Abbreviations Used in Construction Industry - Part 6 (T to Z)

Dear Readers, 

This is the continuation of Part 5 and the final segment of construction industry acronyms. Construction management is a highly specialized field that necessitates the use of specific acronyms and abbreviations to facilitate clear communication and efficient management of complex projects. Construction estimating abbreviations play a vital role in calculating the costs of materials, labor, and equipment required to successfully complete a project.

In the realm of construction project management, acronyms play a crucial role streamlining communication and enhancing efficiency among project managers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

351) TA – Technical Advisor.

352) TB – Tie Beam.

353) TBC – To be Confirmed.

354) TCP – Traffic Control Plan – It is a crucial document utilized in the construction industry to ensure the safe and efficient management of traffic in and construction sites. It comprises a comprehensive set of drawings and specifications detailing how traffic will be controlled during various phases, employing signage, signals, pavement markings, and barricades.

355) TIG – Tungsten Inert Gas and is technically called gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).

356) Thk. – Thick.

357) TLT – Toilet.

358) TOB – Top of Beam.

359) TOC – Top of Concrete.

360) TOS – Top of Slab / Steel.

361) TOW – Top of Wall.

362) TPI – Third Party Inspection / Inspector.

363) TQM – Total Quality Management.

364) TST – Total Station Theodolite. 

365) TYP. – Typical. In plans and drawings, the term “TYP.” indicates that a particular characteristic or detail applies to the same elements on the same page, view, or drawing. The term is analogous to “ditto.”

366) UB – Universal Beam.

367) UC – Universal Column.

368) UL – Upper Level.

369) UNO – Unless Noted Otherwise.

370) UOM – Unit of Measurement.

371) UPS – Un-interrupted Power Supply.

372) U/S – Underside.

373) UT – Ultrasonic Test.

374) UTS – Ultimate Tensile Strength. The maximum stress a material subjected to a stretching load can withstand without tearing.

375) UV – Ultra Violet.

376) VAT – Value Added Tax. 

377) VE (Value Engineering) – A process for improving the value of a construction project while reducing costs.

378) VI – Visual Inspection.

379) VO – Variation Order.

380) VOC – Volatile Organic Compound – This is an organic chemical with a high vapor pressure at room temperature. VOCs are usually responsible for the Odor of scents, perfumes, and pollutants. Some VOCs are harmful to humans and the environment. In the context of indoor air quality, these compounds may not be acutely toxic but can have long-term impacts on health.

381) VR (Virtual Reality) – The Use of Technology to Create an Immersive, Computer-Generated Experience.

382) Water Management – The Management and Control of Water in a Construction Project, Including Drainage and Runoff.

383) WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) – A Hierarchical Breakdown of a Project into Smaller, More Manageable Components.

384) W&C – Wrapping & Coating.

385) WIP – Work in Progress.

386) Wldr. – Welder.

387) WLL – Working Load Limit.

388) WMF – Wire Mesh Fence.

389) WO – Work Order.

390) Workforce Management – The Process of Managing and Coordinating the Construction Workforce.

391) WP’s / WI’s – Work Procedures / Method Statements / Work Instructions. It is used to prepare before commencement of execution / works.

392) WPQR – Welding Procedure Qualification Record

393) WPS – Welding Procedure Specification.

394) WQT – Welder Qualification Test.

395) WRM – Weekly Review Meeting.

396) WTP – Water Treatment Plant. 

397) WWF – Welded Wire Fabric – Sometimes called welded wire mesh, this is a grid of uniformly placed wires that provides flexural strength in concrete slabs, similar to rebar.

398) XRD – X-Ray Diffraction.

399) Yield Strength – it is the measurement of the amount of force that can be exerted on a material before it permanently deforms. Another name of yield strength is “Elastic Limit”.

400) ZOI – Zone of Influence.

Welding Terms Part-7 (N&O)

Dear Readers,

This is a continuation of Part 6. This article will be a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of the Welding Works.

Neutral Flame – An oxy-fuel gas flame that is neither oxidizing nor reducing.

Nick Break Test – A method for testing the soundness of welds by nicking each end of the weld, then giving the test specimen a sharp hammer blow to break the weld from nick to nick. Visual inspection will show any weld defects.

Non-Destructive Testing – NDT involves the testing of welds without destroying the welds or parts.

Non-ferrous – Does not come from iron ore. It is mined pretty much in its true form such as copper, aluminum, nickel, etc.

Normalizing – Heating iron-base alloys to approximately 100 ºF (38 ºC) above the critical temperature range followed by cooling to below that range in still air at ordinary temperature.

Nugget – The fused metal zone of a resistance weld.

Nozzle – A brass attachment that is about three inches long and shaped as an open cylinder.

O2 – Oxygen.

OFW – Abbreviation for Oxy-fuel welding. There are three processes in the Oxy group including oxyacetylene, oxyhydrogen and pressure gas welding.

Open-Circuit Voltage – The voltage between the output terminals of the welding machine when no current is flowing in the welding circuit.

Orifice Gas – In plasma arc welding and cutting, the gas is directed into the torch to surround the electrode. It becomes ionized in the arc to form the plasma and issues from the orifice in the torch nozzle as the plasma jet.

Oscillate – Hand (welding holder) movement while dragging (back hand) or pushing (forehand) the weld Puddle.

Ovens – Used to remove dampness from the welding electrodes as moisture in the electrode adversely.

Overfill – Excess deposition of weld metal. Overfill is a waste of time and material and can weaken the steel by placing too much heat on the joint. (Opposite of this is Underfill)

Overhead Position – The position in which welding is performed from the underside of a joint and the face of the weld is approximately horizontal.

Overlap – The protrusion of weld metal beyond the toe, face, or root of the weld.

Oxidizing Flame – An oxy-fuel gas flame having an oxidizing effect (excess oxygen).

Oxyacetylene Cutting – An Oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained by flames obtained from the combustion of acetylene with oxygen.

Oxyacetylene Welding – A welding process in which the required temperature is attained by flames obtained from the combustion of acetylene with oxygen.

Oxy-Arc Cutting – An Oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained through an arc between an electrode and the base metal.

Oxy-City Gas Cutting – An oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained by flames obtained from the combustion of city gas with oxygen.

Oxygen Cutting – A process of cutting ferrous metals by means of the chemical action of oxygen on elements in the base metal at elevated temperatures.

Oxygen Gouging – An application of oxygen cutting in which a chamfer or groove is formed.

Oxy-Hydrogen Cutting – An oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained by flames obtained from the combustion of city gas with oxygen.

Oxy-Hydrogen Welding – A gas welding process in which the required welding temperature is attained by flames obtained from the combustion of hydrogen with oxygen.

Oxy-Natural Gas Cutting – An Oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained by flames obtained by the combustion of natural gas with oxygen.

Oxy-Propane Cutting – An Oxygen cutting process in which the necessary cutting temperature is maintained by flames obtained from the combustion of propane with oxygen.

 

Abbreviations Used in Construction Industry - Part 5 (Q to S)

 Dear Readers, 

This is continuation of Part-4. 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. 

291) QA – Quality Assurance – Quality assurance is the overall process. It is the term used in both manufacturing and service industries to describe the systematic efforts taken to assure that the product delivered to customer meet with the contractual and other agreed upon performance, design, reliability, and maintainability expectations of that customer.

292) QC – Quality Control. It is part of the QA process. It's the actual testing and checking of the product. QC focuses on the product to find defects that remain after development.

293) Qlty. – Quality.

294) QMS – Quality Management System.

295) Qty. – Quantity. 

296) QS – Quantity Surveyor.

297) QSC – Quantity Survey Codes.

298) QSPC – Quick-Setting Portland Cement.

299) Quality Assurance – The Process of Verifying that a Construction Project Meets Quality Standards.

300) Quality Control – Ensuring A Construction Project Meets Quality Standards.

301) RCA – Root Cause Analysis. Also called as a Fishbone Analysis. 

302) RCC – Reinforced Cement Concrete.

303) R&D – Research & Development

304) RE – Resident Engineer – In construction, an RE is an engineer who supervises fieldwork on behalf of an owner, client, or design consultant.

305) REBAR (Reinforcing Bar) – This is the reinforcing steel (as opposed to structural steel) that is embedded in structural concrete to allow a member to resist tension, flexing, bending, and torsion.

306) Recon. – Reconciliation.

307) RFI (Request for Information) – A Document Used to Request Clarification or Additional Information from a Contractor or Supplier.

308) RFI (Request for Inspection) – It is Inspection call notice of the works/ Products.

309) RFP (Request for Proposal) – A Request for a Detailed Proposal from a Contractor or Supplier for a Specific Project or Product.

310) RFQ (Request for Quotation) – A Request for a Price Quote for Materials or Services in a Construction Project.

311) RH – Relative Humidity.

312) RHS – Right Hand Side. 

313) Risk Management – The Process of Identifying and Mitigating Potential Risks in a Construction Project.

314) RMC – Ready Mix Concrete, often abbreviated as RMC, is a type of concrete that is manufactured in a batch plant according to a set engineered mix design. This ready-mix concrete definition emphasizes that it is produced under controlled conditions and then delivered to a construction site in a ready-to-use state.

315) RND – Record Notes of Discussion.

316) ROO (Roof Overhang) – The part of a roof that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.

317) Roofing – The Material and Components Cover the Roof of a Building.

318) RT – Radiography Test (X-ray test).

319) RTR – Reliability Test Run. 

320) Safety – The Measures Taken to Prevent Accidents and Injuries on a Construction Site.

321) SAW – Submerged Arc Welding.

322) SCBL – Sub-Contractor Bill.

323) SCC – Special Contract Clauses. It is always superseding the GCC.

324) Schedule – A Timeline for a Construction Project That Outlines Key Milestones and Deadlines.

325) Schedule Of Values – A Document that Outlines the Distribution of Construction Project Payments.

326) SCM – Supply Chain Management.

327) Site Logistics – The Planning and Coordination of Construction Site Activities to Ensure Efficiency and Safety.

328) Site Preparation – The Preparation of a Construction Site for the Start of Construction.

329) SLI – Safe Load Indicator, it is a device installed in mobile or portal crane to alert the operator if load exceeds the safety measure of crane.

330) Smart Building – A Building Equipped with Advanced Technology to Optimize Energy Efficiency and Comfort.

331) SMAW – Shielded metal arc welding. also known as manual metal arc welding (MMA or MMAW), flux shielded arc welding or informally as stick welding

332) SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) – A documented procedure for a routine task in construction.

333) SOR (Schedule of Rates) – A Document that Outlines unit rates and scope quantities.

334) SOW (Statement of Work) – A Document that Outlines the Scope, Deliverables, And Timeline of a Construction Project.

335) SPT – Standard Penetration Test.

336) SQ. CM – Square Centi meter.

337) SQ. FT – Square Feet.

338) SQ. IN – Square Inches.

339) SQM – Square Metre.

340) SS – Stainless Steel.

341) SSD (Site Specific Data) – Data specific to a construction site, such as soil conditions, topography, and utility locations.

342) Stakeholder Analysis – The Process of Identifying and Evaluating the Interests and Influence of Stakeholders in a Construction Project.

343) Stakeholder Management – The Process of Managing and Communicating with All Stakeholders Involved in a Construction Project.

344) Std. – Standard.

345) Stl – Steel.

346) Strl – Structural. 

347) Subcontractor (S/c)– A Company or Individual Who Performs Work for a Contractor on a Construction Project.

348) Submittal – Documentation or Materials Submitted for Review and Approval in a Construction Project.

349) Sustainability – The Practice of Designing and Constructing Buildings and Infrastructure in an Environmentally Responsible Manner.

350) SWL – Safe Working Load. It is defined as the maximum safe load that the lifting equipment can lift, move, suspend, and lower down to the ground without any problem of breaking.

Welding Terms Part-6 (L&M)

     Dear Readers.

This is continuation of Part-5. Welding is a highly technical field requiring specialized acronyms and abbreviations. This article will be a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of the Welding Works.

Lap Joint – A joint between two overlapping members in parallel planes.

Laser – A device that provides a concentrated coherent light beam. Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Laser Beam Cutting – A process that severs material with the heat from a concentrated coherent beam impinging upon the workpiece.

Laser Beam Welding – A process that fuses material with the heat from a concentrated coherent beam impinging upon the members to be joined.

Layer – A stratum of weld metal or surfacing material. The layer may consist of one or more weld beads laid side by side.

Leads – These are the lines from the machine to what you are welding that carry the current.

Leg of Fillet Weld – The distance from the root of the joint to the toe of the fillet weld.

Liquidus – The lowest temperature at which a metal or an alloy is completely liquid.

Local preheating – Preheating a specific portion of a structure.

Local stress relief heat treatment – Stress relief heat treatment of a specific portion of a structure.

Longitudinal sequence – The order in which the increments of a continuous weld are deposited with respect to its length.

Machine Welding – Equipment performs the weld while a person watches to make sure it is working right. They will also visually inspect the completed weld.

Macro Testing – A destructive testing method where the sections of a weld are polished, etched and examined under a microscope for defects.

Mandrel – A metal bar serving as a core around which other metals are cast, forged, or extruded, forming a true, center hole.

Manifold – A multiple header for interconnection of gas or fluid sources with distribution points.

Manual Welding – A welding process where the torch or electrode holder is manipulated by hand.

Mash Seam Welding – A seam weld made in a lap joint in which the thickness at the lap is reduced to approximately the thickness of one of the lapped joints by applying pressure while the metal is in a plastic state.

Mechanical Bond – The adherence of a thermal-spray deposit to a roughened surface by particle interlocking.

Mechanized Welding – Welding with equipment where manual adjustment of controls is required in response to variations in the welding process. The torch or electrode holder is held by a mechanical device.

Melting Point – The temperature at which a metal begins to liquefy.

Melting Rate – How much of the rod (electrode), wire, or TIG rod is melted in a certain amount of time. Or the temperature range between solidus and liquidus.

Melt-Through – Visible reinforcement produced on the opposite side of a welded joint from one side.

Metal-Arc Cutting – The process of cutting metals by melting with the heat of the metal arc. Arc metal cutting is a thermal cutting process that uses an arc between an electrode and the workpiece to melt and remove metal.

Metal-Arc Welding – An arc welding process in which a metal electrode is held so that the heat of the arc fuses both the electrode and the work to form a weld.

Metal Cored Arc Welding – A tubular electrode process where the hollow configuration contains alloying materials.

Metal Cored Electrode – A composite tubular electrode consisting of a metal sheath and a core of various powdered materials, producing no more than slag islands on the face of the weld bead. External shielding is required.

Metal electrode – A fillet or non-filler metal electrode, used in arc welding or cutting consisting of a metal wire or rod that has been manufactured by any method and that is either bare or covered with a suitable covering or coating.

Metallizing – A method of overlay or metal bonding to repair worn parts.

Metallic bond – The principal bond which holds metals together and which is formed between base metals and filler metals in all welding processes.

Method – An orderly arrangement or set form of procedure to be used in the application of welding or allied processes.

Microprocessor – One or more integrated circuits that can be programmed with stored instructions to perform a variety of functions.

MIG – It may be technically called GMAW, but in the shop Mig welding uses a solid steel wire rolled up on a spool and fed through a welding lead with a liner in it. Drivers push, pull or both to feed the wire through the lead to the welding gun.

Mixing Chamber – It is part of a welding or cutting torch in which the gases are mixed for combustion.

Molecular Weight – The sum of the atomic weights of all the constituent atoms in the molecule of an element or compound.

Molten weld pool – The liquid state of a weld prior to solidification as weld metal.

Monochromatic – The color of a surface that radiates light, containing an extremely small range of wavelengths.

MQP – Manufacturing Quality Plan. It is a basic test during manufacturing process.

MTC / MTR – Material Test Certificate / Material Test Report.

Multi-Impulse Welding – The making of spot, projection, and upset welds by more than one impulse of current. When alternating current is used each impulse may consist of a fraction of a cycle or a number of cycles.

Multipass Welds – When multiple welds are applied to one project.

Abbreviations Used in Construction Industry - Part 4 (M to P)

Dear Readers, 

This continues from Part-3. For both seasoned professionals and newcomers, grasping construction management acronyms, construction estimating abbreviations, and construction project management acronyms is crucial for industry success.

Understanding a list of construction abbreviations is crucial. Recognizing these abbreviations is the initial step in learning to read construction blueprints.

221) M-Book – Measurement Book. It is used for work certification of executed quantity.

222) Mat’l – Material used for Construction.

223) Material Management (MM) – The Process of Managing and Coordinating the Delivery of Materials to a Construction Site.

224) M/c – Machine. Hand tool machines used for grinding, drilling, cutting operations.

225) MD – Man-Days is the cumulative product of no. of persons involved in work & no. of days they worked each. Generally, in construction involving labour, man days is very important feature to estimate amount work force needed and to quantify that.

226) MDL – Master Document / Drawing List. It is targeted at the following User Project Roles: Document Controllers (DC) with Owner's PM Team, Consultants, Contractors, and Specialist Contractors. Design Managers and their key review team members who will oversight design and shop drawings review & approval.

227) Mediation – A Form of Alternative Dispute Resolution Where a Neutral Third Party Facilitates Negotiations Between Disputing Parties.

228) MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, And Plumbing) – The Systems and Components of a Building That Provide Heating, Cooling, Electrical Power, and Plumbing.

229) MIG – Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding is an arc welding process that uses a continuous solid wire electrode heated and fed into the weld pool from a welding gun.

230) MIS – Management Information System. It is a planned system of the collecting, processing, storing and disseminating data in the form of information needed to carry out the functions of management. The term usually refers to business operations not engineering.

231) MM – Man Month. It is similar to Man Day but calculated per month.

232) MOH – Materials on Hand. This refers to materials that have been purchased specifically for a project. In construction, this typically refers to materials that have been procured, but not yet installed. Physical Stock.

233) MoU – Memorandum of Understanding. It is a nonbinding agreement that states each party's intentions to take action, conduct a business transaction, or form a new partnership. This type of agreement may also be referred to as a letter of intent (LOI) or memorandum of agreement (MOA).

234) MP – Monthly Plan. It shows the monthly target and in line with the project schedule.

235) MPCS – Management Planning and Control System.

236) MPR – Monthly Progress Report.

237) MPT – Magnetic Particle Test.

238) MRC – Material Receipt Certificate.

239) MRM – Monthly Review Meeting.

240) MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) – A Document That Provides Information About the Hazards of a Chemical Substance.

241) MQP – Manufacturing Quality Plan. It is a basic test requirement during manufacturing process.

242) MTC / MTR – Material Test Certificate / Material Test Report.

243) MTO – Material Take-Off.

244) N/A – Not Applicable.

245) NCR – Non-Conformance Report / Non-Conformity Report.

246) NDA – Non-Disclosure Agreement.

247) NDCT – Natural Draft Cooling Tower.

248) NDT – Non-Destructive Test.

249) Negotiation – The Process of Discussing and Reaching a Mutually Agreed-Upon Resolution in a Construction Project.

250) NOC – No Objection Certificate.

251) N/S or F/S – Near Side or Far Side. It is used in structural fabrication drawing.

252) NTP – Notice to Proceed – This is a formal letter from an owner or director to a contractor or consultant to start work. It is usually the official start of contract time.

253) NTS – Not to Scale. “Not to scale" means the drawing is larger or smaller than real.

254) O2 – Oxygen gas.

255) O.C. – On Center – In dimensional callouts, on-center indicates the spacing between the center of an item or component and adjacent items or components, such as reinforcing steel, columns, footings, rails, etc. It’s the same as C.C. or “center-to-center.” It is distinct from “clear spacing.”

256) OH – Over Head. 

257) O&M – Operations & Maintenance.

258) OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer. 

259) OPC – Ordinary Portland Cement.

260) OPEX – Operational Expenditure.

261) OSBL – Outside Battery Limit. It is the barricading of work limits.

262) OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) – A Federal Agency Responsible for Establishing and Enforcing Safety Standards in the Workplace.

263) OSL – Overhead Slab Level.

264) PAC – Plasma Arc Cutting. An arc cutting process using a constricted arc to remove the molten metal.

265) Paving – The Process of Laying Down a Surface for a Road, Parking Lot, Or Other Surface Area.

266) PAW – Plasma Arc Welding. An arc welding process that uses a constricted arc between a non-consumable electrode and the weld pool

267) PBG – Performance Bank Guarantee.

268) PCC – Portland Cement Concrete.

269) PD – Project Director, who holds end to end responsibility of that project.

270) P&ID – Piping and Instrumentation Diagram.

271) Plumbing Services – The Provision of Plumbing Services for A Construction Project.

272) P&M – Plant & Machinery. (Construction Equipment's)

273) PM – Project Manager, who manage the execution of Project.

274) PMG (Project Management Group) – The Planning, Execution, And Closing of Construction Projects Within Budget, Timeline, And Scope.

275) PMP (Project Management Professional) – A professional designation for project managers.

276) PO – Purchase Order. It is (PO) a legally binding document that confirms a business's intent to buy goods or services from a supplier.

277) P&OD – Personal and Organization Development. 

278) PPC – Portland Pozzolana Cement. PPC is a type of blended cement comprising Portland clinker, pozzolana particles and gypsum in certain specific proportions.

279) PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Equipment Worn to Minimize Exposure to a Variety of Hazards.

280) PQP – Project Quality Plan. sometimes referred to as a quality management plan, quality assurance plan or project quality management plan, is a project-specific quality plan that describes the activities, standards, tools and processes necessary to achieve quality in the delivery of a project

281) PR – Purchase Request. A purchase requisition is an internal document used by a department or individual within an organization to request the acquisition of goods or services. It is essentially a formal request.

282) Pre-Construction Services – Services Provided Before the Actual Construction Process Begins, Such as Design and Planning.

283) Procurement – The Process of Acquiring Materials, Equipment, And Services for a Construction Project.

284) Project Scope – The Defined Boundaries of a Construction Project, Including What is and is not Included in The Work to be Performed.

285) Project Stakeholder – An Individual or Organization that has an Interest in the Outcome of a Construction Project.

286) PRV – Pressure Relief Valve or Pressure Reducing Valve. A relief valve or pressure relief valve (PRV) is a type of safety valve used to control or limit the pressure in a system.

287) PTW – Permit to Work. A PTW system is a formal written system used to control and execute certain types of jobs safely, which are identified as potentially hazardous.

288) PVC – Price Variance (Price Escalation). The Contractor shall be reimbursed or shall refund to the Corporation as the case may be the variation in the value of the work carried out from time to time, depending on whether the prices of material and labour as a whole rise or fall.

289) PWD – Public Work Department. PWD is an Indian government agency responsible for building and maintaining public services, such as public government construction, highways, bridges, public transportation, drinking water sources, etc.

290) PWHT – Post Weld Heat Treatment. It reduces the levels of tensile residual stresses in a joint.