CSLB General Building (B)Planning and EstimatingMedium
A general contractor is reviewing a critical path method (CPM) schedule. An activity has a total float of 5 days. This means that the activity:
- ACan be delayed by 5 days without delaying the project's overall completion.
- BMust be completed within 5 days to avoid delaying the project.
- CHas already been delayed by 5 days and is now critical.
- DIs on the critical path and has 5 days of reserve time.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Can be delayed by 5 days without delaying the project's overall completion.
Total float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project's overall completion date. A float of 5 days means it can be delayed by up to 5 days without impacting the project end.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This describes an activity with zero or negative float, or a very tight deadline for a critical task.
- C. This describes an activity that has already consumed its float or is past its late finish date.
- D. Activities on the critical path have zero float. If it has 5 days of float, it is not on the critical path.
Total Float (CPM)
The maximum amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the project finish date.
- Activities on the critical path have zero total float.
- Provides flexibility in scheduling non-critical tasks.
- Calculated as Late Finish (LF) - Early Finish (EF) or Late Start (LS) - Early Start (ES).
Memory trick: Total float is your project's 'extra time' for a task, without making the end date a mask.