AL General Contractor study guide
AL General Contractor · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Alabama General Contractor license is the state credential that allows a contracting business to bid and perform qualifying construction work in Alabama. It is issued by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, which sets the qualifying project threshold, the experience and financial requirements, and the examination requirements. The AL General Contractor study guide has 8 sections and about 2,645 words.
01Business, Finance, and Project Administration
Know the AIA family: A101/A102 owner-contractor agreements, A201 General Conditions, A401 contractor-subcontractor. Distinguish a Change Order (signed by all parties; adjusts both price and time) from a Construction Change Directive (owner-directed work performed before price is agreed).
303 words, about 2 min02Site Work, Excavation, and Foundations
Start with soil borings and classification. OSHA soil types: A (cohesive, strongest), B, C (granular, weakest, running).
332 words, about 2 min03Concrete and Masonry Construction
Mix design is governed by the water-cement ratio: lower w/c means higher strength and better durability. Slump (ASTM C143) is the field workability test.
333 words, about 2 min04Structural Steel, Metals, and Rough Carpentry
AISC 360 governs design; ASTM A992 is the standard W-shape steel with Fy = 50 ksi. Shop drawings are produced by the fabricator and reviewed by the EOR - review is not approval of design responsibility.
296 words, about 1 min05Thermal and Moisture Protection, Roofing, and Waterproofing
R-value is thermal resistance (higher is better); U-value = 1/R. Insulation must be continuous to defeat thermal bridging at studs and slab edges.
314 words, about 2 min06Doors, Windows, and Finishes
A fire-rated opening is an assembly: door, frame, and hardware all carry the label, and NFPA 80 governs installation and periodic inspection. Typical ratings are 20, 45, 60, and 90 minutes; a 90-minute door in a 2-hour wall is normal.
357 words, about 2 min07Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Coordination / Specialty Construction
The GC owns coordination even when each trade installs its own system. Use coordination drawings and clash detection before rough-in, and follow the standard priority: gravity lines first (drains), then pressure piping, then ductwork, then conduit.
352 words, about 2 min08Safety, Code Compliance, and Plan Reading
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 governs construction. The Focus Four are falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution.
358 words, about 2 min