Construction education
Three paths through our reporting, tools and reference pages: start with materials and the parts of a building, move on to site work and quality, then to estimating, tenders, contracts and management. Each path ends with outside resources from the bodies that publish the standards and contracts.
Beginner: materials and the parts of a building
For students, new site staff and owners building for the first time.
Topics: Materials, Ground and Foundations.
Read
Concrete (73 articles)
Foundations (62 articles)
Masonry (62 articles)
Roofing (63 articles)
Waterproofing (62 articles)
Finishes (69 articles)
Use
- Concrete calculator: See how volume becomes cement bags, sand, aggregate and water.
- Construction material calculator: Blocks, plaster, steel, tiles, paint and roofing sheets from your dimensions.
Go further
- Revit 2025 Help (Autodesk)
Autodesk's official help pages for Revit 2025.
Intermediate: site work, quality and structure
For site engineers, supervisors and technicians running work day to day.
Topics: Engineering and Methods, Infrastructure and Services.
Read
Site supervision (128 articles)
Quality control (71 articles)
Site investigation (63 articles)
Structural engineering (74 articles)
Temporary works (68 articles)
Construction safety (105 articles)
Drainage (292 articles)
Building services (83 articles)
Use
- Building codes and standards: What official sources say about codes here, and the standards used for reference.
- Concrete calculator: Check quantities for a slab, beam, column or footing.
Go further
- Eurocodes (European Commission)
The Commission's overview of the ten European standards for the structural design of buildings and civil engineering works, EN 1990 to EN 1999.
- ASTM C150/C150M, Standard Specification for Portland Cement (ASTM International)
ASTM's catalogue page for the portland cement specification, with its edition history. The standard itself is sold, not free.
- ACI CODE-318-19(22), Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (American Concrete Institute)
ACI's store page for its structural concrete code. The code itself is sold, not free.
Professional: estimating, tenders, contracts and management
For quantity surveyors, contractors, consultants and clients managing projects.
Topics: Business and Costs, People and Skills.
Read
Estimating (78 articles)
Tender evaluation (75 articles)
Procurement (225 articles)
Cost control (91 articles)
Project management (151 articles)
Construction risk (144 articles)
Contractor competency (64 articles)
Due diligence (179 articles)
Use
- Construction laws and regulations: Procurement, land and environmental texts, each with the evidence for its status.
- Construction projects: Documented projects with their funders, contractors and sources.
- Construction AI assistant: Find open tenders, contractors and recorded prices, with sources.
Go further
- Construction Contract 2nd Ed (2017 Red Book) (FIDIC)
FIDIC's page for its conditions of contract for building and engineering works designed by the employer (Second Edition, 2017).
- FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers)
The federation that publishes the FIDIC forms of contract.
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
A professional body for the built and natural environments, with its professional standards and a search for members.
- CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building)
A professional body for construction, with individual and company membership grades and learning resources.
About these resources
The outside links go to the bodies that publish the standards, contracts and software named here. Standards and contract forms are sold or licensed by their publishers; we link to them and do not reproduce them. Each link was checked on 26 September 2026. If a link breaks or you know a better free resource, tell the editorial desk.
More tools and data are on the Data Hub.