Chapter 1 Vocab

Question 1

Air changes per hour (ACH)

Answer 1

Movement of a volume of air in a given period of time; if a house has one air change per hour, it means that all the air in the house will be replaced in a one-hour period

Question 2

Best practices

Answer 2

Any methods or standards that will produce superior results when compared to other methods or standards

Question 3

Carcinogens

Answer 3

Substances known to have links to causes of cancer

Question 4

Coefficient of friction

Answer 4

The ratio of the tangential force that is needed to start or maintain uniform relative motion between two contacting surfaces to the perpendicular force holding them in contact. Essentially, slip resistance

Question 5

Commissioning agents

Answer 5

Persons responsible for coordinating an carrying out the commissioning process by implementing the commissioning plan and ensuring prior to occupancy that all building systems are operational

Question 6

Critical radiant flux (CRF)

Answer 6

A gas-fueled heater applies to heat to a sample to determine the minimum amount of heat required to sustain flame

Question 7

Ecosystems

Answer 7

Interrelated habituated and organisms; healthy ecosystems remain in balance without depletion of resources

Question 8

Flammability

Answer 8

A materials tendency to support flame

Question 9

Green

Answer 9

Sustainable materials or practices

Question 10

Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Answer 10

Leadership in Energy and Environmental design Green Building Rating System promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality

Question 11

Low-E glass

Answer 11

Low-emission glass (Low-E) is a clear glass that allows sun’s light to pass through the glass into the building while blocking the heat from leaving

Question 12

Outgas

Answer 12

Volatile compounds changing from a solid or liquid to a gas and floating out of the material

Question 13

Particulates

Answer 13

Suspended solids (dust, grit, etc.) that reduce visibility and can cause lung and eye damage, and respiratory problems

Question 14

Passive solar

Answer 14

System that relies on the natural radiation, convention and conduction for the transfer of heat or coolness, Dense materials are effective storage for heat and coolness, absorbing heat from the sun, radiating it back out at night to even out indoor temperatures, causing air movement for ventilation or cooling, or storing heat for future use, without the assistance of other energy sources

Question 15

Sick building syndrome

Answer 15

Health or comfort complaints that appear to be linked to building systems but where no specific illness or cause can be identified

Question 16

Specification

Answer 16

A detailed description of requirements, or characteristics of a product or of labor, to be performed by others

Question 17

Specify

Answer 17

To write a description of characteristics, function, and performance of a material or object that may also include installation instructions

Question 18

Sustainable

Answer 18

Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; material sources that can be replenished

Question 19

Synthesis

Answer 19

Combining elements to create unified product that has different characteristics than the two original components

Question 20

Third-party testing

Answer 20

An entity or organization that is not associated with parities having interest but is instead only incidentally associated. A second party, on the other hand, is an organization or entity that is once removed from a monetary interest. For instance, a trade association whose members are manufacturers or installers of product would be considered a second-party entity to those businesses

Question 21

Trombe wall

Answer 21

High-mass wall that stores heat from solar gain during the day and slowly radiates the heat back into the living space at night

Question 22

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Answer 22

Substances whose state can be changed and that interact with organic systems like ecosystems or individual plants and animals