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.