Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Air changes per hour (ACH)
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
Best practices
Any methods or standards that will produce superior results when compared to other methods or standards
Carcinogens
Substances known to have links to causes of cancer
Coefficient of friction
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
Commissioning agents
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
Critical radiant flux (CRF)
A gas-fueled heater applies to heat to a sample to determine the minimum amount of heat required to sustain flame
Ecosystems
Interrelated habituated and organisms; healthy ecosystems remain in balance without depletion of resources
Flammability
A materials tendency to support flame
Green
Sustainable materials or practices
Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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
Low-E glass
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
Outgas
Volatile compounds changing from a solid or liquid to a gas and floating out of the material
Particulates
Suspended solids (dust, grit, etc.) that reduce visibility and can cause lung and eye damage, and respiratory problems
Passive solar
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
Sick building syndrome
Health or comfort complaints that appear to be linked to building systems but where no specific illness or cause can be identified
Specification
A detailed description of requirements, or characteristics of a product or of labor, to be performed by others
Specify
To write a description of characteristics, function, and performance of a material or object that may also include installation instructions
Sustainable
Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; material sources that can be replenished
Synthesis
Combining elements to create unified product that has different characteristics than the two original components
Third-party testing
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
Trombe wall
High-mass wall that stores heat from solar gain during the day and slowly radiates the heat back into the living space at night
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Substances whose state can be changed and that interact with organic systems like ecosystems or individual plants and animals
