BCDS Flashcards
Accelerator
A substance such as calcium chloride, added to a concrete mix to speed up its setting and strength develppment
Acoustics
The science of sound and sound control
Acrylic
A noncrystalline thermoplastic with good weather resistance, shatter resistance, and optical clarity; sometimes used for glazing
Admixture
A prepared substance added to concrete to alter or achieve certain characteristics
Aggregate
The chemically inerrt element of concrete, usually conisisting of sand, crushed rock, and/or gravel
Air Entrainment
The incorporation of tiny air bubbles into concrete or mortar to improve its workability and resistance to freezing
Alkyd
A synthetic resin used as a vehicle for paint
Alloy
A substance generally composed of two or more metals that have been intimately mixed
Asbestos Cement
A material consisting of a mixture of portland cement and asbestos fiber. Althoguh resistant to fire, it is considered a health hazard.
Ashlar
A building stone that has been shaped and smootehd intoa rectangular form for use in masonry construciton.
Asphaltic Concrete
A mixture of asphaltic cement and aggregates, used as a paving material, which is spread and rolled while hot.
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials
Backfill
Earth that is replaced around a foundtation or retaining wall after hte concrete forms ahve bene removed
Balloon Framing
A method of framing wood stud walls in which the studs are continuous for the full height of the building which is usually two stories, with the joists bearing on a ribbon let into the studs.
Baluster
A vertical support for a handrail
Balustrade
A complete railing system, consisiting of a top rail, supporting balusters, and sometimes a bottom rail
Bar Chair
A device used to support reinforcing bars during the placing of concrete
Base Shoe
A quarter round trim piece used to cover the joint between the finish flooring and the base
Batter Boards
Horizontal boards offset from the buildign line and set prior to excavation used to indicate a specific location, such as teh corner of a building.
Bearing Capacity
The unit load, in pounds or kips per square foot, that can be safely supported by the soil.
Bed Joint
The horizontal mortar joint in masonry work.
Bitumen
A substance derived from petroleum or coal used to resist water penetration such as asphalt of coal-tar pitch
Blind Nailing
Driving nails in such a way that hte nail heads are not visible.
Board Foot
A unit of measure for lumber equal to the volume of a board 12” x 12” x 1”
Book Matching
A way fo placing successive veneers sliced from the same flitch so that alternate sheets appear as mirror images
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc that is corrosion resistant and very workable
Bridging
Crossed braces used between joists to stabilize them.
Bronze
An alloy of copper and tin
BTU
British Thermal Unit; the amoutn of heat required to raise on lb of water 1 degree F
Bullnose
The rounding of an exposed edge such as a tile or wood trim piece
Butt
A hinge applied to the edge of a door in which only the butt end remains visible.
Caisson
A waterproof box-like structure in which construction owkr can be done below water level
Camber
A slight upward curve built into a member to compensate for deflection
Cant Strip
A beveled strip used to avoid a sharp bend in roofing material
Capillary Action
The tendency of water to move into small spaces, regardless of gravity.
Caulking
The application of a compound to seal the joint between the two materials or surfaces.
Cement
A material that is able to unite non-adhesive materials into a solid mass.
Ceramic Veneer
Terra cotta facing applied as a finish wall material
Chase
A recessed space or passage throuhg a wall or other element to accommodate pipes or ducts
Cofferdam
A watertight, temporary structure placed under water and pumped dry to allow construction work to be performed.
Cold Joint
A joint formed when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch of concrete is placed against it.
Collar Beam
A horizontal tie beam connection two opposite rafters at a level above the wall plates.
Combustible
Capable of burning
Concrete
A mixture of fine and coarse aggregates, portland cement, and water.
Control Joint
A groove in a concrete structure made to predetermine the location of cracks.
Coping
A protective cap of brick, stone, or concrete used at the top of a wall to prevent water penetration
Cricket
A flashing saddle used on a sloping roof to divert water around a chimney
Culls
Rejected material whose quality is too low to be used
Curling
Maintianing concrete at the proper moisture and temperature after it is cast.
Cut and Fill
Earth that is removed (cut) and earth that is added (fill) in grading
Dado
A rectanfular grooved wood joint. Also, the lower part of a wall below a modling or other trim.
Dampproofing
The materials and methods used to prevent moisture from penetrating a building at or below grade.
Decibel
A logarithmic measure of sound intensity level, expressing the ratio between a given sound being measured and a reference level. The reference level generally corresponds to the faintest audible sound.
Double Glazing
Two sheets of glass with an air space between, to insulate against the passage of heat or sound
Dry Pack
To fill a confined space with a damp concrete mixture by packing in tightly
Dry Rot
Timber decay due to fungus, in which pockets of dry powder develop
Drywall
A masonry wall built without mortar. Also, na interior wall or ceiling of gypsum wall board construction.
Efflorescence
The whiteish powder of crystallxation, caused by water soluble salts, which comes to the surface when water evaporates from brick.
Elastomer
A material having the qualities of rubber.
Enamel
A smooth and hard pigmented paint that uses vernish as the vehicle.
Entrained Air
Tiny air bubbles intentionally incorporated into mortar or concrete during mixing to resist freezing action
Epoxy
A synthetic resin having excellent adhesive properties
Escutcheon
A metal plate around a knob and/or keyhole of a door.
Excavation
The digging or removal of earth
Expansion Joint.
The complete separation, from top of footing to the roof, of adjacent building parts to allow for expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes.
Fire Brick
Brick made from fire clay that has great resistance to high temperatures
Fireproof
Describing construction that will not burn or is highly resistant to fire.
Firestops
Horizontal blocks placed between studs to resist the spread of fire
Flame-Spread Rating
A classification of finish materials indicating the rate at which flame will spread.
Flashign
The aplication of an impervious material to prevent water penetration at joints formed by different materials or surfaces.
Flitch
A large timber from which veneers are cut
Footing
The part of a foundation that spreads the load over a large area of soil
Forms
The molds into which concrete is placed until it has hardened
Foundation
The part of a buildings structure that transmits the buildings load to the underlying soil
Furring
Wood or metal strips used to make a plane surface; also a cavity within a wall or ceiling.
Galvanic Action
The deteriorating reaction between dissimilar metals that are in contact in the prescence of moisture
Galvanizing
The process of appluing a coating of zinc to iorn for protection against corrosion
Glazing
The work of installing glass in a frame
Glulam
A glued laminated timber used structurally
Grading
Removing and/or adding earth in order to bring the ground surface to a specified elevation or profile
Grillage
A framework of horizontal members used to spread a structural load over a larger area
Grout
A fluid mixture of portland cement, sand, and water used to fill joints and cavities of masonry or tile; a high slump concrete, consisting of Portland cement, sand, hydrated limes, water, and sometimes pea gravel
Grubbing
The removal from a site of unwanted roots, stumps, and so forth during excavation
Gunite
Pneumatically applied concrete shot into place by means of compressed air. This method may be used for both repair work and new construction especially in difficult locations or where thin sections occur
Gutter
A tough at the edge of a roof used to carry off rainwater
Gypsum
Hydrated calcium sulfate, from which gypsum plaster and plasterboard are made
Gypsum Board
A prefabricated form of plaster used in place of convential three-coat interior plaster
Hand of Door
Convention relation to door swing, used when ordering door hardware
Header Course
A masonry course in which the flat, short ends of the units are exposed.
Hinge
A device on which doors, windows, cabinets, and so fourth turn or swing to open and close.
Hip
The exterior edge formed by the meeting of two adjacent sloping roof surfaces.
Hollow Core
Describing a door in which veneer faces are glued to an inner skeleton framework.
Honeycomb
A void left in concrete that is poorly mixed or placed
Hospital Tip
Rounded top edge on a hinge, designed for cleanliness and to avoid catching garments.
Insulations
A material that provides high resistant to sound transmission or heat flow
Intumescent Paint
Paint that swells up when exposed o excessive heat and thus resists flame spread.
Jack Rafter
A short rafter between hip rafter and eave or between valley and ridge.
Jalousie
A window or door blind made of fixed or movable horizontal slats
Jetting
Placing piles using high pressure water jets.
K Value
The thermal conductivity of a material
Kalamein Door
A type of fire-resistive door that has a solid wood core covered with sheet metal.
Keene’s Cement
A quick-setting gypsum plaster used in areas exposed to moisture
Kerf
A cut or notch in a material.
Laitance
Mortar or grout scum on the surface of concrete.
Latch
A beveled fastening device that automatically slides into position when the door is closed.
Ledger
Horizontal member supporting joists. ALso sometimes called ribbon, girt, purlin, or stringer.
Lewis Bolt
A round threaded metal device with a bell shaped end that is used to anchor stone.
Lock
A mechanical fastenting device with a rectangular locking bolt that is projected manually or with a key
mandrel
solid core used in driving a shell pile into the ground. When the mandrel is removed, the shell is filled with concrete.
Mastic
A permanently plastic waterproof adhesive material used in sealing joints.
Matrix
The binding or cementing material in mortar, concrete, or terrazzo
Modular
Describing a system composed of standardized units or sections used for simplified construction or flexibility
Monel
An alloy of nickle and copper that is resistant to corrosion and used for roofing, kitchen equipment, etc.
Mortar
A mixture of cement, lime, sand, and water used to bond bricks or stone in masonry work.
Mullion
A vertical member between windows or doors.
Muntin
A short, secondary member within a window frame, either vertical or horizontal
Neat
Describing cement or plaster that has been mixed with water only, without sand or lime.
Needle Beam
A short beam passed through a wall to provide temporary support.
Oil Canning
The wavy distortion of glass or metal panels, often seen in curtain wall construction.
Panic Hardware
A door latching assembly that will open the door if subjected to pressure.
Parging
The application of plaster to the back of masonry walls
Particle Board
A manufactured panel of wood particles and binders that is bonded together under heat and pressure.
Perlite
A lightweight volcanic rock used as an aggregate in lightweight concrete or plaster
Perm
The unit of water vapor transmission equal to the flow of one grain of water vapor through one square foot of surface per hour under the pressure of one inch of mercury
Permeability
The property of permitting passage of water vapor through a material without causing rupture or displacement.
Pervious
Permitting leakage or flow of water
Pigment
The solid component of paint, consisting of finely ground material, which gives the paint its color.
Pile
A vertical member driven into the ground to support the vertical load of the structure above.
Pith
The heart center of a log
Plaster
A mixture of portland cement (exterior plaster) or gypsum (interior plaster) with sand and water, which is applied in layers, or coats, which harden and dry
Platform Framing
A method of framing wood stud walls in which the studs are one story in height and the floor joists bear on the top plates of the wall below.
Portland Cement
The cementitious binder used to make concrete and mortar
Putty Coat
The final smooth coat of interior plaster
R Factor
A measure of thermal resistance.
Raked Joint
A mortar joint that has been cleaned of mortar for about 3/4 inch back from the face
Reglet
A slot in which roofing material or flashing is inserted, generally in a vertical wall surface.
Reverberation
The persistence of sound in an enclosed space after the source has stopped
Roping
The arrangement of cables used to hoist an elevator
Rowlock
A masonry course in which the units are laid on edge, with their ends exposed
Sabin
The unit of sound absorption, equivalent to the absorption of one SF of open window
Sash
A frame in which the panes of a window or door are placed
Screed
A strip of material placed at intervals along a wall to be plastered to gauge the thickness of the plaster
Sealant
Material used to prevent the passage of liquid across a joint or opening
Shakes
Hand-split wood shingles
Sheepsfoot roller
A large-toothed rolled used for the compaction of soil
Sheeting
Vertical construction used to temporarily hold the face of an excavation during construction
Shellac
A solution of refined lac resin and denatured alcohol used as a clear coating
Shoring
Temporary support for a portion of a building
Sleeper
A horizontal member used to support a structure above, such as one of the wood strips between a concrete slab and finish wood floor.
Slump Test
A test for mixed concrete to determine consistency and workability
Slurry
A soupy mixture of water and clay, or water and portland cement
Soil
A natural material, formed of decomposed and disintegrated parent rock, that can support plant life
Soil Boring Log
A graphic representation of the soils encountered in a test boring
Sound Transmission Class
A rating for the evaluation of a particular construction crosssection in the transmission of airborne sound
Stile
The upright or vertical edge of a door or window
Stretcher
A brick laid with its length parallel to the length of the wall
Stucco
A mixture of sand, portland cement, lime, and water, that may be tinted and applied as an exterior plaster finish.
Terne Plate
Steel coated with lead and tin used for roofing and flashing
Terrazzo
Flooring material made from small chips of marble set in cement and polished
Test Boring
A hole drilled into the ground from which samples of undisturbed subsurface soils are obtained for laboratory inspection and testing
Test Pit
An excavation made to expose the subsurface soils for in-place examination
Tremie
A pipe of tube used to deposit concrete under water
U Factor
The thermal conductivity of a wall section, expressed in BTUs per hour per degree F per SF
Urethane
A synthetic resin from which paints and insulation forms are manufactured
Valley
The interior trough formed by the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces
Vapor Barrier
An airtight layer used to prevent moisture from a warm interior from passing into a condensing within a cold wall or ceiling area
Vehicle
The liquid portion of paint that holds the pigment or solids in suspension
Vermiculite
A lightweight aggregate used in lightweight concrete or plaster
Vitrificaiton
The fusion of a clay product after firing, which makes it impervious
Warp
Distortion of timber during seasoning caused by changing moisture content
Water-Cement Ratio
The ratio of water to cement in a concrete mix, which is the main factor which determines concrete strenth
Waterproof
Impervious to water or water vapor, even under pressure
Water Stop
A device used at a joint as a sealant, usually to prevent the passage of water
Water Table
The level below that the earth is fully saturated with water
Weatherstripping
The means employed to make exterior opening wethertight
Weep Holes
Small openings left in retaining walls, sills, aprons, foundations, etc., which permit water to drain to the outside of the wall and thus avoid hydrostatic pressure against the wall
Wythe
Each individual vertical tier of masonry in a cavity wall
Asphalt Saturated Felt
A roofing material applied in several layers to create a build-up composition roof
Plunger/Ram
The driving device of a hydraulic elevator, which is powered by liquid under pressure within a cylinder.
Baluster
A vertical support for a handrail
California bearing Ratio (CBR)
A ratio used to determine the bearing capacity of a soil, based on a standard test.
Pith
The heart center of a log
K-Value
The thermal conductivity of a material
Cylinder Test
A test to determine the compressive strength of concrete by subjecting a standard cylinder of hardened concrete to compression in a testing machine
Cribbing
A cellular framework that is filled with rock or soil to retain an earth embankment
Elastomeric Flooring
Synthetic resins applied in liquid form, producing a durable, seamless floor surface.
Safety Glass aka shatterproof glass
Laminated glass, consisting of a thin sheet of transparent plastic laminated between two layers of clear glass.
Perm
The unit of permeability for a given material, expressing the resistance of the material to the penetration of moisture. One perm is equal to the flow of one grain of water vapor through one SF of surface area per hour with a pressure difference of one inch of mercury.
Terne Plate
Steel coated w/lead and tin, used for roofing and flashing
Annealed Glass
Ordinary window glass that has been cooled slowly to avoid locked-in thermal stresses.
Plastic Limit
The moisture content at which a soil starts to change from a semisolid to a plastic state
Steel
An allow of iron and carbon, with a carbon content between 0.1 and 1.7% (more than that of wrought iron and less than that of cast iron)
Batter Boards
Reference points offset a given distance from the building line and set prior to excavation
Mandrel
A solid core used in driving a shell pile into hte ground. When the driving is complete, it is removed and the shell is filled with concrete.
Shake
A lengthwise grain separation due to natural causes
Sheave
A pulley wheel for hoisting that has a grooved rim to accommodate a wire cable
Unit Lock
A preassembled lock that is installed quickly and efficiently in a rectangular notch cut in the door edge.
Edge-Grained/Vertical-Grained Lumber
Lumber with rings at 45-90* w/the wide faced
Sherardizing
A method of coating steel with a thin layer of zinc
Saddle/Threshold
A member beneath a door, to cover the floor joint or provide weather protection.
Billet Bars
The most commonly used reinforcing steel, rolled from steel billets made by the open-hearth, electric furnace, or acid-bessemer process
Wellpoint
A hollow rod with a perforated intake, which is driven into the ground and connected to a header, from which water is pumped out of an excavation
Glazing /Compressing Zipper Gasket
A prefab strip of molded or extruded material used in a dry glazing process.
Kelly Ball Test
A test to determine the workability of fresh concrete.
Heat-Strengthened Glass
Glass that has greater resistance to impact, thermal stresses, and wind than annealed glass, but less than that of tempered glass.
Pitch Pocket
An opening between growth rings containing pitch or resin
Casing Bead
A fabricated metal strip applied at the edge of a plastered surface to provide a stop, protection of the edge, or a separation between two dissimilar materials
Air Curtain
A stream of air that is directed downward across an opening, to exclude drafts, insects, and so on.
Atterberg Limits
The arbitrary limits which define the boundaries between the different states of rigidity or fluidity of fine-grained soils.
Backset
The distance from the edge of a door to the center of the knob or lock cylinder
Lamella
A roof structure comprising a series of parallel arches, skewed to the axes of the building, which are intersected by another series of skewed arches so that they interact with each other
Gypsum Lath
A base for plaster consisting of a gypsum core sandwhiced between two sheets of heavy, porous paper
Bonding Plaster
A gypsum plaster mixture contianing lime, which is used on interior concrete surfaces.
Flood Coat
In a built-up composition roof, the top layer of bituminous material, which is poured on the surface and covered with an aggregate coating
Slash-Grained/Flat-Grained Lumber
Lumber with rings 0-45* with the wide face
Buck
A door frame of wood or metal to which the finished frame is attached
Wane
Bark or lack of wood on the edge or corner of a piece of wood
Brown Coat
The second coat of plaster, in 3 coat plastering, which is applied over the scratch coat and beneath the finish coat. The large proportion of sand in this mixture gives the coat its name
Metal Lath
Sheet metal or wire fabric into which a base coat of plaster is keyed
Ceramic Tile
Small, flat tile units set on floors, walls, or ceilings to provide permanent, waterproof, durable, and easily-maintained finish surfaces
Patterned Glass
Glass that has been textured or to which a pattern has been applied in order to obscure vision or create a decorative effect
Core Test
A compression test of hardened concrete that has been cut from the structure
Traction Machine
The hoisting mechanism of an electric motor, which transmits lifting power by means of friction developed by wire cables running over grooves in the machine-drived sheave.
Grade MQ (Moderate Weather)
A grade of brick used where moderate resistance to freezing is required
Smelting
Extracting metal from its ore
Water-Resistant
Having no opening larger than capillary pores that permit leakage of water
Water-Repellent
Incapable of transmitting water by capillary action, but able to transmit water under pressure
Magnesite Flooring
A plastic composition of magnesium chloride, sand, and magnesite, used as jointless flooring over concrete, wood, or steel decking
High-Early Strength Cement
A type of cement (ASTM Type III) that provides earlier strength in concrete than ordinary cements. IT is used when forms must be removed quickly or when the structure must be put into service quickly.
Ductility
The ability of a material to undergo large deformations w/o fracture
Sheet Piling
A barrier formed by a series of piles placed next to each other, to retain soil or keep an excavation dry
In Situ
In place
Anodizing
A process of coating aluminum with a hard oxide film by electrolytic action to prevent corrosion and improve appearance.
Counterflashing
A strip of impervious material (usually sheet metal) that is fastened at one edge and turned down at the other edge over flashing to prevent water penetration at flashed joints
Seasoning
Removing moisture from green wood to improve its serviceability
Terra-cotta
A form of clay tile that is used decoratively
Underpinning
Deepening an existing foundation or building a new foundation for an existing building. Underpinning is usually required when excavation for a new building is adjacent to and deeper than an existing foundation.
Rust
A brownish powdery substance (iron oxide) which forms on the surface as iron as a result of oxidation
Electrolysis/Galvanic Action
The deteriorating reaction between dissimilar metals that are in contact in the presence of moisture.
Gravel
A coarse granular material, w/particles varying from 3-3/16”
Square
A measure of roofing surface area, equal to 100 SF
Oxidation
The chemical combination of a substance w/oxygen, which may cause corrosion or tarnishing in metals
Casing
The exposed molding used to trim around doors and windows
Running Bond
The masonry bond pattern in which the vertical head joints of adjacent courses lap
Condensation
The process by which water vapor (humidity) w/i a space changes into liquid
Weathering Steel
Steel that acquires a brownish protective oxide coating when exposed to the weather and therefore requires no paint finish. It is sold under the proprietary names “ cor-ten steel” and “Mayarai R Weathering Steel”
Vertical Conveyor
A motor-driven device used to distribute a continuous flow of materials throughout multistory buildings
Cast Iron
Iron w/a relatively high carbon content (over 2%). It is hard, brittle, easily cast into molds, and has a high compressive but low tensile strength.
Actinic/Heat-Absorbing Glass
Tinted glass that absorbs a high percentage of solar radiation.
Resilient Flooring
A thin, durable floor covering, manufactured in tile or sheet form, such as vinyl, cork, linoleum, and so-on
Governor
A device that measures and limits the speed of an elevator using a control panel.
Vibration
Consolidating freshly poured concrete by using an oscillating vibrator. Immersion-type (spud_ vibrators are lowered into the concrete, while form vibrators are attached to the exterior of forms.
Lightweight Concrete
Low density concrete, usually made with lightweight aggregate
Isolation Joint
A joint that separates a slab on grade from columns or walls, so that each can move independently.
Surfaced/Dressed lumber
Lumber that has been surfaced by a planing machine. If all four sides are surfaces (S4S), the net dimensions of the piece are about .5” less than the nominal dimensions.
Drip
A groove under an overhanging edge of a cornice, molding, or other building element, which is designed to discharge rainwater away from the structure.
Wrought Iron
Almost pure iron w/a very low carbon content. It is soft but strong, ductile, easily worked, and relatively resistant to corrosion
Low-Lifting Grouting
A method of building reinforced grouted masonry walls in which the grout between the tiers is poured as the units are laid
Rabbet
A groove cut into a member to receive another member
Friable
Soil that is easily crumbled or reduced to powder
Unified Soil Classification System
The most widely used system for classifying soils. In this system, the soils are primarily classed as coarse-grained (gravels and sands), fine-grained (silts and clays), and highly organic
Normal weight concrete
Concrete made with standard aggregates, usually weighing about 150lbs/ft^3
Liquid Limit
The moisture content at which a soil starts to change from a plastic to a semiliquid state
Angle/Corner Bead
A metal strip placed on corners before plastering to reinforce and protect the corner
Newel Post
The vertical support that terminates a handrail at the head or foot of a stairway
Acoustic Plaster
A mineral-fiber, low-density plaster mixture which is hand-troweled or machine-sprayed to produce a sound-absorbing surface
cut nail
A nail having a tapered, rectangular form with a blunt point, cut from sheet steel
Lath
Wire mesh, gypsum lath, wood strips, and so on, which are used for the support and adhesion of plaster
Bleeding
The movement of water to the surface of freshly cast concrete
Proctor Test
A laboratory compaction test to determine the optimum moisture content and density for a soil
Built-up roofing
Roofing made up of piles of saturated roofing felts alternated with layers of pitch or hot asphalt cement and surfaced with gravel or a cap sheet
Bulletproof Glass
Glass which has four or more layers of glass laminated to three or more layers of plastic, used where strong impacts may occur
high-carbon steel
Steel having a carbon content over 0.5%. In general, increased carbon content increases strength and hardness, but decreases ductility
Preservative
A substance that inhibits the development and action of fungi, borers, and insects that deteriorate wood.
Hydraulic Elevator
An elevator operated by fluid pressure from below, which raises or lowers the elevator car
Green
Lumber that has not been seasoned and whose moisture content is close t that of the living tree
Hardness
A metal’s resistance to abrasion and penetration
Millwork
Finished wood items, such as door and window frames, stairways, paneling, and so on, which are fabricated in a mill and delivered to a job site ready for installation
grade SW (Severe Weather)
The grade of brick used where high resistance to freezing and thawing is required
Cavity Wall
A wall built of two or more wythes of masonry units with a continuous air space within the wall. The wythes must be tied together w/noncorrosive metal ties.
Dry Pipe Sprinkler
A sprinkler system whose pipes are normally pressurize w/only air, thus being invulnerable to freezing temps. Upon actuation, the air is vented and supply pressure forces water through the sustem
Softwood
The wood of various conifers (cone-bearing) evergreen trees, such as cedars, pines, and firs.
Soil
A natural material, formed of decomposed and disintegrated parent rock, that can support plant life
Elevator Interlock
A safety device provided on each door at an elevator landing that prevents movement of the elevator unless the door is locked. It also prevents a lobby door from opening when the elevator is elsewhere
Lock Rail
An intermediate horizontal member of a door or window frame that can accommodate a lock
Industrial Appearance Grade
The appearance grade used for glued laminated members where appearance is not of primary concern
Curing
Maintaining concrete at the proper moisture and temperature after it is cast
Aluminum
A silvery-white metal obtained from bauxite clay by the electrolytic process. Its properties include light weight, good heat and electrical conductivity, and resistance to corrosion after forming a protective oxide coating
Raked Joint
A mortar joint that has been cleaned of mortar for about 3/4” back from the face
Vibratory Compactor
A machine used primarily for the compaction of granular soils, such as sands
Faience Tile
Ceramic tile having a non mechanical, highly colored decorative design.
Putty coat
The final smooth coat of interior plaster
Sand
Granular material, ranging from about 3/8 to 1/200”
cold-rolled steel
Sheet steel that has been formed using heavy rollers at room temperature, to improve its surface finish, hardness, and strength
fiber saturation point
The moisture content (about 30%) above which there is no shrinkage or swelling of wood with variation in moisture content
quoin
A cornerstone used at exterior angles of a building to visually indicate strength
car bumper/buffer
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
bronze
An alloy of copper and tin
standing seam
A metal roofing seam in which adjacent sheets of material are turned up and folded over
welding
A method of joining 2 pieces of metal by heating their surfaces until they are molten or plastic, w/or w/o applying pressure, and w/or w/o the use of additional filler metal.
Casement
A window attached to a frame by hinges on which the entire unit swings open
light-gauge framing
Construction composed of light gauge steel or aluminum shapes, involving relatively short spans and light loads
hydration
The chemical reaction that combines cement and water to form a hard solid mass
ferrous metal
A metal in which iron is the principle ingredient
hardwood
The wood of various broad-leafed deciduous trees such as maple or oak
nonferrous metal
A metal containing no iron, such as aluminum, copper, or lead
carriage
An inclined timber beam that supports the steps of a wooden stairway
selective-collective
An elevator operating system in which all calls are answered in the direction of a car’s travel, and calls in the opposite direction are ignored until the travel direction is reversed
high-lift grouting
A method of building reinforced grouting masonry walls in which a large area of the wall is set and then the grout is placed, usually by pumping
check
A lengthwise separation of wood caused by nonuniform seasoning
varnish
A clear coating consisting of resins dissolved in a volatile liquid. Varnish produces a hard, smooth, and glossy protective film
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
impact hammer test
A nondestructive test to determine the strength of hardened concrete, by measuring the rebound of a plunger after striking the concrete surface. This test is not accurate enough to be a substitute for standard compression tests
Structural Clay Tile
Hollow, burned-clay masonry units with parallel cells.
Plaster Ground
A wood strip, metal bead, or screed used to gauge the thickness of plaster
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
The ratio of unit strain to temperature change, which is constant for a given material
Casting
A method of producing a metal product by pouring molten metal into a mold of the desired shape
Mortise Lock
A lock installed in a rectangular opening cut in the door, rather than on the door’s surface
Yard Lumber
Lumber of all sizes and patterns intended for general building purposes
Split
Lengthwise separation of wood extending from one face through to the opposite face
Sandblasting
The blasting of concrete with sand or another abrasive material to dull the formed surface, make the color uniform, or expose the aggregate
bush-hammered finish
An exposed aggregate concrete finish obtained by roughening the surface with a power-operated bush hammer, which has a serrated face
stop
The trim applied to the inside face of a door or window frame against which the door or window closes
Architectural Bronze
An alloy of copper, zinc, lead, and tin used for moldings and forgings
tactile finish
A knurled or roughened finish applied to operating hardware on doors leading to areas that might be hazardous to visually impaired persons
Architectural Appearance Grade
The appearance grade used for glued laminated members where appearance is an important requirement
Clay
A fine-grained, cohesive, inorganic soil
Zinc
A low-strenth metal that is highly resistant to corrosion and therefore used for protective coatings on steel, such as galvanizing
stacked bond
The masonry bond pattern in which all the head joints form a continuous vertical line and no units overlap
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
Plasterboard
Prefab, paper-covered sheets having a gyp core, used for covering interior walls and ceilings or as a base for interior plaster
Wood Defect
A natural or manufacturing imperfection in wood that may affect its strength, appearance, use or grading. Included are knot, pitch pocket, shake, check, split and wane
Hydrostatic Pressure
The pressure exerted by liquid against every surface it contacts
Wet Pipe Sprinkler
A sprinkler system that is continuously pressurized with water. If a fusible sprinkler opens, water is immediately forced through the sprinkler head
tilt-up wall
A reinforced concrete wall that is precast at the job site, usually in a flat position, and later tilted up and set into place
membrane
A thin, impervious layer of material that prevents water penetration, as in a built-up roof of wall below grade
impervious tile
Ceramic tile which has been made completely resistant to penetration by water as a result of vitrification
Metal
A material characterized by opaqueness, hardness, the ability to conduct heat and electricity, and a distinctive luster when untarnished
Electric Elevator
An elevator operated by tranction, in which steel cables with counterweights raise or lower the elevator car
Alloy
A substance composed of two or more metals that have been intimately mixed
Head Joint
The vertical mortar joint between ends of masonry units
Glued Laminated Beam
An assembly of laminations of lumber in which the grain of all the laminations is approximately parallel longitudinally. The laminations are bonded with adhesives and fabricated in accordance with certain accepted standards
Welded Wire Fabric
A type of reinforcement used in reinforced concrete, consisting of a grid of steel wires perp. to each other and welded at all points of intersection
mortise-and tenon joint
A joint between two wood members, in which a tenon, teh projecting end of one piece, is fitted into a mortise, an opening cut into another piece
Tarnish
Discoloration or dullness on the surface of a metal caused by oxidation
Linoleum
A resilient floor covering formed of burlap or canvas coated with linseed oil, ground cork, and rosin. It is durable, easily maintained, and relatively inexpensive
Heavy timber
Referring to construction in which fire resistance is obtained by using wood structural members of specified minimum sizes.
Frost Heave
Uplift of the soil surface or foundations caused by freezing of moisture in the soil
Knot
A hard, cross-grained mass of wood caused by a branch of limb joining the trunk of a tree and cut through in the process of lumber manufacture
Structural Steel
A medium carbon steel, rolled in a variety of shapes and sizes for use as load-bearing structural members
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, which teh reinforcing steel is assumed to resist tension
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
Parquet
Describing inlaid wood flooring, generally set in a traditional geometric pattern
Toughness
A metal’s ability to withstand shock or impact
Sound Transmission Class (STC)
A single-number rating for the evaluation of a particular cross-section in terms of its transmission of airborne sound. The higher the STC rating, the more effective the construction is at stopping airborne sound.
