FL Plumber key terms

The money left over when a plumbing company subtracts current liabilities from current assets. It pays for payroll, materials, and daily operating costs while the contractor waits to be paid.

The amount a contractor adds to a job's direct costs of labor, material, and equipment to cover overhead and profit. It is usually stated as a percentage of cost, not of the selling price.

The timing of money coming in and going out of a business. A plumbing contractor can be profitable on paper yet fail if collections arrive after payroll and supplier bills are due.

A legal claim against a property for unpaid labor, materials, or services. In Florida, contractors and suppliers must follow strict notice and deadline rules to preserve the right to file one.

A written amendment signed after the contract begins that changes the scope, price, or schedule of the work. Work should not proceed until the owner's representative authorizes it in writing.

A formal written question sent by the contractor to the designer asking for clarification of drawings or specifications. The answer becomes part of the project record and may support a later change order.

Product data, shop drawings, or samples the contractor sends to the designer for review before installation. Approval confirms that the proposed equipment and materials meet the contract documents.

A percentage of each progress payment the owner holds back until the job reaches substantial completion. It protects the owner from unfinished work and unpaid suppliers, and Florida law limits it on public work.

The point when the work is complete enough for the owner's intended use, even though minor items remain. It typically starts warranty periods and triggers release of part of the retainage.

A written list of minor incomplete or defective items noted at the final walkthrough. Closing out the punch list is usually required before final payment is released.

Official authorization from the local building department to install, alter, or repair plumbing. Work may not begin until the permit is issued, and inspections must be requested at the required stages.

A check of piping installed in walls, floors, or trenches before it is concealed by drywall, concrete, or backfill. Approval must be obtained before the work is covered.

A license issued by a Florida city or county that lets a contractor perform plumbing work within that jurisdiction. It is separate from the state-issued certified contractor license.

The statewide construction code containing the plumbing provisions enforced in Florida, along with state and limited local amendments. It sets minimum standards for design, installation, and inspection.

A device or assembly that stops water from reversing into the drinking water supply. Types such as reduced-pressure zone and double-check assemblies are chosen according to the degree of hazard.

Any actual or potential connection between potable water and a source of contamination. It must be removed or protected with an approved backflow assembly.

An unobstructed vertical space between a water outlet and the flood level rim of the receptacle below it. It gives the highest protection against backflow and requires no testing.

A valve that lowers incoming water pressure to a steady, safe level for the building's piping and fixtures. It is commonly required where street pressure exceeds about 80 psi.

A tank that absorbs the extra volume created when water heats and expands in a closed system, preventing damaging pressure spikes. It is typically installed near the water heater.

A small chamber installed near a quick-closing valve that absorbs the pressure surge caused by suddenly stopping water flow. It prevents banging, vibration, and pipe damage.

The water held in the bend of a plumbing trap that blocks sewer gas from entering the building. It is normally two to four inches deep and must be protected by proper venting.

A U-shaped fitting on a fixture drain that holds a water seal and lets waste pass through. It must be smooth, self-cleaning, and of a type listed for the application.

A one-way valve that opens to admit air into a drain and closes to keep sewer gas in the pipe. The code limits where it may be used and requires access for service.

A vertical pipe that carries sewer gas outdoors and admits air to the drainage system so trap seals stay intact. It must extend above the roof as the code requires.

An accessible fitting with a removable cap that allows a drain line to be rodded or snaked. The code requires cleanouts at specified locations and spacing along the line.

A number expressing how fast a fixture discharges waste, used with code tables to size drains and vents. Each fixture type has an assigned value.

A one-way valve on a drain line that closes automatically when the public sewer surcharges, keeping sewage from backing into the building. It must remain accessible for maintenance.

A safety valve that opens when a water heater exceeds its temperature or pressure limit. Its discharge pipe must run by gravity to a safe point and must never be capped.

A fixture set flush with the floor to receive spills and wash-down water, with a trap beneath it. Dry floor drains need a trap primer to keep the seal intact.

A pump set in a pit that removes collected groundwater or storm water from a low area. Unless rated for solids, it is not intended to handle sewage.

A space big enough for a worker to enter, with limited entry or exit, that is not meant for continuous occupancy. Entry requires hazard evaluation, air testing, an attendant, and often a permit.

The practice of de-energizing and isolating equipment before working on it so it cannot start unexpectedly. Each worker places a personal lock and tag and removes only their own.

Personal protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators that reduces exposure to jobsite hazards. Employers must supply it and train workers to use it correctly.

Shoring, sloping, benching, or a trench box used to prevent cave-ins. OSHA requires protection in trenches five feet deep or more, with daily inspections by a competent person.

Florida's free underground utility locate service. Contractors must notify it at least two full business days before digging so buried lines can be marked.

A pictorial drawing that shows piping along three angled axes so changes in direction, size, and elevation appear in one view. Plumbers use it to plan and install complex runs.

A drawing viewed from directly above that shows walls, fixtures, pipe routes, and dimensions for a floor. It does not by itself show how high the pipes run.

The relationship between a distance on a drawing and the real distance it represents, such as one-quarter inch equals one foot. Using the correct scale is essential for accurate takeoffs.

A careful count and measurement of every pipe, fitting, fixture, and material needed for a job, read from the drawings and specifications. It forms the basis of an accurate bid.

The written portion of the contract documents describing required materials, installation methods, submittals, and quality standards. They work together with the drawings to define the job.