Research Guides: Construction: Web Resources

Construction Business Websites

Bidding on Federal Construction Projects
The U.S. General Services Administration site discusses design acquisition, construction acquisition, and performance and payment bonds.
Construction Industry (OSHA)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) informative site on tools and resources for those in the construction industry.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA works to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue their business ventures.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Guide
Covers topics and supports on planning, launching, managing, and growing your business.
Construction Spending from the U.S. Census Bureau
Provides current and historical monthly estimates of dollar value of construction work done in the U.S.
Occupational Outlook for Construction and Extraction Occupations
Summarizes what various occupations do, the career path, pay, and job outlook.
Construction Educational Library from Procore
Covers topics like making the most profitable bids, track material pricing, site specific safety plans, calculate materials needed, and how to accurately estimate.
Construction Calculators (BuildBook)
Quick and free way to calculate most critical parts of the job
Construction Calculators (Omni Calculator)
Online calculators were created for carpenters, painters, bricklayers, and roofers.

Product Searching Websites

Sweets Product Database
Easily search and select building products for the construction team
ARCAT
Free source for finding, selecting, detailing, and specifying building products
BuildSite
Search for building material and construction products
Architizer | Architectural Products
Search for materials and products by brand and product use.
ArchDaily | Product Search
Product searching by manufacturer, product type, and finish. Each item is described with sizes, colors, and product use.

Codes

The International Code Council (ICC) is the leading source for codes, standards, and building safety. These codes are then adopted by state and municipal governments.

Below are links to the most recent general ICC Codes. Make sure to check if the state or municipality works with an earlier version of the I-Code which you can find from the first link on this list by filtering by year.

Understanding Building Codes
From the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Building Codes by State
American Legal Publishing Corp
Choose the appropriate state and then click on the correct municipality
General Code's eCodes
Choose the appropriate state and then click on the correct municipality
Municipal Code from Municode
Select state or tribes and tribal nations then select the tribe or city. Option to search by keyword or browse

Open Educational Resources and Open Access Journals

Open Educational Resources

Building Maintenance & Construction: Tools and Maintenance Tasks (Interactive)
This book introduces and develops knowledge on safety, hand and power tools, mathematics for maintenance techs, plumbing systems, electrical systems, and maintenance management systems.
Project Management for Construction (and Deconstruction)
This book discusses participants, process, and techniques of project management for construction.
Construction Contracting: Business and Legal Principles, 2nd edition
This book is an introduction to construction contracting to typical, everyday situations with theory and what actually happens in practice.
Construction Management from a Modernized Perspective
Textbook looks at the construction from a modernized approach when looking at case studies.
Building America Best Practices Series V. 12
Produced by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. This guide is a resource to help builders design and construct homes.

Open Access Journals

Construction and Building Materials Journal (Open Access)
Search in the journal with relevant keywords for construction and building materials articles
The Open Construction & Building Technology Journal (Open Access)
This journal publishes research articles, short articles, and guest-edited single-topic issues on all areas of construction and building technology.
Journal of Information Technology in Construction (Open Access)
Open access journal that covers the use of IT in architecture, civil engineering, and facility management.

Professional Association Websites

Associated Builders and Contracters (ABC)
Associated Builders and Contracters is a national construction industry trade association that represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry.
Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
Construction Management Association of America is dedicated to the practice of professional construction management.
American Subcontractors Association (ASA)
American Subcontractors Association advocates for the rights and interests of subcontractors through education, advocacy, networking, and personal growth
Associated General Contrators (AGC)
Associated General Contractors of America is an organization of qualified construction contractors and industry related companies.
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
NAWIC's mission is to champion women to impact the direction of the construction industry by providing education, community, and advocacy for women
Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
Mechanical Contractors Association of America guides and supports member success to build a better future for the mechanical contracting industry.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
U.S. Green Building Council supports the Leadership in Energy and Environemtal Design (LEED) certification program for sustainable design, construction, and operations standards.

Standards Organizations

IEEE
IEEE is one of the world's largest technical professional organizations which focuses on advancing technology for the benefit of people
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI is a private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system.
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a mission to make lives easier, safer, and better for everyone, everywhere.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Supports solving the planet's toughest safety problems from fire prevention, wildfire preparedness, electrical safety, hazardous materials, community risk reduction, and public safety.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST strives to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology.