Top 200 Construction Acronyms You Need To Know
Construction professionals are no strangers to the vast array of acronyms and abbreviations in their documentation and conversations. From architects and engineers to project managers and contractors, understanding the most common shorthand expressions provides clear communication and efficient workflow in the construction industry. To make it simple, we've put together a list of the top 200 construction acronyms for professionals.
The following acronyms are derived from a wide range of sources, including Architectural Graphic Standards, Time Saver Standards, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Drafting Standards, Holabird & Root Drafting Standards, Nagle Hartray & Associates Standards, Murphy/Jahn Office Reference Manual, Braun/Skiba Standards Manual, Recommended Standards on Production Procedures, Northern California Chapter AIA, Graphic Communication in Architecture, William J. O’Connell, Interior Graphic and Design Standards, S.C. Reznikoff, and the Fluix Construction Abbreviation List. While there are many differences in abbreviation standards among firms and individual authors, there are ongoing standardization efforts that should be given a high degree of consideration.
Construction Acronyms and Terms:
AL: Aluminum
AMP: Ampere, Ampacity
ANSI: American National Standards Institute
AOR: Architect of Record
AP: Access Panel
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials
AWG: American Wire Gauge
AWSPH: Asphalt
B.O.M.: Bill of Materials
BDRM: Bedroom
BIM: Building Information Modeling
BM: Beam, Bench Mark
BL: Base Line, Building Line, Block
BLK: Block
BR: Bedroom, Brick, Brass, Boiler Room Branch
BRDG: Bridge, Bridging
BP: Base Plate, Blueprint, Bypass
BSMT: Basement
BTU: British Thermal Units
BV: Butterfly Valve
C.O.: Cased Opening
CA: Construction Administration
CCTV: Closed Circuit TV
CC: Cubic Centimeter
CCT: Circuit
CD: Construction Documents
CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute
CBL: Concrete Block
CI: Cast Iron
CM: Construction Management or Construction Manager
CMP: Corrugated Metal Pipe
CMT: Ceramic Mosaic Tile
CMU: Concrete Masonry Unit
CO: Certificate of Occupancy
CO: Change Order
CNTR: Center, Counter
CMAA: Construction Management Association of America
COAX: Coaxial
CONC: Concrete
CONT: Continuous, Continue, Control
CONTR: Contractor
CP: Cathodic Protection, Clothes Pole, Cesspool
CPM: Critical Path Method
CPT: Carpet
CRS: Course, Cold Rolled Steel
CWR: Condensate Waste Return
CYL: Cylinder
DB: Design-Build
DBB: Design-Bid-Build
DBE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
DC: Direct Current
DEMO: Demolition
DH: Double Hung
DISP: Dispenser
DWG: Drawing
E: East, Enamel, Exhaust
EC: Exposed Construction
ELEV: Elevator, Elevation
EL: Elevation, Elevator
ELEC: Electrical
EM: Emergency
ENCL: Enclosure
ETC: Estimate to Complete
EW & C: Electric Wiring and Communication
EXC: Excavate
EXEC: Executive
EXIST: Existing
EXT: Exterior, Extinguish
FACP: Fire Alarm Control Panel
FDN: Foundation
FF&E: Fixtures, Furnishings & Equipment
FHC: Fire Hose Cabinet
FHMS: Flat head machine screw
FHR: Fire Hose Rack
FHS: Fire Hose Station
FHWS: Flat Head Wood Screw
FHY: Fire Hydrant
FLASH: Flashing
FLEX: Flexible
FLG: Flange, Flashing, Flooring
GFCI: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
GFI: Ground Fault Interrupter
GP: Galvanized Pipe
GPM: Gallons Per Minute
GR: Grade, Grille, Granite
GRTG: Grating
GSU: Glazed Structural Unit
GT: Grout
HB: Hose Bib
HVAC: Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning
HTR: Heater
HW: Hot Water
HWR: Hot Water Recirculating Return
HWS: Hot Water Supply
HP: Horse Power
HTG: Heating
HYD: Hydraulic
INS: Insulate, Insulation
INT: Interior, Internal
IPD: Integrated Project Delivery
IPS: Iron Pipe Size
IW: Indirect Waste
J-BOX: Junction Box
JB: Junction Box
JT: Joint
LAV: Lavatory
LB: Pound (weight), Lag Bolt
LBL: Label
LBR: Lumber
LC: Light Control, Lead Covered
LD: Leader Drain
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LF: Linear Foot
LMS: Limestone
MB: Mail Box, Machine Bolt, Mop Basin
MCC: Motor Control Center
MCM: Thousand Circular Mils (electrical wire size)
MH: Manhole
MIR: Mirror
MLD: Molding
MTR: Motor
NC: Normally Closed, Noise Criteria
NEC: National Electrical Code
NF: Near Face
NFWH: Non-freeze Wall Hydrant
NMT: Non-Metallic
NR: Noise Reduction
NRC: Noise Reduction Coefficient
NS: Near Side
NTP: Notice to Proceed
NTS: Not To Scale
PAF: Powder Actuated Fasteners
PARTN: Partition
PB: Pull Box, Push Button, Panic Bar
PBD: Particle Board
PC: Precast Concrete, Professional Engineer
PD: Pump Discharge, Plaza Drain
PE: Professional Engineer, Porcelain Enamel
PLYWD: Plywood
PREFAB: Prefabricated
PRV: Pressure Reducing Valve
PS&E: Plans, Specifications and Estimates
PSC: Prestressed Concrete
PSI: Pounds per Square Inch
PTC: Post-Tensioned Concrete
PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride
PVF: Polyvinylidene Finish
PVMT: Pavement
RCP: Reflected Ceiling Plan, Reinforced Concrete Pipe
REBAR: Reinforcing Bar
REC: Receiver
RECP: Receptacle
RED: Reducer
REV: Reverse, Revise, Revision
RFI: Request for Information
RFP: Request for Proposal
RFQ: Request for Qualifications
RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
RVT: Rivet
RW: Redwood
RWC: Rain Water Conductor
RWL: Rain Water Leader
S4S: Surfaced 4 Sides
SACT: Suspended Acoustical Tile
SALV: Salvage
SAN: Sanitary
SB: Setting Basin
LV: Sleeve
SNGG: Sponge Neoprene Glazing Gasket
SNR: Sanitary Napkin Receptacle
SNT: Sealant
SP: Soil Pipe, Standpipe, Soundproof, Single Pole
SPC: Spacer
SPD: Sump Pump Discharge
SPDT: Single Pole Double Throw
SPEC: Specification, Specifications
SUSP: Suspended, Suspend
SV: Safety Relief Valve
SW: Switch
SWBD: Switchboard
SWGR: Switchgear
SY: Square Yard
SYM: Symmetrical
SYN: Synthetic
SYS: System
TS: Time Switch
TSL: Top of Slab
TST: Top of Steel
TSTAT: Thermostat
TT: Terrazzo Tile, Traffic Topping
TTC: Telephone Terminal Closet
TW: Top of Wall, Thin Wall (conduit), Tempered Water
TZ: Terrazzo
VR: Vapor Retarder, Vacuum Return, Vertical Riser
VRM: Vermiculite
VS: Vent Stack
VT: Vinyl Tile
VTR: Vent Through Roof
VWC: Vinyl Wall Covering
W&M: Washburn & Moen Gauge
Conclusion
As construction professionals navigate building projects, the importance of clear communication is essential. Whether it's working with specialized subcontractors or training new staff, the acronyms and abbreviations serve as the shorthand language of the industry and are important to know. While this list of 200 construction acronyms is by all means not a finalized list, it provides a good baseline for those looking to succeed in the field.
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