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Civil Engineering & Construction vocabulary · Drawings and Specifications

Tolerance

Meaning in civil engineering & construction, with examples

/ˈtɑːlərəns/nounCommon term

In civil engineering & construction, tolerance means: The amount by which a dimension, level or position is allowed to differ from the value on the drawing, such as ±10 mm.

In Turkish: tolerans, izin verilen sapma

How it is used

Specifications set tolerances for setting out, verticality, flatness and steel fabrication. Work is within tolerance or out of tolerance, and ±10 mm is spoken as 'plus or minus ten millimetres'.

Example sentences

  1. The column is 15 mm out of plumb, which is outside the tolerance.

  2. Precast panels have tight tolerances, so the anchors must be set out accurately.

Common collocations

  • within tolerance
  • out of tolerance
  • tight tolerance
  • construction tolerances
  • tolerance of ±5 mm
  • specificationA written document that describes the materials, standards, workmanship and testing required for a project. It is used together with the drawings.
  • set outTo mark the exact positions and levels of a building, road or other work on the ground with survey instruments, so that construction starts in the right place.
  • levelThe height of a point above a fixed reference, such as a site benchmark or sea level. It is also the name of the instrument surveyors use to measure heights.
  • inspectionA formal check of work, materials or equipment to see whether it meets the drawings, specifications and safety rules before the next stage can start.
  • concrete coverThe thickness of concrete between the surface and the nearest reinforcing bar. It protects the steel from corrosion and fire and helps it bond with the concrete.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Drawings and Specifications

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