In Plain English
Quick Answer
The process of inspecting and testing work to catch defects and ensure it meets specifications.
Definition
Definition
Quality control (QC) is the operational process of verifying that construction work meets specified requirements through inspection, testing, and review. QC is reactive, catching defects and non-conforming work after it occurs so corrections can be made. QC activities include materials testing, in-progress inspections, mock-up reviews, and punch list completion.
Context
Why It Matters in Bidding
QC requirements drive measurable, often unit-priced costs: concrete cylinder breaks, soil compaction tests, weld inspections, and punch-list labor all flow into the estimate. Specs frequently dictate testing frequency and who pays, so an estimator who misreads these allocations can leave material money on the table or, worse, omit a testing scope that surfaces as a change order after award.
Example
Example
Pricing a parking structure, an estimator tallies the number of required concrete test sets per the specs and carries the independent testing lab fees plus standby labor for in-progress inspections.
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Related Terms
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FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
Who pays for quality control testing on a construction project?
It depends on the contract. Owners often retain and pay an independent testing agency for acceptance testing, while the contractor pays for any retesting of failed work and for its own control testing. Estimators must read the testing allocation in Division 01 carefully, since assumptions here swing the bid number.
How do estimators price quality control in a bid?
By quantifying tests from the specs — frequency times the number of pours, lifts, or welds — and applying unit lab rates, then adding standby labor, mockups, and punch-list crew time. Where the owner pays for acceptance testing, the GC still carries coordination time and the cost of correcting non-conforming work.
What happens if work fails a quality control inspection?
Non-conforming work must be corrected, retested, or removed, generally at the responsible party's expense. Retesting fees and rework labor erode margin, which is why disciplined QC during construction protects the original bid. Repeated failures can also trigger schedule delays and disputed pay applications down the line.
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