Quality concepts
Contract documents
Also called: contract docs
Contract documents are the complete set that defines the work: the agreement, the drawings, the specifications, the general and supplementary conditions, and the addenda and approved changes. Together they are the requirement — the source every inspection, submittal and acceptance decision ultimately traces back to. When a question comes up about what was owed, the answer is in the contract documents, not in anyone's recollection of the job.
Why it matters
Every 'is this acceptable?' resolves to what the contract documents require. Acceptance criteria, tolerances and workmanship standards are only enforceable because they trace back to the drawings and specs that the parties agreed to.
They also set the order of precedence when drawings and specs disagree, which they do. Knowing which document governs is what keeps a conflict from turning into a change order fight in the field.
How it shows up on site
Inspections and checklists written to the drawings and specs, submittals reviewed for conformance to them, and RFIs raised when the documents are unclear or conflict — so the built work is verified against the governing set, not against habit.
Checklists that put contract documents to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- SpecificationsThe written requirements for materials, products and workmanship — the text half of the contract documents the drawings can't carry.
- SubmittalThe product data, shop drawings or samples a contractor sends for review to confirm what will be installed matches the spec before it's ordered.
- Acceptance criteriaThe stated, measurable conditions installed work has to meet before it can pass — the yardstick an inspection judges against.
- Request for information (RFI)A formal written question from the contractor to the design team when the drawings or specs are unclear, conflicting or incomplete.
- Quality assurance (QA)The planned system of procedures, plans and checkpoints set up before work starts so the right result is built the first time.
- Quality control (QC)The hands-on inspection and testing of installed work against the spec — checking the actual product, not the process that made it.
Knowing the term is step one. Proving it is the job.
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.