What does trade mean?

The term ” trade” refers to manual and technical construction work in the building industry.

In the construction industry, a trade generally comprises the work that can be assigned to a self-contained construction service area. In the construction sector, the occupational activities of the trades are usually mapped using occupational profiles characterized by craftsmanship (HWK) and industry (IHK). Part C of the German Construction Contract Procedures (VOB) also contains a subdivision of trades together with a description of the respective general technical contract conditions for construction work. The classification of trades in the VOB/C usually goes into more detail than the typical award units for the award of contracts by trade. Public clients are generally obliged to award contracts by trade. Private clients, on the other hand, can also award complete construction services to a general contractor or issue a combined invitation to tender for the trades.

The classic trades are

• Stonemasonry work

• Carpentry and timber construction work

• Roofing work

• Plumbing work

• Metal construction or forging work

• Dry construction work

• Joinery work

• Plasterer or plastering work

• Tiler

• Electrical installation work

• Sanitary installations

In the recent past, so-called insulation work, which is required due to the necessary thermal insulation, has been added. In the VOB/C, for example, the classic trades are still subdivided into the following categories:

• Earthworks

• Masonry work

• Concrete and reinforced concrete work

In building construction, there is a further division of the trades into the two groups of shell construction and finishing.