NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Contractor flashcards

A federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

• Signed into law in 1990.
• Title III specifically covers public accommodations and commercial facilities.
• Requires accessible design and construction standards (ADA Standards for Accessible Design).

Memory trick: Building laws for everyone's access.

A system used to determine how to implement feasible and effective controls for workplace hazards, prioritizing methods that eliminate or reduce hazards at the source.

• Ordered from most effective to least effective: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, PPE.
• Aim is to remove the hazard or separate workers from it.
• PPE is considered the last line of defense.

Memory trick: Every Smart Engineer Always Protects.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is a single-ply roofing membrane known for its durability, energy efficiency, and resistance to UV, ozone, and chemical exposure.

• Excellent hail resistance
• Highly reflective surface (often white) for energy efficiency
• Suitable for low-slope commercial roofs
• Heat-welded seams for strong bonds

Memory trick: Think 'TPO' for 'Tough, Protective, Optimal' commercial roofs.

A contract where the contractor bids a price for each unit of work (e.g., per cubic yard of concrete) rather than a single lump sum for the entire project.

• Total project cost varies with actual quantities.
• Common for projects with uncertain quantities (e.g., excavation, roadwork).
• Requires detailed measurement of completed work for payment.

Memory trick: Unit price: pay for exactly what you get, by the piece.

A federal law that requires contractors and subcontractors on federally funded public works projects to pay their laborers and mechanics no less than the local prevailing wages and fringe benefits.

• Applies to contracts over $2,000.
• Aims to protect local wage standards.
• Requires certified payrolls to demonstrate compliance.

Memory trick: Davis-Bacon: 'Bacon' for 'basic' fair wages.

A contractual provision that allows a contractor to seek additional compensation or time if unforeseen physical conditions are encountered at the job site that differ materially from those indicated in the contract or normally encountered.

• Protects contractors from unknown subsurface risks.
• Requires prompt written notification to the owner/architect.
• Prevents contractors from inflating bids to cover unknown risks.

Memory trick: When the ground surprises you, write it down and tell the owner immediately.

A type of surety bond used in the bidding process to guarantee that a contractor will enter into a contract if their bid is accepted.

• Protects the project owner.
• Compensates the owner if the selected bidder withdraws or fails to sign the contract.
• Typically a percentage of the total bid amount.

Memory trick: Bid bonds ensure you 'bid' and 'bind' to the deal.

An air barrier is a system of materials designed and constructed to control air flow between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space, or the outdoors.

• Reduces energy consumption by preventing air leakage.
• Controls moisture movement by stopping air-transported vapor.
• Improves thermal performance of insulation by preventing air washing.

Memory trick: Air Barriers: Stop Leaks, Save Energy, Stay Dry.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 96 establishes minimum requirements for the design, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of equipment for the ventilation and fire protection of commercial cooking operations.

• Type I hoods are for grease-laden vapors.
• Minimum 18 inches (457 mm) clearance to cooking surface.
• Critical for fire safety and efficient capture of contaminants.

Memory trick: For Type I hoods, '18' is the 'Sweet' spot for safety.

Factory-fabricated wall sections designed for quick installation and reconfiguration, often incorporating specialized elements for acoustics, fire resistance, and utility integration.

• Offer flexibility and speed of installation.
• Can include integrated elements like doors, windows, and utilities.
• Acoustic and fire ratings depend on internal components and materials.

Memory trick: Modular walls need 'Sound' advice and a 'Fire' defense.

Entrapped moisture in roof assemblies requires identifying the source, removing saturated materials, and repairing the roof system to prevent recurrence.

• Moisture compromises insulation's thermal performance.
• Leads to deck deterioration and potential structural issues.
• Requires invasive repair for effective long-term solution.

Memory trick: Moisture's Out: Find, Remove, Repair, Restore.

Comprehensive documents provided at project close-out that detail the proper operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures for all installed equipment and systems in a facility.

• Essential for facility managers and building occupants.
• Includes equipment specifications, warranty information, spare parts lists, and safety precautions.
• Ensures longevity, efficiency, and compliance of building systems.

Memory trick: For the building to keep running, give them the 'how-to' book.

Design and construction features for trash chute systems that ensure they do not become a conduit for fire and smoke spread between different floors of a building.

• Mandated by building codes (e.g., IBC).
• Includes fire-rated doors and often sprinkler systems.
• Aims to maintain compartmentalization and prevent vertical fire spread.

Memory trick: Chutes need 'Fire Doors' to 'Seal' the deal on safety.

Measures taken to prevent personnel or objects from falling into elevator or escalator hoistways/shafts during construction or maintenance activities.

• Open hoistways are major fall hazards.
• Physical barriers are the primary protection method.
• OSHA mandates guarding of floor openings.

Memory trick: Open shafts need 'Barricades' first, then 'Briefings' and 'Belts'.

Primer coverage rate refers to the area (typically in square feet) that a specific volume of primer (e.g., a gallon or bucket) can effectively cover on a given substrate.

• Coverage varies by primer type, substrate porosity, and application method.
• Essential for accurate material ordering and project budgeting.
• Always refer to manufacturer's specifications for precise rates.

Memory trick: Quantity: Total Area Divided by Rate, Always Estimate Up.

Rigid insulation boards cut at varying thicknesses to create slopes on a flat roof deck, ensuring positive drainage and preventing ponding water.

• Creates positive roof drainage
• Prevents ponding water
• Extends roof membrane lifespan
• Typically specified in 'inches per foot' slope

Memory trick: Tapered insulation is like a 'Tilting Platform' for water.

Dampproofing resists capillary moisture movement, while waterproofing resists liquid water under hydrostatic pressure.

• Dampproofing is for less severe moisture conditions.
• Waterproofing forms a complete barrier against water.
• Choice depends on water table, soil conditions, and building use.

Memory trick: Below Ground: Damp for Capillary, Water for Pressure.

A quality assurance process that verifies and documents that all building systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements.

• Applies to HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety, and other critical systems.
• Typically involves a third-party commissioning agent.
• Ensures optimal performance, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort.

Memory trick: Commissioning makes sure the building's heart and brain work as planned.

A portion of the agreed-upon contract price deliberately withheld until the work is substantially complete to ensure the contractor fulfills all contractual obligations.

• Typically 5% to 10% of each progress payment.
• Released upon substantial completion, final completion, or after warranty period.
• Protects the owner against contractor default, liens, or defective work.

Memory trick: Retainage is like a safety deposit box for project completion.

A surety bond issued by an insurance company or bank to a contractor to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project by the contractor.

• Protects the project owner against contractor default.
• Ensures the work is completed according to contract terms.
• Typically required for public works projects and large private projects.

Memory trick: A performance bond guarantees the show will go on as planned.

A formal written process used in construction to seek clarification on drawings, specifications, or other contract documents from the owner or design team.

• Used during pre-bid, construction, or post-construction phases.
• Ensures all parties have a clear understanding of project requirements.
• Helps prevent misinterpretations, errors, and costly changes later.

Memory trick: When facing a puzzle, always ask for the missing piece before you start building.

The maximum concentration of airborne asbestos fibers that workers can be exposed to over an 8-hour workday, as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

• Current 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) PEL is 0.1 f/cc.
• Also has an Excursion Limit (EL) of 1.0 f/cc over a 30-minute period.
• Requires employers to implement protective measures to stay below these limits.

Memory trick: One tiny fiber per ten cubic centimeters is the limit for eight hours.

A set of activities or techniques used to ensure that products, services, or processes meet specific quality standards and requirements by inspecting and testing the actual output.

• Focuses on identifying and correcting defects in the work itself.
• Involves inspections, testing, measurements, and verification.
• Performed by the contractor or their representatives during construction.

Memory trick: Quality Assurance plans the system, Quality Control checks the work.

A high-performance sealant known for its excellent elasticity, UV stability, broad temperature range performance, and adhesion to diverse substrates, making it suitable for dynamic exterior joints.

• High movement capability (±25% to ±50%)
• Excellent UV resistance
• Wide service temperature range
• Good adhesion to glass, metal, masonry, and plastics

Memory trick: For 'Strong, Flexible, UV-Proof' exterior joints, 'Silicone' is the 'Superior' choice.

A common payment term offering a cash discount if the invoice is paid within a specified early period, otherwise the full amount is due by a later date.

• 2: The percentage of the discount offered.
• 10: The number of days within which the invoice must be paid to receive the discount.
• net 30: The full (net) amount is due within 30 days if the discount is not taken.

Memory trick: Two percent off if you pay in ten days, otherwise full amount in thirty.

The process of evaluating a subcontractor's financial stability and capacity to successfully perform the work and meet contractual obligations.

• Crucial for risk management in construction.
• Involves reviewing financial statements, credit ratings, and bonding capacity.
• Ensures the subcontractor can fund their operations and handle project demands.

Memory trick: To know if their wallet is deep enough, ask to see their balance sheet.

A standard (ISO 14644-1) that classifies cleanrooms based on the concentration of airborne particles per cubic meter at specified particle sizes. Lower ISO classes indicate fewer particles and higher cleanliness.

• ISO Class 7 allows up to 352,000 particles/m³ at 0.5 µm.
• Achieved primarily through high air changes per hour and HEPA/ULPA filtration.
• Positive pressure prevents unfiltered air ingress.

Memory trick: Cleanrooms need 'High Air' and 'HEPA' filters to 'Class' up.

A contract provision that specifies a predetermined sum of money that one party will pay the other as compensation for a specific breach of contract (e.g., late completion).

• Must be a reasonable estimate of actual damages, not a punishment.
• Aims to avoid difficult calculation of actual damages in court.
• Common in construction contracts for project delays.

Memory trick: Liquidated damages: a 'liquid' sum for 'late' harm.

A specialized form of property insurance that covers buildings and materials under construction from various perils.

• Covers damage to the structure itself.
• Protects against perils like fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
• Typically purchased by the owner or general contractor.

Memory trick: Building's shield against construction's fiery foes.

The critical dimension of a fluid-applied air barrier membrane, which must meet manufacturer specifications for wet and/or dry film thickness to ensure continuous, effective air and moisture resistance.

• Ensures complete coverage and impermeability
• Prevents pinholes and weak spots
• Measured with a wet film gauge during application
• Directly impacts barrier performance and durability

Memory trick: For 'Fluid-Applied', 'Thickness' is the 'Ticket' to a tight seal.

The clear distance between parallel reinforcing bars in concrete slabs, governed by ACI 318 to ensure proper concrete consolidation and bond.

• Minimum clear spacing: bar diameter, 1 inch, or 1.33x aggregate size.
• Maximum clear spacing (slabs): 18 inches or 3x slab thickness, whichever is smaller.
• Ensures concrete flow around bars and prevents segregation.

Memory trick: Space out your steel, or the concrete won't feel right, and the slab won't be tight.

Plastic shrinkage cracks occur when the rate of evaporation of surface moisture exceeds the rate at which bleed water rises to the surface, causing the concrete surface to shrink.

• Common in hot, windy, or low-humidity conditions.
• Occurs before concrete sets.
• Prevented by reducing surface evaporation.

Memory trick: Don't let the sun bake your slab; cover it fast, or cracks you'll grab!