4: Building Analysis & Programming Flashcards
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
A United States federal law enacted in 1966 aimed at preserving the country’s historical and cultural heritage by establishing a framework for identifying, protecting, and preserving historic sites, buildings, and landmarks of significance, and encouraging their thoughtful consideration in planning and development.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
A United States federal law enacted in 1970, requiring federal agencies to assess and consider the environmental impacts of their proposed projects, policies, or actions, and to involve the public in the decision-making process, promoting environmental stewardship and informed decision-making in federal projects.
Rehabilitation
The process of repairing, restoring, or adapting a building or structure to meet contemporary needs while preserving its historical or architectural significance, ensuring its continued use and relevance.
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program
A U.S. federal initiative that encourages the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings by providing tax incentives, including income tax credits, to property owners who undertake qualifying restoration or rehabilitation projects on historic structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Conduction (Thermal Comfort)
The transfer of heat between objects or materials in direct contact with each other, influencing how warmth or coolness is perceived by occupants.
Convection (Thermal Comfort)
The transfer of heat through the movement of air or fluids, affecting the perceived temperature and comfort levels within a space.
Radiation (Thermal Comfort)
The transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, which directly influences how occupants perceive warmth or coolness from surrounding surfaces or objects.
Evaporation
The process by which a liquid, such as water, transforms into vapor or gas due to an increase in temperature, typically occurring at the liquid’s surface.
Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT)
A measure in thermal comfort analysis that represents the average temperature of all surfaces surrounding an individual, including walls, floors, and objects. MRT plays a significant role in human comfort perception, as it influences the exchange of radiant heat between the body and its surroundings.
Relative Humidity
A measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a specific temperature, expressed as a percentage.
ASHRAE
A professional organization that focuses on advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) technologies, providing industry standards, guidelines, and research to promote sustainable and efficient practices in the built environment.
Luminance
The amount of visible light emitted or reflected by a surface per unit area, measured in candelas per square meter. It is a measure of the brightness of a surface as perceived by the human eye and is important in lighting design and visibility studies.
Property Condition Assessment (PCA)
A comprehensive evaluation and documentation process conducted by professionals to assess the physical condition of a property, identifying potential issues, deferred maintenance, and necessary repairs or improvements.
Complete Demolition
The systematic dismantling or destruction of an entire structure, removing all components and materials down to the bare site, typically conducted to make way for new construction.
Selective Demolition
The careful and targeted removal of specific building components or materials while preserving other elements, allowing for renovation, remodeling, or structural modifications without entirely dismantling the structure.
Substructure
The underlying support system or foundation of a building or structure, including elements such as footings, piers, piles, and other components that bear the load and transfer it to the ground, and provides stability and strength to the overall construction.
Differential Settlement
When one part of a foundation settles more than another, leading to variations in the elevation and potentially causing structural issues such as tilting or cracking.
Foundation Walls
Vertical structures typically made of concrete or masonry that provide lateral support to the building’s foundation, resist soil pressure, and enclose the below-grade space.
Rebar
A steel rod used in concrete construction to enhance the tensile strength and durability of structures.
Wall Footings/Strip Footings
Continuous, shallow foundation elements that run along the length of a load-bearing wall, distributing the structure’s load to the soil. They are typically wider than the wall they support and serve to provide stability and prevent differential settlement.
Isolated Footings/Column Footings
Individual foundation elements designed to support and distribute the load of a single column or isolated point load to the underlying soil. These footings are used in situations where columns are spaced relatively far apart, and each footing is independent of the others.
Cantilever Edge Distance
The horizontal distance from the outermost point of a cantilevered structure or element, such as a beam or slab, to the supporting column or wall. It is a critical parameter in structural design as it influences the stability and performance of the cantilevered section, impacting factors like bending moments and deflection.
Stepped Footings
A type of foundation design where the footing steps down or changes its level in response to variations in the underlying soil or to accommodate changes in the building’s structure or load distribution. This design is often employed when the soil conditions are not uniform or when different parts of the structure require varying levels of support.
Expansion Joints
Structural gaps or separations intentionally incorporated into buildings, bridges, or other structures to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction movements caused by temperature variations, preventing damage or distortion that might occur due to thermal stress.
Pile Foundation
A deep foundation system in which vertical columns are driven or drilled into the ground to transfer structural loads from a building to a deeper, more stable layer of soil or rock.
Pile Cap
A reinforced concrete slab or block that sits on top of a group of piles, distributing and transferring the load from the superstructure to the individual piles in a pile foundation system.
Pile Driver
A mechanical device used in construction to vertically drive piles into the ground for foundation support, employing various methods such as impact, vibration, or hydraulic pressure.
Caisson Foundation
A watertight foundation system, either open or closed at the bottom, that is sunk into the ground and then filled with concrete to provide structural support. They’re often used in bridge or pier construction in areas with water presence.
Underpinning
A construction method involving the strengthening or stabilizing of an existing foundation by introducing additional support, often through the insertion of new materials or elements, to address settlement issues, enhance load-bearing capacity, or accommodate changes in soil conditions.
Needle Beams
Temporary horizontal structural elements installed to support or redistribute loads during construction or renovation, commonly used in situations where existing walls or columns are removed and replaced to maintain structural stability.
Angle of Repose
The maximum slope or angle at which a loose, granular material such as soil or sand can remain stable without sliding or collapsing due to the force of gravity. It represents the equilibrium point between gravity and frictional forces.
Sheet Piles
Interlocking, vertically driven or vibrated steel or concrete sections used as retaining walls in construction projects, particularly in excavation support, waterfront structures, or cofferdams, providing a barrier against soil or water intrusion.
Soldier Piles and Lagging
A shoring system used in excavation support, consisting of vertical steel piles installed at regular intervals, and horizontal support elements to retain soil and provide stability during construction.
Cross Bracing
A structural system of diagonal braces or members installed within a framework or building to resist lateral forces, enhance stability, and prevent swaying or deformation under various loads and conditions.
Wale
A horizontal structural element, often made of wood or steel, used to brace and support vertical components such as sheet piles, providing lateral stability in earth retention or excavation support systems.
Rakers
Diagonal bracing elements, often temporary, used to provide lateral support and stability to vertical structures such as retaining walls or sheet pile systems, helping resist lateral forces and prevent collapse.
Tie Backs
Tensioned horizontal or inclined elements, such as cables or rods, used in geotechnical and retaining wall applications to provide lateral support and prevent the outward movement of structures, ensuring stability against soil pressures.
Aggregate
A mixture of sand, gravel, crushed stone, or other materials used as a fundamental component in concrete, asphalt, and other building materials.
Admixture
A substance added to concrete or mortar during mixing to modify its properties, such as workability, setting time, or durability, enhancing the performance and characteristics of the final material.
Slump Test
A standard concrete quality control procedure involving measuring the consistency and workability of fresh concrete by observing the vertical settlement or “slump” of a cone-shaped sample when it is gently released.
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
A standardized building block made of concrete, often hollow, used in the construction of walls, partitions, and other masonry structures.
Softwood
Wood derived from conifers, characterized by needle-like or scale-like leaves. In construction, it’s typically used as framing lumber.
Hardwood
Wood derived from deciduous trees, which are characterized by broad leaves and usually produce seeds enclosed in fruits. It is commonly utilized for high-quality furniture, flooring, and woodworking due to its dense and durable nature.
Plainsawn Wood
Wood members produced by cutting logs parallel to the growth rings, resulting in a distinctive grain pattern with a mix of cathedral-like arches and straight lines, commonly used for its cost-effectiveness and versatility in various woodworking applications.
Quartersawn Wood
Wood members produced by cutting logs perpendicular to the growth rings, producing a distinctive straight grain pattern, greater stability, and resistance to warping, often favored for high-quality furniture and flooring due to its unique aesthetics and resistance to warping.
Dimensional Lumber
Pre-cut wood pieces of standardized dimensions, such as 2x4s or 4x8s, commonly used in construction and carpentry for structural framing and other building applications.
Timber
Wood that has been prepared for use in construction or other purposes, typically after being harvested from trees and processed into large pieces.
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)
An engineered wood product made by stacking and gluing alternating layers of dimensioned lumber in perpendicular directions, providing strength, stability, and sustainability for use in construction as a versatile and efficient building material.
Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT)
A construction material created by stacking and fastening dimensioned lumber with nails or screws, forming large structural panels with a distinct exposed wood appearance.
Tempered Glass
A type of safety glass that has undergone a special thermal or chemical treatment to increase its strength, making it more resistant to breakage. If broken, it shatters into small, relatively harmless fragments.
Laminated Glass
A type of safety glass composed of two or more layers of glass bonded together with an interlayer, usually made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), that holds the glass layers together upon impact, enhancing durability and reducing the risk of shattering.
Spandrel Glass
Opaque or tinted glass panels used in building facades, often installed on the outer surface of a curtain wall to conceal structural elements and provide a uniform appearance to the building exterior.
Usable Area
The portion of a building’s floor space that is functional and can be effectively utilized for various activities, excluding spaces like walls, corridors, or mechanical rooms.
Rentable Area
The total floor space, typically within a commercial property, that is available for lease and includes both the tenant’s usable space and a proportionate share of common areas like hallways and restrooms.
Overall Building Efficiency
The measure of how effectively a structure utilizes resources, energy, and space to meet its functional requirements and occupants’ needs while minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Interior Layout Efficiency
The optimization of spatial arrangements and design within a building to maximize functionality, circulation, and usability while meeting the specific needs and activities of occupants.
Base Building Efficiency
The effectiveness of the fundamental, shared elements of a commercial property, such as its structure, envelope, and core systems, in providing a sustainable and functional foundation for individual tenant spaces.
R/U Ratio a.k.a. Loss Factor
The percentage representing the difference between the rentable area (total space available for lease) and the usable area (actual space occupied by the tenant), accounting for shared spaces and common areas within a commercial property.
Traction Elevator
A type of vertical transportation system that uses a system of ropes or belts attached to an elevator car and counterweight, both of which are guided by pulleys, providing efficient and controlled vertical movement within buildings.
Machine Roomless Elevator (MRL)
A vertical transportation system designed without a dedicated machine room, with its machinery compactly integrated within the elevator shaft.
Hydraulic Elevator
A type of vertical transportation system that utilizes a fluid-driven piston mechanism to move the elevator car, typically powered by an electric pump, making it suitable for low to mid-rise buildings.
Criss-Cross Escalator
An escalator that allows the user to simply turn at the end of a run and continue their journey on the escalator, just like you would on a staircase, and can be operated as a spiral or walk-around.
Parallel Escalator
Two or more escalators positioned side by side, moving in the same direction, often used in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, transportation hubs, or public spaces to efficiently handle large volumes of pedestrian traffic.
