CSLB General Building (B)Planning and EstimatingEasy
A contractor is developing a preliminary schedule for a commercial renovation project. An activity, 'install drywall', cannot start until 'framing inspection passed' is complete. This type of relationship between activities is known as a:
- AFinish-to-Start (FS) relationship
- BStart-to-Finish (SF) relationship
- CFinish-to-Finish (FF) relationship
- DStart-to-Start (SS) relationship
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Finish-to-Start (FS) relationship
A Finish-to-Start (FS) relationship means that the successor activity (install drywall) cannot begin until its predecessor activity (framing inspection passed) has been completed. This is the most common type of dependency in construction scheduling.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Start-to-Finish means the predecessor cannot finish until the successor starts, which is a rare and complex dependency, not applicable here.
- C. Finish-to-Finish means the successor cannot finish until the predecessor finishes, not directly controlling the start of the successor.
- D. Start-to-Start means the successor can start when the predecessor starts, which is not the case here.
Finish-to-Start (FS) Relationship
A Finish-to-Start (FS) relationship in project scheduling means that the successor activity cannot begin until its predecessor activity has been completed.
- Most common type of dependency.
- Predecessor must finish before successor can start.
- Represented as A → B where A is predecessor, B is successor.
- Often seen in sequential construction tasks.
Memory trick: Finish then Start, the most common project art.