Construction dictionary

Construction glossary

Plain-language definitions of common construction and project terms, for anyone learning the ropes or checking a term.

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A
Final drawings that record a project exactly as it was built, including any changes made during construction, so the record matches the real structure.
A single labour or item rate that already includes every associated cost such as materials, overheads and margin, so nothing extra is added later.
A document issued during the tender stage that changes or clarifies the original tender information before bids are submitted.
B
An itemised list of all materials, parts and labour needed for a project, with quantities, used to price the work and compare bids fairly.
A structured list of the raw materials and components required to build something, often broken down from the scope of work.
The original approved project schedule against which actual progress is later measured to see if work is ahead or behind.
A detailed technical drawing of a building or component that guides how it should be constructed.
The legal rules and standards a structure must meet for safety, health and accessibility in a given area.
C
A formal record of a change to the agreed scope, cost or schedule of a project, approved by both parties before the work is done.
A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, showing which activities directly control the project's finish date.
A calculated projection of what a project will cost, based on quantities, rates, labour and overheads.
The process of planning and controlling a project's budget so actual spending stays close to what was estimated.
D
A daily record from site capturing labour deployed, work completed and any issues, giving the office a real-time view of progress.
A set period after handover during which the contractor must fix defects that appear, at their own cost.
E
A method that combines scope, schedule and cost to measure how much value has actually been delivered against what was planned.
An agreed increase in contract price to account for rising costs of materials or labour over a long project.
A flat, straight-on drawing of one face of a building, showing height, openings and finishes.
A calculated projection of what a project or item of work will cost, before the work is priced or awarded.
F
A scaled drawing showing the layout of a level of a building from above, with rooms, walls and openings.
The temporary moulds into which concrete is poured, removed once the concrete has set.
A contract where the price is agreed upfront and does not change with the contractor's actual costs.
The part of a foundation that spreads the building's load onto the ground below.
G
The main contractor responsible for the day-to-day running of a construction site and for delivering the whole project.
A bar chart that lays out project tasks against time, showing start and end dates and how tasks overlap.
A document raised when material is received at site, recording what actually arrived against what was ordered.
A large main beam that supports smaller beams and the loads above it in a structure.
H
The point at which a completed project is formally passed to the client, with documents and keys.
A stage in the work where progress must stop until an inspection or approval is completed.
A temporary boundary wall or fence around a construction site, for safety and screening.
I
A formal check of work or materials against a standard or specification to confirm quality before proceeding.
An internal request from site to the store or purchase team for materials needed to carry out work.
A supplier's or contractor's demand for payment, listing the goods or work delivered and the amount due.
J
One of a series of parallel beams that support a floor or ceiling.
A partnership where two or more firms combine resources to deliver a project together and share the risk.
K
The raised edge between a road or path and the adjacent surface, guiding drainage and traffic.
The central wedge-shaped stone at the top of an arch that locks the others in place.
L
An approach focused on maximising value and minimising waste of time, material and effort across a project.
A contract where the contractor agrees to complete the work for one fixed total price, regardless of actual costs.
A horizontal support placed over a door or window opening to carry the load above it.
M
Tracking materials from purchase through delivery, storage and issue to the point of use, so stock and consumption stay controlled.
A significant checkpoint in a schedule, such as completing a floor, used to track progress at a high level.
The early stage of a project where the site is set up, resources are brought in and work is readied to begin.
N
A formal instruction from the client authorising the contractor to start work.
The usable floor area of a space, excluding walls, columns and service areas.
O
Indirect costs of running a business or site that are not tied to one specific work item, like supervision or utilities.
The operation and maintenance manual handed over at completion, explaining how to run and maintain the building.
P
A formal document sent to a supplier confirming the materials or services being ordered, quantities and agreed prices.
A small cash fund kept at site for minor day-to-day expenses, each recorded with a bill.
A request raised from site seeking approval to buy materials, which can then be converted into a purchase order.
A list of small tasks or defects that must be finished or fixed before a project is considered complete.
Q
A professional who measures and values construction work, prepares BOQs and manages costs across a project.
A supplier's or contractor's formal offer of a price for specified goods or work.
R
A request sent to suppliers asking them to quote prices for specified materials or work, so bids can be compared.
A portion of payment held back until the project or defect liability period is complete, as security for quality.
A pre-agreed set of rates with a supplier or contractor, so procurement can happen quickly at known prices.
S
A clear description of exactly what work is included in a contract, and by extension what is not.
A specialist contractor engaged by the main contractor to carry out a specific part of the work.
A minor defect or unfinished item of work identified during inspection that needs to be corrected.
A list of rates for individual work items used to value work when the total quantity is not fixed upfront.
T
A project delivered fully complete and ready to use, where the contractor handles everything up to handover.
A contract where the client pays for actual labour time and materials used, plus an agreed markup.
The formal process of inviting and submitting priced bids to carry out a defined scope of work.
U
The price for one unit of a work item, such as per square metre or per cubic metre, used to build up an estimate.
How fully a resource such as labour or equipment is being used against its available capacity.
V
A structured review of a design to achieve the same function at lower cost, without reducing quality or performance.
A formally agreed change to the original scope, cost or timing of a contract.
W
An instruction authorising a specific piece of work to be carried out, often to a contractor or team.
Detailed drawings that give the dimensions and information needed to actually construct the work on site.
The material lost through cutting, breakage or spillage, usually allowed for as a percentage in estimates.
X
A pair of diagonal members forming an X that stiffens a structure against sideways loads like wind.
Y
The usable output obtained from a given quantity of material, after allowing for wastage.
Z
Local rules that govern how land in an area can be used and what can be built on it.
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