5 Flashcards
skylight
An overhead source of natural light, generally installed on a roof.
aggregate
The chemically inert element of concrete, usually consisting of sand, gravel, and/or other granular material.
water-cement ratio
The ratio of water to cement in a concrete mix, the main factor that determines concrete strength.
water table
The level below which the subsoil is completely saturated with water. Also called the groundwater level.
veneer
Masonry finish material which is attached, but not structurally bonded, to the backing. Also, a thin layer or sheet of wood produced by slicing or rotary cutting.
moving stairway
A continuously moving, power-driven mechanical device that transports passengers along an incline from one floor to another. Also referred to as an escalator.
window glass
Clear, flat sheet glass that is most commonly used for glazing.
car bumpers
A device located at the bottom of an elevator hoistway, used to stop a cab’s overtravel at low speed, not to stop a free-falling cab. Also referred to as buffer.
plastic limit
The moisture content at which soil starts to change from a semisolid to a plastic state.
compacted fill
Fill that has been densified by the application of pressure, usually by mechanical equipment, in order to increase it’s strength and stability and reduce it’s settlement. Properly compacted fill is often suitable for the support of building footings.
plywood
A laminated panel of thin wood veneers, or plies, permanently bonded together with an adhesive. The grain of the adjacent plies is usually placed at right angles.
scupper
An opening in a wall or parapet for the drainage of rainwater from a roof.
flight
A continuous series of steps extending from floor to floor, floor to landing, or landing to landing.
foundation
The part of a building’s structure that transmits the building’s load to the underlying soil.
parquet
Describing inlaid wood flooring, generally set in a traditional geometric pattern.
pervious
Permitting leakage or flow of water.
shoring
Temporary support for a portion of a building.
differential settlement
Unequal settlement of the various parts of a building, which may cause excessive stresses in the structural frame or tilting of the building.
reinforced concrete
Concrete containing adequate reinforcing steel and designed on the basis that the concrete and steel act together in resisting forces. The concrete is usually assumed to resist compression, while the reinforcing steel is assumed to resist tension.
wired glass
Sheet glass containing an embedded wire mesh for strength and safety.
elevator
A moveable enclosure that provides vertical transportation for a building’s occupants or freight and that serves two or more floors. The common elevator types are electric and hydraulic.
stacked bond
The masonry bond pattern in which all the head joints form a continuous vertical line and no units overlap.
grubbing
The removal from a site of unwanted roots, stumps, and so on during excavation.
dry pack
To pack a damp concrete mixture into a confined space.
freight elevator
An elevator used to vertically transport equipment, materials, and goods, rather than passengers.
curing
Maintaining concrete at the proper moisture and temperature after it is cast.
raked joint
A mortar joint that has been cleaned of mortar for about 3/4” back from the face.
vermiculite
A lightweight aggregate used in lightweight concrete or plaster.
face brick
Brick made for exterior use with special consideration of color, texture, and size.
precast concrete
A concrete element in a location other than it’s final position. After curing, it is moved to it’s final location and installed.
premium appearance grade
The best appearance grade for glue laminated members, used where the finest appearance is required.
corner bead
A metal strip placed on corners before plastering to reinforce and protect the corner. Also referred to as an angle bead.
tread
The horizontal surface of a stair step; its width is the horizontal distance between risers.
knot
A hard, cross-grained mass of wood caused by a branch or limb joining the trunk of a tree and cut through in the process of lumber manufacture.
pile
An underground wood, concrete, or steel member, usually vertical, and usually driven into place, which is used to support building loads.
arc welding
The most usual welding process used in building construction, in which intense heat is produced by an electric arc between the members to be joined and a metal wire or rod, called the electrode.
flame-spread rating
A numerical classification indicating the rate at which flame will spread over the surface of a given material. Class I materials have the least flame-spread and Class III have the most.
decay
The decomposition of wood caused by fungi.
structural glass
Opaque glass used in block, sheet, or tile form for exterior building panels.
warp
Distortion of timber during seasoning caused by changing moisture content.
double glazing
Two sheets of glass with an air space between, to insulate against the passage of heat or sound. Also called insulating glass.
grillage
A framework of horizontal members used to spread a structural load over a large area.
fire-resistance rating
The time, in hours, that a material or assembly of materials can withstand exposure to fire.
structural steel
A medium carbon steel, rolled in a variety of shapes and sizes for use as load-bearing structural members.
kalamein door
A type of fire-resistive door that has a solid wood core covered with sheet metal.
shatterproof glass
Laminated glass, consisting of a thin sheet of transparent plastic laminated between two layers of clear glass. Also referred to as safety glass.
air-dried
Describing wood that is seasoned by exposure to the atmosphere without artificial heat.
high-lift grouting
A method of building reinforced grouted masonry walls in which a large area of the wall is set and then the grout is placed, usually by pumping.
hollow core
Describing a door in which veneer faces are glued to an inner skeleton framework.
