S s

Safety Report

Prepared following a regularly scheduled project safety inspection of the specific project.

Schedule

The anticipated plan for performing and completing work on a construction project.

Schedule of Values

A statement of anticipated costs, for a project for a given period of time, furnished to a general contractor or owner for the purposes of interim billing and payments.

Schematic Design

Preliminary design documents that define the general scope of the project, including scale and relationships. Often produces a site plan, floor plan(s), sections, an elevation and other illustrative materials – computer images, conceptual renderings or models. Typically the drawings include overall dimensions, and a construction cost is estimated. 

Scheme

1. A chart, a diagram, or an outline of a system being proposed

2. An orderly combination of related construction systems and components for a specific project or purpose.

Scope of Work

A written range of view or action; outlook; hence, room for the exercise of faculties or function; capacity for achievement; all in connection with a designated project. (See Performance Specifications)

Sector

Can be determined through the consideration of three factors

Self-Performing

Typically, a term used when the General Contractor performs the work on a construction project.

Service, Maintenance & Supply (SMS)

 A contract for supplies or services. Does not involve actual construction. 

Shell Building

 Large exterior of a building. The interior will be designed and completed at a later date.

Sheet

Another term for Plan or Drawing.

Site

The place where a structure or group of structures was, or is to be located (a construction site).

Site Plan

 Detailed engineering drawings of proposed improvements to a given lot to include site prepration and grading, arrangement of buildings, parking, drives and landscaping. Does not include vertical construction.

Site Work

 Generally, everything that is not a part of the physical structure itself such as earthwork, landscaping, paving and utility services.

Site Work Contractor

 A general contractor that oversees the portion of a project dealing with land work.

Slack Time

The flexibility with non-critical jobs that allows their start dates to be adjusted without affecting the project completion date.

Soft Costs

Soft Costs are cost items in addition to the direct Construction Cost. Soft Costs generally include architectural and engineering, legal, permits and fees, financing fees, construction Interest and operating expenses, leasing and real estate commissions, advertising and promotion, and supervision. (see Markups)

Specs (short for Specifications)

The book of specifications that detail the products and materials to be used in a construction project. Details the divisions of work that will be involved with a project, offering specific details about the construction of a project including pre-qualifications, bonding, insurance and trades (divisions of work) involved (see CSI Codes).

Special Conditions

A section of the conditions of the contract, other than the General Conditions and Supplementary Conditions, which may be prepared for a particular project. Specific clauses setting forth conditions or requirements peculiar to the project under consideration, and covering work or materials involved in the proposal and estimate, but not satisfactorily covered by the General Conditions. (see General Conditions)

Standard Details

A drawing or illustration sufficiently complete and detailed for use on other projects with minimum or no changes.

Standard Dimension

A measurement unique to a specific manufactured item.

Standards of Professional Practice

A listing of minimum acceptable ethical principals and practices adopted by qualified and recognized professional organizations to guide their members in the conduct of specific professional practice.

Start Date

The date that an activity or project begins.

Statement

A copy or summary of any account covering a stated period. (see Invoice)

Statute of Limitations

The period of time in which legal action must be brought for an alleged damage or injury. The period commences with the discovery of the alleged damage or injury; or in construction industry cases with completion of the work or services performed. Legal advise should be obtained.

Stipulated Sum Agreement

A written agreement in which a specific amount is set forth as the total payment for completing the contract. (see Lump Sum Contract)

Straight Margin or Markups

As opposed to Gross Margin or Markups, a relatively simple method of calculating overhead and profit that takes the hard costs and multiplies by a set percentage.

Structural Design

A term used to represent the proportioning of structural members to carry loads in a building structure.

Structural Engineer

 Handles engineering discipline devoted to structural systems of buildings.

Structure

1. Something constructed

2. A building put together based on specific plans and specifications.

Sub

Short for subcontractor.

Sub-subcontractor

An individual or firm having a written contract with a subcontractor to perform a portion of the work.

Sub-surface Investigation

1. A term used to represent an examination of soil conditions below the ground.

2. Investigations include soil borings and geographical laboratory tests for structural design purposes.

Subcontract

A written form of agreement between the prime or main contractor and another contractor or supplier for the satisfactory performance of services or delivery or material as set forth in the plans and specifications for a specific project.

Subcontractor

 A specialized builder in a specific trade (i.e. painter, plumber, glazer, excavator, etc.) contracted by general contractors, owners or construction managers.

Subcontractor Bond

A written document from a subcontractor given to the prime or main contractor by the subcontractor guaranteeing performance of his/her contract and payment of all labor, materials, equipment and service bills associated with the subcontract agreement.

Subcontractor Bidding

 The general contractor accepts pricing from subcontractors for various trades. 

Sublet

To subcontract all or a portion of a contracted amount.

Substantial Completion

(see Date of Substantial Completion)

Substitution

A proposed replacement or alternate offered in lieu of and represented as being equivalent to a specified material or process.

Substructure

The supporting part of a structure; the foundation.

Successor

1. One that succeeds (follows/replaces) another

2. A scheduled activity whose start depends on the completion of one or more predecessors.

Superstructure

The part of a building or other structure above the foundation.

Supervision

1.The act, process, or function of supervising construction materials, methods and processes for a specific project
2. Hands on field direction of the contracted work by a qualified individual of the contractor.

Supplemental Conditions

(aka Supplementary Conditions)
A written section of the contract documents supplementing and qualifying or modifying the contracts general conditions. (See Conditions of the Contract)

Supplier

An individual or firm who supplies and/or fabricates materials or equipment for a specific portion of a construction project but does not perform any labor on the project. (see Vendor)

Surety

(see Bonding Company)

Surveyor

Creates a topographical map detailing boundaries and other existing conditions.