📚 Reference Guides

Quick reference charts, OSHA requirements, material specs, and construction industry glossary. Bookmark this page!

📖 Comprehensive Guides

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Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Guide

Complete guide to creating Job Hazard Analyses. Learn what JHAs are, how to create them, best practices, and how to use BLDR Pro for digital JHA management.

✓ Free Template Included
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Construction Safety Compliance Guide

Comprehensive guide to construction safety programs, OSHA compliance, and best practices. From a CPA + CFMA board member who understands contractor operations.

✓ OSHA Checklist Included
⚖️

Construction Lien Law Guide

Complete guide to mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and payment protection. State-specific requirements and deadlines explained.

✓ Deadline Calculator Included
🤖

AI in Construction Guide

Top 10 ways to add AI into your construction process. Practical tips, tricks, and real-world use cases for contractors.

✓ Implementation Guide Included
💰

2025 Construction Salary Guide

Comprehensive salary benchmarks and compensation trends from CFMA Silicon Valley. Real data from real contractors.

✓ CFMA SV Report Included

🪵 Lumber Dimensions

📏 Standard Lumber Sizes (Nominal vs Actual)

Nominal SizeActual Size (inches)Actual Size (mm)Common Use
1x23/4" × 1-1/2"19 × 38Furring strips, trim
1x43/4" × 3-1/2"19 × 89Trim, shelving
1x63/4" × 5-1/2"19 × 140Siding, fencing
2x41-1/2" × 3-1/2"38 × 89Wall studs, framing
2x61-1/2" × 5-1/2"38 × 140Floor joists, exterior walls
2x81-1/2" × 7-1/4"38 × 184Floor joists, headers
2x101-1/2" × 9-1/4"38 × 235Floor joists, rafters
2x121-1/2" × 11-1/4"38 × 286Floor joists, beams
4x43-1/2" × 3-1/2"89 × 89Posts, columns
6x65-1/2" × 5-1/2"140 × 140Posts, beams

⚖️ Material Weights & Densities

🧱 Concrete & Masonry

  • Concrete (normal)150 lb/ft³
  • Concrete (lightweight)115 lb/ft³
  • CMU Block (8" solid)55 lb/ea
  • Brick (standard)5 lb/ea
  • Mortar135 lb/ft³

🪨 Aggregates

  • Gravel (dry)2,800 lb/yd³
  • Sand (dry)2,600 lb/yd³
  • Crushed stone2,700 lb/yd³
  • Topsoil2,200 lb/yd³
  • Asphalt145 lb/ft³

🪵 Lumber

  • Douglas Fir34 lb/ft³
  • Southern Pine37 lb/ft³
  • Spruce28 lb/ft³
  • Plywood (3/4")2.3 lb/ft²
  • OSB (7/16")1.5 lb/ft²

🔩 Steel

  • Steel490 lb/ft³
  • Rebar (#4)0.668 lb/ft
  • Rebar (#5)1.043 lb/ft
  • Rebar (#6)1.502 lb/ft
  • Steel deck (22 ga)1.7 lb/ft²

🧱 Roofing

  • Asphalt shingles2.5 lb/ft²
  • Metal roofing1.5 lb/ft²
  • Clay tiles10 lb/ft²
  • Concrete tiles9 lb/ft²
  • Built-up (4-ply)5.5 lb/ft²

🏠 Drywall

  • 1/4" drywall1.1 lb/ft²
  • 3/8" drywall1.4 lb/ft²
  • 1/2" drywall1.6 lb/ft²
  • 5/8" drywall2.2 lb/ft²
  • 5/8" Type X2.5 lb/ft²

⚠️ OSHA Quick Reference

29 CFR 1926.501

Fall Protection

Fall protection requirements for walking/working surfaces in construction.

Key: Fall protection required at 6 feet or more
29 CFR 1926.651

Excavations

General requirements for excavation and trenching.

Key: Protective systems required at 5 feet depth
29 CFR 1926.451

Scaffolding

General requirements for scaffolding in construction.

Key: Guardrails, midrails, and toeboards required
29 CFR 1926.1053

Ladders

Ladder safety and usage requirements.

Key: 4:1 ratio rule; extend 3 ft above landing
29 CFR 1926.405

Electrical - GFCI

Ground fault circuit interrupter requirements.

Key: GFCI required for all 120V outlets on site
29 CFR 1926.62

Lead Exposure

Lead exposure limits and protective measures.

Key: PEL: 50 μg/m³ (8-hr TWA)
29 CFR 1926.1101

Asbestos

Asbestos handling and exposure requirements.

Key: PEL: 0.1 f/cc (8-hr TWA)
29 CFR 1926.1153

Silica Exposure

Respirable crystalline silica standard.

Key: PEL: 50 μg/m³ (8-hr TWA)
29 CFR 1926.52

Noise Exposure

Occupational noise exposure limits.

Key: 90 dBA for 8 hours; 85 dBA triggers action

🔩 Rebar Reference

Standard Rebar Sizes

Bar SizeDiameter (in)Weight (lb/ft)Area (in²)Perimeter (in)
#30.3750.3760.111.178
#40.5000.6680.201.571
#50.6251.0430.311.963
#60.7501.5020.442.356
#70.8752.0440.602.749
#81.0002.6700.793.142
#91.1283.4001.003.544
#101.2704.3031.273.990
#111.4105.3131.564.430

📖 Construction Glossary

ACI
American Concrete Institute - Sets standards for concrete design and construction.
AIA
American Institute of Architects - Professional organization; also refers to standard contract documents.
Backfill
Soil or other material used to fill an excavation after construction of foundation walls.
Bid Bond
Guarantee that a contractor will enter into a contract at the bid price if awarded.
Change Order
Written authorization to modify the original scope, cost, or schedule of a contract.
CMU
Concrete Masonry Unit - Hollow or solid concrete blocks used for walls.
Curing
Process of maintaining proper moisture and temperature for concrete to develop strength.
Dead Load
Permanent weight of building materials, fixtures, and built-in equipment.
Egress
Means of exiting a building, especially in emergencies.
Elevation
Height above sea level; also a drawing showing a building's face.
FF/FL
Floor Flatness / Floor Levelness - Measurements of concrete floor quality.
Footings
Structural foundation elements that transfer building loads to the soil.
GC
General Contractor - Primary contractor responsible for overall project.
Header
Horizontal structural member above an opening (door, window) that distributes loads.
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems.
JSA
Job Safety Analysis - Document identifying hazards and controls for a task.
Lintel
Horizontal structural element above an opening that supports the wall above.
Live Load
Variable loads from occupants, furniture, and movable equipment.
MEP
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing - The building systems trades.
NIC
Not In Contract - Work excluded from a contractor's scope.
OC
On Center - Distance between centers of structural members (e.g., studs 16" OC).
OSB
Oriented Strand Board - Engineered wood panel product.
PCO
Potential Change Order - Pending change that may affect cost or scope.
Punch List
List of items to be corrected before final project acceptance.
RFI
Request for Information - Formal question to clarify design intent.
Shoring
Temporary supports used during construction to prevent collapse.
Slump
Test measuring concrete workability; slump is the drop in height of a concrete cone.
Soffit
Underside of an architectural element, such as a roof overhang.
Submittal
Shop drawings, samples, or product data submitted for approval.
T&M
Time and Materials - Contract type where owner pays for actual labor and materials.
VE
Value Engineering - Analysis to reduce costs while maintaining function.