The Wage and Hour Division has outlined four general categories of wage determination and construction. Where there are separate wage determinations, they may each apply. Construction types, with at least 20% of the construction project’s total cost or more than $2.5 million
Here are four construction categories that are represented in wage determinations:
- HIGHWAY
The first category is “highway.” Examples of highway construction projects would be bridges, tolls, parkways, or taxiways. It also includes the alteration or repair of roads, streets, alleys, and other similar projects.
- RESIDENTIAL
The second category is “residential”. A residential construction project would be categorized as four stories or under. Examples are single-family residences, townhomes, and apartments that are four stories or under. This involves items like site work, utilities, and others.
- BUILDING OR COMMERCIAL
The third category is “building or commercial”. Given how broad this category is, there are a lot of projects that could go under it. Examples would be hospitals, industrial buildings, libraries, churches, and schools. Building, modifying, or repairing sheltered walk-in access enclosures for the purpose of housing people, equipment, supplies, or machines also falls under this category. Structures need not be “habitable” to be under building construction.
- HEAVY
The fourth and last category is “heavy”. This one is a mishmash because if a construction project does not fall under the first three categories, it automatically falls under the fourth category. For example, the levees and tunnels. Also, some construction projects have more than one wage determination category. That means there’s more than one wage determination assigned to that project figured out ahead of time before it costs you a lot of money. It is generally possible to categorize projects in the heavy category based on their specific project characteristics, and distinct schedules are then given, such as for dredging, water and sewer lines, dams, significant bridges, and flood control.
Applying multiple wage determination categories only arises when a project involves construction items that, if placed alone, would be in a different category of construction. The nature of the construction item or project itself is taken into account when deciding whether it would constitute a distinct category of construction in and of itself.
