CT General Contractor flashcards
CT 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.
- DCP registration
- Connecticut home improvement contractors must register with the Department of Consumer Protection and display the registration number on contracts and advertisements.
- Three-day cancellation
- Homeowners solicited at their residence have three business days to cancel a home improvement contract; the contractor must provide conspicuous written notice and a duplicate copy.
- CUTPA
- Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce and can support attorney's fees and punitive damages for violations.
- LLC liability shield
- A limited liability company protects owners' personal assets from business debts but does not shield against personal negligence or personally guaranteed obligations.
- Workers' compensation
- Connecticut requires workers' compensation coverage for employers with one or more employees; sole proprietors and certain officers may elect coverage.
- Surety bond
- A three-party guarantee where the surety assures the owner that the contractor will perform; bonding capacity depends on financial strength and working capital.
- Certificate of occupancy
- Issued by the building official after final inspections confirm the building complies with the code and is safe for occupancy.
- Stop-work order
- Authority of the building official to halt work that violates the code or creates an unsafe condition until corrections are made.
- Fall protection threshold
- OSHA requires fall protection in construction at heights of 6 feet or more using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
- Excavation protective system
- Excavations 5 feet or deeper require sloping, shoring, or shielding; a competent person must inspect daily and after rain.
- HazCom requirements
- Employers must maintain safety data sheets, label hazardous chemicals, and train employees on chemical hazards under OSHA's Hazard Communication standard.
- Concrete 28-day strength
- Concrete compressive strength is specified at 28 days; field testing includes slump, air content, and cylinder breaks per ACI standards.
- Control layers
- Building envelopes manage water, air, vapor, and thermal transfer; continuity at transitions such as windows and roof-wall junctions is critical.
- Ice barrier
- Self-adhering membrane installed at roof eaves in cold climates to prevent ice dam water from backing up under shingles.
- Frost depth footing
- Footings must extend below the frost line, typically about 42 inches in Connecticut, to prevent frost heave.
- Shear wall
- A wall designed to resist lateral loads from wind or seismic forces and transfer them to the foundation through hold-downs and anchor bolts.
- Deflection limit
- Maximum allowable bending deflection for floors is typically L/360 and for roofs L/240, where L is the span length.
- Drain slope
- Plumbing drain lines for 2-inch and smaller pipe slope at 1/4 inch per foot; larger lines may slope at 1/8 inch per foot.
- Manual J load calculation
- Method for sizing HVAC equipment based on building envelope, orientation, and climate data; required before equipment selection.
- Rough-in inspection
- Inspection of plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems after installation but before insulation and drywall conceal the work.
- Critical path
- The longest sequence of dependent activities in a project network; any delay on the critical path delays project completion.
- Float
- The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion date; total float versus free float differ.
- Retainage
- A percentage of each progress payment withheld by the owner, commonly 5-10%, until substantial completion or final acceptance.
- Change order
- A written modification to the contract scope, price, or schedule signed by the owner and contractor; oral changes create disputes.
- Registration display
- Connecticut requires the contractor's registration number to appear in advertisements and on written home improvement contracts.
- Deposit limit
- Connecticut law limits the deposit a home improvement contractor may collect before work begins; verify the current statutory percentage before signing.
- Additional insured
- Status giving the owner or general contractor protection under a subcontractor's liability policy for claims arising from the sub's work.
- Building permit
- Authorization from the local building official required before construction, alteration, or demolition; work must conform to approved plans.
- Competent person
- An individual capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action, required for excavations and scaffolds.
- Vapor retarder
- A material that limits moisture vapor diffusion through the building envelope; placement depends on climate and assembly design.
- Header sizing
- Structural headers span openings and carry loads from above; size is determined by span, load, and lumber species and grade.
- Backflow prevention
- A device or assembly that prevents contamination of the potable water supply from reverse flow; required where cross-connections may occur.