Estimators + contracting teams · 8 min
Choosing the correct construction type
DOL issues wage determinations for four general construction types: building, residential, highway, and heavy. The project description—not the contractor’s usual line of business—drives the selection.
A project can involve more than one type. The solicitation should identify how each incorporated wage determination applies to the work.
Use the project’s character
Building generally covers sheltered enclosures with walk-in access. Residential generally covers single-family houses and apartment buildings of no more than four stories. Highway covers roads and similar transportation projects. Heavy is the category for projects not properly classified as the other three.
These labels are starting points, not permission to decide a disputed project type alone. DOL instructs agencies to refer classification disputes for resolution before bid opening or the relevant lock-in date.
Watch for mixed construction
If substantial work has a different construction character from the overall project, more than one wage determination may be needed. The bid documents should tell contractors which work each schedule covers.
Carry the construction type into the estimate and payroll setup so a rate copied from one schedule is not silently applied to another part of the project.