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Glossary

Construction project management terms, defined for Indian sites

This glossary defines the terms Indian construction teams use, from the BOQ and the RA bill to the MDC and the WBS, with a worked example for each and how SuperWise records it.

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All terms A to Z

Select a term to read its definition, an example from an Indian site and the SuperWise feature that handles it.

A

  • AAC Blocks (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) A lightweight precast block of aerated concrete that Indian sites increasingly use in place of red clay bricks for walls and partitions.
  • Abstract of Estimate The one-page summary of a detailed estimate that gives the total cost of each work head, such as earthwork, concrete and masonry.
  • Admixtures (Construction Chemicals) Chemical or mineral ingredients added to concrete or mortar to change its setting time, workability or water resistance.
  • Advance Payment Money paid to a contractor or supplier before work starts or material arrives, usually recovered later from running bills.
  • As-Built Drawings The final set of drawings a contractor submits at completion, marked up to show how the work was actually built.

B

  • Bar Bending Schedule (BBS) A table listing every reinforcement bar of a structural element by mark, diameter, shape, cutting length, number and weight.
  • Bill of Quantities (BOQ) An itemised list of the work in a contract with the quantity and unit of each item, against which contractors quote their rates.
  • Brass (Volumetric Measurement) A traditional Indian unit of volume, equal to a hundred cubic feet, used to buy and measure sand, aggregate and other loose material.
  • Brickwork (Chinai) Walls built by laying bricks in cement-sand mortar in a regular bond, known as chinai on North Indian sites.
  • Built-up Area The floor area of a flat measured to the outer face of its walls, so it includes wall thickness and is larger than carpet area.

C

  • Carpet Area (RERA) The net usable floor area of an apartment, the area RERA requires developers to quote and to price a flat on.
  • Change Order (Variation) A signed amendment to a construction contract that adds, removes or changes work and adjusts the contract price or the completion date.
  • Commencement Certificate (CC) The permission a municipal authority issues before construction may begin, confirming that the plans comply with local bye-laws.
  • Concrete Slump Test A site test of fresh concrete that measures how far a moulded cone of it settles, showing its workability and consistency.
  • Cost Code A numbered code that tags each expense to a budget category, so spend on concrete, steel or electrical work can be tracked separately.

D

  • Daily Progress Report (DPR) A daily site log of the work done, labour and machinery deployed, material used and any delays, written at the end of each shift.
  • Damp Proof Course (DPC) A waterproof layer laid at plinth level that stops ground moisture rising into the walls by capillary action.
  • De-shuttering (Formwork Removal) Removing the temporary shuttering from cast concrete once it has gained enough strength, on timings set by the Indian concrete code.
  • Defect Liability Period (DLP) The warranty period after handover during which the contractor must repair defects at its own cost.
  • Design Mix Concrete Concrete whose mix proportions are worked out in a laboratory from tests on the actual cement, sand and aggregate, to reach a target strength.

E

  • Earned Value Management (EVM) A method that compares planned value, actual cost and earned value to show whether a project is ahead or behind on schedule and cost.
  • Earthwork Excavation Digging, removing and grading soil or rock to the required depth so that footings, rafts or basements can be built.
  • Encumbrance Certificate (EC) The sub-registrar's record that shows whether a property has pending mortgages or other liabilities, checked before land is bought.
  • Estimation The costing step that turns drawings into quantities of material, labour and machinery, priced to forecast a project's budget.
  • Extension of Time (EoT) A contract change that moves the completion date later when a delay is not the contractor's fault, so no delay penalty applies.

F

  • Floor Space Index (FSI) / FAR The ratio of a building's total floor area to its plot area, which caps how much a developer may build on the plot.
  • Fly Ash Bricks Bricks pressed from fly ash, cement, sand and water, used in India as a substitute for red clay bricks.
  • Force Majeure A contract clause that excuses a party from its obligations when an unforeseeable event beyond its control prevents performance.
  • Formwork (Shuttering) The temporary mold that holds wet concrete in shape until it hardens, made of timber, plywood, steel or aluminium.
  • Freehold Property Property in which the owner holds the building and the land beneath it outright, with no lease grantor involved.

G

  • Gantt Chart A bar chart that plots each construction task against time, so start dates, durations and dependencies are visible at a glance.
  • GFC Drawings (Good For Construction) The final approved set of architectural and structural drawings that a site team may build from.
  • Goods and Services Tax (GST in Construction) India's indirect tax on construction materials, contractor services and real estate, charged at slabs that depend on the activity.
  • Green Building (IGBC / GRIHA) A building designed to cut energy, water and material impact over its life, and rated by bodies such as IGBC and GRIHA.
  • Grouting The injection of a flowable cement or chemical mix into cracks, voids and joints to fill, seal or strengthen them.

H

  • Handover (Possession) The formal transfer of a completed property, with its keys and legal rights, from the developer to the buyer.
  • Hardcore Soling A layer of large angular stones packed over compacted earth to give floor slabs and pavements a firm sub-base.
  • Honeycombing (Concrete Defect) A concrete defect where coarse aggregate shows through the surface because the cement paste did not fill the gaps around it.
  • Housing Society (RWA) The legal body of homeowners that manages the common areas of a residential complex after the developer hands over.
  • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) The building systems that heat, cool, ventilate and filter the air indoors, from chillers to ductwork.

I

  • I-Beam (RSJ) A structural steel beam with an I-shaped cross-section, widely used as the main member of steel-framed buildings.
  • Indian Standard (IS) Codes The technical standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards that set safety, testing and quality limits for construction work.
  • Initial Setting Time The minutes between adding water to cement and the paste starting to stiffen, which limits how long concrete can be transported.
  • Interlocking Paver Blocks Precast concrete blocks laid over sand to form outdoor pavements and driveways that can be lifted and relaid for repairs.
  • Inventory Management (Stores) Control of a site store, from receiving materials to issuing them against approved indents, with a running stock balance.

J

  • Jali (Latticework / Perforated Screen) A carved or perforated screen, traditionally of stone or wood, that ventilates and shades a building while keeping privacy.
  • JCB (Backhoe Loader) A tractor-based machine with a front loader bucket and a rear digging arm, used for trenches and bulk material handling on Indian sites.
  • Joint Development Agreement (JDA) A real estate contract where a landowner supplies the land and a developer builds on it, and both share the finished apartments or revenue.
  • Joint Measurement Record (JMR) A measurement sheet that the contractor and the client sign together on site, fixing the quantity of work done before a bill is raised.
  • Joint Venture (JV) A temporary partnership of two or more firms that bid for and build a large project together, sharing its risks and profits.

K

  • Kaccha Structure / Road An Indian term for a temporary, unpaved or non-durable building or road, as opposed to a permanent pucca one.
  • Key Plan A small outline map in the corner of a detailed drawing that shows where that drawing's part sits in the full project layout.
  • Khata / Khatauni (Land Record) A municipal record that assesses a property for tax and names the person liable to pay it, though it does not prove ownership.
  • Kickers (Concrete Starter) A short concrete upstand cast at the base of a column or wall that guides and holds the formwork in line.
  • Kotah Stone (Kota Stone) A fine-grained limestone from Kota in Rajasthan, used across India as tough, low-cost, slip-resistant flooring.

L

  • Labour Contractor (Thekedar) A subcontractor who supplies only workers and supervision, is paid by measured work and uses materials the builder provides.
  • Layout Plan The site drawing that fixes where buildings, roads, parking, utilities and open space go on a plot, submitted for approval.
  • Leasehold Property A property held for a fixed term on land that stays with a freeholder, usually a government authority, and reverts when the lease ends.
  • Lintel Band A continuous reinforced concrete ring through the walls at door-top level that ties masonry together against earthquake shaking.
  • Liquidated Damages (LD) A delay charge fixed in the contract in advance, which the client deducts from the contractor when the project finishes late.

M

  • Material Delivery Challan (MDC / GRN) The site store's receipt for a supplier delivery, raised against the purchase order once the material has been counted and checked.
  • Material Indent (Purchase Requisition) The site's internal request to procurement for a stated quantity of a material by a required date, which leads to a purchase order.
  • Measurement Book (MB) The official ledger in which an engineer records the measured quantity of completed work, and the basis for every contractor payment.
  • Mivan Shuttering (Aluminium Formwork) An aluminium formwork system that lets walls and a slab be poured together in one pour, which shortens the floor cycle on repeat floors.
  • Mixed-Use Development A project that combines residential, commercial, office and retail uses in one complex or campus.

N

  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) A clearance from a government department confirming that a proposed building meets its safety or operating rules.
  • Nominal Mix Concrete Site-mixed concrete made to fixed volume ratios of cement, sand and aggregate, without laboratory design.
  • Non-Agricultural (NA) Land Farmland that has been legally converted by the District Collector so it can be used for homes, shops or industry.
  • Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Test methods that assess the strength and soundness of concrete or steel without cutting or damaging the structure.
  • Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) The public or private notice in which a client invites competitive bids, setting out scope, eligibility, EMD and deadlines.

O

  • Occupancy Certificate (OC) The municipal certificate that confirms a building matches its approved plans and may legally be occupied.
  • Open Space Ratio (OSR) A town planning rule that keeps a set percentage of a plot unbuilt and open to the sky as parks, playgrounds or greenery.
  • Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) The general-purpose binding cement of Indian construction, ground from limestone and clay and sold in three strength grades.
  • Overhead Tank (OHT) A water storage tank on the terrace or on raised columns that feeds every floor below by gravity.
  • Overrun (Cost & Time) Spending above the baseline budget (cost overrun) or completion after the contractual date (time overrun) on a project.

P

  • Plastering A finishing layer of cement mortar applied over brickwork or concrete to give a smooth, protected surface.
  • Plinth Beam A reinforced concrete beam at ground level that ties the columns together and carries the walls above to the foundation.
  • Plumb Bob (Sahaal) A pointed metal weight hung from a string to give a true vertical line when checking walls and formwork.
  • Project Management Consultant (PMC) A third-party firm hired by the client to run tendering, supervise the contractor, audit bills and track the project.
  • Punch List (Snag List) The list of minor defects and unfinished items found at final inspection, which the contractor must fix before handover.

Q

  • Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) The process checks set before work starts (QA) and the tests made during execution (QC) that keep a project to specification.
  • Quantity Surveyor (QS) The professional who measures quantities from drawings, estimates cost and checks the contractor's bills against measured work.
  • Quarrying The open-pit extraction of stone and other minerals, crushed into aggregate for concrete and road base.
  • Quick Setting Cement A Portland cement variant with accelerators that sets within minutes, used to plug leaks and for emergency repairs.
  • Quotation (Quote / Bid) A vendor's or subcontractor's written offer stating the rates, taxes, delivery time and total price for a defined supply or task.

R

  • Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) Concrete batched to a design mix at an off-site plant and delivered to the site in a rotating transit mixer.
  • Reinforcement (Rebar) Ribbed steel bars set in concrete to carry the tension that concrete alone cannot, so beams do not fracture when they bend.
  • Request for Proposal (RFP) A procurement document inviting vendors to propose a solution and price for a complex scope, instead of quoting for a standard item.
  • RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) The law and state authorities that regulate Indian real estate, protect homebuyers and require project transparency.
  • Running Account bill (RA bill) An interim invoice a contractor raises each period for the cumulative value of work done, minus what earlier RA bills already paid.

S

  • Scaffolding A temporary framework of steel pipes or bamboo that supports workers and materials at height on a building facade.
  • Setback Area (Margin Space) The legally required open space between a plot boundary and the building, set by municipal bye-laws.
  • Site Engineer The engineer who supervises day-to-day construction on the ground, from setting out to quality checks and daily reporting.
  • Strip Foundation (Continuous Footing) A continuous shallow footing laid along a load-bearing wall to spread its load evenly over the soil.
  • Super Built-up Area (Saleable Area) The area a buyer is charged for, made up of the flat's built-up area plus a share of the building's common areas.

T

  • Tender (Tendering Process) The formal process in which a client invites contractors to submit sealed, competitive bids to build a project.
  • TMT Bars (Thermo Mechanically Treated) Water-quenched steel reinforcement bars with a hard outer surface and a ductile core, standard in Indian concrete work.
  • Total Station (Surveying) A modern optical and electronic surveying instrument that measures distances, angles and coordinates for site layout.
  • Transit Mixer (TM) A truck with a rotating drum that carries ready-mix concrete from the batching plant to the site and keeps it workable on the way.
  • Turnkey Contract (Design & Build) A contract under which one firm designs and builds the project for the client, who takes over a finished building.

U

  • U-Value (Thermal Transmittance) A measure of how much heat passes through a wall, roof or window, where a lower figure means better insulation.
  • Under-Construction Property A flat or villa sold by a developer before the Occupancy Certificate is issued, paid for in instalments tied to construction milestones.
  • Underground Sump (UG Sump) A buried concrete tank that stores municipal water at ground or basement level before pumps lift it to the overhead tanks.
  • Unit Rate Contract (Item Rate) A contract that pays the contractor an agreed rate for each unit of work, so the final cost follows the quantities actually measured.
  • Unskilled Labour Site workers who do heavy manual tasks such as carrying, digging and cleaning without formal technical training.

V

  • Valuation Report A certified valuer's written estimate of what a property is worth in the market, which a bank uses to set the loan it will give.
  • Variation Order (Change Order) A written agreement that changes the scope, price or time of a signed construction contract, signed before the extra work starts.
  • Vastu Shastra A traditional Indian system of architecture that sets the layout and compass alignment of rooms and entrances in a building.
  • Vibrator (Needle Vibrator) A mechanical tool whose vibrating steel needle is pushed into wet concrete to drive out trapped air and compact the mix.
  • Vitrified Tiles Hard, low-porosity ceramic tiles fired at very high temperature, now the standard flooring in Indian homes and offices.

W

  • Wall Putty A white cement or acrylic powder mixed with water and applied in thin coats over plaster to give a smooth surface before painting.
  • Waterproofing The treatment that stops water from entering a structure, applied to basements, terraces, sumps and bathroom floors.
  • Weep Holes Small pipes or gaps built into the base of a retaining wall so that groundwater behind it can drain out.
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) A tree that breaks a construction project into phases, towers, floors and tasks that can each be planned, tracked and costed.
  • Work Order (WO) The contract a client issues to a contractor for labour or services, fixing the scope, rates, retention and deadlines.

X

Y

  • Yellow Zone (Land Use) The colour a Development Plan gives to land reserved for residential use, where homes and housing societies can legally be built.
  • Yield Strength (Steel Rebar) The stress at which a steel bar stops springing back and starts to bend or stretch permanently, measured in MPa.

Z

  • Zero Slump Concrete A very stiff, dry concrete mix with no flow, compacted by heavy rollers rather than poured, used for dams and highway bases.
  • Zoning Laws (Development Control Rules) Municipal regulations that divide a city into zones and set what may be built on each plot, how tall and how far from the boundary.

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