Construction Glossary: Terms Used on Gulf Projects

As-built drawings, also called record drawings, are the final set of drawings that show the work as actually constructed, including every change made during construction.

A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is a priced list of the work items in a construction contract, each with a description, unit, quantity and rate.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a process of creating and managing a digital model of a building or infrastructure asset, in which objects carry data such as type, size, material and location.

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a scheduling technique that links project activities by their dependencies and durations to find the longest chain of activities, the critical path.

An Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) is a quality document that lists, for one type of work, each inspection and test to be carried out, the standard or specification it is checked against, who performs it and who must witness or approve it before work continues.

An Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) is a certificate issued during a construction contract, usually monthly, stating the amount due to the contractor for work done to date.

Liquidated damages (LDs) are a pre-agreed amount, usually a daily or weekly rate, that a contractor must pay the employer if the works are not completed by the contractual date.

A material submittal is a formal package of product data, samples, test reports or drawings that a contractor sends to the consultant for review and approval before ordering or installing a material or system.

In construction project management, an RFA usually means Request for Approval: a formal submission from the contractor to the engineer or consultant that describes an item, such as a material, drawing or method, and asks for their review comments and approval before the work proceeds.

A Request for Information (RFI) is a formal written question raised on a construction project when drawings, specifications or other contract documents are unclear, incomplete or in conflict.

A snag list, also called a punch list, is a written list of defects, incomplete work and minor faults found when inspecting a building or area before handover.

A Variation Order (VO) is a formal instruction or agreement that changes the scope, quantity, quality or timing of work in a construction contract.

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical breakdown of the total scope of a project into smaller, manageable parts, from the whole project down to work packages.