The construction industry has many specific terms and acronyms that can be extremely confusing at first. Here are some helpful construction terms we have curated to help you gain a better understanding of the industry:

1. Construction Terminologies
As-builts
Survey is performed to obtain horizontal and/or vertical dimensional data so that constructed
improvements may be located and delineated
As-Built Drawing
A drawing or print marked by the Contractor to show actual conditions of a project as constructed
after construction
Approval Drawings
Approval drawings may include framing drawings, elevations and sections through the building as
furnished by the manufacturer for approval of the buyer. Approval by the buyer affirms that the
manufacturer has correctly interpreted the overall contract requirements for the metal building
system and it's accessories, and the exact location of accessories in the building.
Approval Plans
Plans sent by the joist manufacturer to the buyer, engineer, architect, contractor or other person for
approval. The plans may include a framing plan, elevations, sections, and a material list
Architectural Drawing
A drawing which shows the plan view and/or elevations of the finished building for the purpose of
showing the general appearance of the building, indicating all accessory locations.
Bid
A formal offer by a contractor, in accordance with specifications for a project, to do all or a phase of
the work at a certain price in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the offer.
Bill of Quantities (BOQ)
The bill of quantities is a contract document that contains a list of materials and workmanship
involved in a construction project. It is necessary for properly pricing a project.
Blueprints
A type of copying method often used for architectural drawings. Usually used to describe the
drawing of a structure which is prepared by an architect or designer for the purpose of design and
planning, estimating, securing permits and actual construction.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
A digital representation of a building to assist in the lifecycle of constructing the building. BIM aids in
the planning, design, and construction of a building and helps improve collaboration, reduce waste,
and improve project delivery
Contractor
A company licensed to perform certain types of construction activities. In most states, the general
contractor's license and some specialty contractor's licenses don't require of compliance with

2. bonding, workmen's compensation and similar regulations. Some of the specialty contractor licenses
involve extensive training, testing and/or insurance requirements. There are various types of
contractors:
General contractor - responsible for the execution, supervision and overall coordination of a project
and may also perform some of the individual construction tasks. Most general contractors are not
licensed to perform all specialty trades and must hire specialty contractors for such tasks, e.g.
electrical, plumbing.
Remodeling contractor - a general contractor who specializes in remodeling work.
Specialty contractor - licensed to perform a specialty task e.g. electrical, side sewer, asbestos
abatement.
Sub contractor - a general or specialty contractor who works for another general contractor.
Construction contract
A legal document which specifies the what-when-where-how-how much and by whom in a
construction project.
Change Order
A written document which modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the construction
Contract.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
(Computer-aided design) refers to using architecture software to create detailed models of buildings
to speed up the design process, allow for more creativity, and ensure greater accuracy in
measurements.
CFM (cubic feet per minute)
A rating that expresses the amount of air a blower or fan can move. The volume of air (measured in
cubic feet) that can pass through an opening in one minute.
Design-bid-build
A traditional project delivery method where the owner or agency contracts separate firms to design
and construct the building.
Design-build
A project delivery method where the owner or agency hires a single firm or company to handle both
the design and construction of the building.
Drawings
Construction drawings that are a graphic and written record of what is to be built.
Down payment
The difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount. A down payment is usually paid at
closing.

3. Estimate
The amount of labor, materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for a project as
summarized in the contractor's bid proposal for the project.
Floorplan
The floor plan refers to the layout of the building. It is a drawing of the horizontal section that shows
how the different spaces relate to each other.
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
A construction model where a single multi-party contract is established between the owner,
architect and builder. The contract outlines that all stakeholders will share both the risks and
incentives of the project.
Lean construction
A construction methodology where all stakeholders share relationships and goals to manage the
project so as to reduce waste while maximizing the project’s value.
Manufacturer's specifications
The written installation and/or maintenance instructions which are developed by the manufacturer
of a product and which may have to be followed in order to maintain the product warrantee.
Plan view
Drawing of a structure with the view from overhead, looking down.
Purchase Orders (PO)
In construction, a purchase order is a document from the buyer that indicates their intent to
purchase services and products from the seller, such as a supplier.
Request for Information (RFI)
This preliminary document contains general information about the capabilities provided by potential
vendors or suppliers.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A document request to vendors to obtain an overview of their costs and offerings for specific
services.
Request for Quote (RFQ)
A document featuring predetermined specifications for the project as it requests the vendor’s costs
to fulfill these specifications.
Request for Tender(RTT)
A formal invitation to vendors to submit their bid to supply products and services to the construction
project.
Section
Show views of buildings as if they were cut on a vertical plane.

4. Shop Drawings
Show details of the fabrication of specific components.
Specifications
Detail the materials and quality of the building design
Subcontract
An agreement made between the main contractor and a subcontractor or trade contractor to
perform a specified set of construction services.
Submittal/Transmittal
Submittals in construction management include shop drawings, material data, samples, and product
data, and are primarily required for architects and engineers to verify correct product installation.
Tender
A contractor’s or supplier’s submission response about the supplies and services that they can offer
to the project when receiving a bid invitation.
Unit Price Contracts
A contract where the contractor is paid based on the estimated quantity of items for the project and
their unit prices.
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)
Includes multi-disciplinary project models, such as engineering modeling, model-based designs, and
visualizations.