NE General Contractor flashcards
NE 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.
- Nebraska contractor registration threshold
- Nebraska requires contractor registration for projects over $5,000 in labor and materials. Unregistered contractors cannot enforce contracts and face penalties from the Department of Labor.
- Nebraska mechanics' lien filing period
- A contractor must file a mechanics' lien within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials. Subcontractors must give the owner preliminary notice within 10 days of first furnishing.
- Nebraska statute of repose
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-223 bars construction defect claims more than five years after substantial completion of an improvement to real property, regardless of discovery date.
- Nebraska Prompt Payment Act
- Public owners in Nebraska must pay a proper invoice within 30 days. Retainage on public projects must be released within 30 days of final acceptance of the work.
- Total float formula
- Total float equals late start minus early start, or late finish minus early finish. An activity with zero total float lies on the critical path and delays completion if slipped.
- Change order vs. CCD
- A construction change directive orders work before price is agreed; a change order is a signed agreement covering scope, price, and time. CCDs are later converted to change orders.
- Bid bond percentage
- A bid bond is typically 5 to 10 percent of the bid amount. It guarantees the contractor will enter the contract if awarded; failure forfeits the bond to the owner.
- Substantial completion effect
- Substantial completion starts warranty periods, triggers retainage release provisions, and allows owner occupancy. Only punch list items and minor work remain incomplete at that point.
- Specification MasterFormat divisions
- CSI MasterFormat organizes specifications into 50 divisions. Division 01 is General Requirements, Division 03 Concrete, Division 05 Metals, and Division 09 Finishes.
- Concrete volume formula
- Cubic yards equal length times width times depth in feet, divided by 27. Add 5 to 10 percent for spillage and uneven subgrade when ordering ready-mix.
- Drawing scale conversion
- At 1/4 inch equals 1 foot, one inch on the drawing represents 4 feet. At 1/8 inch equals 1 foot, one inch represents 8 feet.
- Estimate contingency percentages
- Design contingency runs 5 to 10 percent during design; construction contingency runs 3 to 5 percent during construction. Add escalation separately for long-duration projects.
- OSHA fall protection height
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 requires fall protection at 6 feet in construction. Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems are acceptable means of protection.
- Excavation protective system threshold
- Protective systems are required for excavations 5 feet deep or more. Spoil piles and equipment must be kept at least 2 feet back from the excavation edge.
- Ladder 4:1 rule
- Ladders must be set at a 4:1 angle: 1 foot out for every 4 feet of height. They must extend 3 feet above the landing for roof access.
- Scaffold rail dimensions
- Scaffold top rails are 38 to 45 inches high, midrails about 21 inches, and toe boards 3.5 inches. Scaffolds must support four times the intended load.
- Water-cement ratio effect
- Lower water-cement ratios increase concrete strength and reduce permeability. Typical structural concrete uses 0.45 to 0.50; higher ratios weaken the mix.
- Standard vs. Modified Proctor
- ASTM D698 Standard Proctor uses lower compaction energy than ASTM D1557 Modified Proctor. Modified yields higher maximum dry density and is often the field specification.
- Rebar size identification
- Rebar is numbered in eighths of an inch: #4 is 1/2 inch, #5 is 5/8 inch, and #8 is 1 inch in diameter. Cover and development length follow ACI 318.
- Concrete slump test
- ASTM C143 slump test measures workability of fresh concrete. A standard slump cone is filled in three lifts, rodded 25 times each, then the drop is measured.
- CMU nominal dimensions
- A standard concrete masonry unit is nominally 8 by 8 by 16 inches; actual dimensions are 7-5/8 by 7-5/8 by 15-5/8. Mortar joints are 3/8 inch.
- Mortar type selection
- Type M is highest strength for below grade; Type S is moderate-high for exterior load-bearing; Type N is general purpose above grade; Type O is low strength for interior non-load-bearing.
- Nominal vs. actual lumber
- A nominal 2x4 measures 1.5 by 3.5 inches; a 2x6 measures 1.5 by 5.5; a 2x10 measures 1.5 by 9.25. Framing spacing is typically 16 or 24 inches on center.
- Collar tie placement
- Collar ties are installed in the upper third of the rafter span to resist separation. They are not a substitute for ceiling joists, which resist outward wall thrust.
- Roof slope categories
- Low-slope roofs are 2:12 or less; steep-slope roofs exceed 4:12. Underlayment and flashing requirements vary by slope and roofing product.
- Ice dam membrane location
- An ice dam membrane is installed at the eaves, extending at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, to prevent water backup in cold climates.
- Vapor retarder placement
- Vapor retarders go on the warm side of insulation in cold climates to prevent condensation inside the assembly. In hot-humid climates placement may reverse.
- Insulation R-value per inch
- Polyiso foam is about R-6 per inch, XPS about R-5, EPS about R-4, fiberglass batt about R-3.1, and spray polyurethane about R-6 to R-7.
- HVAC tonnage definition
- One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU per hour. A rough sizing guideline is 1 ton per 400 to 600 square feet depending on climate and envelope.
- GFCI and AFCI requirements
- GFCI protection is required in bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors, garages, and within 6 feet of sinks. AFCI protection is required in bedrooms and living areas per NEC.
- Drain pipe slope
- Drain pipe slopes 1/4 inch per foot for 2-inch and smaller pipe, and 1/8 inch per foot for 3-inch and larger. Vent stacks must extend above the roof.
- Drywall finishing levels
- Level 4 drywall finish is standard for painted surfaces; Level 5 adds a skim coat for critical lighting conditions. Levels 1 through 3 are for less visible areas.