Civil engineering uses a wide range of abbreviations to simplify complex terms and technical phrases. These abbreviations are commonly used in construction drawings, reports, and communication between engineers and construction teams. Understanding these abbreviations is essential for anyone involved in the field of civil engineering, especially in India. Here are some of the most commonly used civil engineering abbreviations:
- A.A.S.H.T.O – American Association of State Highway Transport Officials
- A.C.I – American Concrete Institute
- A.R.E.A – American Railway Engineering Association
- A.B – Anchor Bolt or Asbestos Board
- A.C – Asphalt Concrete
- A.S.C – Allowable Stress of Concrete
- A.S.T.M – American Society for Testing Materials
- A.C – Asbestos Cement
- A.E – Assistant Engineer
- A.P.M – Assistant Project Manager
- B.M – Benchmark
- B.M – Bending Moment
- B.L.K – Block Work
- B.O.Q – Bill of Quantities
- B.R.W – Brick Retaining Wall
- B.W.K – Brick Work
- B.O.F – Bottom of Foundation
- B.H.K – Bedroom, Hall, Kitchen
- C.I.Pipe – Cast Iron Pipe
- C.I.Sheet – Corrugated Iron Sheet
- C.L – Centre Line
- C.R.W – Concrete Retaining Wall
- C.B.W – Concrete Block Wall
- C.I.P – Cast in Place
- C.M.U – Concrete Masonry Unit
- C.J – Construction Joint
- C.C – Centre to Centre
- C.C – Cement Concrete
- C.E – Chief Engineer
- C.P – Cement Plaster
- C.P.M – Critical Path Method
- C.S – Comparative Statement
- D – Diameter
- D.L – Development Length
- Dia – Diameter
- D.I.M – Dimension
- D.L – Dead Load
- D.P.C – Damp Proof Course
- D.P.R – Daily Progress Report
- D.R.G – Drawings
- D.W.L.S – Dowels
- E.J – Expansion Joint
- E.L – Environmental Load
- E.L – Existing Load
- E.G.L – Existing Ground Level
- E.L.C.B – Earth Leak Circuit Breaker
- F.M – Fineness Modulus
- Ft – Foot or Feet
- F.L – Floor Level
- F.G.L – Formation Ground Level
- F.O.C – Factor of Safety
- G.L – Ground Level
- G.L – Ground Level
- G.P – Ground Plane
- H.F.L – Highest Flood Level
- H.A.C – High Alumina Cement
- H.P – Horizontal Plane
- I.O.M – Inter Office Memo
- I.S.I – Indian Standards Institute
- J.E – Junior Engineer
- J.S.T – Joist
- Kg – Kilogram
- L.L – Live Load
- L.W – Light Weight
- L.W.C – Lightweight Concrete
- L.C – Lime Concrete
- M – Meter
- M.M – Millimeter
- M.B – Measurement Book
- M.C.B – Miniature Circuit Breaker
- M.E.P – Mechanical Electrical Plumbing
- M.F.L – Maximum Flood Level
- M.R.C – Material Receipt Challan
- M.T – Metric Tonnes
- N – Newton
- N.C.F – Neat Cement Finishing
- O.P.C – Ordinary Portland Cement
- O.G.L – Original Ground Level
- O.S.R – Open Space Reservation Area
- P.C – Pile Cap
- P.C – Precast Concrete
- P.C.C – Plain Cement Concrete
- P.E.R.T – Programme Evaluation and Review Technique
- P.L – Plinth Level
- P.M – Project Manager
- P.O – Purchase Order
- P.P.E – Personal Protective Equipment
- P.P.R – Polypropylene Random
- P.V.C – Polyvinyl Chloride
- P.V.C – Polyvinyl Chloride
- P.S.F – Pound per Square Foot
- P.S.I – Pound per Square Inch
- P.W.D – Permanent Works Engineer
- Q.C – Quality Control
- Q.S – Quantity Surveyor
- R.C – Reinforced Concrete
- R.B.W – Reinforced Brick Work
- R.B.C – Reinforced Brick Concrete
- R.C.C – Reinforced Cement Concrete
- R.M.C – Ready Mixed Concrete
- R.L – Reduced Level
- S.C.C – Self-Compacting Concrete
- S.T.P – Sewage Treatment Plant
- S.R.C – Sulphate Resisting Cement
- S.W.G – Standard Wire Gauge
- T.B – Tie Beam
- T.B.M – Tunnel Boring Machine
- T.D.S – Total Dissolved Solids
- T.O.B – Top of Beam
- T.M.T – Thermo-Mechanically Treated
- T.O.C – Top of Concrete
- T.O.W – Top of Wall
- U.S.C – Ultimate Stress of Concrete
- U.P.V.C – Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride
- U.S.D – Ultimate Strength Design
- V.P – Vertical Plane
- W.C – Water Closet
- W.L – Working Level
- W.S.D – Working Stress Design
- W.O – Work Order
Conclusion🎯
These abbreviations are commonly used in civil engineering projects and help streamline communication, especially on construction sites. Understanding and familiarising yourself with these terms will make it easier to read technical documents, interpret engineering drawings, and communicate effectively with teams.