A201 (AIA) A standard AIA document known as the General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. This document sets out the duties, responsibilities, and relationships of the owner, architect, and contractor during construction. It is considered one of the most important documents to understand for the California Supplemental Examination (CSE).
ADAG (ADA Accessibility Guidelines) The accessibility guidelines published by the US Access Board which serve as the minimum baseline for accessibility standards. They reference the illustrations and text of ANIE A117.1.
Adjacency Requirements Criteria determined by the function of the building and user requirements for organizing spaces within a structure.
Allowance A placeholder amount used in lieu of specifying a specific product or particular portion of the work that is not yet specified (e.g., door hardware). This placeholder amount is included in the base bid and will be adjusted up or down via a Change Order during construction.
Alternate An amount that is added or deducted to the base bid for a specified product (e.g., substituting carpet for hardwood floor specified in the base bid). Alternates are typically used during the bidding process to help the owner compare options.
Amended Construction Documents Required to be resubmitted to the local building department for approval if any changes are made during construction that are not in compliance with the originally approved construction documents.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) A federal law enacted in 1990 that is a wide-ranging civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability. Titles II and III are most applicable to design and construction. The owner is ultimately responsible for compliance with ADA requirements.
ANIE (American National Standards Institute) A nonprofit private organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. ANIE itself generally does not develop standards but accredits qualified organizations to do so.
APA (Architectâs Practice Act) A document created by the California Architects Board (CAB). It is comprised of two codes: the Business and Professions Code Chapter 3, Division 3, and the California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 2. It governs the legalities of practicing architecture in California.
Arbitration A form of alternative dispute resolution that occurs when mediation is unable to resolve a dispute. It is binding dispute resolution, meaning the arbitratorâs decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Architect Supplemental Instructions (ASI) Used for minor changes in the work or clarifications; they involve no change in contract time or sum. Only the architectâs signature is required on the form.
Architectural Instruments of Service The content over which the architect must maintain Responsible Control during their preparation.
Area of Refuge An area where persons who are unable to use stairways can remain temporarily to await instructions or assistance during emergency evacuation. This area must provide space for a wheelchair and must not reduce the width of the means of egress.
ASM International An international standards organization (formerly the American Society for testing and materials) that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
Ashray (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers) An international organization that writes standards for advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
Basic Scope of Services The core services provided by the architect, typically encompassing five traditional phases: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding or Negotiation, and Construction Administration. According to AIA B201, these services specifically include structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services.
B102 (AIA) A standard AIA document providing the terms and conditions only for an agreement between the owner and architect, without a predefined scope of services. It must be paired with a separate scope of services document (like B201, B202, or B203).
B201 (AIA) A standard AIA document providing the Basic Scope of Services for design and construction contract administration. When combined with the B102 (terms and conditions), it essentially forms the B101 (complete contract).
California Architects Board (CAB) The organization responsible for administering the CSE exam. It is a division of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Its primary purpose is to regulate the practice of architecture to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
California Building Code (CBC) The California Building Standards Code, Part 2. It is based on the International Building Code (IBC) and establishes minimum requirements to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare through standards for structural strength, means of egress, accessibility, fire protection, and more.
California Building Standards Code (CBSC) Also known as Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. It is the official compilation and publication of regulations adopted by state agencies and is published every three years. The California Building Code (CBC) is just Part 2 of the CBSC.
California Clean Air Act A law signed in 1988 that clearly spells out Californiaâs air quality goals, planning mechanisms, regulatory strategies, and standards of progress, providing a framework for air quality regulation independent of federal regulations.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) A statute (not an agency) that requires state and local agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts if feasible. Plans are submitted to the Lead Agency, not directly to CEQA.
California Historical Building Code (CHBC) A code intended to facilitate the preservation and continuing use of qualified historical buildings or properties while providing reasonable safety for occupants and access for persons with disabilities. It requires enforcing agencies to accept solutions that are reasonably equivalent to the regular code.
Change Order (G701) A modification to the original contract that is required if there is a change in contract time or cost (or both). It is prepared by the architect (unless a construction manager is involved) and must be signed by all three parties: the architect, the owner, and the contractor.
Circulation element One of the seven mandatory elements of the General Plan. It addresses the infrastructure for the circulation of people, goods, energy, water, sewage, storm drainage, and communications, including major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, and local public utilities.
Climatic conditions The five main types are temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, and snowfall. Solar orientation is considered a site condition, not a climatic condition.
Closed Specification A type of Proprietary Specification that specifies a single trade name and typically does not allow for substitution. Closed specifications are generally not allowed on public projects.
Commenting Agency A public agency that has jurisdiction by law over a particular natural resource but is neither a lead agency nor a responsible agency (e.g., the Air Quality Management District).
Competitive Bidding A contract procurement process where bidding documents (including bidding requirements and proposed contract documents) are distributed to prospective bidders. The final contractor selection is typically based on the lowest responsible bid or the total contract price. Required for public work in California under the Public Contract Code.
Competence A rule of professional conduct stating that an architect shall only perform professional services when qualified by education, training, and experience. The architect must act with reasonable care and competence and apply the technical knowledge and skill ordinarily applied by architects of good standing practicing in the state under similar circumstances and conditions.
Conceptual/Schematic Design Estimate (Level 2) A type of cost estimate prepared during Schematic Design based on more developed schematic design criteria. It is more comprehensive than a Level 1 estimate.
Construction Change Directive (CCD/G714) A written order prepared by the architect, signed by the architect and the owner, directing a change in work prior to agreement on adjustment in the contract sum or time. It is usually used in the absence of total agreement on the terms of a Change Order.
Construction Manager (CM) (Owner Hired) An individual hired by the owner to aid in contract administration, performing many administrative tasks typically done by the architect. The CM does not limit the liability of the architect. The architect remains responsible for approving Change Orders, Construction Change Directives, and Applications for Payment.
Construction Observation The periodic observation of completed work to determine general compliance with the plans, specifications, reports, or other contract documents. It is explicitly not the superintendence of construction processes, site conditions, operations, equipment, personnel, or safety.
Construction Sum The total cost to the Owner to construct all elements of the Project designed, or specified, by the Architect. It includes contractorâs general condition costs, overhead, and profit.
Constructibility A project management tool used throughout the design and construction process. It refers to how efficiently a building can be built and how to maximize efficiency and minimize waste using the collective knowledge of the entire project team.
Core Competencies The major value creating skills and capabilities of a firm. They serve as a source of competitive advantage over competitors and distinguish a company competitively, making it unique.
Criterion-Referenced Passing Score The method by which the Board applies the same minimum competence standards to all licensure candidates taking the CSE.
Dead Load The weight of materials and construction incorporated into the building, including walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding, and equipment attached to the structure.
Delegating to others The management concept of assigning tasks by identifying the most capable team members, giving them the necessary responsibility and authority, establishing the required level of performance, defining the completed activity/results, setting a suitable completion date, agreeing on time required, and checking progress.
Design Build A project delivery process where both the design and the construction are provided by a single company or entity.
Design-Bid-Build The traditional project delivery method. The owner contracts separately with the architect (for design) and the contractor (for construction). There is no contract between the architect and the contractor.
Entitlement phase (Step 1) The first step of the project approval process. This phase involves obtaining permission or approval for the project prior to producing construction documents. Drawings are typically in the schematic design or design development stage and are submitted to the local planning department and other regulatory agencies.
Essential Services Buildings (ESB) Buildings that must be capable of providing essential services to the public after a disaster. Examples include a Fire Station, Police Station, Emergency Operations Center, California Highway Patrol Office, Sheriffâs Office, and Emergency Communication Dispatch Center. Architects are required by law to provide contract administration services on ESBs.
Exit Access That portion of the means-of-egress system that leads from any occupied space in a building to an exit (e.g., a hallway).
Exit That portion of the means-of-egress system between the exit access and the exit discharge. It is typically separated from other interior spaces by fire resistive construction.
Exit Discharge The final component of the means-of-egress system, where the exit discharges directly to the exterior of the building.
Factory Mutual (FM) Now known as FM Global. They certify industrial and commercial products and services worldwide, primarily developing standards for the property insurance industry. Products that meet their standards are issued the FM Approved mark.
Fauna Animal life.
Fire Barrier A fire resistance rated wall assembly designed to restrict the spread of fire, used to separate different occupancies or divide a single occupancy into different fire areas.
Fire Partition A vertical assembly designed to restrict the spread of fire; typically a level below firewalls and fire barriers, often having a 1-hour fire resistance rating.
Fire Resistance Rating The period of time a building element, component, or assembly maintains the ability to confine a fire, continues to perform a structural function, or both, as determined by test.
Firewall A fire resistance rated wall that restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof with sufficient structural stability to allow construction collapse on either side without collapsing the wall.
Flora Plant life, such as plants, trees, vegetation, and shrubs.
Fugitive Dust Small airborne particulate matter generated or emitted from open air operations or emissions that do not pass through a stack or vent (e.g., demolition from a construction site).
Full disclosure A rule of professional conduct requiring an architect to accurately represent their qualifications and the scope of their responsibility to a prospective or existing client or employer.
Gant Chart A timeline of tasks displayed as a bar chart. It shows the start and end dates for each task and the task dependencies.
General Conditions The AIA A201 document that lays out the rights, responsibilities, and relationships between the owner, contractor, and architect.
General Plan The local governmentâs long-term blueprint for development. It outlines the goals and policies upon which local decision-making bodies will base their land use decisions. It must contain seven mandatory elements: Land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety.
Geological conditions Concerns with conditions below the surface. This includes soil conditions which directly impact the foundation design.
Hydraological conditions Concerns with water and its relationship to the site. Key factors include the water table, site drainage, and the movement of water on or through the site, which can affect foundation selection.
Informed consent A rule of professional conduct requiring an architect to fully inform the client and obtain written consent before materially altering the scope or objective of a project.
Initial Decision Maker (IDM) The role the architect assumes prior to mediation, where they endeavor to resolve conflicts between the owner and general contractor without partiality. The architect must issue an initial decision before mediation can take place.
Initial Study A preliminary analysis prepared by the lead agency (under CEQA) to determine if an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or Negative Declaration is required.
Internal Analysis A process of identifying and evaluating the firmâs internal capabilities. This typically includes reviewing resources (human, financial, intangible, organizational, physical assets), capabilities (staff qualifications), and core competencies.
Job Captain A typical member of the in-house project team responsible for coordinating the working drawing set and supervising the drafters. The Job Captain reports to the Project Manager.
Latent Deficiency A deficiency that is hidden by reasonable inspection. The Statute of Limitations for actions brought to recover damages related to latent deficiencies is 10 years after the date of substantial completion.
Lead Agency Under CEQA, the public agency that has the primary responsibility to complete the environmental review process.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) A method for estimating the overall cost of facility ownership for the life of the building. It takes into account initial costs, construction costs, operation/maintenance/repair costs, replacement costs, financing, and disposal costs.
Litigation A dispute resolved in the court system; it is typically an expensive and long process involving attorneys.
Live Load Loads produced by the use and occupancy of the building or structure. It does not include dead loads or environmental loads (e.g., wind, snow, earthquake).
Means of Egress A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal travel from any occupied portion of a building to a public way. It consists of three parts: Exit Access, Exit, and Exit Discharge.
Mechanics Lean One of the two primary types of leans covered under California Construction Law (the other being the design professionals lean). Its requirements are governed under the California Civil Code, Section 8400.
Mediation A form of alternative dispute resolution that is nonbinding. A neutral third party assists the conflicting parties (e.g., owner and contractor) in reaching an agreement. According to B201, mediation must take place prior to arbitration.
Moment Frame A structural system (typically steel or concrete) that resists lateral forces by bending action. Often used where large openings require lateral resistance but shear walls are not feasible.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) A global nonprofit organization that provides codes and standards for eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards.
Non-conforming work Work that does not conform to the contract documents. It does not necessarily mean the work is non-code compliant. The owner has the option to accept non-conforming work.
Non-structural elements Elements that are not part of the structural system, meaning they are neither resisting gravity loads (vertical) nor part of the seismic resisting system (horizontal).
Notice of Completion A document that the owner is highly encouraged (but not required) to file at the county recorderâs office after construction. Filing this document reduces the lien period (from 90 days to 60 days for prime contractors and 30 days for subcontractors), thereby shrinking the liability window for the owner. The architect does not file this notice.
Open Specification A type of Proprietary Specification, often called an âequal spec,â which typically includes three or more trade names with a provision for âapproved equalâ.
Order of Magnitude Estimate (Level 1) The initial level of construction cost estimate used to facilitate budgetary and feasibility determinations. It is typically based on historical information, such as costs per square foot.
Passive Fire Protection Fire resistance strategy provided by what is built into the building structure (e.g., fire resistance rated construction); it provides a barrier between the structure and the fire.
Patent Deficiency A deficiency that is visible or apparent by reasonable inspection. The Statute of Limitations for actions brought to recover damages related to patent deficiencies is 4 years after the date of substantial completion.
Payment Bonds Bonds required for bidders on public projects which secure the payment of claims of the laborers, subcontractors, vendors, and material suppliers.
Performance Bonds Bonds required for bidders on public projects which guarantee the faithful performance of the contract by the general contractor.
Performance Specification A type of specification that describes the performance criteria for a particular product or system, focusing on the desired end result.
Person (APA Definition) Includes any individual, firm, partnership, general corporation, professional corporation, or limited liability partnership as authorized by the Corporations Code.
Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) A thorough review of the facility after occupancy; listed as an additional service (not part of basic services) provided by the architect. This is distinct from the mandatory Facility Operations and Performance Review Meeting.
Prime Agreement The name for the architectâs agreement with the owner (often AIA B101).
Proprietary Specification A type of specification which names a specific product or material assembly, including manufacturersâ names.
Project Delivery The method for assigning responsibility to an organization or an individual for providing design and construction services.
Project Management The means for coordinating the process of design and construction, including planning, staffing, organizing, budgeting, scheduling, and monitoring.
Project Manual The compilation of documents consisting of the specifications and the conditions of the contract for construction (which includes general conditions, supplementary conditions, and any other conditions).
Project Manager The central figure in the architecture firm responsible for coordinating the entire project team (in-house and consultants), managing client interaction, and producing a competent set of instruments.
Programming The process by which the scope of a project is defined. Services may include compiling project objectives, creating value/goals statements, studying existing facilities, creating bubble diagrams/space relations, and determining preliminary space requirements. Programming is an additional service (AIA B202).
Public Contract Code (California) Governs most public contract work. Intent is to ensure full compliance with competitive bidding requirements to protect public funds and eliminate favoritism. Requires open or equal specifications.
Quality Control (QC) The process of developing a system and standards to maintain quality in documentation, often involving critiques, reviews, audits, in-house training, adherence monitoring, documenting key decisions, and using checklists.
Readily Achievable Pertaining to existing facilities under ADA Title III, meaning easily accomplished without much difficulty or expense, often applied to the removal of architectural barriers.
Request for Proposals (RFP) A document used to obtain firmsâ relevant experience and to request fees and costs.
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) A document used to obtain firmsâ relevant experience.
Responsible Agency Under CEQA, a public agency or agencies with discretionary approval authority over a portion of a CEQA project.
Responsible Bidder In public contracting, a bidder who has demonstrated the attribute of trustworthiness, quality, fitness, capacity, and experience to satisfactorily perform the public works contract.
Responsible Control The amount of control over the content of all architectural instruments of service during their preparation that is ordinarily exercised by architects applying the professional standard of care.
Schedule of Values A document submitted by the contractor prior to the first application for payment, allocating the entire Contract Sum to the various portions of the work (e.g., breakdown by CSI divisions). It is used by the architect to review the contractorâs Applications for Payment.
Shear Wall A structural system (reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, or plywood over wood studs) that resists lateral forces by developing shear in its own plane.
Smoke Barriers A continuous membrane (vertical or horizontal) designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.
Solar Orientation A site condition, which must be taken into account for energy management, but is explicitly not a climatic condition.
Sole Proprietor A business owned and run by one individual, with no legal distinction between the owner and the business. It is the least expensive type of firm structure to set up.
Special Inspection An inspection of materials, installation, fabrication, erection, or placement of components and connections requiring special expertise to ensure compliance with approved construction documents and standards. The owner is required to employ one or more special inspectors.
Standard of Care The professional standard that architects apply, defined as the amount of control over architectural instruments of service that is ordinarily exercised by architects applying the professional standard of care. The architect is required to do what a reasonably prudent architect would do in the same community and time frame given similar circumstances.
Statement of Special Inspections A document prepared by the registered design professional in responsible charge (e.g., architect or structural engineer) when special inspections or testing are required.
Statute of Limitations (Contractual Liability) Four years from the date of the default on the contract.
Statute of Limitations (Patent Liability) Four years after the substantial completion of the improvement for visible or apparent (patent) deficiencies.
Statute of Limitations (Latent Liability) Ten years after substantial completion of the improvement for hidden (latent) deficiencies.
Substantial Completion The stage when the work is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents and is ready for the ownerâs occupancy and use. The date of substantial completion is established by the architectâs certificate (G74) and marks the beginning of the warranty period and the statute of limitations clock.
Substitution When a product specified in the contract documents is replaced by another (e.g., due to unavailability or long lead time). Substitutions must be approved by the architect and the owner in writing.
Sustainability Design objective areas generally focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, resource conservation, and indoor air quality.
Third-Party Peer Review A quality control system allowing senior members of the staff not involved on the project to review and give feedback on the project documents.
Title 24 A common term used interchangeably with the California Building Standards Code. It encompasses 12 parts of the California Code of Regulations, including the California Building Code (Part 2) and the California Energy Code (Part 6).
Topographical conditions Concerns with surface conditions. Items associated with topography include grading, vehicular access, utility access, site features, bodies of water, and views.
Trustee Agency A state agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by a project, which are held in trust for the people of the state of California.
UL (Underwriters Laboratory) A global independent safety science company that provides safety testing and certification. Products with UL certification are referred to as UL listed, UL recognized, or UL classified (not UL approved).
Value Engineering (VE) The formal process of exploring design alternatives to achieve the desired quality and functionality at the lowest life cycle cost.
Willful misconduct A rule of professional conduct that includes knowingly designing a project in violation of all applicable building laws, codes, and regulations. It also includes failure to respond to a request for information or evidence from the California Architects Board within 30 days.