Work Plans, Contracts and Coordination
IBC-2021 Ch. 1 (§107, §110, §111) and §714 · NFPA 72-2022 §3.2.2, §10.21, §14.2.4 · NFPA 70-2020 §110.26(A) and Art. 590 · AIA A201 General Conditions (2017 study edition; 2007 section numbers noted where they differ) · NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (13th ed.) · 29 CFR 1926, 1910 and 1904 (OSHA) · Outline tasks 2.4.1, 2.1.1
What NICET expects at Level II
Task 2.4.1 (Coordinate work activities) belongs to Management and Supervision (5–15% of the exam). Task 2.1.1 (Develop work plans based upon field conditions) is the first task of the Installation domain (30–40%). Together they test whether you understand how a project is organized and can plan a job before you pick up a tool: who the parties are, which document governs, how submittals and changes move, how a schedule and an estimate are built, and how to keep the owner's building protected during renovation. Expect scenarios and short story problems with arithmetic.
The study references (AIA A201-2017, the NASCLA guide, OSHA 1910/1926/1904) are not allowed in the test center. Contract and OSHA facts must be memorized; code facts (NFPA 72, IBC, NEC) can be looked up. The exam's study reference is A201-2017, and the numbers below were checked against the 2017 text; the 2007 number is given where it differs. Main differences: notice of a concealed condition is 14 days in 2017 (21 days in 2007); the claim-notice clause is §15.1.3.1 (§15.1.2); the Construction Change Directive "proceed" clause is §7.3.6 (§7.3.5); tests and inspections are §13.4 (§13.5); the owner's right to stop the work is §2.4 (§2.3). Learn the concept and the article, not the decimal.
Project roles
| Party | Role | Exam hook |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Pays; may order a stop for uncorrected defects (A201 §2.4 in 2017, §2.3 in 2007) | Contracts with the general contractor, not subcontractors (§1.1.2) |
| Architect / engineer | Administers the contract, reviews submittals, answers RFIs, certifies payment and Substantial Completion | Submittal review is limited; quantities stay the contractor's job (§4.2.7) |
| General contractor | Supervises and coordinates all trades; controls means and methods; runs the safety program (§3.3, §10.1) | Flows its obligations down to subs (§5.3) |
| Subcontractor | Performs part of the work for the contractor | The fire alarm contractor is usually a sub |
| AHJ / inspector | Enforces codes and approves plans and installations (NFPA 72 §3.2.2) | Not a party to the contract; not the architect |
Contract documents, submittals, and changes
The Contract Documents (A201 §1.1.1) are the Agreement, the Conditions (general and supplementary), Drawings, Specifications, Addenda issued before signing, and Modifications after signing (a signed written amendment, a Change Order, a Construction Change Directive, or an architect's minor-change order). The bid and instructions to bidders are not included unless listed. Shop drawings, product data, and samples are not Contract Documents (§3.12.4). The documents are complementary: what one requires is as binding as if all required it (§1.2.1).
| Instrument | Who signs | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Change Order (§7.2.1) | Owner, contractor, architect | Agreement on the change, the price, and the time |
| Construction Change Directive (§7.3) | Owner and architect | Directs the change before price or time is agreed; contractor proceeds |
| Minor change order (§7.4) | Architect alone | No change in sum or time |
| RFI (§3.2.2, §4.2.14) | Contractor asks, architect answers in writing | Report conflicts and omissions; do not guess |
| Submittal (§3.12) | Contractor reviews first, then the architect | No work needing a submittal before approval; flag deviations in writing (§3.12.7, §3.12.8) |
A201 numbers and rights to remember
| Item | Value | Section (2017 / 2007) |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of a Claim | Within 21 days of the event or of first recognizing it, whichever is later | §15.1.3.1 / §15.1.2 |
| Concealed or unknown conditions | Notice before disturbing them, no later than 14 days after first observance (21 days in the 2007 text) | §3.7.4 / §3.7.4 |
| Payment application | Submitted at least 10 days before the payment date; architect acts within 7 days | §9.3.1, §9.4.1 |
| Paying subcontractors | Within 7 days after the contractor is paid | §9.6.2 |
| Contractor's stop-work right | Certified amount unpaid 7 days: 7 additional days' written notice, then stop | §9.7 |
| Substantial Completion | Owner can occupy or use the work for its intended use; contractor lists items to finish (punch list); architect certifies; warranties start then | §9.8 |
| Correction period | One year from Substantial Completion, after written notice | §12.2.2.1 |
| Final payment | Needs payment affidavit, insurance certificate, surety consent, lien releases if required | §9.10.2 |
Other points: the contractor indemnifies the owner and architect only to the extent caused by its (or its subs') negligence (§3.18.1); suspected asbestos or PCBs mean stop work in the affected area and notify the owner and architect, who must have the material verified and made harmless before work resumes (§10.3.1 and §10.3.2); when the contractor's work depends on another contractor's work, it must report defects before proceeding or accepts that work as fit (§6.2.2); the contractor arranges and pays for required tests and inspections unless the contract says otherwise and gives the architect timely notice (§13.4 in 2017, §13.5 in 2007).
Money, risk, and estimating (NASCLA)
- Contract types: lump sum (fixed price, contractor carries overrun risk); unit price (price per unit times measured quantity); cost-plus (actual cost plus a fee, owner carries overrun risk); time and material (hourly rates plus materials, often with a not-to-exceed limit).
- Bonds: bid bond (bidder will sign at its bid price); performance bond (contract will be completed); payment bond (subs and suppliers will be paid); maintenance bond (defects for a stated period).
- Insurance: general liability (third-party injury and property damage), workers' compensation (own employees), builder's risk or property (the work), inland marine (tools and materials in transit).
- Liens and licenses: an unpaid contractor, sub, or supplier can lien the owner's property; owners collect waivers with each payment. Working without a required license can bar collection and bring penalties.
| Calculation | Formula |
|---|---|
| Labor cost | Hours × rate, plus labor burden (about 30% in the study text) |
| Markup | Price = cost × (1 + markup) |
| Margin | Price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). A 15% margin needs ÷ 0.85, not × 1.15 |
| Retainage | Work in place − retainage − previous payments = net due |
| Take-off | Count or measure, add unscaled drops, add waste (commonly 5–10%; a practice figure, not a code value), round up to package size |
| Crew duration | Labor-hours ÷ (crew size × hours per day) |
Scheduling
A bar (Gantt) chart shows duration and sequence but not interdependencies. The critical path method links activities; the longest path sets the project length and has zero float. Total float = late start − early start (or late finish − early finish). Lead time problems are solved backward from the on-site date: delivery lead time, then submittal review time, then preparation.
Job-site safety management
| Topic | Key fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Competent person | Identifies existing and predictable hazards and has authority to correct them; employer designates for frequent, regular inspections | 1926.32(f), 1926.20(b)(2) |
| Fall protection | Trigger 6 ft in construction; guardrail 42 in. ± 3 in.; anchorage 5,000 lb | 1926.501, 1926.502 |
| Lockout, circuits | Construction: deactivated circuits tagged and rendered inoperative. 1910.147 excludes construction and covers machines in general industry; electrical work in general industry is 1910.333(b)(2) | 1926.417 |
| Hazard communication | Written program, labels, SDS (16 sections), training | 1910.1200 (1926.59 refers to it) |
| Multi-employer sites | Creating, exposing, correcting, and controlling employers can be cited; an exposing employer must notify and protect its people | OSHA citation policy |
| Recordkeeping | Forms 300, 301, 300A; record within 7 days; post 300A Feb. 1–Apr. 30; keep 5 years; report a death in 8 h, a hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss in 24 h | 1904.7, .29, .32, .33, .39 |
Recordable means work-related and resulting in death, days away, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. First aid (not recordable) includes cleaning, bandages, tetanus shots, eye irrigation, and non-prescription-strength medication. Sutures and prescription medication are medical treatment.
Records, deliveries, tools, and the AHJ
- Daily log: project and date, weather, personnel and hours, work done, deliveries, visitors and inspections, delays with times and who was notified. Facts only, never blame.
- Receiving: check against the purchase order and packing list; note shortages and damage on the receipt before signing; photograph; notify. Store devices in original packaging in a clean, dry, secured area.
- Tools and equipment: inspect, tag out defective items, keep test instruments in calibration, track rented equipment.
- AHJ and owner: keep the approved set at the site (IBC §107.3.1); changes that do not match it are resubmitted as an amended set (§107.4); schedule inspections early; pre-test everything before the acceptance test.
Task 2.1.1: work plans from field conditions
- Survey first (A201 §3.2.2 expects field measurements of existing conditions): panel and device locations, pathways, ceiling type and access, fire-rated walls, suspected hazardous materials.
- Approvals: fire protection shop drawings must be approved before installation starts (IBC §107.2.2). Plan the permit, submittal, and review time into the schedule.
- Sequence and phase so the building stays protected: install the new system alongside the old one, test, then cut over zone by zone.
- Plan impairments (NFPA 72 §10.21): notify the owner; the service provider reports to the AHJ when an impairment lasts more than 8 h; apply mitigation the AHJ requires; notify when it ends; keep the record 1 year. Covered or disabled detectors are impaired.
- Coordinate trades: sprinkler (waterflow and tamper switches, drain-downs), elevator (recall interface, joint testing), HVAC (duct detector housings, fan and damper control), ceilings and electrical (clear working space, NEC §110.26).
- Estimate manpower, tools, and material with a take-off and labor-hour units.
Finding it in your printed books
What to tab in your books
| Section | Why |
|---|---|
| IBC-2021 §107.2.2 | Fire protection shop drawings must be approved before system installation starts |
| IBC-2021 §107.3.1 | Approved construction documents are kept at the site and open to inspection |
| IBC-2021 §107.4 | Changes not matching the approved documents are resubmitted as an amended set |
| IBC-2021 §110 and §111 | Inspections; certificate of occupancy (111.1) and temporary certificate of occupancy (111.3) |
| IBC-2021 §714 | Penetrations of rated assemblies need listed firestop systems (restore after every cable penetration) |
| NFPA 72-2022 §3.2.2 | Definition of the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) |
| NFPA 72-2022 §10.21 | Impairments: notify owner, service provider reports to AHJ after 8 h, notify at end, record 1 year |
| NFPA 72-2022 §14.2.4 | Notify those who receive signals and occupants before and after testing |
| NFPA 72-2022 Ch. 7 | Documentation: shop drawings, record drawings, record of completion |
| NFPA 72-2022 Ch. 21 | Emergency control functions and interfaces (elevator recall, HVAC): trade coordination |
| NFPA 70-2020 §110.26(A) | Working space in front of electrical equipment must stay clear (coordination with other trades) |
| NFPA 70-2020 Art. 590 | Temporary installations on construction sites, including GFCI protection |
| AIA A201 Art. 1, §3.12, Art. 7 (study ref) | Contract Documents, submittals, Change Order, CCD, minor change |
| AIA A201 Art. 9, Art. 12, Art. 15 (study ref) | Payment, stop work, Substantial Completion, one-year correction, 21-day claim notice |
| AIA A201 §3.7.4, §6.2.2, §10.3 (study ref) | Concealed conditions (14 days in 2017), other-trade work, hazardous materials (stop work and notify) |
| 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2), 1926.32(f) (study ref) | Competent person and frequent, regular inspections |
| 29 CFR 1926.417, 1910.147, 1910.333 (study ref) | Lockout and tagging: construction versus general industry |
| 29 CFR 1904.7, .29, .32, .33, .39 (study ref) | Recordability, 7 days, Feb. 1–Apr. 30 posting, 5 years, 8 h and 24 h reports |
| NASCLA 13th ed. (study ref) | Contract types, bonds, insurance, liens, estimating formulas |
Chapter vocabulary
- Owner
- The party that pays for the project and contracts with the general contractor.
- Architect / engineer
- The design professional who administers the contract, reviews submittals, answers RFIs, and certifies payment and Substantial Completion.
- General contractor
- The prime contractor responsible for supervising and coordinating all trades and for jobsite safety.
- AHJ
- Authority having jurisdiction: the organization or person that enforces the code or approves the installation.
- Modification
- After signing, a written amendment, Change Order, Construction Change Directive, or architect's minor-change order.
- Change Order
- Written agreement signed by owner, contractor, and architect changing the work, price, or time.
- Construction Change Directive (CCD)
- Order signed by owner and architect directing a change before price or time is agreed.
- RFI
- Request for information: a written question to the designer about a conflict, omission, or unclear item.
- Submittal
- Shop drawings, product data, and samples sent for review; they are not Contract Documents.
- Substantial Completion
- Stage at which the owner can occupy or use the work for its intended use; the architect certifies the date.
- Punch list
- The list of items still to be completed or corrected at Substantial Completion.
- Retainage
- Percentage withheld from progress payments until the work is complete.
- Mechanic's lien
- A claim against the owner's property by an unpaid contractor, subcontractor, or supplier.
- Lump sum contract
- Fixed price; the contractor carries the cost-overrun risk.
- Unit price contract
- Payment per unit installed (device, foot) times the measured quantity.
- Cost-plus contract
- Actual documented cost plus a fee for overhead and profit.
- Payment bond
- Guarantees that subcontractors and suppliers will be paid.
- Performance bond
- Guarantees that the contractor will complete the contract.
- Critical path
- The longest chain of dependent activities; it sets the project duration and has zero float.
- Float
- How long an activity can slip without delaying the project.
- Competent person
- One who can identify existing and predictable hazards and is authorized to correct them promptly.
- Exposing employer
- An employer whose employees are exposed to a hazard it did not create (OSHA multi-employer policy).
- Impairment
- A system or part of it out of service, planned or emergency.
- Take-off
- Counting and measuring quantities of material and labor from the drawings.
- Margin vs. markup
- Margin is a percentage of the selling price (price = cost / (1 - margin)); markup is a percentage of cost.
34 practice questions cover this chapter, each with an explanation and the code section. Get lifetime access or try the free practice exam.
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