What items are usually included in site general conditions
I keep hearing people use the terms general conditions and general requirements interchangeably and I am honestly confused. I always thought they were basically the same thing when putting a bid together. Can someone explain the actual difference in simple terms? Also, what usually goes into the general conditions bucket for a typical medium-sized office building? I don't want to miss anything important like permits or site trailers and end up paying for it out of my own pocket later. What is your process for checking these to make sure nothing is forgotten?
It is a very common mix-up but they are definitely different things. Think of it this way: requirements are the rules you follow, while conditions are the actual day-to-day costs of keeping the site running. I found a really helpful article about general conditions in construction that explains the split between site supervision and project admin. In my last project, I almost forgot to budget for the specific permits and the temporary fencing. Now I always make a detailed checklist for things like PPE, site signage, and even the portable toilets. It is way better to be detailed now than to have a budget crisis three months into the job when things get busy. Just take it slow and build your estimate properly every single time to avoid losses.