09 Flashcards
Effect of relative humidity on comfort sensation
30% change in RH is equal to about 2° F of thermal change. Higher humidity makes hot air more uncomfortable.
Roof Curb
Mechanical equipment mounted on roofs must be placed on curbs so they are level and protected from the precipitation that falls on the roof.
Effectiveness of air filters
Effectiveness is dependent on two factors: efficiency of the collector and the rate of air-circulation.
Adsorption Filters
Used for filtering gaseous contaminants. To adsorb means to hold liquid or gas particles near the surface of a material. They are usually made of charcoal or activated carbon.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
A condition in which people are sensitive to “normal” amounts of environmental contaminants.
SBS
The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term “building related illness” (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
The stack effect only works when outside air is ______ (cooler/warmer) than inside air.
Cooler.
Switch
In electrical circuits, switches “make” or “break” a circuit by interrupting the current.
Service Line
The overhead wire from a transformer on a utility pole to the weather head; also called the service drop.
Riser
A vertical pipe or conduit that carries electrical wiring.
Weather Head
The weatherproof head where overhead electrical service enters a building.
True or False? Higher FARs indicate greater building volume on a given parcel of land.
True. The goal of calculating Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is to see how large the footprint of a new building can be on a given lot of land as dictated by the local zoning ordinance.
Identify the following common abbreviations and notations used in construction drawings: PSF, COL, CONT, GYP BD, AFF, HR, VTR, NIC, GALV, GFI, FD, BM, ADJ, BC, EX, RO, MO, RM, SIM, and WF.
PSF = pounds per square footCOL = columnCONT = continuousGYP BD = gypsum boardAFF = above finished floorHR = hourVTR = vent through roofNIC = not in contractGALV = galvanizedGFI = ground fault interrupterFD = floor drainBM = benchmarkADJ = adjustableBC = bottom of curbEX = existingRO = rough openingMO = masonry openingRM = roomSIM = similarWF = wide flange
Keynote
A method for noting details, where items in details are called out by their specification section number.
Composite Construction
A construction system using two or more dissimilar materials; typically refers to concrete and steel used together.
Double Wythe Masonry Wall
A wall formed with two masonry units thick, grouted solid.
Hardwood
Softwood
Mostly harvested from deciduous trees (i.e., oak, maple, birch), hardwoods are often used as finishmaterials and furniture. Typical applications include flooring and millwork. Hardwoods can be painted orstained depending on the desired application.
Mostly harvested from coniferous trees (i.e., Douglas Fir, pine), softwoods are often used as structural lumber. They can also be used for furniture and finishes, but are less dense than hardwoods so they are more prone to damage. Softwoods can be painted or stained but are often left unfinished in hidden applications.
Plastic Laminate
A material constructed using multiple sheets of paper that are impregnated with a resin and glued together. The topmost layer is a finished plastic sheet that provides the desired finish and is resistant to damage. Plastic laminates are often used for countertops and millwork.
Solid Surface
A synthetic, nonporous material that is consistent in finish through the entirety of its thickness. Solid surface is often used as an economic alternative to granite or stone. Solid surface is often used for countertops, windowsills, and benches.
Text size in architectural drawings
Usually 1/8” or 3/32” high.
Kerning
In typography, kerning is the spacing of the letters within a word to achieve a pleasant and readable text.
Plain Sawn
Quarter Sawn
Rift Sawn
The most common and least expensive way to manufacture lumber. Plain sawn lumber is cut in such a way as to keep the annular rings of the wood at an angle of 30° or less to the face of the board. Often referred as tangential grain, this cut results in wood that displays a cathedral pattern on the face of the boards.
Quarter sawn lumber produces more waste than plain sawn lumber, so it is more expensive. It is defined as wood cut at a 60–90° angle to the annular rings. Its name derives from the production process, during which logs are cut into quarters before being sliced into boards.
The most expensive and most wasteful method of lumber manufacturing. In rift sawn lumber, the annular rings are positioned between 30 and 60° to the board face, with 45° being optimum. Because cuts are generally done perpendicular to the log’s annular rings, rift sawn lumber is very dimensionally stable.
Rotary Cutting
A veneer cutting technique in which a log is mounted on a lathe and spun against a blade. The result is a “peeled” wood veneer roll that produces wide sheets with broad grain patterns.
Veneer Matching
When veneer cuts are sliced, rather than rotary cut, veneer boards are kept in the same order they were cut. This allows the faces of adjacent veneer boards to be arranged to achieve certain aesthetic qualities such as book matching, slip matching, or random matching.
Benchmark
A standard point of reference that is fixed in the drawings, as well as in the field. All other building elevations and measurements are based on this point.
Orthographic Drawings
These include plans, elevations, and sections; a method that allows a 3-D object to be represented in 2-D.
Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI)
A type of outlet that can detect small current leaks and will disconnect the power to the circuit if a leak is detected. This type of power outlet is required in bathrooms, laundry rooms, utility closets, and often in kitchens at distances within 10’ of the sink.
Invert
The elevation of the bottom or flow line of a pipe.
Drain Tile
A perforated pipe surrounded by granular fill for relieving hydrostatic moisture at a foundation wall or in a field. Water runs through the gravel, into the pipe, and away. Also called a French drain.
Detention Pond
Retention Pond
A naturally low-lying area that is designed to temporarily hold excess rainwater to help prevent flooding.
Designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely.
Catchbasin
A receptacle or reservoir that receives surface water runoff or drainage. Typically made of precast concrete, brick, or CMU with a cast-iron frame and grate on top. Water runoff typically connects to a storm sewer.
Soil Boring
A hole drilled into the ground to obtain soil samples. Borings are used to determine the load-bearing capacity of the soil and the depth of the water table.
Test Pit
A subsurface investigation to determine the nature of the subsoil strata.
Hydrostatic Pressure
Pressure exerted by a fluid, such as that of soil moisture, on a building’s foundation.
Compaction
Increasing the density of the soil by mechanical means, such as with a sheepsfoot roller. Compaction is part of almost any building or paving project. It increases soil bearing capacity and stability, reduces settling of the soil, and provides resistance to water penetration. Four means: vibration, pressure, impact, and kneading. The results of poor compaction include cracks, leaks, and erosion.
Capillary Action
The ability of water to move through narrow spaces without a force acting on it; also called wicking.
Culvert
A tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad.
Riparian Rights
A system for allocating water among those who possess land along its path. It has its origins in English common law. Riparian water rights exist in many jurisdictions with a common law heritage, such as Canada, Australia, and states in the eastern United States.
Plastic Limit
The limit of a soil’s moisture content before it becomes plastic or arrives at a semisolid state. A soil that has a moisture content below the plastic limit is considered a solid.
Sanitary Sewer
Storm Sewer
Combined Sewer
System of underground pipes that carries wastewater from plumbing fixtures to a septic tank or centralized treatment plant before releasing into surface waters.
The storm sewer is a system is composed of gutters, drains, and pipes that take storm water runoff and carry it to a river or stream.
A combined sewer collects sanitary and storm water together in one system. They are no longer used but are found in operation in older cities.
Sheet Piles
For depths of up to 15’, vertical sheets of steel can be driven into the ground before commencing excavations. These individual sections interlock with one another on both sides. The interlocks form a continuous barrier to retain the earth.
Noise and vibration are created in driving them, particularly in stiff soils where the vibratory method is ineffective, and hydraulic hammers must be employed.
Sloped excavation may either be uniformly sloped or stair-stepped. _______ increase slope stability and are easier to compact.
Benched Excavations
