Did you know there was a difference between FFE and FF&E? Like any industry, construction has its share of acronyms. FFE & FF&E are used frequently, but did you know that they are not interchangeable? That’s right! They have completely different meanings.
Let’s start with FF&E. The three letters and the ampersand let you know there are three separate items – furniture, fixtures and equipment.
‘Furniture’ and ‘Fixtures’ refer the physical loose items of your project to include tables, chairs, desks, etc. ‘Equipment’ an include phones, printers, copiers, etc.
FFE is not a list of items like FF&E but if rather a construction reference point- Finished Floor Elevation. This refers to the top of the structural slab and its elevation above sea level and it’s critical that it be established before excavation and starting construction.
It is usually designated as 0 foot 0 inches as a reference on structural drawings. All subsequent levels above will be designated as plus 10 foot 0 inches for the second floor as an example.
As you can see, the two look similar. However, they represent very different things. Be sure to double check!
