BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS (BDCS) Flashcards
Two sheets of glass with an air space between, to insulate against the passage of heat or sound. Also called double glazing.
insulating glass
Soil that is easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
friable
The hard fibrous substance lying beneath the pith and bark of trees.
wood
A groove cut into a member to receive another member.
rabbet
The work of installing glass in a frame.
glazing
The interior trough formed by the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces.
valley
A substance that inhibits the development and action of fungi, borers, and insects that deteriorate wood
preservative
Material used to prevent the passage of liquid across a joint or opening.
sealant
American Society for Testing and Methods.
ASTM
Steel having a carbon content over 0.5 percent. In general, increased carbon content increases strength and hardness, but decreases ductility.
high-carbon steel
Removing and/or adding earth in order to bring the ground surface to a specified elevation or profile. Also called earthwork.
grading
Glass which has four or more layers of glass laminated to three or more layers of plastic, used where strong impacts may occur.
bulletproof glass
The upright or vertical edge of a door or window.
stile
A roofing material applied in several layers to create a built-up composition roof.
asphalt saturated felt
A door that moves horizontally, either on a track in the floor or from rollers at the head.
sliding door
Roofing made up of plies of saturated roofing felts alternated with layers of pitch or hot asphalt cement and surfaced with gravel or a cap sheet.
built-up roofing
A permanently plastic waterproof adhesive material used in sealing joints.
mastic
A small hole near the bottom of a retaining wall, usually backfilled with gravel, to allow water to drain to the outside of the wall and thus avoid hydrostatic pressure against the wall.
weep hole
The driving device of a hydraulic elevator, which is powered by liquid under pressure within a cylinder. Also referred to as a ram.
plunger
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.
Unified Soil Classification System
An elevator operated by fluid pressure from below, which raises or lowers the elevator car.
hydraulic elevator
The lower horizontal member, extending between jambs, which forms the bottom of a window or other frame.
sill
Earth that is removed (cut) and earth that is added (fill) in grading.
cut and fill
A vertical support for a handrail
baluster
The ease with which a metal can be shaped by hammering or by machine.
malleability
A rounded exposed edge, such as a tile or wood trim piece.
bullnose
A ratio used to determine the bearing capacity of a soil, based on a standard test.
California bearing ratio (CBR)
The heart center of a log.
pith
A joint formed when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch of concrete is placed against it.
cold joint
A vertical shaft that accommodates one or more elevators, conveyors, or dumbwaiters.
hoistway
The application of plaster to the back of masonry walls.
parging
The joint between two successive concrete pours. Construction joints are usually located where the shear is minimum, such as at a midspan of beams.
construction joint
Lumber that has not been seasoned and whose moisture content is close to that of the living tree.
green
A metal’s resistance to abrasion and penetration.
hardness
Stripping applied to exterior doors or windows to make them weathertight.
weather stripping
The thermal conductivity of a material.
K-value
The grade of brick used where high resistance to freezing and thawing is required.
grade SW (severe weather)
A test to determine the compressive strength of concrete by subjecting a standard cylinder of hardened concrete to compression in a testing machine.
cylinder test
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 with noncorrosive metal ties.
cavity wall
A sprinkler system whose pipes are normally pressurized with only air, thus being invulnerable to freezing temperatures. Upon actuation, the air is vented and supply pressure forces water through the system.
dry pipe sprinkler
The deteriorating reaction between dissimilar metals that are in contact in the presence of moisture. Also called electrolysis.
galvanic action
A door that has a core of solid wood or other solid material.
solid core door
Laminated glass, consisting of a thin sheet of transparent plastic laminated between two layers of clear glass. Also referred to as shatterproof glass.
safety glass
The wood of various coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees, such as cedars, pines, and firs.
softwood
A cellular framework that is filled with rock or soil to retain an earth embankment.
cribbing
Synthetic resins applied in liquid form, producing a durable, seamless floor surface.
elastomeric flooring
Removing and/or adding earth in order to bring the ground surface to a specified elevation or profile. Also called grading.
earthwork
A natural material, formed of decomposed and disintegrated parent rock, that can support plant life.
soil
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 square foot of surface area per hour with a pressure difference of one inch of mercury.
perm
The digging or removal of earth.
excavation
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.
sound transmission class (STC)
The load-carrying unit of an elevator, including its platform, frame, enclosure, and door. Also referred to as an elevator car.
elevator cab
The designation of the quality of a manufactured piece of wood.
grade
Round steel bars with surface deformations that are placed in the forms prior to casting of concrete, and that primarily resist tension.
reinforcing steel
A door that slides upward, rolls up, folds up in panels, or rides up and pivots inward.
overhead door
Steel coated with lead and tin, used for roofing and flashing.
terne plate
A continuously moving, power-driven mechanical device that transports passengers along an incline from one floor to another. Also referred to as an escalator.
moving stairway
An alloy of copper and tin.
bronze
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.
veneer
The level below which the subsoil is completely saturated with water. Also called the groundwater level.
water table
The ratio of water to cement in a concrete mix, the main factor that determines concrete strength.
water-cement ratio
Ordinary window glass that has been cooled slowly to avoid locked-in thermal stresses.
annealed glass
An overhead source of natural light, generally installed on a roof.
skylight
The chemically inert element of concrete, usually consisting of sand, gravel, and/or other granular material.
aggregate
Clear, flat sheet glass that is most commonly used for glazing.
window glass
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.
car bumpers
The moisture content at which a soil starts to change from a semisolid to a plastic state.
plastic limit
Fill that has been densified by the application of pressure, usually by mechanical equipment, in order to increase its strength and stability and reduce its settlement. Properly compacted fill is often suitable for the support of building footings.
compacted fill
An arrangement of the elements of a masonry wall to provide strength by lapping the units. Also refers to the pattern formed by the exposed faces of the units.
bond
Granular material, ranging from about 3/8 inch to 1/200 inch.
sand
Tinted glass that absorbs a high percentage of solar radiation. Also referred to actinic glass.
heat-absorbing glass
A vertical member between windows or doors.
mullion
The horizontal mortar joint in masonry work.
bed joint
A material used to prevent or reduce sound transmission or heat flow.
insulation
A fine-grained cohesive soil that undergoes large volume changes with changes in moisture content.
expansive soil
The incorporation of tiny air bubbles into concrete to improve its workability and resistance to frost.
air entrainment
A hollow concrete masonry unit.
concrete block
Sheet steel in a corrugated, ribbed, or cellular form and used for structural load-carrying purposes in floor or roof construction.
metal decking
A large-toothed roller used for the compaction of soil.
sheepsfoot roller
A horizontal member supporting joists
ledger
An alloy of iron and carbon, with a carbon content between 0.1 and 1.7 percent (more than that of wrought iron and less than that of cast iron).
steel
The maximum depth of frost penetration in the ground expected in a given area.
frost line
Reference points offset a given distance from the building line and set prior to excavation.
batter boards
An alloy of copper, zinc, lead, and tin used for moldings and forgings.
architectural bronze
A complete fastening system including lock, knob, escutcheon, and so on.
lockset
Brick, block, tile, stone, or similar materials bonded together with mortar.
masonry
A member beneath a door, to cover the floor joint or provide weather protection. Also called a saddle.
threshold
A solid core used in driving a shell pile into the ground. When the driving is complete, it is removed and the shell is filled with concrete.
mandrel
A door having hardware that permits it to swing in either direction from the plane of its frame.
double-acting door
Timber decay due to fungus, in which pockets of dry powder develop.
dry rot
A device used to support reinforcing bars during the placing of concrete.
bar chair
Sheet metal or wire fabric into which a base coat of plaster is keyed.
metal lath
Lengthwise separation of wood extending from one face through to the opposite face.
split
The second coat of plaster, in three-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.
brown coat
Bark or lack of wood on the edge or corner of a piece of wood.
wane
Soil with a high organic content (decomposed vegetable or animal matter). Organic soils are usually very compressible and have very low bearing capacities.
organic soil
A door frame of wood or metal to which the finished frame is attached.
buck
The science of sound and sound control.
acoustics
A lock installed in a rectangular opening cut in the door, rather than on the door’s surface.
mortise lock
A door-latching assembly that will open the door if subjected to pressure.
panic hardware
A fine-grained, cohesive, inorganic soil.
clay
A prefabricated strip of molded or extruded material used in a dry glazing process. Also referred to as a glazing gasket.
compression zipper gasket
A step in a spiral stairway that is wedge-shaped, with its tread wider at one end than the other.
winder
A synthetic resin having excellent adhesive properties.
epoxy
Describing a system composed of standardized units or sections used for simplified construction or flexibility.
-modular
A vertical pipe used to conduct roof water to the ground. Also called a downspout.
leader
A synthetic resin used as a vehicle for paint.
alkyd
The exposed underside of an architectural element, such as a beam or arch.
soffit
An alloy of copper and zinc that is corrosion resistant and very workable.
brass
The moisture content (about 30 percent) above which there is no shrinkage or swelling of wood with variation in moisture content.
fiber saturation point
The persistence of sound in an enclosed space after the source has stopped.
reverberation
Sheet steel that has been formed using heavy rollers at room temperature, to improve its surface finish, hardness, and strength.
cold-rolled steel
A flashing saddle used on a sloping roof to divert water around a chimney.
cricket
A continuously-moving, power-driven device that transports passengers up an inclined plane
horizontally (moving sidewalk). Moving ramps have
continuous tread, rather than the individual steps of an escalator.
movIng ramp
The finely ground material used as the binder for structural concrete.
portland cement
A door lock having the locking mechanism within a cylinder.
cylinder lock
A high slump concrete, consisting of Portland cement, sand, hydrated lime, water, and sometimes pea gravel.
grout
A metal’s ability to withstand shock or impact.
toughness
The systematic review of a project design to obtain
the best value for the money spent, considering first costs, operating costs, and replacement costs.
value engineering
A short, vertical member within a window frame, either vertical or horizontal.
muntin
An assembly of sloping, overlapping slats, fixed or adjustable, which excludes rain but admits air and/ or light.
louver
Bricks with dimensions such that one or more brick courses plus the mortar joints produce courses with an exact dimension, which is usually a multiple of four inches.
modular bricks
A log showing the types of soil encountered in a test boring and other relevant information.
soil boring log
A locking device which is rectangular in a cross section and projected manually.
dead bolt
A wall consisting of small, closely spaced members usually sheathed on both faces with a wall material.
stud wall
The appearance grade used for glued laminated members where appearance is an important requirement.
architectural appearance grade
Lumber with rings 0 degrees to 45 degrees with the wide face. Also called flat-grained Lumber.
slash-grained lumber
A prepared substance added to concrete to alter or achieve certain characteristics.
admixture
Flooring material made from small chips of marble set in cement and polished.
terrazzo
A piece of glass used to glaze a division of a window or door.
pane
A pane of glass, a window, or any subdivision of a window.
light
A gypsum plaster mixture containing lime, which is used on interior concrete surfaces.
bonding plaster
The trim applied to the inside face of a door or window frame against which the door or window closes.
stop
An individual vertical tier of masonry in a cavity wall. Also called a wythe.
tier
A base for plaster consisting of a gypsum core sandwiched between two sheets of heavy, porous paper.
gypsum lath
An exposed aggregate concrete finish obtained by roughening the surface with a power-operated bush hammer, which has a serrated face.
bush-hammered finish
A substance, such as calcium chloride, added to a concrete mix to speed up its setting and strength development.
accelerator
The blasting of concrete with sand or another abrasive material to dull the formed surface, make the color uniform, or expose the aggregate.
sandblasting
A test for mixed concrete to determine consistency and workability.
slump test
A corridor that is closed at one end, usually limited to 20 feet in length.
dead-end corridor
The projection of a tread beyond the riser below.
nosing
An impervious material used to prevent water
penetration at joints formed by different materials or surfaces.
flashing
A large timber from which veneers are cut.
flitch
A material having the qualities of rubber.
elastomer
Lumber of all sizes and patterns intended for general building purposes.
yard lumber
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.
lamella
A groove in a concrete structure made to predetermine the location of cracks.
control joint
A round threaded metal device with a bell-shaped end that is used to anchor stone.
Lewis bolt
A unit of measure for lumber equal to the volume of a board 12 inches x 12 inches x 1 inch.
board foot
A logarithmic measure of sound intensity, expressing the ratio between a given sound being measured and a reference level. The reference level generally corresponds to the faintest audible sound.
decibel (dB)
A continuous horizontal layer of masonry work.
course
A method of producing a metal product by pouring
molten metal into a mold of the desired shape
casting
either of the vertical members forming the sides of a door or window opening.
jamb
The pressure exerted by liquid against every surface it contacts.
hydrostatic pressure
The ratio of unit strain to temperature change, which is constant for a given material.
coefficient of thermal expansion
An elevator operated by traction, in which steel cables with counterweights raise or lower the elevator car.
electric elevator
The wavy distortions of glass or metal panels, often seen in curtain wall construction.
oil canning
A short beam passed through a wall to provide temporary support.
needle beam
A simple structural system consisting of beams simply supported on posts.
post-and-beam system
A solid or hollow unit of translucent glass used for non-load-bearing walls.
glass block
A material characterized by opaqueness, hardness, the ability to conduct heat and electricity, and an distinctive luster when untarnished.
metal
Glass that has greater resistance to impact, thermal stresses, and wind than annealed glass, but less
than that of tempered glass.
heat-strengthened
glass
Ceramic tile which has been made completely resistant to penetration by water as a result of vitrification.
impervious tile
A manmade deposit of soil
fill
A thin impervious layer of material that prevents water penetration, as in a built-up roof or wall below grade.
membrane
The load-carrying unit of an elevator, including its platform, frame, enclosure, and door. Also referred to as an elevator cab.
elevator car
An opening between growth rings containing pitch or resin.
pitch pocket
A knurled or roughened finish applied to operating hardware on doors leading to areas that might be hazardous to visually impaired persons
tactile finish
A sprinkler system that is continuously pressurized with water. If a fusible sprinkler opens, water is immediately forced through the sprinkler head.
wet pipe sprinkler
A reinforced concrete wall that is precast at the job site, usually in a flat position, and later tilted up and set into place.
tilt-up wall
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.
casing bead
Impervious to water or water vapor, even under pressure.
waterproof
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.
wood defect
A stream of air that is directed downward across an opening, to exclude drafts, insects, and so on.
air curtain
Wood or metal strips used to make a plane surface; also a cavity within a wall or ceiling.
furring
The appearance grade used for glued laminated members where appearance is not of primary concern.
industrial appearance grade
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.
plywood
An opening in a wall or parapet for the drainage of rainwater from a roof.
scupper
A continuous series of steps extending from floor to floor, floor to landing, or landing to landing.
flight
The arbitrary limits which define the boundaries between the different states of rigidity or fluidity of fine-grained soils.
Atterberg limits
The part of a building’s structure that transmits the building’s load to the underlying soil.
foundation
The masonry bond pattern in which all the head joints form a continuous vertical line and no units overlap.
stacked bond
The materials and methods used to prevent moisture from penetrating a building at or below grade.
dampproofing
The distance from the edge of a door to the center of the knob or lock cylinder.
backset
The removal from a site of unwanted roots, stumps, and so on during excavation.
grubbing
To pack a damp concrete mixture into a confined space.
dry pack
An elevator used to vertically transport equipment, materials, and goods, rather than passengers.
freight elevator
Maintaining concrete at the proper moisture and temperature after it is cast.
curing
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.
aluminum
A mortar joint that has been cleaned of mortar for about 3/4 inch back from the face.
raked joint
A freight elevator that rises to or directly on the sidewalk level by opening hatch doors in the ground floor.
sidewalk elevator
A lightweight aggregate used in lightweight concrete or plaster.
vermiculite
Describing inlaid wood flooring, generally set in a traditional geometric pattern.
parquet
Permitting leakage or flow of water.
pervious
A low-strength metal that is highly resistant to corrosion and therefore used for protective coatings on steel, such as galvanizing.
zinc
Temporary support for a portion of a building.
shoring
Unequal settlement of the various parts of a building, which may cause excessive stresses in the structural frame or tilting of the building
differential settlement
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.
reinforced concrete
Sheet glass containing an embedded wire mesh for strength and safety.
wired glass
A movable 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.
elevator
A slot in which roofing material or flashing is inserted, generally in a vertical wall surface.
reglet
Brick made for exterior use with special consideration of color, texture, and size.
face brick
A concrete element in a location other than its final position. After curing, it is moved to its final location and installed.
precast concrete
The best appearance grade for glued laminated members, used where the finest appearance is required.
Premium appearance grade
A metal strip placed on corners before plastering to reinforce and protect the corner. Also referred to
as an angle bead.
corner bead
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
knot
An underground wood, concrete, or steel member, usually vertical, and usually driven into place, which is used to support building loads.
pile
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
arc welding
A clear coating consisting of resins dissolved in a volatile liquid. Varnish produces a hard, smooth, and glossy protective film.
varnish
The driving device of a hydraulic elevator, which is powered by liquid under pressure within a cylinder. Also referred to as a plunger.
ram
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 Ill have the most.
flame-spread rating
The decomposition of wood caused by fungi.
decay
Opaque glass used in block, sheet, or tile form for
exterior building panels.
structural glass
Distortion of timber during seasoning caused by changing moisture content.
warp
Two sheets of glass with an air space between, to insulate against the passage of heat or sound. Also called insulating glass.
double glazing
Vertical members used to temporarily hold the face of an excavation during construction.
sheeting
A framework of horizontal members used to spread a structural load over a large area.
grillage
The time, in hours, that a material or assembly of materials can withstand exposure to fire.
fire-resistance rating
A medium carbon steel, rolled in a variety of shapes and sizes for use as load-bearing structural members.
structural steel
A type of fire-resistive door that has a solid wood core covered with sheet metal.
kalamein door
Laminated glass, consisting of a thin sheet of transparent plastic laminated between two layers of clear glass. Also referred to as safety glass.
shatterproof glass
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.
high-lift grouting
Describing wood that is seasoned by exposure to the atmosphere without artificial heat.
air-dried
Describing a door in which veneer faces are glued to an inner skeleton framework.
hollow core
A lengthwise separation of wood caused by nonuniform seasoning.
check
Glass with a reflective film laminated between two sheets of clear glass, which behaves like a mirror, reflecting heat and glare.
reflective glass
Uplift of the soil surface or foundations caused by freezing of moisture in the soil.
frost heave
A quarter round trim piece used to cover the joint between the finish flooring and the base.
base shoe
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.
selective-coIIective
A proprietary name for weathering steel
Cor-Ten Steel
Referring to construction in which fire resistance
is obtained by using wood structural members of specified minimum sizes.
heavy timber
Lumber that has been surfaced by a planing machine. If all four sides are surfaced (S4S), the net dimensions of the piece are about 112 inch less than the normal dimensions. Also called surfaced Lumber.
dressed lumber
An inclined timber beam that supports the steps of a wooden stairway.
carriage
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.
linoleum
A beveled fastening device that automatically slides into position when the door is closed.
latch
A method of building reinforced grouted masonry walls in which the grout between the tiers is poured as the units are laid.
low-lift grouting
A scored concrete surface produced by brooming before the concrete has completely hardened.
broom finish
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.
counterflashing
Earth that is replaced around a foundation or retaining wall after the concrete forms have been removed.
backfill
A substance derived from petroleum or coal used to resist water penetration, such as asphalt or coal tar pitch.
bitumen
A process of coating aluminum with a hard oxide film by electrolytic action to prevent corrosion and improve appearance.
anodizing
A door that consists of four leaves, at right angles to each other, that rotate about a vertical axis within
a cylindrical enclosure. It can carry a continuous,
two-way flow of pedestrian traffic with a minimum of interchange of air between inside and outside.
revolving door
The liquid portion of a paint that holds the pigment of solids in suspension.
vehicle
Paint that swells up when exposed to excessive heat and thus resists flame spread.
intumescent paint
A lock mounted on the face of a door.
rim lock
The rounded top edge on a hinge, designed for cleanliness and to avoid catching garments.
hospital tip
A protective or decorative metal plate around a knob and/or keyhold of a door.
escutcheon
A frame in which the panes of a window or door are placed.
sash
A soupy mixture of water and clay or water and Portland cement.
slurry
A pulley wheel for hoisting that has a grooved rim to accommodate a wire cable.
sheave
The minimum clear height available for passage, measured from a stair tread to the overhead construction, including any projection or obstruction.
headroom
A preassembled lock that is installed quickly and efficiently in a rectangular notch cut in the door edge.
unit lock
A solid rectangular masonry unit of clay or shale, which has been burned or fired in a kiln.
brick
Lumber with rings at 45 degrees to 90 degrees with the wide face. Also called vertical-grained lumber.
edge-grained lumber
A method of coating steel with a thin layer of zinc.
sherardizing
Discoloration or dullness on the surface of a metal
caused by oxidation.
tarnish
A member beneath a door, to cover the floor joint or provide weather protection. Also called a threshold.
saddle
A window or door blind made of fixed or movable horizontal slats.
jalousie
A nonbearing exterior building wall, composed of metal framework and panels of glass, plastic, and so on, which functions as an enclosing skin.
curtain wall
The horizontal distance of a flight of stairs, including landings.
run
A weight on the opposite end of the cables from the elevator cab, which is used to increase traction and reduce power requirements of an electric elevator.
counterweight
Describing construction that will not burn or is highly resistant to fire.
fireproof
A material consisting of a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fiber. Although resistant to fire, it is considered a health hazard.
asbestos cement
Heat-treated glass that is resistant to impact stresses, thermal stresses, and wind pressures
tempered glass
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
well point
A prefabricated strip of molded or extruded material used in a dry glazing process. Also referred to as a compression zipper gasket.
glazing gasket
A test to determine the workability of fresh concrete.
Kelly ball test
Removing moisture from green wood to improve its serviceability.
Seasoning
A form of clay tile that is used decoratively.
terra-cotta
Glass with a plastic sheet laminated between the two layers of clear glass (safety glass) or four of more layers of glass laminated to three or more layers of plastic (bulletproof glass).
laminated glass
A type of reinforcement used in reinforced concrete, consisting of a grid of steel wires perpendicular to each other and welded at all points of intersection.
welded wire fabric
A mixture of cement, lime, sand, and water used to bond bricks or stone in masonry work.
mortar
A joint between two wood members, in which a tenon, the projecting end of one piece, is fitted into a mortise, an opening cut into another piece.
mortise-and-tenon joint
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.
glazed tile
An inclined member that supports the treads and risers of a stairway.
stringer
The ability of a material to undergo large deformations without fracture.
ductility
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.
underpinning
The ease with which concrete can be placed and consolidated in the forms.
workability
The load per unit area that can be safely supported by the ground.
bearing capacity
An individual vertical tier of masonry in a cavity wall. Also called a tier.
wythe
Having no opening larger than capillary pores that permit leakage of water.
water-resistant
A brownish powdery substance (iron oxide) which forms on the surface of iron as a result of oxidation.
rust
Permanence or resistance to deterioration. requently used to refer to the resistance to decay of a species of wood.
durability
A masonry course in which the units are laid on edge with their ends exposed.
rowlock
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.
glued laminated beam
Describing wood that is seasoned in a chamber using artificial heat.
kiln-dried
A type of cement (ASTM Type Ill) 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
high-early-strength cement
The vertical face of a stair step; its height is the vertical distance between treads.
riser
A plastic composition of magnesium chloride, sand, and magnesite, used as jointless flooring over concrete, wood, or steel decking.
magnesite flooring
A solution of refined lac resin and denatured alcohol used as a clear coating.
shellac
The deterioration of metal by chemical action, as a result of exposure to air, water, soil, or other agents.
corrosion
The property of permitting passage of water or water vapor through a material without causing rupture or displacement.
permeability
The overall rate of heat flow of a particular wall section, expressed in Btus per hour per degree of l=ahrenheit per square foot.
U-factor or U-value
A hole drilled into the ground at the site of a proposed structure in order to obtain samples of the subsurface soil for examination and testing in a laboratory. Based on these tests, the soil engineer recommends the type of foundation and the allowable soil bearing pressure.
test boring
Incapable of transmitting water by capillary action, but able to transmit water under pressure.
water-repellent
A horizontal tie beam connecting two opposing rafters at a level above the wall plates.
collar beam
A recessed space or passage through a wall or other
element to accommodate pipes or ducts.
chase
Cross braces used between joists to stabilize them.
bridging
extracting metal from its ore.
smelting
The vertical mortar joint between ends of masonry units.
head joint
A horizontal member used to support a structure above, such as one of the wood strips between a concrete slab and a finished wood floor.
sleeper
The complete separation, from top of footing to the roof, of adjacent building parts to allow for expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes.
expansion joint
A cone-bearing evergreen tree, such as cedar, pine, or fir.
conifer
Tiny air bubbles incorporated into mortar or concrete during mixing to resist freezing action.
entrained air
A masonry wall built without mortar. Also, an interior wall or ceiling of gypsum wallboard construction.
drywall
The deteriorating reaction between dissimilar metals that are in contact in the presence of moisture. Also called galvanic action.
electrolysis
A coarse granular material, with particles varying from about 3 inches to 3/16 inch.
gravel
Wood that has been sawn into construction timbers.
lumber
Brick made from fire clay which has great resistance to high temperatures.
fire brick
The whitish powder of crystallization, caused by water soluble salts, which comes to the surface when water evaporates from brick.
efflorescence
A grade of brick used where moderate resistance to freezing is required.
grade MW (moderate weather)
The binding or cementing material in mortar, concrete, or terrazzo.
matrix
Hand-split wood shingles.
shakes
Describing cement or plaster that has been mixed with water only, without sand or lime.
neat
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-driven sheave
traction machine
A compression test of hardened concrete that has been cut from the structure.
core test
A short rafter between hip rafter and eave or between valley and ridge.
jack rafter
Another term for concrete block.
concrete masonry unit
CMU
Glass that has been textured or to which a pattern has been applied in order to obscure vision or create a decorative effect.
patterned glass
A measure of roofing surface area, equal to 100
square feet.
square
Small, flat tile units set on floors, walls, or ceilings to provide permanent, waterproof, durable, and easily maintained finish surfaces.
ceramic tile
A cut or notch in a material.
kerf
A lengthwise grain separation due to natural causes.
shake
A mechanical fastening device with a rectangular
locking bolt that is projected manually or with a key.
lock
The chemical combination of a substance with oxygen, which may cause corrosion or tarnishing in metals.
oxidation
A low-strength layer of fine particles that floats to the surface of wet concrete.
laitance
In place.
in situ
Rejected material whose quality is too low to be used.
culls
The tendency of water to move into small spaces, regardless of gravity.
capillary action
A masonry course in which the flat, short ends of the units are exposed.
header course
The movement of water to the surface of freshly cast concrete.
bleeding
A substance composed of two or more metals that have been intimately mixed.
alloy
Wire mesh, gypsum lath, wood strips, and so on, which are used for the support and adhesion of plaster.
lath
An emulsion of finely dispersed particles of rubber or plastic.
latex
An airtight layer used to prevent moisture from a warm interior from passing into and condensing within a cold wall or ceiling area.
vapor barrier
A nail having a tapered, rectangular form with a blunt point, cut from sheet steel.
cut nail
The most common type of door, generally hung on butts or hinges that are attached to the jambs or bucks.
swinging door
A mineral-fiber, low-density plaster mixture which is hand-troweled or machine-sprayed to produce a sound-absorbing surface.
acoustic plaster
A method of placing piles using high-pressure water jets.
jetting
The solid component of paint, consisting of finely ground material, which gives the paint its color.
pigment
The exterior edge formed by the meeting of two adjacent sloping roof surfaces.
hip
The vertical support that terminates a handrail at the head or foot of a stairway.
newel post
A beveled strip used to avoid a sharp bend in roofing material.
cant strip
A horizontal element which separates a door from a window panel above, or the window above such
a crosspiece. Also, a crossbar dividing a window
horizontally.
transom
