site-related work such as grading, demolition, excavation, site utilities, streets, curbs, and gutters; typically numbered C1, C2, C3, etc.

Architectural Drawings

Drawings prepared by the architect describing the overall aesthetics, size, shape, dimensions, materials, and appearance of a facility; typically numbered A1, A2, A3, etc.

Structural Drawings

Drawings prepared by a structural engineer identifying major components making up the structural frame, such as columns, beams, and girders; typically numbered S1, S2, S3, etc.

Mechanical Drawings

Drawings prepared by a mechanical engineer covering plumbing systems, HVAC equipment, ductwork, and fire protection; typically numbered M1, M2, M3, etc.

Electrical Drawings

Drawings prepared by an electrical engineer depicting rough wiring, transformers, panel boxes, fixtures, switches, receptacles, fiber optics, and communications wiring; typically numbered E1, E2, E3, etc.

Plans

Drawings representing a horizontal cut through a building or a bird's-eye view, such as foundation plans, floor plans, framing plans, and reflected ceiling plans.

Elevations

Drawings depicting what a building looks like when standing from the outside, typically named after the direction the exterior wall faces.

Sections

Drawings representing a vertical cut through a building from top to bottom to provide a deeper understanding of the design at key locations.

Details

Large-scale blown-up drawings depicting specific portions of a building to explain finer elements of design, such as connections, intersections, or tricky construction elements.

Drawing Precedence Rule

A standard contractual rule stating that more-detailed drawings take precedence over more-general drawings, and technical specifications take precedence over drawings.

Construction Drawings

Detailed drawings prepared after schematic design and design development phases that serve as the basis for work and supplemental drawings during construction.

Shop Drawings

Supplemental drawings prepared by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier showing how an aspect of the work is to be fabricated and installed; they are not contract documents.

Coordination Drawings

Supplemental drawings created to show all construction requirements of multiple trades for a congested area.

Record Drawings (PEO Definition)

Documents created to accurately reflect as-constructed conditions that have been reviewed, verified, and sealed by a professional engineer.

As-Built Drawings (PEO Definition)

Documents created based solely on third-party information reflecting constructed conditions that have not been verified or sealed by an engineer.

Project Manual

The written portion of contract documents ('specs') containing bidding documents, agreement forms, general conditions, supplementary conditions, and technical specifications.

Bidding Documents

The section of the project manual consisting of the advertisement or invitation to bid, instructions to bidders, and bid forms.

Agreement

The specific contract form signed by both the owner and the contractor after the contract is awarded.

General Conditions

The section of contract documents that clearly delineates the responsibilities of each party and defines specific standard terms of the contract.

Supplementary Conditions

Contract provisions addressing project-specific conditions beyond standard general conditions, such as soil testing, survey information, job signage, and traffic control.

Technical Specifications

Written directions accompanying drawings that cover material quality, workmanship standards, installation methods, and QA/QC procedures.

SectionFormat

A CSI standard for organizing specification sections into $3$ primary parts: Part 1 - General, Part 2 - Products, and Part 3 - Execution.

OmniClass

A multi-table organizational framework used by the A/E/C industry for organizing project information across a facility's entire lifecycle.

UniFormat

A CSI standard for organizing construction information by functional elements, systems, and physical assemblies.

MasterFormat

A CSI standard providing numbers and titles for organizing construction information by work results or traditional construction practices, comprising $48$ divisions in the 2020 edition.

MasterFormat Division 03

The specific division in CSI MasterFormat designated for concrete construction.

Lump-Sum Contract

A contract under which the contractor agrees to perform the work for a single fixed fee and absorbs cost overruns unless caused by errors or omissions in plans and specs.

Cost-Plus-Fee Contract

A contract (also known as Time & Materials) where the owner reimburses actual labor and material costs plus a fixed fee or percentage, guaranteeing contractor profit while placing financial risk on the owner.

Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract

A variation of the cost-plus-fee contract where the owner reimburses actual costs plus fee up to a specified maximum price ceiling.

Unit-Price Contract

A contract type used when work cannot be measured accurately in advance, where bid unit prices are multiplied by engineer-estimated quantities.