Chapter 1 – The Practice of Commercial Construction Learning Objectives In this chapter, the reader will learn how to: 1. Define and understand the practice of commercial construction 2. Identify the construction or “project delivery” team 3. Define the project delivery process 4. Assess the proper contract for construction 5. Understand contract mechanisms and their necessary review 6. Understand the relevance and need for project plans and specifications 7. Assess the application of building codes and standards 8. Understand the development of building codes and standards 9. Understand the differences between inspections and tests and the need for both 10. Be familiar with the licensing, registration and certification processes to practice construction in a particular locale Key Points 1. The project delivery team consists of:  the owner  the architect  the engineer(s)  the general contractor  subcontractors 2. The project delivery process starts with the concept of the project and ends with final acceptance, payment and, ultimately, successful performance of the constructed product. 3. Two items that an owner must provide to ensure a reasonable chance for the successful completion of a building are:  sufficient funds to cover the cost of construction  a suitable site