AL General Contractor flashcards
AL General Contractor · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Retainage
- A percentage, commonly 5 to 10 percent, withheld from each progress payment by the owner and released according to contract terms at substantial completion or final acceptance.
- Critical Path
- The longest continuous sequence of dependent activities through a project schedule network; its total float is zero and any delay on it delays project completion.
- Bid Bond
- A surety instrument, usually 5 to 10 percent of the bid amount, guaranteeing the bidder will enter the contract if awarded and furnish the required performance and payment bonds.
- Liquidated Damages
- A fixed per-day monetary amount stated in the contract that the contractor pays the owner for delay beyond the contract completion date, without proving actual loss.
- Type C Soil
- The least stable OSHA soil classification, with a maximum allowable excavation slope of 1.5 horizontal to 1 vertical and no benching permitted.
- Competent Person
- An individual capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action, required for daily excavation inspections before workers enter.
- Frost Depth
- The maximum depth to which soil freezes in a given region; exterior footings must bear below this line to prevent frost heave.
- Standard Proctor
- ASTM D698 laboratory test that determines the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of soil, used as the reference for field compaction.
- Water-Cement Ratio
- The ratio of water to cementitious material by weight in a concrete mix; lower values increase strength and reduce permeability.
- Slump Test
- ASTM C143 field test measuring concrete consistency by the vertical settlement of a molded cone, indicating workability and water content.
- Mortar Type N
- A medium-strength masonry mortar commonly used for above-grade, non-load-bearing or moderate-load walls; lower strength than Type M or S.
- 28-Day Strength
- The compressive strength f'c that concrete is specified to achieve at 28 days of curing, the standard basis for structural design and acceptance.
- A992 Steel
- A common structural steel specification for wide-flange shapes with a minimum yield strength of 50 ksi and specified tensile properties.
- Shear Stud
- A welded steel headed stud that transfers horizontal shear between a steel beam and concrete slab, creating composite action.
- High-Strength Bolt
- An A325 or A490 bolt installed to a specified tension used in structural steel connections, either pretensioned or slip-critical.
- AISC Standard Practice
- The document establishing accepted tolerances, erection procedures, and responsibilities for structural steel fabrication and installation in the United States.
- Vapor Retarder
- A material of low permeance installed on the warm side of insulation to limit moisture vapor diffusion into building assemblies and prevent condensation.
- Low-Slope Roof
- A roof with a slope of less than 3:12, typically covered with a membrane such as TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen.
- Counterflashing
- The metal flashing embedded in or attached to a wall or reglet that overlaps base flashing to shed water at a roof-to-wall junction.
- Weather Barrier
- A sheet or membrane applied over sheathing behind cladding to resist air and water infiltration while allowing vapor to escape.
- Fire Door Rating
- The time in minutes or hours a door assembly resists fire, determined by the rating of the wall opening it protects.
- Tempered Glass
- Safety glazing heat-treated to fracture into small granules; required in hazardous locations such as doors, sidelights, and glazing near floors.
- Drywall Level 5
- The highest gypsum board finish, with a skim coat over the entire surface, used where glossy paint or critical lighting will show imperfections.
- Panic Hardware
- Latching hardware that releases with a single motion in the direction of egress, required on egress doors serving large occupant loads.
- Clash Detection
- A BIM coordination process that identifies geometric conflicts among structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing models before fabrication and installation.
- Plumbing Pressure Test
- A hydrostatic or air test of piping systems performed before concealment to verify joints are leak-free at the specified test pressure.
- Duct Hanger Spacing
- The maximum interval between supports for HVAC ductwork, specified by SMACNA and the project documents to prevent sag and vibration.
- Commissioning
- A systematic process of verifying that building systems and assemblies perform according to the owner's requirements and design intent.
- Fall Protection Threshold
- OSHA requires fall protection for construction workers exposed to falls of 6 feet or more, or 10 feet when working on scaffolds.
- Guardrail Height
- The top edge of a guardrail must be 42 inches above the walking surface, plus or minus 3 inches, with a midrail installed.
- Occupancy Classification
- The IBC category assigned to a building based on its use, which determines egress, fire separation, and construction requirements.
- Plan Scale
- The ratio relating drawing dimensions to actual dimensions, such as 1/4 inch equals 1 foot, used to measure distances on plans.