Abbreviations Used in Construction Industry - Part 3 (G to L)

Dear Readers, 

This is continuation of Part-2. Successful project delivery includes both written and oral communication is more important. For communication it is mandatory to understand the acronyms and terms used in construction industry. 

Meanwhile, construction project management acronyms help streamline communication and increase efficiency between project managers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

151) GA – General Arrangement. A general arrangement drawing (GA drawing) is a contract document, which records information needed to understand the general arrangement structural elements on a project.

152) Galv. – Galvanized.

153) Gantt Chart – A Graphical Representation of a Construction Project Schedule, Showing Tasks, Dependencies, and Durations.

154) GC (General Contractor) – A Company That Manages and Coordinates the Construction Process from Start to Finish.

155) GCC – General Contract Clauses. It is a part of tender documents.

156) GCW – General Civil Works.

157) GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) – An electrical safety device that protects against electrical shock.

158) GI – Galvanised Iron.

159) GL – Ground Level.

160) Glazing – The Installation of Glass in Windows, Doors, And Skylights.

161) GMAW – Gas Metal Arc Welding. and flux cored arc welding (FCAW). sometimes referred to by its subtypes metal inert gas (MIG) and metal active gas (MAG)

162) GMP- Guaranteed Maximum Price – This is the maximum amount of labour, materials, and profit costs that a contractor can charge for a project.

163) GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) – A technology used for subsurface imaging in construction.

164) Grading – The Process of Creating a Level Surface on a Construction Site.

165) GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic / Polymers / Polyester.

166) GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding.

167) GWL – Ground Water Level.

168) Hardscaping – The Design and Construction of Non-Vegetative Elements in Outdoor Spaces, Such as Patios, Walkways, And Retaining Walls.

169) HL – High Level.

170) HR – Human Resources.

171) HRS – Hot Rolled Steel.

172) HSE / EHS / SHE – Health, Safety & Environment. 

173) HSFG – High Strength Friction Grip. One type of fastener.

174) HSS – Hollow Structural Section.

175) HT – High Tensile.

176) HV – High Voltage.

177) HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) – The Systems and Components of a Building That Provide Heating, Cooling, and Air Circulation.

178) ICE – Institution of Civil Engineers.

179) ICT – Institute of Concrete Technology

180) ID/OD- Inside Diameter/Outside Diameter – For piping, the inside diameter refers to the width of the pipe opening. The outside diameter is the sum of the inside diameter and twice the pipe wall thickness.

181) IDCT – Induced Draft Cooling Tower.

182) IFB – Information for Bidders. It is a sealed bidding process used when a department has a clear description of the project scope, requirements, and proposer qualifications.

183) IFC – Issued for Construction. “IFC” means the Contractor's Documents to be issued for construction of the Works that have been subject to all necessary approvals, verification, certification and release of applicable Hold Points required under this Contract.

184) IIE – Institute of Industrial Engineers.

185) IL – Invert Level.

186) In. – Inch.

187) IPS flooring – IPS flooring stands for Indian patent stone flooring, it is a basic type of flooring which provides good wearing properties.

188) ITB – Invitation to Bid. It is an official document issued by a project owner that targets contractors to solicit bids for a construction project. The ITB provides all bidders with information about the project including scope, duration, submission guidelines and minimum qualifications.

189) ITP – Inspection Test Plan. (Similar to FQP). It's a plan that lists what tests and inspections should be performed throughout each phase of a project.

190) ISBL – Inside Battery Limit. It is the barricading of work limits.

191) ISO – International Organisation for Standardisation

192) ISO Drg. – Isometric Drawing used for Piping works.

193) IoT (Internet of Things) – The Integration of Devices with Internet Connectivity to Collect and Exchange Data.

194) JCB – J C Bamford (plant manufacturer) Construction equipment manufacturer. World leaders in backhoe loaders and telehandlers.

195) JCR – Job Cost Report.

196) JD – Job Detail or Job Description. This is a written summary of the responsibilities, activities, qualifications, and skills required for a job position.

197) Jt. – Joint. 

198) JV – Joint Venture. JV is a business arrangement in which two or more parties agree to pool their resources for the purpose of accomplishing a specific task. This task can be a new project or any other business activity.

199) Kg. – Kilogramme.

200) KoM – Kick Off Meeting. (KoM) was to create the basis for a smooth project development, to review the overall Project timetable and to fine tune the work of the Consortium. After welcoming the participants, the meeting agenda was approved by the Consortium.

201) KPI – Key Performance Indicators. It is a measurable and quantifiable metric used to track progress towards a specific goal or objective.

202) kW – Kilowatt.

203) LC – Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit (LC) is a document that guarantees the buyer’s payment to the sellers. It is issued by a bank and ensures timely and full payment to the seller.

204) LD – Liquidated Damages – While drafting a contract, these are damages for an injured party to collect compensation for a breach of contract. In construction contracts, a contractor is often charged LDs for each day that a project goes beyond the agreed-upon completion date.

205) Landscaping – The Design and Construction of Outdoor Spaces, Including Plants, Trees, And Other Vegetation.

206) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) – A Certification System Recognizing Best-In-Class Building Strategies and Practices.

207) LHS – Left Hand Side.

208) Lifecycle Cost Analysis – The Analysis of The Total Cost of a Construction Project Over Its Lifetime.

209) LL – Live Load.

210) LMP – Labour, Material, Plant and Machinery. These are the basic requirements of Resources.

211) LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas. It is natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport.

212) LOA – Letter of Authorisation. It is a legal document in which the executing party makes certain assertions to a service provider about their authorization.

213) LOD (Level of Detail) – The Level of Detail Required in a Construction Document or Model.

214) LOI – Letter of Intent. Letter of Intent is a document declaring the preliminary commitment of one party to do business with another party.

215) LOP – Loss of Pay.

216) LOTO – Lock-Out, Tag-Out. This is a set of procedures that are used to ensure that equipment or systems are shut down, inoperable, and (where relevant) de-energized prior to any maintenance or repair work.

217) LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Also called liquid petroleum gas is a flammable blend of hydrocarbon gases applicable for fuel in heating, cooking, and automotive appliances.

218) Lqd. – Liquid.

219) LS – Lumpsum – Strictly speaking, a lump sum is a single payment of money instead of payment instalments.

220) LTI – Lost Time Injury. (LTI) is something that results in a fatality, permanent disability, or time lost from work. It could be as little as one day or a shift off work being lost, or months of rehabilitation.

Time & Change Management

Dear Readers,

When you have promoted from your current position, your income, facilities and responsibilities will raise. Simultaneously, your working team size will also grow. You will connect with more people than ever before.

As all these grow, the essential ingredient, time does not grow. It is used to be 24 hours and it's the same now.

So, it creates a lot of pressure. A compulsion develops to produce maximum results in a short period of time and the nature of work is also changing.

As we move up the ladder of an organization, our work habits change and our work ethic also changes. However, there is still involvement in that old activities, what we had so far. It is little difficult to break free from that old assignments/works immediately. Even if someone has been hired/assigned to deal with the old work. We like to interrupt again because of these habits.

Thus wastes his time and ours as well. Except ourselves, there is no one else to do the work for the new responsibility. Hence, note that another job or responsibility can be taken up only after leaving the old job or responsibility.

Let us See the scenario in any industry.

Initially a worker duty is to produce goods. As he performed well, respecting his skill and hard work, the company promotes him and appoints him as a supervisor.

With the new position comes along with new responsibilities, like training others and supervising them, he needs to spend more time on these. Apart from this, he may require some time for planning activities of production (Works), strengthening the relationships with other departments, etc.

When the next promotion makes him as a manager, the responsibilities of this position require a different kind of performance from him. Now he spends more time on planning, overseeing coordinated operations, preparing his subordinates to handle more responsibilities. The previous supervisory function and direct involvement in production should be reduced (avoided).

The work is still different when the next management level is reached like strengthening external contacts and their relations. Duties such as analyse the market, Prepare and formulate appropriate growth strategies and preparing for the company's next phase of growth will become the main task.

If you want to spend more time on exclusive activities in the respective levels, it can only be done if other duties are avoided.

There is no change in the fact that there are 24 hours in a day. However, many people do not feel like leaving other duties aside.

He wants everyone to think that he is important, that’s why he doesn't want to tell anyone that he can't.

All this combined with the desire to make everyone happy reduces the amount of time available for specific tasks.

This means that time management is really self-management. By managing our activities, we can manage time.

Whether we like it or not, this moment won't stop. We have a choice to change with something, with what to change, but not to change. That is why we should be careful.

Some people exchange their time with the comfort of sleeping. Still others substitute it for entertainment, recreation and amusement. Some others alternate with noble actions and actions that result in great accomplishments.

Hence, time Management and changes are more important in professional life.

Welding Terms Part-4 (G&H)

Dear Readers,

This is continuation of Part-3. Welders can be found working in manufacturing plants, building job sites, and rebuilding infrastructure such as bridges and highways. Being able to move from industry to industry offers a higher level of job security than many other types of jobs. it’s useful to know some terms of Welding.

Galvanized – An electrochemical process where mild steel is hot-dipped into liquid zinc to make it anti-corrosive.

Gas Carbon-Arc Welding – An arc welding process in which fusion is produced by heating with an electric arc between a carbon electrode and the work. Shielding is obtained from an inert gas such as helium or argon. Pressure and/or filler metal may or may not be used.

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) – An arc welding process where the arc is between a continuous filler metal electrode and the weld pool. Shielding from an externally supplied gas source is required.

Gas Pocket – A weld cavity caused by the trapping of gases released by the metal when cooling.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) – An arc welding process where the arc is between a tungsten electrode (non-consumable) and the weld pool. The process is used with an externally supplied shielding gas.

Gas tungsten arc welding-pulsed arc (GTAW-P) – A variation of the gas tungsten arc welding process in which the current is pulsed.

Gas Welding – Welding with the heat from an oxy-fuel flame, with or without the addition of filler metal or pressure.

Globular Transfer – A type of metal transfer in which molten filler metal is transferred across the arc in large droplets.

Goggles – Safety equipment worn to protect the welder’s eyes from harmful radiation while welding and cutting.

Gouging – The forming of a bevel or groove by material removal.

Groove – An opening or channel in the surface of a part or between two components which provides space to contain a weld.

Groove angle – The total included angle of the groove between parts to be joined by a groove weld.

Groove face – That surface of a member included in the groove.

Groove radius – The radius used to form the shape of a J- or U-groove weld joint.

Groove type – The geometric configuration of a groove.

Groove Weld – When a very strong weld is needed, such as where two columns are spliced together on a high-rise, it is important to get the maximum penetration and fusion. This is done by cutting a Bevel so that you can weld solid from the Root to the face of the parent metal. Examples: single V, single U, single J, double bevel etc.

Ground Connection – A safety connection from a welding machine frame to the earth. Nothing but earthing.

Ground Lead – When referring to the connection from the welding machine to the work, see preferred term Workpiece Lead.

GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding.

Guided Bend Test – A bending test in which the test specimen is bent to a definite shape by means of a jig.

Hammer Welding – A forge welding process.

Hand shield – Also called face Shield. A protective device, used in arc welding, for shielding the eyes, face and neck. A hand shield is equipped with a suitable filter plate and is designed to be held by the hand.

Hard Facing – A particular form of surfacing in which a coating or cladding is applied to a surface for the main purpose of reducing wear or loss of material by abrasion, impact, erosion, galling, and cavitation.

Hard Surfacing – The application of a hard, wear-resistant alloy to the surface of a softer metal.

Hardening – This term refers to a process used to increase the hardness of metal, typically iron-based alloys, by heating it above a certain critical temperature range and then rapidly cooling or “quenching” it.

Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) – That section of the base metal, generally adjacent to the weld zone, whose mechanical properties or microstructure, have been altered by the heat of welding.

Heat Time – The duration of each current impulse in pulse welding.

Heat Treatment – An operation or combination of operations involving the heating and cooling of a metal or an alloy in the solid state for the purpose of obtaining certain desirable conditions or properties.

Helmet – protection equipment worn to protect the welder’s face and neck.

Hermetically Sealed – Airtight. Heterogenous – A mixture of phases such as: liquid-vapor or solid-liquid-vapor.

Hertz – Hertz is often referred to as "cycles per second." In the United States, the frequency or directional change of alternating current is usually 60 hertz.

Hold time – The time that pressure is maintained at the electrodes after the welding current has stopped.

Horizontal Weld – A bead or butt-welding process with its linear direction horizontal or inclined at an angle less than 45 degrees to the horizontal, and the parts welded being vertically or approximately vertically disposed.

Horn – The electrode holding arm of a resistance spot welding machine.

Horn Spacing – In a resistance welding machine, the unobstructed work clearance between horns or platens at right angles to the throat depth. This distance is measured with the horns parallel and horizontal at the end of the downstroke.

Hot Crack – A crack formed at temperatures near the completion of weld solidification.

Hot Pass – In pipe welding, the second pass which goes over the root pass.

Hot Short – A condition that occurs when a metal is heated to that point, prior to melting, where all strength is lost but the shape is still maintained.

Hydrogen Brazing – A method of furnace brazing in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abbreviations Used in Construction Industry - Part 2 (D to F)

Dear Readers,

This is continuation of Part-1. One of the major components of successful construction projects is communication. The performance of a project is usually based on metrics such as scope, schedule, cost, quality, and safety. Depending on your construction operations, a working glossary of construction acronyms and terms may be useful for employees, as well as clients, subcontractors, and other business partners. 

76) DA – Diluted Acetylene. (Used for Gas Cutting purpose). 

77) DB – Distribution Board.

78) dB – Decibel. The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to measure sound level.

79) DBB – Design-Bid-Build – This is a common project delivery method where design services and construction are procured separately. The contractor bids on a project based on plans (usually complete) developed by an architect or engineer.

80) DBIA - (Design-Build Institute of America) – A professional organization for the design-build Construction Industry.

81) DBM – Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) is a binder course used for roads and highway works.

82) DFR – Daily Field Report.

83) DIA – Diameter. This refers to the measured distance across the face of a cylindrical or circular element, such as a drilled shaft or pipe.

84) Dispute Resolution – The Process of Resolving Disputes.

85) DIM – Dimension.

86) DIY – Do it Yourself.

87) DL – Dead Load.

88) DLR – Daily Labour Report.

89) Doc. – Document.

90) DOR – Divisional of Responsibilities.

91) DPR – Daily Progress Report.

92) DPT – Dye Penetration Test.

93) DTS – Daily Task Sheet.

94) DW – Dry Weight. 

95) DWG – Drawing. In computer-aided design and drafting and architectural contexts, this is an abbreviation for drawing, as in a construction sheet or blueprint.

96) EA – Each. “EA” is used to quantify items that are counted as whole units.

97) EAC – Estimate at Completion – In earned value analysis, this is the expected cost when the project is complete.

98) Earth Works – All type of under the earth works. Like- Excavation, Back Fill, Sand Fill, Disposal of surplus earth.

99) E&C – Engineering & Construction.

100) ECC – Erection Completion Certificate. It is a form of clearance to proceed the commissioning activities. (It is a certificate or undertaking given by all departments like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, C&I that all works are completed as per drawing)

101) ECO – Economiser Coil. It is a part of boiler pressure part.

102) E&I / I&E – Electrical and Instrumentation.

103) EIC – Engineer In-Charge, who is holding authorise to Execute the Job. 

104) EIFS – (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) – A wall cladding used for insulation and aesthetics.

105) EIR – (Environmental Impact Report) – A Document That Assesses the Potential Environmental Impacts of a Construction Project.

106) EJ – Expansion Joint.

107) EL – Existing Level.

108) EL(+XX) – Elevation of structure (+) Above Ground & (-) Underground, XX- denotes number in meters. (Example EL+15 denotes 15-meter elevation from above ground)

109) ELCB – Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker, it is a safety device used in electrical installations with high Earth impedance to prevent shock.

110) Electrical Services – The Provision of Electrical Services for a Construction Project.

111) Environmental Management – The Management and Control of Environmental Impacts in a Construction Project.

112) E&O – Errors & Omissions- This refers to mistakes, oversights or missing details in a set of construction drawings.

113) EOR – (Engineer of Record) – The licensed professional engineer responsible for the design of a construction project.

114) EOT – Extension of Time.

115) EP – Earthing Pit.

116) EPC – Engineering, Procurement & Construction.

117) EQPT. – Equipment.

118) Equipment Management – The Process of Managing and Coordinating the Use of Equipment on a Construction Site.

119) ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning.

120) ETC – Estimate to Complete – This is the remaining cost expected to complete a project.

121) EST. – Estimate.

122) EV – Earned Value – EV is the percent of the total budget that is completed at a given point in the project duration.

123) Excavation – The Removal of Soil or Rock to Create a Foundation or Basement.

124) EXW – Extra Works denotes work executed away from the scope of works.

125) FA – Fire Alarm.

126) Façade – The Exterior Surface of a Building.

127) Facility Management – The Management and Maintenance of a Building or Infrastructure After Completion.

128) FAT – Factory Acceptance Test.

129) FB – Floor Beam.

130) FCAW – Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), also known as dual shield welding, is a semi-automatic arc welding process that is similar to metal active gas (MAG) welding.

131) FDAS – Fire Detection and Alarm Systems.

132) FES – Field Engineering Service. It is used to do site / field engineering at construction site.

133) F&F – Full and Final.

134) FF – Fire Fighting.

135) FFC – Financial Forecast. It is used to forecast the fund requirement for site execution. 

136) FFL – Finished Floor Level.

137) FGL – Finished Ground Level.

138) FH – Fire Hydrant.

139) Field Measurement – The Process of Measuring and Documenting the Dimensions and Location of Elements in a Construction Project.

140) FIM – Free Issue Material.

141) FL – Floor Level.

142) Float – The Amount of Time Available in a Construction Project Schedule to Complete a Task Without Delaying the Overall Project Completion Date.

143) FOB – Foot Over Bridge.

144) FOC – Face of Concrete.

145) FOF – Face of Finish.

146) Foundation (Fdn) – The Underlying Structure of a Building that supports its weight.

147) Formwork / Framing – The Structure of a Building That Provides Support for Walls and Roof.

148) FoS – Factor of Safety.

149) FQP – Field Quality Plan. It is the construction test checks during execution to ensure the required quality of job.

150) FY – Fiscal Year / Financial Year.

Gratuity Act

Dear Readers,

Wish You a Happy May Day-2024

Gratuity is one of the many retirement benefits offered by a company to an employee. It is a lump sum amount that employers pay their employees as a sign of gratitude for the services provided. However, only those employees who have been employed by the company for five years or more are given the gratuity amount. It is governed by the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

All central and state government departments, defense, and local governing bodies are covered under this act. Private organizations can come under its purview subject to fulfilment of certain conditions.

Gratuity Act shall be applicable to

(a)    Every factory, mine, oilfield, plantation, port and railway company.

(b)    Every shop or establishment to which Shops & Establishment Act of a State applies in which 10 or more persons are employed at any time during the year end.

(c)     Any establishment employing 10 or more persons as may be notified by the Central Government.

(d)    Once Act applies, it continues to apply even if employment strength falls below 10.

To receive the gratuity, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

You should be eligible for superannuation.

You should have retired from service.

You should have resigned after continuous employment of five years with the company.

You on disablement on account of a sickness or an accident.

In case of your death the gratuity is paid to the nominee.

However, the condition of completion of continuous service of five years shall not be necessary in case the termination of the employment of any employee is related to their death or disablement. In this case, ‘completed year of service’ would refer to as continuous service for one year and an employee shall be said to be in continuous service for a period if he/she has been in uninterrupted service, including service which may be interrupted on account of sickness, accident, leave, absence from duty without leave, lay off, strike or a lock-out or cessation of work not due to any fault of the employee.  There is a judgment by the Madras High Court, which states that an employee would be eligible for gratuity even in case he/she has completed 4 years 240 days.

In addition to above, in the case of death or incapacitated, the employer is mandated by law to pay gratuity to the now ex-employer or his nominee/legal heir, as the case may be, irrespective of the number of years of continuous service.

The law further states that in case the nominee of the employee is a minor, then the assistant labour commissioner shall invest the money in nominee’s name in a term deposit with the State Bank of India or a nationalized bank for the minor’s benefit until he/she becomes a major.

Formula for gratuity calculation is G=S*N*15/26

  Gratuity (G)= Last Drawn Salary(S) × No. of Years of Service(N)× 15/26

  The ratio 15/26 represents 15 days out of 26 working days in a month.

  S = Last drawn salary = (Basic Salary + Dearness Allowance).

  N = Years of Service are rounded down to the nearest full year. 

If the number of years you have worked in the last year of employment is more than six months, then it will be rounded to the nearest figure. Suppose your tenure of service is 16 years 7 months, then you receive the gratuity for 17 years. Otherwise, it’s for 16 years if it happens to be 16 years 4 months.

The tax treatment of the gratuity amount depends on the type of employee who has to receive the gratuity.

The amount of gratuity received by any government employee (whether central/state/local authority) is exempt from the income tax.

Any other eligible private employee whose employer is covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act. The maximum amount of gratuity specified is Rs 20 lakh, irrespective of the number of years of service. Please note that in your entire working life, the maximum tax-exempt gratuity amount you may claim, cannot go beyond Rs 20 lakh. Any excesses would be treated as ex-gratia and liable for tax as per the tax bracket.

Gratuity paid to the widow or legal heir of an employee will be exempt of tax – Upon an employee’s demise, the gratuity that is paid to his widow or legal heir will be exempt from tax. Any ex-gratia payment made to an employee or his legal heir on account of an injury caused will also be tax-free.

Forfeiture of gratuity- According to the Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972, when the employee has been terminated due to disorderly conduct wherein, he/she tries to physically harm individuals during his/her employment, an employer holds the right to forfeit their gratuity payment, either wholly or partially despite the employee having completed 5 and more years of service in a company.

Why there is a hole in Washbasin?

Dear Readers,

When you go to wash your hands or rinse a glass out, you may have noticed a hole on the upper part of the sink.

 

This is in addition to the drain at the very bottom to easily empty the basin. If there’s already a perfectly functioning drain, why is there an extra hole in the sink? And why would it be higher up? We will discuss the purpose of the hole in the washbasin in this article.

These seemingly mysterious holes actually serve two purposes. One is to prevent overflow of water and Another reason for hole in the wash basin is that it provides an escape route for the air in the drain (Like a Vent).

Overflow Prevention: Imagine filling the basin with water for various reasons—soaking your hands, cleaning an item, or even just wiping down a room. Sometimes, distractions occur, and we forget to turn off the tap. The result? A potential flood! To prevent this, washbasins are designed with an extra hole. If the water level rises too high, it can escape through this hole, saving you from a watery disaster.

Faster Drainage: That extra hole isn’t just for show. It helps water flow more efficiently down the drain. Without it, air trapped in the drain creates resistance, slowing down the drainage process. The hole provides an escape route for the air, allowing the sink to drain faster.