Construction Glossary
A comprehensive guide to construction terms, abbreviations, and industry standards in Kenya and East Africa. Explore our curated list of terms to better understand the built environment.
Popular Terms
Tender Document
The document used to invite contractors to bid on a project, including all details needed to price the work.
Ground Investigation
Examination of the site to determine ground nature, bearing capacity, and contamination levels.
FIDIC
A suite of construction contracts published by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, organized around the extent of design and responsibilities assumed by the parties.
Bernoulli's Principle
A principle in fluid dynamics stating that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure.
Standard Method of Measurement (SMM)
A set of rules providing a uniform basis for measuring and describing building works to ensure consistency in bills of quantities.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
A study conducted to assess the potential environmental effects of a construction project before approval.
Procurement & Tendering
View All (5) →Free Issue
Materials or equipment supplied by the employer to the contractor at no cost for inclusion in the works.
Purchase Order
Formal requests required when a construction company is purchasing materials, equipment, or supplies from a vendor.
Tender Document
The document used to invite contractors to bid on a project, including all details needed to price the work.
Two-Stage Tendering
A process where a contractor is selected based on a preliminary bid, with detailed pricing provided later during a second stage.
Work Package
A subdivision of the project where measurement and description is divided into employer or contractor defined packages.
Contract Forms & Suites
View All (5) →FIDIC
A suite of construction contracts published by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, organized around the extent of design and responsibilities assumed by the parties.
Green Book
Short Form of Contract recommended for engineering and building work of relatively small capital value.
Red Book
Conditions of Contract for Construction for Building and Engineering works designed by the Employer.
Silver Book
Conditions of Contract for EPC/Turnkey Projects, suitable for process, power, and private-infrastructure projects.
Yellow Book
Conditions of Contract for Plant and Design-Build, for electrical and mechanical plant, and for building works, designed by the Contractor.
Dispute Resolution
View All (6) →Adjudication
A statutory or contractual process for the rapid, interim resolution of disputes to ensure cash flow is maintained during a project.
Affidavit
A sworn written statement of evidence used in civil actions.
Arbitration
The settlement of disputes by referring matters to the decision of an independent tribunal consisting of one or more arbitrators.
Counterclaim
A claim for damages brought by a defendant against the claimant in legal proceedings.
Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB)
A panel formed of one or three people jointly appointed by the parties to decide on disputes if an engineer's determination is not agreed.
Expert Witness
A witness who gives evidence based upon their expert knowledge of some facet of the case.
Measurement & Quantification
View All (7) →Bill of Quantities (BOQ)
A document listing all materials, parts, and labor required for a project, broken down into quantities for accurate quoting.
Defined Provisional Sum
A sum provided for work which is not completely designed but for which certain information like nature, construction, and quantities can be provided.
Material Take-Off (MTO)
A detailed list of all the materials required for a project based on the design and specifications.
Pre-tender Estimate
A cost estimate prepared immediately before calling tenders for construction to check the final cost before bids are obtained.
Spot Items
Items of work found in site works or drainage that are enumerated and described by dimensioned description or diagram.
Standard Method of Measurement (SMM)
A set of rules providing a uniform basis for measuring and describing building works to ensure consistency in bills of quantities.
Financial Management & Cash Flow
View All (16) →Abatement
The process of reducing a price or value, or the interruption of legal proceedings.
Appropriation of Payments
Setting apart money for a specific purpose out of a larger sum.
Back Charges
Costs billed to a subcontractor or supplier when the main contractor has to correct or complete their work.
Cash Flow
The movement of money through a construction business, being the total of incoming payments against outgoing expenses.
Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS)
The financial breakdown of a building project into cost targets for elements or work packages.
Credit
A refund offered by the contractor to the employer in return for taking ownership of materials arising from demolition or strip out works.
Project Planning & Scheduling
View All (17) →Action Item
An assignment needing to get done to complete a project.
Construction Period
The period commencing on the date of possession of the site by the contractor and ending on the date of practical completion.
Critical Path Method (CPM)
A project scheduling technique identifying the longest sequence of dependent tasks, determining the minimum time needed to complete the project.
Daily Log
A report detailing the significant occurrences of the day as well as the progress made at the jobsite.
Earned Value Management (EVM)
A technique that measures project performance by comparing the amount of work completed with the planned budget and schedule.
Feasibility Study
An assessment of whether a construction project is viable, taking into account cost, site conditions, regulations, and risks.
Contract Administration
View All (5) →Change Order
A document establishing an amendment to a construction contract that shifts the scope of work.
Practical Completion
The stage when the works are reasonably complete and ready for use, transferring responsibility for insurance and maintenance to the employer.
Submittals
A document created by a contractor detailing the materials and equipment necessary to construct a project.
Suspension
The temporary cessation of work on the project, which may entitle the contractor to determine the contract in certain events.
Variation Order
A formal instruction requiring alterations, additions, or omissions to the quality, quantity, or design of the works.
Insolvency & Termination
View All (2) →Liability & Indemnity
View All (2) →Defects & Warranties
View All (2) →Structural Engineering
View All (3) →Bending Moment
The reaction induced in a structural element when an external force or moment is applied to the element causing it to bend.
Foundation
An object placed in the ground to provide support for a building, transmitting the load to the material beneath.
Structural Steelwork
The fabrication and erection of steel members, including columns, beams, and trusses, used in the structural frame.
Geotechnical & Groundworks
View All (2) →Site Operations & Preliminaries
View All (2) →Materials & Resources
View All (5) →Compressive Strength
The capacity of a material or structure to withstand loads tending to reduce size.
Materials
The raw elements used to construct a building, such as bricks, cement, and timber.
Retention of Title
A clause whereby a seller retains ownership of goods until the buyer has paid for them, protecting the seller against insolvency.
Tensile Strength
The maximum stress that a material under tension can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking.
Young's Modulus
A measure of the stiffness of a solid material, defined as the ratio of stress to strain.
Health & Safety
View All (3) →Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM)
Regulations placing duties on clients, designers, and contractors to coordinate health and safety throughout a project.
Health and Safety Plan
A document documenting health and safety risks and management procedures for a specific project.
Method Statement
A detailed description of how a specific task will be performed safely and effectively during the construction process.
Cost Control & Valuations
View All (5) →Contingency
An amount of money set aside in the budget to cover unexpected costs that arise during construction.
Cost Control
The process of monitoring and managing a project's budget to ensure spending stays within approved limits.
Interim Valuation
The process of assessing the value of work completed on-site for the purpose of issuing progress payments.
Life-Cycle Costing
The total cost of owning a building or structure over its entire life span, including construction, maintenance, and operation costs.
Value Engineering
Reviewing a project’s design and materials to find cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing quality.
Mechanical & Electrical (MEP)
View All (2) →Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics
View All (3) →Bernoulli's Principle
A principle in fluid dynamics stating that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure.
Hydraulics
The branch of science and engineering concerned with the conveyance of liquids through pipes and channels.
Viscosity
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.
Environmental & Sustainability
View All (2) →Subcontracting
View All (2) →Domestic Sub-contractor
A sub-contractor selected and appointed by the main contractor to carry out part of the works.
Nominated Sub-contractor
A sub-contractor selected by the employer or architect to carry out specific work, for whom the main contractor must take responsibility.
Insurance & Bonds
View All (3) →All Risks Insurance
Insurance providing cover against physical loss or damage to work executed and site materials, excluding specific excepted risks.
Bid Bond
A guarantee provided by a contractor to assure the client they will enter into the contract if selected.
Performance Bond
A financial guarantee provided by a surety to indemnify the employer against the contractor's failure to perform the contract.
Roles & Responsibilities
View All (4) →Clerk of Works
An inspector employed to ensure that work is carried out in accordance with the contract specifications and quality standards.
Direct Contractor
A contractor engaged directly by the employer to carry out specific work on the site, distinct from the main contractor.
Project Manager
The person appointed to act on the employer's behalf in carrying out duties described in the contract, often with powers of delegation.
Statutory Undertaker
Organisations such as water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications companies authorised by statute to construct and operate public utility undertakings.
Legal Concepts & Maxims
View All (18) →Accord and Satisfaction
The purchase of a release from an obligation by means of valuable consideration, not being the actual performance of the obligation itself.
Anticipatory Breach
When one party states they will not carry out their obligations before the time for performance has arrived.
Condition Precedent
A condition which makes the rights or duties of the parties depend upon the happening of an event.
Consideration
Something given, done, or foreborne by one party in return for some action or inaction by the other.
Contract Data
The document listing the Organs of State and other Public Sector Bodies’ requirements and the project specific information.
Deed
A specialty contract that does not require consideration to be valid and has a limitation period of 12 years.