Construction Glossary
Clear, authoritative definitions for the documents, drawings, roles, and processes every construction professional needs to know.
Construction Documents
13Addendum
An addendum is a document issued by the owner or architect during the bidding phase of a construction project that modifies, clarifies, or adds to the original bid documents before contracts are awarded.
Read definitionAs-Built Drawing
An as-built drawing is a revised set of construction drawings that reflects all changes made during the construction process, showing the actual constructed conditions rather than the original design intent.
Read definitionBid Package
A bid package is a collection of documents assembled by the project owner or general contractor and distributed to prospective bidders so they can prepare accurate cost proposals for a construction project.
Read definitionBulletin
A bulletin is a document issued by the architect during construction that communicates design changes, clarifications, or additional information to the contractor.
Read definitionChange Order
A change order is a formal, written amendment to the construction contract that modifies the original scope of work, project cost, or schedule.
Read definitionLien Waiver
A lien waiver is a legal document in which a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier relinquishes their right to file a mechanic's lien against a property in exchange for payment.
Read definitionNotice to Proceed
A notice to proceed (NTP) is a formal written authorization from the project owner to the contractor directing them to begin work on a construction project.
Read definitionPunch List
A punch list is a document created near the end of a construction project that itemizes work that does not conform to contract specifications and must be completed or corrected before final payment is released.
Read definitionRFI (Request for Information)
An RFI, or Request for Information, is a formal document used in construction to clarify design intent, resolve ambiguities in contract documents, or request missing information from the architect or engineer.
Read definitionScope of Work
A scope of work (SOW) is a detailed written description of all the tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities that a contractor or subcontractor is required to perform on a construction project.
Read definitionShop Drawing
A shop drawing is a detailed fabrication drawing produced by a contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or fabricator that shows how a specific component will be manufactured, assembled, and installed.
Read definitionSpecification
A specification, or spec, is a written document that describes the materials, products, workmanship standards, and installation methods required for a construction project.
Read definitionSubmittal
A submittal is a document, sample, or product data that a contractor sends to the architect or engineer for review and approval before the material or equipment is fabricated, purchased, or installed.
Read definitionPlan Types
14Demolition Plan
A demolition plan is a construction drawing that identifies existing building elements to be removed, relocated, or protected during a renovation or remodeling project.
Read definitionDetail Drawing
A detail drawing is a large-scale construction drawing that shows a specific building component or connection at a magnified scale to provide the precise information needed for fabrication and installation.
Read definitionElectrical Plan
An electrical plan is a construction drawing that shows the layout of the electrical system, including panel locations, circuit routing, outlet and switch placement, lighting layouts, and power distribution.
Read definitionElevation
An elevation is a scaled architectural drawing that shows the exterior or interior face of a building as viewed straight on from a horizontal position.
Read definitionFloor Plan
A floor plan is a scaled architectural drawing that shows the layout of a building as seen from above, depicting the arrangement of rooms, walls, doors, windows, and other spatial elements at a specific floor level.
Read definitionFoundation Plan
A foundation plan is a structural drawing that shows the layout, dimensions, and details of a building's foundation system, including footings, grade beams, pile caps, slab-on-grade, and any below-grade structural elements.
Read definitionFraming Plan
A framing plan is a structural drawing that shows the layout, sizes, and spacing of the structural framing members for a floor, roof, or wall assembly.
Read definitionMechanical Plan
A mechanical plan is a construction drawing that shows the layout of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, including ductwork routing, equipment locations, diffuser and return placements, piping runs, and thermostat locations.
Read definitionPlumbing Plan
A plumbing plan is a construction drawing that shows the layout of the water supply, waste, and vent piping systems, including pipe routing, fixture locations, water heater placement, and connections to the municipal water and sewer systems.
Read definitionReflected Ceiling Plan
A reflected ceiling plan (RCP) is a construction drawing that shows the layout of the ceiling as if it were reflected onto the floor below, depicting ceiling materials, heights, light fixture locations, sprinkler heads, diffusers, access panels, and soffits.
Read definitionRoof Plan
A roof plan is an architectural or structural drawing that shows the shape, slopes, drainage patterns, materials, and key features of a building's roof as viewed from above.
Read definitionSection Drawing
A section drawing is a construction drawing that shows a cut-through view of a building along a vertical plane, revealing the internal construction of walls, floors, roofs, and foundations.
Read definitionSite Plan
A site plan is a scaled drawing that shows a construction project within the context of its property, depicting the building footprint, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, landscaping, utilities, grading, setbacks, and property boundaries.
Read definitionStructural Plan
A structural plan is a construction drawing that shows the layout of a building structural system, including foundations, columns, beams, joists, slabs, shear walls, and load paths.
Read definitionRoles
7Architect of Record
The architect of record (AOR) is the licensed architect who is legally responsible for the design of a building project and whose professional stamp appears on the construction documents.
Read definitionConstruction Manager
A construction manager (CM) is a professional or firm hired to oversee and coordinate the planning, design, and construction of a project on behalf of the owner.
Read definitionGeneral Contractor
A general contractor (GC) is the primary construction firm responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of a building project, including hiring and supervising subcontractors, procuring materials, maintaining the schedule, and ensuring the work meets contract specifications.
Read definitionOwner Representative
An owner representative, or owner rep, is a construction professional hired by the project owner to act on their behalf during the design and construction process.
Read definitionProject Manager
A construction project manager (PM) is the person responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and financial management of a construction project from pre-construction through close-out.
Read definitionSubcontractor
A subcontractor is a specialized construction firm hired by the general contractor to perform a specific trade or scope of work on a project, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, painting, or roofing.
Read definitionSuperintendent
A superintendent is the general contractor on-site field leader responsible for managing day-to-day construction operations, coordinating trades, enforcing safety protocols, and ensuring the work is built according to the plans and specifications.
Read definitionProcesses
13Bid Leveling
Bid leveling, also called bid analysis or bid tabulation, is the process of comparing bids from multiple subcontractors or suppliers on an equal basis by identifying and reconciling differences in scope, exclusions, qualifications, and assumptions.
Read definitionCertificate of Occupancy
A certificate of occupancy (CO) is a document issued by the local building department that certifies a building has been inspected and meets all applicable building codes, zoning regulations, and safety requirements for its intended use.
Read definitionCommissioning
Commissioning is a quality assurance process that verifies and documents that a building's mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other systems are designed, installed, tested, and operating according to the owner's project requirements.
Read definitionConstructability Review
A constructability review is a systematic evaluation of a project's design documents by experienced construction professionals to identify potential problems, conflicts, or inefficiencies before construction begins.
Read definitionConstruction Closeout
Construction closeout is the final phase of a construction project that includes completing punch list items, collecting warranty documents, delivering operation and maintenance manuals, obtaining the certificate of occupancy, and transferring the completed building to the owner.
Read definitionDaily Log
A daily log, or daily report, is a record maintained by the superintendent or project manager that documents each working day on a construction site, including weather conditions, manpower by trade, work performed, deliveries received, visitors, safety incidents, and delays.
Read definitionField Report
A field report is a written record of observations made during a visit to a construction site by the architect, engineer, inspector, or owner representative.
Read definitionMobilization
Mobilization is the process of assembling and transporting personnel, equipment, materials, and temporary facilities to a construction site in preparation for the start of work.
Read definitionPlan Review
Plan review is the process by which a building department, fire marshal, or other authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) examines construction documents to verify compliance with building codes, zoning ordinances, and other regulations before issuing a building permit.
Read definitionPre-Construction
Pre-construction is the planning phase of a construction project that occurs after design begins but before physical construction starts, including activities such as budgeting, scheduling, value engineering, constructability reviews, permitting, and subcontractor procurement.
Read definitionRetainage
Retainage is a percentage of each progress payment that the project owner withholds from the contractor until the project reaches substantial completion or final completion.
Read definitionSubstantial Completion
Substantial completion is the stage of a construction project when the work is sufficiently complete that the owner can occupy or utilize the building for its intended purpose, even though minor punch list items may remain.
Read definitionValue Engineering
Value engineering is a systematic method of analyzing a construction project's design, materials, and systems to achieve the required function at the lowest total cost without sacrificing quality or performance.
Read definitionTechnical
10Annotation
An annotation is any text note, dimension, symbol, label, or reference added to a construction drawing that provides information beyond the graphic elements.
Read definitionBuilding Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital process that creates and manages a data-rich 3D model of a building, containing geometric, spatial, and functional information about every component.
Read definitionConstruction Documents
Construction documents (CDs) are the complete set of drawings and specifications that define what is to be built, forming the legal basis of the construction contract.
Read definitionDrawing Scale
Drawing scale is the ratio between the size of objects on a construction drawing and their actual size in the real world, expressed as a fraction such as 1/4 inch equals 1 foot or as a ratio like 1:48.
Read definitionMarkup
A markup is any annotation, note, sketch, or modification drawn on top of a construction drawing to communicate changes, questions, or additional information.
Read definitionPlan Set
A plan set is the complete collection of construction drawings for a project, organized by discipline and sheet number, that together describe everything needed to build the project.
Read definitionRedline
A redline is a markup made in red on a construction drawing to indicate a change, correction, or as-built condition that differs from the original design.
Read definitionRevision Cloud
A revision cloud is a cloud-shaped boundary drawn around an area of a construction drawing that has been changed from a previous version.
Read definitionTitle Block
A title block is the standardized information panel located in the bottom-right corner or along the right edge of a construction drawing sheet that identifies the project name, drawing title, sheet number, scale, date, revision history, and the design firm responsible for the drawing.
Read definitionTrade Layer
A trade layer is a classification system used in construction plan management to organize drawing information, comments, and markups by the specific trade or discipline they belong to, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, or painting.
Read definitionModern
8AI Floorplan Sorting
AI floorplan sorting is the use of artificial intelligence to automatically identify, name, categorize, and organize construction drawing sheets when they are uploaded to a digital plan management platform.
Read definitionCloud-Based Construction Software
Cloud-based construction software is any construction management application that runs on remote servers accessed through a web browser or mobile app, rather than being installed on local computers.
Read definitionConstruction Collaboration Software
Construction collaboration software is a category of digital tools that enables project teams to communicate, share documents, track issues, and coordinate work across the distributed stakeholders of a construction project.
Read definitionConstruction Management Software
Construction management software is a digital platform that helps construction teams plan, coordinate, and control all aspects of a project, including scheduling, budgeting, document management, communication, and field reporting.
Read definitionDigital Plan Management
Digital plan management is the practice of storing, organizing, distributing, and collaborating on construction drawings using software instead of paper.
Read definitionDigital Punch List
A digital punch list is an electronic system for documenting, assigning, tracking, and closing out construction deficiencies and incomplete work items using software instead of handwritten lists on paper.
Read definitionMobile Plan Access
Mobile plan access is the ability to view, navigate, mark up, and collaborate on construction drawings from a smartphone or tablet in the field.
Read definitionPlan Review Software
Plan review software is a digital tool that allows construction professionals to view, navigate, mark up, and collaborate on architectural and engineering drawings without printing them on paper.
Read definition