Key Terms Flashcards
Arch
Combines the function of a beam and a column
Attitude
Vertical or horizontal orientation
Axial Load
A load that passes through the centroid of a section under construction and is perpendicular to the plane of the section
Bar Joist
Lightweight steel truss joint
Beam
A structural member that transmits forces perpendicular to such forces to the reaction points
Bent
A line of columns in any direction
Braced Frame
A structural system that uses diagonal members to provide bracing against lateral wind and earthquake loads
Bracket
Diagonal member that supports what would otherwise be a cantilever
Brick & Block Composite Wall
Consists of an exterior wythe of brick directly mortared or parged to an inner wythe of concrete masonry unit (CMU)
BTU
British thermal unit: the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree at the pressure of 1 atmosphere and temperature of 60 degrees
Built-up Girder
Made of steel plates and angles riveted together
Buttress
Mass of masonry built against a wall to strengthen it
Caloric Value
Measure in BTU; the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree
Camber
Upward rise
Cantilever Beam
A beam supported at one end only, rigidly held in position at that end
Cantilevered
Type of construction in which an overhang is supported from only one end where the floor extends beyond and over a foundation wall
Cavity or Hollow Wall
Wall built of two wythes (a single vertical thickness of masonry) separated by a space for rain drainage or insulation
Centroid
Center point at which a body would be stable, or balance, under the influence of gravity
Chord
The outside members (top and bottom) of a truss, as opposed to the inner “webbed members”
Column
A structural member that transmits a compressive force along a straight path in the direction of the member
Composite
Built up of different parts, pieces, or materials
Composite Wall
A wall composed of two or more masonry materials that react together under load
Compression
Direct pushing force, in line with the axis member; the opposite of tension
Concentrated Load
A load acting on a very small area of the structure’s surface; the exact opposite of a distributed load
Continuous Beam
A beam supported at three or more points
Core Construction
No external braces involved; bracing is done within the core of the structure
Cross wall
Any wall at right angles to any other wall; the walls should brace one another
Dead Load
Weight of a building; the dead load consists of the weight of all materials of constructions incorporated into a building, including but not limited to walls, floor, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes cladding, and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, as well as fixed service equipment, including the weight of cranes
Deflection
The deformation or displacement of a structural member as a result of loads acting on it
Demising Wall
Wall bounding a tenant space
Diaphragm Floor
A floor designed to stiffen a building against wind and other lateral loads such as earthquakes
Eccentric Load
A force that is perpendicular to the plane of the section but does not pass through the center of the section
Fire cut
The end of a joist that is cut at an angle to permit the joist to fall out of a wall without damaging the load-bearing wall
Fire load
The potential fuel available for a fire in a building
Fire resistance
The ability of a material to avoid ignition, combustion, and the thermal effects of fire
Fire wall
Wall with a fire-resistive rating and structural stability that separates buildings or subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire
Fixed beam
Beam supported at two points and rigidly held in position at both points
Flitch plate girder
Made by sandwiching a piece of steel between two wooden beams
Foundation
Lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below ground level
Gang nail
Another name for a gusset plate in a lightweight wood truss
Girder
A beam that supports other beams
Gravity connection
A connection that depends on the weight of the building to hold it in place
Gravity resistance system
All of the structural elements of a building and the connections that support and transfer the loads
Grillage
A series of closely spaced beams designed to carry a particularly heavy load
Gusset plate
Connecting plate made of thin sheet of steel used to connect the components of the truss
Header
Masonry unit that overlaps two or more adjoining wythes of masonry to tie them together
Heat release rate (HRR)
Rate at which the potential heat in a fuel is released
Homogeneous
When describing wall construction, a wall that acts as one unit
Hurricane bracing
Components of a hurricane resistance system that prevent uplift of the components of a structure
Impact load
Effect of moving a load upon a stationary structure
Inverted king post truss
A truss incorporating a single compression member; it is inverted because the compression member extends downward
Joist
A beam
K-bracing
an arrangement of braces between columns that resembles the letter “K”
Kilojoule (kJ)
Metric unit approximately equivalent to one btu
Kilowatt (KW)
A unit for measuring the energy release rate of fire
KIP
one thousand pounds force
Knee wall
A wall typically found in the top floor of a wood-frame home with a peaked roof
Lateral impact load
Force that acts on a structure from a horizontal direction, such as wind or seismic forces
Ledger board
A wood board typically attached to a wall’s studs that is used to support wood joists
Lightweight truss
A collection of lightweight structural components joined in triangular unit that can be used to support either floors or roofs
Lintel
The horizontal beam that forms the upper structural member of an opening for a window or door and supports part of the structure above it
Live load
The weight of the building contents
Load
Force or other action that results from the weight of all building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effects, differential movement, and restrained dimensional changes
Load-bearing wall
Any wall that carries a load in addition to its own weight
Megastructure
A very large structure
Megawatt (MW)
Unit for measuring the energy release rate of fire
Moment
Tendency of a force to rotate or twist a structural member
Moment frame
Structural system that utilizes special “moment” connections between columns and beams to resist rotation due to lateral loads such as earthquakes and wind
Monolithic concrete
A construction technique in which all successive poured concrete castings are joined together so that the structure seems to be like one piece of stone
Needle beam
When any change is to be made in the foundation of an existing wall, the wall must be supported. Often holes are cut through the wall, and so called needle beams are inserted and supported on both sides. They pick up the load of the walls
Neutral Axis
Line along which the length of the beam does not change
Non-load bearing wall
A wall supporting no load other than its own weight
Overhanging beam
A beam that projects beyond it support, but not far enough to be a cantilever
Panel points
Connection points joining ties, struts, and chords in a truss
Panel Wall (curtain wall)
Non-load bearing enclosing wall on framed buildings
Parallel-chord truss
A truss in which both the upper and lower chords are parallel to each other
Partition wall
A non-load bearing wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room
Party wall
A load-bearing wall that is common to two structures
Pier
A short column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross section, used to support other structural members
Pilaster
A masonry column projecting from or both faces of the wall in which it is located
Pinned
A description for structural elements that are connected by simple connectors such as bolts, rivets, or welded joints
Plastic design
Design based on connections that redirect overloads to other sections of the building
Portal bracing
Heavy riveting of girders to columns from the top to the bottom of the fram
Precast
Concrete member that is cast and cured in place other than its final position in the structure
Precast concrete tilt slab wall
Type of wall that acts as a vertical cantilever when it is being erected and is braced by tormentors or temporary bracing poles
Q
A designation of HRR; refers to the rate at which a fuel will burn
Queen post truss
A truss with two compression members
Rakers
Diagonal bracing columns
Reaction
The response in structures to the imposed loads, which are generally developed at the supports
Reinforced concrete
Steel reinforcement that is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resisting forces
Repeated Load
A load that is applied intermittently
Rigid frame
Structural frame in which all columns and beams are rigidly connected
Rising roof
Differences in moisture levels between the upper and lower wood truss chords cause the truss to bend and create a rise in the roof
Rubble masonry wall
A wall composed of inner and outer wythes of coursed masonry. Such walls are unstable to a lateral thrust
Safety factor
The ratio of the strength of the material just before failure to the safe working stress
Sand-lime mortar
Water-soluble mixture used in the past as mortar; when a water is applied, the mortar can be washed away from the wall
Self-releasing floor
Type of floor in which floor girders are set on anchor boxes in walls and caps attached to columns. A wood cleat or steel dog-rion similar to a big staple is used to provide minimal stability. often used in heavy-timber construction
Self-weight
Another term for dead load
Serpentine wall
A curving wall
Shear
Forces occurring within a building member when opposing forces pull the member in opposite directions
Shear wall
A wall that counteracts the effects of lateral loads such as wind and earthquakes
Simple beam
A beam supported at two points near its ends. in simple beam construction, the load is delivered to the two reaction points and the rest of the structure renders no assistance in an overload
Spaceframe
Three dimensional pyramid-like truss
Spandrel girder
Girder that ties wall columns together in a framed building
Steel joist
An open web design used for the support of floors and roofs
Stiffness
The capacity of a member or framework to resist imposed loads without excessive deflection
Strain
The actual percentage of elongation (deformation) when material is stressed
Stretcher
A masonry unit laid horizontally with its length in the direction of the face of the wall
Structural elements
Components of a structure that include beams, trusses, columns, arches, and walls
Structural frame
All members of a structure that are tied together to carry the imposed loads to the substructure, and hence to the ground
Strut
A bracing column
Suspended beam
A simple beam, with one or both ends suspended on a tension member such as a chain, cable, or rod
Suspended load
A hanging load supported from above
Tension
A pulling or stretching force in line with the axis of the body; the opposite of compression, which is pushing, crushing stress
Tie
The tensile connecting members of a truss web
Tie rod
A rod in tension; used to hold parts of a structure together
Torque
The measurable turning force applied to a structural member
Torsion
A force tending to twist a structural member
Transfer beam
A beam that typically carries a load around a large opening or over an area in order to avoid intervening columns
Transmission
The manner in which a load is spread from the pint of application to the ground
Triangular truss
A roof truss that is triangular in shape; it is used to create a peaked roof
Truss
A type of beam that is framed a structure consisting of a triangle or group of triangles arranged in a single plane in such a manner that loads applied at the points of intersections of the members will cause only direct stresses (tension or compression) in the members
Tube construction
Externally braced structure
Ultimate strength
The highest load that a member or structure can sustain before failure occurs
Uniformly distributed load
A load that is applied evenly over an area
Veneer wall
Wall made up of a single vertical thickness of masonry that is designed to improve the exterior appearance of a building
Vierendeel Truss
A rectangular truss with very rigid corner bracing
Voussoir
A wedge shaped block whose converging sides radiate from a center, forming an element of an arch or vaulted cieling
Wall
A structural element that transmits to the ground the compressive forces applied along the top or received at any point on the wall
Wall column
A column of steel, reinforced concrete, or solid masonry in a block wall. Concentrated loads such as main girders are applied to the wall directly above the wall column
Watt (W)
A unit for measuring the energy release rate of a fire
Web
The group of struts, ties, and panel points in a truss
Weep hole
A drainage hole in a masonry wall that allows water trapped inside the wall to escape
Wet joint
Cast in place concrete that unites the rods projecting from precast section
Wind load
Positive or negative force of the wind acting on a structure
Wythe
A single continuous vertical wall of masonry units (one masonry unit in thickness
Prefire analysis
A study of information that has been gathered as part of a prefire plan to identify specific construction issues/concerns and interactions
Prefire planning
A document developed by gathering general and detailed data used by responding personnel to determine the resources and actions necessary to mitigate anticipated emergencies at a specific facility
Admixture
A material other than water, aggregate, and cement used as an ingredient in concrete or mortar
Aggregate
Any of variety of materials, such as sand and gravel, added to a cement mixture to make concrete
Aluminum
A lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. this material has very good conductivity. this noncombustible material has a low melting point and little mass per unit of area, so it disintegrates rapidly in fire
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Set of regulations passed in 1990 that includes, among other things, regulations requiring areas of refuge for disabled people in multistory buildings
Architect
An individual who is engaged in the design of buildings and who often supervises construction
Area of Refuge
An area of a building separated from other spaces by fire rated smoke barriers in which a tenable environment is maintained for the period of time that such areas may need to be occupied at the time of a fire
Brick
Solid or hollow masonry unit of clay mixed with sand, which is molded into a small rectangular shape while in a plastic state
Building Code
Regulates the actual design and construction of new buildings, providing for minimum levels of health and safety. Regulates the level and amount of fire protection in a new structure
Caisson
Shaft or concrete placed under a building column or wall extending down to the bedrock
Cells (concrete)
The hollow portions of the core of a concrete block
Civil Engineer
An engineer who specializes in the design of parking lots, drainage areas, and roadways
Cold-drawn Steel
Type of steel used in construction of cables that are sometimes used to brace failing buildings or as tendons in tensioned concrete. Fails at 800 degrees F
Composite Material
Material built of different parts, pieces, and materials intended to act as a single unit
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
Precast hollow or solid structural block
Construction Safety Regulations
OSHA regulations that apply to construction sites
Corrugation
Grooved ridged material, often metal
Crosslot bracing
Internal bracing that transfers the lateral earth pressures between opposing walls through compressive struts
Cured (concrete)
Concrete that is hardened to full strength
Dewatering pump
Pump that removes water from the ground or excavations that hinder construction from an area of the site
Electrical Engineer
Engineer who specializes in the design of lighting, power telecommunications, and emergency power of a structure
Falsework/Formwork
Temporary shoring, formwork, beams, or lateral bracing to support the work in the process of construction
Fire code
Regulates the activities that take place in existing buildings, including maintenance of existing fire protection features
Fire partition
Fire rated assembly that subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire such as between dwelling units in a multiple dwelling
Fire protection engineer
Engineer who specializes in the design of fire protection systems
Fireproofing contractor
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to spray a layer of cementitious material onto steel for fire resistance purposes
Folded plate
Structural element used to strengthen the roof of a structure over large areas
Footing
Thick concrete pads, usually heavily reinforced, which transfer the loads of piers or columns to the ground
Foundation
Lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below ground level
Framing
System of rough timber structural woodwork that is joined together to support or enclose, such as partitions, flooring, and roofing
General contractor
The prime contractor who oversees and is responsible for the overall work on the site
Gypsum
A natural mineral used in the manufacture of drywall and plaster
Insurance regulations
Rules of an insurance company in regard to coverage
Interior Finish
Exposed material on a wall, ceiling, or floor
Lightweight wood truss
A collection of lightweight wood structural components joined in a triangular configuration that can be used to support either floors or roofs
Malleable
The property of a metal that allows it to be shaped by bending, hammering, or extruding without cracking or rupturing
Masonry unit
The type of masonry used on a given structure (bricks or concrete blocks)
Mechanical enigneeer
A person trained in a branch of engineering related to mechanical equipment. Usually designs the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems and plumbing of the building
Modular construction
A construction technique in which a set of prefabricated modules are transported to and assembled at a construction site, creating a building
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
A type of board made of layers of strands of wood cut from logs, with a fairly constant width to length ratio
Pile
One of a series of large timbers or steel sections driven into soft ground down to bedrock to provide a solid foundation for the superstructure of a building
Plastic
Synthetic materials that are composed of organic polymers that can be shaped and molded
Plumbing contractor
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to oversee the installation of plumbing within a building
Plywood
Wood panels manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles to develop the approximate equal strength in either direction
Portland cement mortar
Most common type of cement in use today
Progressive collapse
Extensive structural failure initiated by local structural damage or a chain reaction of failures following damage to a small portion of a structure
Quarried stone
Natural stones such as granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone
Raker
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Reinforcement bar (rebar)
Steel bar placed in concrete to increase its overall tensile strength
Sand-lime mortar
Water-soluble mixture; can be washed away from wall with water
Scale (Architectural)
An instrument with uniformly spaced marks used to measure distance on a set of blueprints
Seismic protection
Stabilization of outer walls, overhangs, floors, and walls to resist destruction by an earthquake
Slurry wall
A foundation wall in an excavation that is heavily reinforced with steel and temporarily filled with a liquid slurry mixture that is subsequently displaced by concrete
Spall
A small fragment or chip dislodged from the face of a stone or masonry unit
Specifications
Manuals prepared by building designers that specify which particular type of device or equipment is to be used in the building
Structural Engineer
Engineer who is consulted in large buildings to design the structural frame
Structural steel
Steel rolled in a variety of shapes and fabricated for use as load-bearing structural members or elements
Subcontractor
A specialist who undertakes part of a main building contract from a contractor
Substructure
The foundation and footings
Superstructure
Any structure above the substructure
Thermal pane windows
Units composed of two or more glass panes win a hermetically sealed frame
Thermoplastic
Construction material that softens when heated and rehardens when cooled
Thermoset
Plastic that chars and burns, but does not flow
Tieback
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Wallboard
A large, rigid gypsum sheet that is fastened to the frame of a building and provides the surface finish
Wallboard contractor
Subcontractor hired by a contractor to oversee the surface finishes of walls that are fastened to the frame of the building
Wooden I-joist
Composite lightweight wood material used in an “I” cross section
Wrought iron
A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature; used for water pipes, rivets, and other ornamental forged work
Zoning regulations
Dictate land usage in specific cities
Combines the function of a beam and a column
Arch
Vertical or horizontal orientation
Attitude
A load that passes through the centroid of a section under construction and is perpendicular to the plane of the section
Axial Load
Lightweight steel truss joint
Bar Joist
A structural member that transmits forces perpendicular to such forces to the reaction points
Beam
A line of columns in any direction
Bent
A structural system that uses diagonal members to provide bracing against lateral wind and earthquake loads
Braced Frame
Diagonal member that supports what would otherwise be a cantilever
Bracket
Consists of an exterior wythe of brick directly mortared or parged to an inner wythe of concrete masonry unit (CMU)
Brick & Block Composite Wall
British thermal unit: the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree at the pressure of 1 atmosphere and temperature of 60 degrees
BTU
Made of steel plates and angles riveted together, as distinguished from one rolled from one piece of steel
Built-up Girder
Mass of masonry built against a wall to strengthen it. Necessary when a vault or an arch places a heavy load or thrust on one part of a wall
Buttress
Measure in BTU; the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree
Caloric Value
Upward rise
Camber
A beam supported at one end only, rigidly held in position at that end
Cantilever Beam
Supported by a cantilever
Cantilevered
Wall built of two wythes (a single vertical thickness of masonry) separated by a space for rain drainage or insulation
Cavity or Hollow Wall
Center point at which a body would be stable, or balance, under the influence of gravity
Centroid
The outside members (top and bottom) of a truss, as opposed to the inner “webbed members”
Chord
A structural member that transmits a compressive force along a straight path in the direction of the member
Column
Built up of different parts, pieces, or materials
Composite
A wall composed of two or more masonry materials that react together under load
Composite Wall
Direct pushing force, in line with the axis member; the opposite of tension
Compression
A load acting on a very small area of the structure’s surface; the exact opposite of a distributed load
Concentrated Load
A beam supported at three or more points. It is considered structurally advantageous because if the span between two supports is overloaded, the rest of the beam assists in carrying the load
Continuous Beam
No external braces involved; bracing is done within the core of the structure
Core Construction
Any wall at right angles to any other wall; the walls should brace one another
Cross wall
Weight of a building; the dead load consists of the weight of all materials of constructions incorporated into a building, including but not limited to walls, floor, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes cladding, and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, as well as fixed service equipment, including the weight of cranes
Dead Load
The deformation or displacement of a structural member as a result of loads acting on it
Deflection
Wall bounding a tenant space
Demising Wall
A floor designed to stiffen a building against wind and other lateral loads such as earthquakes
Diaphragm Floor
A force that is perpendicular to the plane of the section but does not pas through the center of the section
Eccentric Load
The end of a joist that is cut at an angle to permit the joist to fall out of a wall without damaging the load-bearing wall
Fire cut
The potential fuel available for a fire in a building
Fire load
The ability of a material to avoid ignition, combustion, and the thermal effects of fire
Fire resistance
Wall with a fire-resistive rating and structural stability that separates buildings or subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire
Fire wall
Beam supported at two points and rigidly held in position at both points. This rigidity may cause collapse of a wall if the beam collapses and the rigid connection does not yield properly
Fixed beam
Made by sandwiching a piece of steel between two wooden beams
Flitch plate girder
Lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below ground level
Foundation
Another name for a gusset plate in a lightweight wood truss
Gang nail
A beam that supports other beams
Girder
A connection that depends on the weight of the building to hold it in place
Gravity connection
All of the structural elements of a building and the connections that support and transfer the loads
Gravity resistance system
A series of closely spaced beams designed to carry a particularly heavy load
Grillage
Connecting plate made of thin sheet of steel used to connect the components of the truss
Gusset plate
Masonry unity that overlaps two or more adjoining wythes of masonry to tie them together
Header
Rate at which the potential heat in a fuel is released
Heat release rate (HRR)
When describing wall construction, a wall that acts as one unit
Homogeneous
Components of a hurricane resistance system that prevent uplift of the components of a structure, including galvanized steel straps used to connect roof trusses to stud walls and anchor bolts used to connect stud walls with sill and sole plates
Hurricane bracing
Effect of moving a load upon a stationary structure
Impact load
A truss incorporating a single compression member; it is inverted because the compression member extends downward
Inverted king post truss
A beam
Joist
an arrangement of braces between columns that resembles the letter “K”
K-bracing
Metric unit approximately equivalent to one btu
Kilojoule (kJ)
A unit for measuring the energy release rate of fire
Kilowatt (KW)
one thousand pounds force
KIP
A wall typically found in the top floor of a wood-frame home with a peaked roof
Knee wall
Force that acts on a structure from a horizontal direction, such as wind or seismic forces
Lateral impact load
A wood board typically attached to a wall’s studs that is used to support wood joists
Ledger board
A collection of lightweight structural components joined in triangular unit that can be used to support either floors or roofs
Lightweight truss
The horizontal beam that forms the upper structural member of an opening for a window or door and supports part of the structure above it
Lintel
The weight of the building contents
Live load
Force or other action that results from the weight of all building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effects, differential movement, and restrained dimensional changes
Load
Any wall that carries a load in addition to its own weight
Load-bearing wall
A very large structure
Megastructure
Unit for measuring the energy release rate of fire
Megawatt (MW)
Tendency of a force to rotate or twist a structural member
Moment
Structural system that utilizes special “moment” connections between columns and beams to resist rotation due to lateral loads such as earthquakes and wind
Moment frame
A construction technique in which all successive poured concrete castings are joined together so that the structure seems to be like one piece of stone
Monolithic concrete
When any change is to be made in the foundation of an existing walk, the wall must be supported. Often holes are cut through the wall, and so called needle beams are inserted and supported on both sides. They pick up the load of the walls
Needle beam
Line along which the length of the beam does not change
Neutral Axis
A wall supporting no load other than its own weight
Non-load bearing wall
A beam that projects beyond it support, but not far enough to be a cantilever
Overhanging beam
Connection points joining ties, struts, and chords in a truss
Panel points
Non-load bearing enclosing wall on framed buildings
Panel Wall (curtain wall)
A truss in which both the upper and lower chords are parallel to each other
Parallel-chord truss
A non-load bearing wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room
Partition wall
A load-bearing wall that is common to two structures
Party wall
A short column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross section, used to support other structural members
Pier
A masonry column projecting from or both faces of the wall in which it is located
Pilaster
A description for structural elements that are connected by simple connectors such as bolts, rivets, or welded joints
Pinned
Design based on connections that redirect overloads to other sections of the building
Plastic design
Heavy riveting of girders to columns from the top to the bottom of the fram
Portal bracing
Concrete member that is cast and cured in place other than its final position in the structure
Precast
Type of wall that acts as a vertical cantilever when it is being erected and is braced by tormentors or temporary bracing poles
Precast concrete tilt slab wall
A designation of HRR; refers to the rate at which a fuel will burn
Q
A truss with two compression members
Queen post truss
Diagonal bracing columns
Rakers
The response in structures to the imposed loads, which are generally developed at the supports
Reaction
In concrete masonry construction, steel reinforcement that is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resisting forces
Reinforced concrete
A load that is applied intermittently
Repeated Load
Structural frame in which all columns and beams are rigidly connected. There are no hinged joints, and the angular relationship between beam and column members is maintained under load
Rigid frame
A phenomenon in wood trusses in which differences in moisture levels between the upper and lower wood truss chords cause the truss to bend and create a rise in the roof
Rising roof
A wall composed of inner and outer wythes of coursed masonry. The space between the wythes is filled with random masonry, sometimes mixed with mortar. Such walls are unstable to a lateral thrust
Rubble masonry wall
The ratio of the strength of the material just before failure to the safe working stress
Safety factor
Water-soluble mixture used in the past as mortar; when a water is applied, the mortar can be washed away from the wall
Sand-lime mortar
Type of floor in which floor girders are set on anchor boxes in walls and caps attached to columns. A wood cleat or steel dog-rion similar to a big staple is used to provide minimal stability. often used in heavy-timber construction
Self-releasing floor
Another term for dead load
Self-weight
A curving wall
Serpentine wall
Forces occurring within a building member when opposing forces pull the member in opposite directions
Shear
A wall that counteracts the effects of lateral loads such as wind and earthquakes
Shear wall
A beam supported at two points near its ends. in simple beam construction, the load is delivered to the two reaction points and the rest of the structure renders no assistance in an overload
Simple beam
Three dimensional pyramid-like truss
Spaceframe
Girder that ties wall columns together in a framed building
Spandrel girder
An open web design used for the support of floors and roofs
Steel joist
The capacity of a member or framework to resist imposed loads without excessive deflection
Stiffness
The actual percentage of elongation (deformation) when material is stressed
Strain
A masonry unit laid horizontally with its length in the direction of the face of the wall
Stretcher
Components of a structure that include beams, trusses, columns, arches, and walls
Structural elements
All members of a structure that are tied together to carry the imposed loads to the substructure, and hence to the ground
Structural frame
A bracing column
Strut
A simple beam, with one or both ends suspended on a tension member such as a chain, cable, or rod
Suspended beam
A hanging load supported from above
Suspended load
A pulling or stretching force in line with the axis of the body; the opposite of compression, which is pushing, crushing stress
Tension
The tensile connecting members of a truss web
Tie
A rod in tension; used to hold parts of a structure together
Tie rod
The measurable turning force applied to a structural member
Torque
A force tending to twist a structural member
Torsion
A beam that typically carries a load around a large opening or over an area in order to avoid intervening columns
Transfer beam
The manner in which a load is spread from the pint of application to the ground
Transmission
A roof truss that is triangular in shape; it is used to create a peaked roof
Triangular truss
A type of beam that is framed a structure consisting of a triangle or group of triangles arranged in a single plane in such a manner that loads applied at the points of intersections of the members will cause only direct stresses (tension or compression) in the members
Truss
Externally braced structure
Tube construction
The highest load that a member or structure can sustain before failure occurs
Ultimate strength
A load that is applied evenly over an area
Uniformly distributed load
Wall made up of a single vertical thickness of masonry that is designed to improve the exterior appearance of a building
Veneer wall
A rectangular truss with very rigid corner bracing
Vierendeel Truss
A wedge shaped block whose converging sides radiate from a center, forming an element of an arch or vaulted cieling
Voussoir
A structural element that transmits to the ground the compressive forces applied along the top or received at any point on the wall
Wall
A column of steel, reinforced concrete, or solid masonry in a block wall. Concentrated loads such as main girders are applied to the wall directly above the wall column
Wall column
A unit for measuring the energy release rate of a fire
Watt (W)
The group of struts, ties, and panel points in a truss
Web
A drainage hole in a masonry wall that allows water trapped inside the wall to escape
Weep hole
Cast in place concrete that unites the rods projecting from precast section
Wet joint
Positive or negative force of the wind acting on a structure
Wind load
A single continuous vertical wall of masonry units (one masonry unit in thickness
Wythe
A study of information that has been gathered as part of a prefire plan to identify specific construction issues/concerns and interactions
Prefire analysis
A document developed by gathering general and detailed data used by responding personnel to determine the resources and actions necessary to mitigate anticipated emergencies at a specific facility
Prefire planning
A material other than water, aggregate, and cement used as an ingredient in concrete or mortar
Admixture
Any of variety of materials, such as sand and gravel, added to a cement mixture to make concrete
Aggregate
A lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. this material has very good conductivity. this noncombustible material has a low melting point and little mass per unit of area, so it disintegrates rapidly in fire
Aluminum
Set of regulations passed in 1990 that includes, among other things, regulations requiring areas of refuge for disabled people in multistory buildings
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
An individual who is engaged in the design of buildings and who often supervises construction
Architect
An area of a building separated from other spaces by fire rated smoke barriers in which a tenable environment is maintained for the period of time that such areas may need to be occupied at the time of a fire
Area of Refuge
Solid or hollow masonry unit of clay mixed with sand, which is molded into a small rectangular shape while in a plastic state
Brick
Regulates the actual design and construction of new buildings, providing for minimum levels of health and safety. Regulates the level and amount of fire protection in a new structure
Building Code
Shaft or concrete placed under a building column or wall extending down to the bedrock
Caisson
The hollow portions of the core of a concrete block
Cells (concrete)
An engineer who specializes in the design of parking lots, drainage areas, and roadways
Civil Engineer
Type of steel used in construction of cables that are sometimes used to brace failing buildings or as tendons in tensioned concrete. Fails at 800 degrees F
Cold-drawn Steel
Material built of different parts, pieces, and materials intended to act as a single unit
Composite Material
Precast hollow or solid structural block
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
OSHA regulations that apply to construction sites
Construction Safety Regulations
Grooved ridged material, often metal
Corrugation
Internal bracing that transfers the lateral earth pressures between opposing walls through compressive struts
Crosslot bracing
Concrete that is hardened to full strength
Cured (concrete)
Pump that removes water from the ground or excavations that hinder construction from an area of the site
Dewatering pump
Engineer who specializes in the design of lighting, power telecommunications, and emergency power of a structure
Electrical Engineer
Temporary shoring, formwork, beams, or lateral bracing to support the work in the process of construction
Falsework/Formwork
Regulates the activities that take place in existing buildings, including maintenance of existing fire protection features
Fire code
Fire rated assembly that subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire such as between dwelling units in a multiple dwelling
Fire partition
Engineer who specializes in the design of fire protection systems
Fire protection engineer
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to spray a layer of cementitious material onto steel for fire resistance purposes
Fireproofing contractor
Structural element used to strengthen the roof of a structure over large areas
Folded plate
Thick concrete pads, usually heavily reinforced, which transfer the loads of piers or columns to the ground
Footing
Lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below ground level
Foundation
System of rough timber structural woodwork that is joined together to support or enclose, such as partitions, flooring, and roofing
Framing
The prime contractor who oversees and is responsible for the overall work on the site
General contractor
A natural mineral used in the manufacture of drywall and plaster
Gypsum
Rules of an insurance company in regard to coverage
Insurance regulations
Exposed material on a wall, ceiling, or floor
Interior Finish
A collection of lightweight wood structural components joined in a triangular configuration that can be used to support either floors or roofs
Lightweight wood truss
The property of a metal that allows it to be shaped by bending, hammering, or extruding without cracking or rupturing
Malleable
The type of masonry used on a given structure (bricks or concrete blocks)
Masonry unit
A person trained in a branch of engineering related to mechanical equipment. Usually designs the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems and plumbing of the building
Mechanical enigneeer
A construction technique in which a set of prefabricated modules are transported to and assembled at a construction site, creating a building
Modular construction
A type of board made of layers of strands of wood cut from logs, with a fairly constant width to length ratio
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
One of a series of large timbers or steel sections driven into soft ground down to bedrock to provide a solid foundation for the superstructure of a building
Pile
Synthetic materials that are composed of organic polymers that can be shaped and molded
Plastic
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to oversee the installation of plumbing within a building
Plumbing contractor
Wood panels manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles to develop the approximate equal strength in either direction
Plywood
Most common type of cement in use today
Portland cement mortar
Extensive structural failure initiated by local structural damage or a chain reaction of failures following damage to a small portion of a structure
Progressive collapse
Natural stones such as granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone
Quarried stone
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Raker
Steel bar placed in concrete to increase its overall tensile strength
Reinforcement bar (rebar)
Water-soluble mixture; can be washed away from wall with water
Sand-lime mortar
An instrument with uniformly spaced marks used to measure distance on a set of blueprints
Scale (Architectural)
Stabilization of outer walls, overhangs, floors, and walls to resist destruction by an earthquake
Seismic protection
A foundation wall in an excavation that is heavily reinforced with steel and temporarily filled with a liquid slurry mixture that is subsequently displaced by concrete
Slurry wall
A small fragment or chip dislodged from the face of a stone or masonry unit
Spall
Manuals prepared by building designers that specify which particular type of device or equipment is to be used in the building
Specifications
Engineer who is consulted in large buildings to design the structural frame
Structural Engineer
Steel rolled in a variety of shapes and fabricated for use as load-bearing structural members or elements
Structural steel
A specialist who undertakes part of a main building contract from a contractor
Subcontractor
The foundation and footings
Substructure
Any structure above the substructure
Superstructure
Units composed of two or more glass panes win a hermetically sealed frame
Thermal pane windows
Construction material that softens when heated and rehardens when cooled
Thermoplastic
Plastic that chars and burns, but does not flow
Thermoset
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Tieback
A large, rigid gypsum sheet that is fastened to the frame of a building and provides the surface finish
Wallboard
Subcontractor hired by a contractor to oversee the surface finishes of walls that are fastened to the frame of the building
Wallboard contractor
Composite lightweight wood material used in an “I” cross section
Wooden I-joist
A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature; used for water pipes, rivets, and other ornamental forged work
Wrought iron
Dictate land usage in specific cities
Zoning regulations
Building Code
Regulates the actual design and construction of new buildings, providing for minimum levels of health and safety. Regulates the level and amount of fire protection in a new structure
Exit
That portion of a means of egress that is separated from all other spaces of a building or structure by construction or equipment as required to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge
Exit Access
That portion of means of egreess that leads to an exit
Exit Discharge
That portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way
Fire Code
Regulates the activities that take place in buildings. Applicable to existing buildings and hazards
Fire service access elevators
Elevators specifically designed for fire fighter use that are found in new buidlings more than 120 feet in height
Horizontal Exit
A 2-hour fire-rated wall typically running from exterior wall on an individual floor of a building, which is used when travel distances to a fire-rated stairwell or exit discharge are excessive
Legacy Code
A source code that is no longer supported or printed
Model Code
Complete regulatory documents that can be adopted by cities and states as they are written
Occupancy type
The building code classification for the intended use or purpose of a building or building space
Occupant evacuation elevators
Special elevators intended for the self evacuation of occupants in office buildings more than 420 feet in height
Phase I operation
Elevators are recalled to the first floor lobby of the building by the activation of a smoke detector located in an elevator lobby or one of the upper floors.
Phase II operation
A fire fighter selects one of the elevators in a bank to access the upper floors. Firefighters can then control the elevators using a special key and set of procedures
Travel Distance
The number of feet from any point in a building to a rated stairwell or outside
Regulates the actual design and construction of new buildings, providing for minimum levels of health and safety. Regulates the level and amount of fire protection in a new structure
Building Code
That portion of a means of egress that is separated from all other spaces of a building or structure by construction or equipment as required to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge
Exit
That portion of means of egreess that leads to an exit
Exit Access
That portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way
Exit Discharge
Regulates the activities that take place in buildings. Applicable to existing buildings and hazards
Fire Code
Elevators specifically designed for fire fighter use that are found in new buidlings more than 120 feet in height
Fire service access elevators
A 2-hour fire-rated wall typically running from exterior wall on an individual floor of a building, which is used when travel distances to a fire-rated stairwell or exit discharge are excessive
Horizontal Exit
A source code that is no longer supported or printed
Legacy Code
Complete regulatory documents that can be adopted by cities and states as they are written
Model Code
The building code classification for the intended use or purpose of a building or building space
Occupancy type
Special elevators intended for the self evacuation of occupants in office buildings more than 420 feet in height
Occupant evacuation elevators
Elevators are recalled to the first floor lobby of the building by the activation of a smoke detector located in an elevator lobby or one of the upper floors.
Phase I operation
A fire fighter selects one of the elevators in a bank to access the upper floors. Firefighters can then control the elevators using a special key and set of procedures
Phase II operation
The number of feet from any point in a building to a rated stairwell or outside
Travel Distance
Autoexposure
The vertial spread of fire on the exteriro of a multistory building from one floor the floor(s) above, via convection and radiation
Autoignition
A phenomenon in which combustible material ignites spontaneously without the application of a flame or spark
Backdraft
The explosive burning of heated gaseous products of combustion when oxygen is introduced into an environment whos oxygen supply has ben depleted due to fire
Bagasse
Low-density fiberboard made of wood fibers or sugar can residue
Batt insulation
Fiberglass or rock wool insulation with various thicknesses
Ceiling layer
The hot, buoyant gases that collect at the very top of a room
Combustible acoustical tile
Fiberboard in which holes have been punched
Conduction
The transfer of heat within an object or between objects through direct contact
Convection
The transfer of heat through circulation within a medium such as a gas or liquid
Entrainment
The process of oxygen being drawn into a fire
Fire plume
The column of flames, smoke, and heated gases rising above the burning object
Flameover
A situation in which unburned fuel gases, having gathered in sufficient quantities at the ceiling layer, suddenly ignite; also called rollover
Flashover
A transition stage in a fire in which exposed surfaces within the compartment ignite simultaneously and fire spreads throughout the comparment, resulting in full room involvement
Fuel
A material that will sustain combustion
Heat
A form of energy that is the source of ignition
Low-density fiberboard
Sometimes used as an interior finish, a product made of wood particles such as wood shavings and bound together with a suitable binder
Matchboarding
Ceilings made of embossed steel and wooden boards
Neutral plane
The interface between the hot ceiling layer and the cooler air flowing into the compartment
Oxidizing agent
Normally atmospheric oxygen, but may also be chemical compounds known as oxidizers that release oxygen as they react
Piloted ignition
Ignition of a heated combustible material when a flame or spark is applied
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
Toxic chemicals used as nonflammable coolants in transformers that may be released during fires
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
A commercially produced organic compound used in tranformers and capacitors due to its electrical insulator properties and low flammability rating
Radiation
Heat transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves
Rigid-foamed polyurethane
Cellular foam plastic that is used as an interior finish
Robertson protected metal
Asphalt-coated steel
Smoke
The airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases produced by a fire
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
A sustained oxidation reaction that produces sufficient excess heat to continue heating unburned fuel, making it available for combustion
The vertial spread of fire on the exteriro of a multistory building from one floor the floor(s) above, via convection and radiation
Autoexposure
A phenomenon in which combustible material ignites spontaneously without the application of a flame or spark
Autoignition
The explosive burning of heated gaseous products of combustion when oxygen is introduced into an environment whos oxygen supply has ben depleted due to fire
Backdraft
Low-density fiberboard made of wood fibers or sugar can residue
Bagasse
Fiberglass or rock wool insulation with various thicknesses
Batt insulation
The hot, buoyant gases that collect at the very top of a room
Ceiling layer
Fiberboard in which holes have been punched
Combustible acoustical tile
The transfer of heat within an object or between objects through direct contact
Conduction
The transfer of heat through circulation within a medium such as a gas or liquid
Convection
The process of oxygen being drawn into a fire
Entrainment
The column of flames, smoke, and heated gases rising above the burning object
Fire plume
A situation in which unburned fuel gases, having gathered in sufficient quantities at the ceiling layer, suddenly ignite; also called rollover
Flameover
A transition stage in a fire in which exposed surfaces within the compartment ignite simultaneously and fire spreads throughout the comparment, resulting in full room involvement
Flashover
A material that will sustain combustion
Fuel
A form of energy that is the source of ignition
Heat
Sometimes used as an interior finish, a product made of wood particles such as wood shavings and bound together with a suitable binder
Low-density fiberboard
Ceilings made of embossed steel and wooden boards
Matchboarding
The interface between the hot ceiling layer and the cooler air flowing into the compartment
Neutral plane
Normally atmospheric oxygen, but may also be chemical compounds known as oxidizers that release oxygen as they react
Oxidizing agent
Ignition of a heated combustible material when a flame or spark is applied
Piloted ignition
Toxic chemicals used as nonflammable coolants in transformers that may be released during fires
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
A commercially produced organic compound used in tranformers and capacitors due to its electrical insulator properties and low flammability rating
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Heat transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves
Radiation
Cellular foam plastic that is used as an interior finish
Rigid-foamed polyurethane
Asphalt-coated steel
Robertson protected metal
The airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases produced by a fire
Smoke
A sustained oxidation reaction that produces sufficient excess heat to continue heating unburned fuel, making it available for combustion
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
Air flow
The use of high air velocity to stop smoke movement
Automatic-Wet Standpipe System
Standpipe system attached to a water supply capable of sypplying the system demand at all times
Carbon Dioxide System
A fire protection system intended to protect materials that can be damaged by water
Clean Agent System
Gaseous fire extinguishing agent that does not leave a residue when it dissipates
Compartmentation
Subdivision of a building into small areas so that fire or smoke is confined to the room or section in which it originates
Conflagration
Rapid involvement of a fire situation that goes beyond the normal attack situations that fire departments encounter
Critical Radiant Flux (CRF)
The amount of external radiant heat energy below which a flame front will cease to propagate (measured in watts per square cm)
Demand Area
The “expected” area of sprinklers that will activiate as anticipated by the sprinkler design standard
Density
The unit rate of water application to an area or surface; expressed in gpm/ft2
Dry Chemical System
An automatic fire extinguishing system that discharges a dry chemical agent
Egress
Adequate exits within a building
Fire barriers
Assemblies that are typically 1 to 2 hour rated and used to enclose shafts, exit stairwells, exit passageways, and horizontal exits, and to separate spaces from certain hazardous areas
Fire damper
A mechanical device installed in an HVAC system at the point at which it passes through a fire-resistive assembly so as to block the spread of fire through the fire-rated assembly
Fire partitions
Assemblies that are typically 1 hour rated and are used to creat fire-resistive corridors and to separate tenant spaces in covered mall buildings
Fireproofing
Material applied to structural elements or systems that provides increased fire resistance
Fire-rated
The classification indicating in time (hours) the ability of a structure or component to withstand a standardized fire test
Fire resistance rating
Quality ascribed to a wall, floor, or column assembly that has been tested in a standard manner to determine the length of time it remains structurally stable when attacked by a test fire
Fire resistant
Construction designed to provide reasonable protection against fire
Fire retardant
Substance that helps delay or prevent combustion
Fire walls
Assemblies that are typically 2 to 4 hour rated and are used to create “separate buildings” within an overall structure
Flameproof
Resistant to fire
Flammable
Combustible that is capable of easily being ignited and rapidly consumed by fire
Foam system
A firefighting system that provides for the delivery of a proportioned foam and water mixture for use in fire extinguishment
Halon system
A fire protection system that provides for the transfer of halogenated agents between fire extinguishers, supply containers, and recharge and recovery containers so that none of the halogenated agents escape into the atmosphere
Horizontal exit
A fire-rated wall typically running from one exterior wall to another
Houseline
Class II standpipe system that supplies 100 gpm at 65 psi. Intended for use by building occupants
Inherent fire resistance
Flame resistance that is derived from an essential characteristic of the structural member
Initiating device
A system component that originates transmission of a change of state condition, such as in smoke detector, manual fire alarm box, or supervisory switch
Listing
A compliation of fire-rated assemblies that have been tested by a testing laboratory and found to meet the minimum requirements of the test standard
Manual-dry standpipe system
Dry standpipe system that does not have a permanent water supply attached to the system
Manual-wet standpipe system
Wet standpipe system connected to a small water supply for the purpose of maintaining water within the system, but not having a water supply capable of delivering the system demand attached to the system
Noncombustible
A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not aid combustion or add appreciable heat to an ambient fire
Peened
Forcible attachment of a thermocouple to a steel column or beam
Purge
Flow of air or an inert medium at a rate that will effectively remove any gaseous or suspended combustibles and replace them with air
Remote annuciator
Device indicating an off-standard or abnormal condition by both visual and audible signals
Semiautomatic-dry standpipe system
Standpipe system that is attached to a water supply capable of supplying the system demand at all times and that requires activation of a control device to provide water at hose connections
Silence switch
When flipped, the fire alarm is silenced but still active
Smoke barrier
A 1-hour fire-rated assembly that has also been designed and tested to minimize the migration of smoke
Smoke control
System that utilize fans to produce pressure differences so as to manage smoke movement
Smoke developed
In the Steiner tunnel test, a calculation of smoke spread made by measuring the obscuration as the smoke passes a photoelectric cell placed in the stack from the test tunnel
Stairwell pressurization system
System that introduces positive pressure into a stairwell to provide a tenable environment within the stair tower in the event of a building fire
Standard time-temperature curve
The profile of the furnance temperatures that are dictated by the test standards NFPA 251, UL 263, and ASTM E-119
Standpipe system
An arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections, and allied equipment installed in a building or structure, with the hose connections located in such a manner that water can be discharged in streams or spray patterns through attached hose and nozzles, for the purpose of extinguishing a fire, therby protecting a building or structure and its contents in addition to protecting the occupants
Steiner tunnel test
Acommon term that refers to NFPA 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
Thermocouple
An electircal temperature measuring device used in laboratory fire testing
Total flooding
Act and manner of discharging an agent for the purpose of achieving a specified minimum agent concentration throughout a compartment
Water flow switch
A switch that detects the movement of water in a sprinkler system and trasmits a signal to the alarm system
Water mist system
Distribution system connected to a water supply or water and atomizing media supplies that is equipped with one or more nozzles capable of delivering water mist intended to control, suppress, or extinguish fires and that has been demonstrated to meet the performance requirements of its listing
Water spray system
Special fixed pipe system connected to a reliable fire protection water supply and equipped with water spray nozzles for specific water discharge and distribution over the surface or area to be protected
Wet chemical system
An automatic fire extinguishing system that discharges a wet chemical agent
Zone
Defined area within the protected premises
Zoned smoke control
Smoke control system that includes smoke exhaust for the smoke zone and pressurization for all contiguous smoke control zones
The use of high air velocity to stop smoke movement
Air flow
Standpipe system attached to a water supply capable of sypplying the system demand at all times
Automatic-Wet Standpipe System
A fire protection system intended to protect materials that can be damaged by water
Carbon Dioxide System
Gaseous fire extinguishing agent that does not leave a residue when it dissipates
Clean Agent System
Subdivision of a building into small areas so that fire or smoke is confined to the room or section in which it originates
Compartmentation
Rapid involvement of a fire situation that goes beyond the normal attack situations that fire departments encounter
Conflagration
The amount of external radiant heat energy below which a flame front will cease to propagate (measured in watts per square cm)
Critical Radiant Flux (CRF)
The “expected” area of sprinklers that will activiate as anticipated by the sprinkler design standard
Demand Area
The unit rate of water application to an area or surface; expressed in gpm/ft2
Density
An automatic fire extinguishing system that discharges a dry chemical agent
Dry Chemical System
Adequate exits within a building
Egress
Assemblies that are typically 1 to 2 hour rated and used to enclose shafts, exit stairwells, exit passageways, and horizontal exits, and to separate spaces from certain hazardous areas
Fire barriers
A mechanical device installed in an HVAC system at the point at which it passes through a fire-resistive assembly so as to block the spread of fire through the fire-rated assembly
Fire damper
Assemblies that are typically 1 hour rated and are used to creat fire-resistive corridors and to separate tenant spaces in covered mall buildings
Fire partitions
Material applied to structural elements or systems that provides increased fire resistance
Fireproofing
The classification indicating in time (hours) the ability of a structure or component to withstand a standardized fire test
Fire-rated
Quality ascribed to a wall, floor, or column assembly that has been tested in a standard manner to determine the length of time it remains structurally stable when attacked by a test fire
Fire resistance rating
Construction designed to provide reasonable protection against fire
Fire resistant
Substance that helps delay or prevent combustion
Fire retardant
Assemblies that are typically 2 to 4 hour rated and are used to create “separate buildings” within an overall structure
Fire walls
Resistant to fire
Flameproof
Combustible that is capable of easily being ignited and rapidly consumed by fire
Flammable
A firefighting system that provides for the delivery of a proportioned foam and water mixture for use in fire extinguishment
Foam system
A fire protection system that provides for the transfer of halogenated agents between fire extinguishers, supply containers, and recharge and recovery containers so that none of the halogenated agents escape into the atmosphere
Halon system
A fire-rated wall typically running from one exterior wall to another
Horizontal exit
Class II standpipe system that supplies 100 gpm at 65 psi. Intended for use by building occupants
Houseline
Flame resistance that is derived from an essential characteristic of the structural member
Inherent fire resistance
A system component that originates transmission of a change of state condition, such as in smoke detector, manual fire alarm box, or supervisory switch
Initiating device
A compliation of fire-rated assemblies that have been tested by a testing laboratory and found to meet the minimum requirements of the test standard
Listing
Dry standpipe system that does not have a permanent water supply attached to the system
Manual-dry standpipe system
Wet standpipe system connected to a small water supply for the purpose of maintaining water within the system, but not having a water supply capable of delivering the system demand attached to the system
Manual-wet standpipe system
A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not aid combustion or add appreciable heat to an ambient fire
Noncombustible
Forcible attachment of a thermocouple to a steel column or beam
Peened
Flow of air or an inert medium at a rate that will effectively remove any gaseous or suspended combustibles and replace them with air
Purge
Device indicating an off-standard or abnormal condition by both visual and audible signals
Remote annuciator
Standpipe system that is attached to a water supply capable of supplying the system demand at all times and that requires activation of a control device to provide water at hose connections
Semiautomatic-dry standpipe system
When flipped, the fire alarm is silenced but still active
Silence switch
A 1-hour fire-rated assembly that has also been designed and tested to minimize the migration of smoke
Smoke barrier
System that utilize fans to produce pressure differences so as to manage smoke movement
Smoke control
In the Steiner tunnel test, a calculation of smoke spread made by measuring the obscuration as the smoke passes a photoelectric cell placed in the stack from the test tunnel
Smoke developed
System that introduces positive pressure into a stairwell to provide a tenable environment within the stair tower in the event of a building fire
Stairwell pressurization system
The profile of the furnance temperatures that are dictated by the test standards NFPA 251, UL 263, and ASTM E-119
Standard time-temperature curve
An arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections, and allied equipment installed in a building or structure, with the hose connections located in such a manner that water can be discharged in streams or spray patterns through attached hose and nozzles, for the purpose of extinguishing a fire, therby protecting a building or structure and its contents in addition to protecting the occupants
Standpipe system
Acommon term that refers to NFPA 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
Steiner tunnel test
An electircal temperature measuring device used in laboratory fire testing
Thermocouple
Act and manner of discharging an agent for the purpose of achieving a specified minimum agent concentration throughout a compartment
Total flooding
A switch that detects the movement of water in a sprinkler system and trasmits a signal to the alarm system
Water flow switch
Distribution system connected to a water supply or water and atomizing media supplies that is equipped with one or more nozzles capable of delivering water mist intended to control, suppress, or extinguish fires and that has been demonstrated to meet the performance requirements of its listing
Water mist system
Special fixed pipe system connected to a reliable fire protection water supply and equipped with water spray nozzles for specific water discharge and distribution over the surface or area to be protected
Water spray system
An automatic fire extinguishing system that discharges a wet chemical agent
Wet chemical system
Defined area within the protected premises
Zone
Smoke control system that includes smoke exhaust for the smoke zone and pressurization for all contiguous smoke control zones
Zoned smoke control
Asbestos cement shingle
A “fireproof” roofing shingle that is composed of cement reinforced with asbestos fibers
Asphalt Felt Siding
Type of siding manufactured by saturating a dry felt with asphalt, then coating it with a fine glass fiber
Balloon Frame
A wooden structure in which all vertical studs in the exterior bearing walls extend the full height of the frame from sill to roof
Batten
A type of siding that uses vertical strips of wood to cover joints
Bottom plate
Structural member laid on the subfloor where the vertical studs are installed
Bridging
Braces placed between parallel-frame members to prevent movement from their vertical axes
aka cross bracing
Chamfer
To cut off the corners of a timber to retard ignition
Chipboard
Wood chips that are glued together to make flat sheets
Corrugated metal siding
Grooved panels utilized on industrial buildings of wood or steel framing
Curtain wall
A non-load bearing wall htat carries no weight other than its own
End matched
A descriptor for lumber with tongues and grooves at the end
Engineered wood
Laminated timbers or wood modified from its natural state
English Tudor
Balloon-frame structure finished to resemble post and frame construction
Finger joints
Interlocking wood peices that are glued together to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber
Glue laminated timber
Planks glued together to form a solid timber
Heavy Timber
Buildings constructed with non-combustible or limited-combustible exterior walls and floors made of large-dimension combustible materials
Hip
The rafter at the angle where two sloping roofs or sides of a roof meet
Legacy construction
Use of solid wood members as opposed to lightweight wood trusses and wooden I-joists
Log cabin
Structure constructed of entire tree trunks
Lumber
Wood that has been sawn and planed
Matched lumber
Tongue and grooved lumber
Metal siding
Type of siding that is often made to look like another type of siding
Mortise and Tenon
Joints that are fitted together to transfer loads properly
Novelty siding
Combustible siding laid over the sheathing of a building
Oriented flakeboard
Another name for OSB
Plank and beam
Wood frame structure built with heavier beams that are spaced much farther apart than the traditional 16 inches
Platform frame
Structure in which subflooring is laid on the joists, and the frame for the first-floor walls is erected
Plywood
Wood panels manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles to develop equal strength in either direction
Plywood siding
Four foot wide sheets that give the appearance of four inch wide strips about a half inch apart
Post and frame
Wood frame structure with an identifiable frame or skeleton of timber fitted together
Pyrolytic decomposition
Chemical decomposition of a compound into one or more other substances by heat alone
Rafters
Wood members used to support the roof sheeting and loads
Ridge board
Structural member placed on the ridge of the roof onto which the upper ends of rafters are fastened
Rough carpentry
All of the wood framing members and sheathing of a building
Rough lumber
Lumber that is left as sawn on all four sides
Sawn Beam
Wooden beam sawn out of a tree trunk
Sill
component found on the bottom of the frame of a wooden structure
Soffit
False space above built-in cabinets, usually in a kitchen, or in the undersides of stairways and projecting eaves
Spliced timber
Members that are joined together by various metal connectors to transfer loads so that the spliced timber acts as a single member
Spline
Wooden strips that fit into grooves in two adjacent planks to make a tight floor
Stringers
A component of a set of stairs used to support risers and treads
Stucco
An exterior plaster finish made of portland cement
Stud
Column in a frame building
Subflooring
Structural member that serves as the base for the finished floor
Top plate
Top horizontal member of a wood frame wall that supports cieling joists
Trimmer
Piece of lumber that supports a header
Trunnel
Wooden peg used to pin together mortise and tenon joints
Truss frame
Developed by the US Forest Products Laboratory, a type of wood frame that substitutes sawn beams for truss members used in roofs and floors
Truss Void
Void space located between the floor ceiling and the roof
aka cockloft
Valley
The lower slope formed by the connection of two inclined planes of a roof
Vermiculite
Mineral used as bulk insulation and as an aggregate in insulating
Vinyl siding
Thermoplastic that will deform and drip when introduced to a fire situation
Wall bearing
A descriptor indicating a structure in which the entire structural load is carried on the walls
Wood
Hard fibrous material forming the major part of trees
Wood framed
Building with exterior walls, interior walls, floors, and roofs amde of combustible material
Wood lath
Narrow, rough strips of wood nailed to studs
Wooden-walled building
A wall-bearing building that carries the load of the structure and the contents
A “fireproof” roofing shingle that is composed of cement reinforced with asbestos fibers
Asbestos cement shingle
Type of siding manufactured by saturating a dry felt with asphalt, then coating it with a fine glass fiber
Asphalt Felt Siding
A wooden structure in which all vertical studs in the exterior bearing walls extend the full height of the frame from sill to roof
Balloon Frame
A type of siding that uses vertical strips of wood to cover joints
Batten
Structural member laid on the subfloor where the vertical studs are installed
Bottom plate
Braces placed between parallel-frame members to prevent movement from their vertical axes
aka cross bracing
Bridging
To cut off the corners of a timber to retard ignition
Chamfer
Wood chips that are glued together to make flat sheets
Chipboard
Grooved panels utilized on industrial buildings of wood or steel framing
Corrugated metal siding
A non-load bearing wall htat carries no weight other than its own
Curtain wall
A descriptor for lumber with tongues and grooves at the end
End matched
Laminated timbers or wood modified from its natural state
Engineered wood
Balloon-frame structure finished to resemble post and frame construction
English Tudor
Interlocking wood peices that are glued together to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber
Finger joints
Planks glued together to form a solid timber
Glue laminated timber
Buildings constructed with non-combustible or limited-combustible exterior walls and floors made of large-dimension combustible materials
Heavy Timber
The rafter at the angle where two sloping roofs or sides of a roof meet
Hip
Use of solid wood members as opposed to lightweight wood trusses and wooden I-joists
Legacy construction
Structure constructed of entire tree trunks
Log cabin
Wood that has been sawn and planed
Lumber
Tongue and grooved lumber
Matched lumber
Type of siding that is often made to look like another type of siding
Metal siding
Joints that are fitted together to transfer loads properly
Mortise and Tenon
Combustible siding laid over the sheathing of a building
Novelty siding
Another name for OSB
Oriented flakeboard
Wood frame structure built with heavier beams that are spaced much farther apart than the traditional 16 inches
Plank and beam
Structure in which subflooring is laid on the joists, and the frame for the first-floor walls is erected
Platform frame
Wood panels manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles to develop equal strength in either direction
Plywood
Four foot wide sheets that give the appearance of four inch wide strips about a half inch apart
Plywood siding
Wood frame structure with an identifiable frame or skeleton of timber fitted together
Post and frame
Chemical decomposition of a compound into one or more other substances by heat alone
Pyrolytic decomposition
Wood members used to support the roof sheeting and loads
Rafters
Structural member placed on the ridge of the roof onto which the upper ends of rafters are fastened
Ridge board
All of the wood framing members and sheathing of a building
Rough carpentry
Lumber that is left as sawn on all four sides
Rough lumber
Wooden beam sawn out of a tree trunk
Sawn Beam
component found on the bottom of the frame of a wooden structure
Sill
False space above built-in cabinets, usually in a kitchen, or in the undersides of stairways and projecting eaves
Soffit
Members that are joined together by various metal connectors to transfer loads so that the spliced timber acts as a single member
Spliced timber
Wooden strips that fit into grooves in two adjacent planks to make a tight floor
Spline
A component of a set of stairs used to support risers and treads
Stringers
An exterior plaster finish made of portland cement
Stucco
Column in a frame building
Stud
Structural member that serves as the base for the finished floor
Subflooring
Top horizontal member of a wood frame wall that supports cieling joists
Top plate
Piece of lumber that supports a header
Trimmer
Wooden peg used to pin together mortise and tenon joints
Trunnel
Developed by the US Forest Products Laboratory, a type of wood frame that substitutes sawn beams for truss members used in roofs and floors
Truss frame
Void space located between the floor ceiling and the roof
aka cockloft
Truss Void
The lower slope formed by the connection of two inclined planes of a roof
Valley
Mineral used as bulk insulation and as an aggregate in insulating
Vermiculite
Thermoplastic that will deform and drip when introduced to a fire situation
Vinyl siding
A descriptor indicating a structure in which the entire structural load is carried on the walls
Wall bearing
Hard fibrous material forming the major part of trees
Wood
Building with exterior walls, interior walls, floors, and roofs amde of combustible material
Wood framed
Narrow, rough strips of wood nailed to studs
Wood lath
A wall-bearing building that carries the load of the structure and the contents
Wooden-walled building
Cast-iron box
An iron box built into a wall to recieve the end of a girder
Chamfered Column
A wooden heavy timber column that has been cut at an angle (beveled) on each of the corners to make it more difficult for fire to ignite the column at that location
Conflagration breeder
A structure that presents severe exposure problems that are capable of initiating conflagration
Corbelled
A series of projections, each one stepped progressively outward from the vertical face of the wall as it rises up to support a cornice or overhanging member above
Mill
The earliest form of heavy timber consturction
Scupper
An outlet in a wall of a building for drainage of water from a floor or a flat roof
Slow burning
A characteristic of a building that should allow a fire in that building be brought under control before the building itself becomes involved
Type IV
Heavy timber construction
An iron box built into a wall to recieve the end of a girder
Cast-iron box
A wooden heavy timber column that has been cut at an angle (beveled) on each of the corners to make it more difficult for fire to ignite the column at that location
Chamfered Column
A structure that presents severe exposure problems that are capable of initiating conflagration
Conflagration breeder
A series of projections, each one stepped progressively outward from the vertical face of the wall as it rises up to support a cornice or overhanging member above
Corbelled
The earliest form of heavy timber consturction
Mill
An outlet in a wall of a building for drainage of water from a floor or a flat roof
Scupper
A characteristic of a building that should allow a fire in that building be brought under control before the building itself becomes involved
Slow burning
Heavy timber construction
Type IV
Adobe
Large, roughly molded, sun-dried clay units of varying sizes
Arched Truss
Truss with an arched uppper chord and a straight bottom chord, with vertical hangers between the two chords
Ashlar masonry
Stone cut in rectangular units
Cantilever wall
A freestanding wall unsecured at the top that acts like a cantilever beam with respect to lateral loads
Cast-in-place concrete
Concrete that is molded in the location in which it is expected to remain
Cockloft
Void space between the top floor ceiling and the roof
Concrete topping
Concrete placed over the first-floor wood floors for fire resistance or to provide sanitary floors
Coping
The masonry cap on top of a wall
Cornice
A projecting decorative (ledge) at the top of a masonry wall
Course
A horizontal line of masonry
Dog iron
Connects the girders and imparts some lateral stability under normal conditions
Fire limit
Older code provision that would not allow a structure to be built without the use of exterior masonry walls that would limit fire extension
Fireproof
Material applied to structural elements or systems that provides increased fire resistance
Flying buttress
Masonry pier at a distance from the wall and connected to it that resists the outward thrust of the roof
Header or bond course
Bricks laid so that the end is visible
Hollow Masonry Wall
Two connected wythes of masonry with an air space in between
Joist hanger
Metal angle or strap used to support an individual joist against a beam or a girder
Light well
Small court commonly placed in large buildings to admit daylight into interior areas not exposed to an open view
Masonry column
Mansory bracing incorporated into unstable masonry walls
Masonry wire truss
Wire truss embedded into the mortar in specified courses
Mezzanine
A low-ceilinged story located between two main stories
Ordinary Construction
Buildings in which the exterior walls are noncombustible, but the interior floors and walls are made of combustible materials
Parging (pargetting)
Application of mortar to the back of the facing material or the face of the backing material
Pintle
Square metal device used to transfer loads of columns on upper floors by passing the loads through the intervening beams and girders to metal column caps on the column below
Rubble masonry
Rough stones of irregular shapes and sizes, used in rough, uncoursed work in construction of walls and foundations
Rubble masonry wall
A wall composed of an inner and outer wythe of coursed masonry
Solid masonry walls
Masonry units laid contiguously with the joints filled with mortar
Stretcher course
Bricks laid so that the long side is visible
Strip mall
Modern one-story retail occupancy building that typically has a lightweight wood truss roof and concrete block walls or steel bar joists and metal deck roof with a masonry wall
Tenement
Multistory working-class apartment buildings constructed in the 1800s and early 1900s, often substandard in the terms of fire safety and health
Terra-cotta tile
Made of clay and fine sand and fired in a kiln
Tied arch
Arch in which a steel tension rod ties the ends of the arch together to eliminate the need for the masonry
Type III Construction
Ordinary construction
Unreinforced masonry
Ordinary masonry walls are not reinforced, they have no resistance to lateral movement
Veneer wall
A wall with a masonry facing that is not bonded but is attached to a wall so as to form an integral part of the wall
Wythe
A single continuous vertical wall of bricks, one masonry unit of thickness
Large, roughly molded, sun-dried clay units of varying sizes
Adobe
Truss with an arched uppper chord and a straight bottom chord, with vertical hangers between the two chords
Arched Truss
Stone cut in rectangular units
Ashlar masonry
A freestanding wall unsecured at the top that acts like a cantilever beam with respect to lateral loads
Cantilever wall
Concrete that is molded in the location in which it is expected to remain
Cast-in-place concrete
Void space between the top floor ceiling and the roof
Cockloft
Concrete placed over the first-floor wood floors for fire resistance or to provide sanitary floors
Concrete topping
The masonry cap on top of a wall
Coping
A projecting decorative (ledge) at the top of a masonry wall
Cornice
A horizontal line of masonry
Course
Connects the girders and imparts some lateral stability under normal conditions
Dog iron
Older code provision that would not allow a structure to be built without the use of exterior masonry walls that would limit fire extension
Fire limit
Material applied to structural elements or systems that provides increased fire resistance
Fireproof
Masonry pier at a distance from the wall and connected to it that resists the outward thrust of the roof
Flying buttress
Bricks laid so that the end is visible
Header or bond course
Two connected wythes of masonry with an air space in between
Hollow Masonry Wall
Metal angle or strap used to support an individual joist against a beam or a girder
Joist hanger
Small court commonly placed in large buildings to admit daylight into interior areas not exposed to an open view
Light well
Mansory bracing incorporated into unstable masonry walls
Masonry column
Wire truss embedded into the mortar in specified courses
Masonry wire truss
A low-ceilinged story located between two main stories
Mezzanine
Buildings in which the exterior walls are noncombustible, but the interior floors and walls are made of combustible materials
Ordinary Construction
Application of mortar to the back of the facing material or the face of the backing material
Parging (pargetting)
Square metal device used to transfer loads of columns on upper floors by passing the loads through the intervening beams and girders to metal column caps on the column below
Pintle
Rough stones of irregular shapes and sizes, used in rough, uncoursed work in construction of walls and foundations
Rubble masonry
A wall composed of an inner and outer wythe of coursed masonry
Rubble masonry wall
Masonry units laid contiguously with the joints filled with mortar
Solid masonry walls
Bricks laid so that the long side is visible
Stretcher course
Modern one-story retail occupancy building that typically has a lightweight wood truss roof and concrete block walls or steel bar joists and metal deck roof with a masonry wall
Strip mall
Multistory working-class apartment buildings constructed in the 1800s and early 1900s, often substandard in the terms of fire safety and health
Tenement
Made of clay and fine sand and fired in a kiln
Terra-cotta tile
Arch in which a steel tension rod ties the ends of the arch together to eliminate the need for the masonry
Tied arch
Ordinary construction
Type III Construction
Ordinary masonry walls are not reinforced, they have no resistance to lateral movement
Unreinforced masonry
A wall with a masonry facing that is not bonded but is attached to a wall so as to form an integral part of the wall
Veneer wall
A single continuous vertical wall of bricks, one masonry unit of thickness
Wythe
Aluminum
Lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. Has very good conductivity
Angles
Steel members that have two legs at right angles to one another
Asphalt abestos protected metal (AAPM)
Asphalt coating that is combustible and used as a weather-protective coating on galvanized steel walls
Bars
Plates fewer than 6 inches in width
Box column
Large hollow column built from steel plates
Bulbtee
Tee where the end of the cutoff is thickened
Bulkhead
An upright partition that divides a ship into compartments and is meant to precent the spread of leakage or fire
Castellated beam
A wide flange beam that has been cut in half in a zig-zag pattern and then welded back together in an offset manner, creating a new, deeper beam
Cement-absteos board
Noncombustible material often used for friable construction
Channel
Steel structural component that has a square U-shaped cross section
Galvanized steel walls
Walls made of weatherized steel
Glass fiber-reinforced plastic
A composite material made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers
I-beam
Beam shaped like the letter “I”
Interstitial space
Void space made by utilizing deep parallel-chord trusses
Lattice column
Column made of vertical units connected with diagonal pieces
Masonry walls
Most common walls for unproctected steel-framed buildings
Metal panel
Prefabricated metal structure that is often made up in a sandwich construction to provide one unit combining thermal insulation and interior finish in a steel-framed structure
Modulus of elasticity
A measurement of the ability of steel to distort and restore
Peened
Embedded into the surface
Plates
Flat pieces of steel
Precast prestressed concrete panels
Concrete panels that are precast and brought to the construction site
Purlins
Beams set at right angles to trusses or roof rafters
Rolled or built-up members
Steel structural members; rolled members are one solid piece of metal; built-up members are made up of different sections riveted, bolted, or welded together
Spandrel girders
Girders that tie wall columns together in a framed building
Spandrel space
Distance between the top of one window and the bottom of the one above
Steel expansion joints
A metal connection that allows for movement of floors
Tee
A standard I-beam cut lengthwise through the web, forms two such beams with T-shaped cross sections
Tin Ceiling
Embossed steel
Triage
to evaluate and categorize
Tube
A steel structural member that is rolled in cylindrical, square, or rectangular shapes
Waler
A horizontal beam that ties rows of soldier beams together
Wide flange shapes
I-beam that have flanges wider than standard I-beams
Zees
Members with a Z-shaped cross section
Lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. Has very good conductivity
Aluminum
Steel members that have two legs at right angles to one another
Angles
Asphalt coating that is combustible and used as a weather-protective coating on galvanized steel walls
Asphalt abestos protected metal (AAPM)
Plates fewer than 6 inches in width
Bars
Large hollow column built from steel plates
Box column
Tee where the end of the cutoff is thickened
Bulbtee
An upright partition that divides a ship into compartments and is meant to precent the spread of leakage or fire
Bulkhead
A wide flange beam that has been cut in half in a zig-zag pattern and then welded back together in an offset manner, creating a new, deeper beam
Castellated beam
Noncombustible material often used for friable construction
Cement-absteos board
Steel structural component that has a square U-shaped cross section
Channel
Walls made of weatherized steel
Galvanized steel walls
A composite material made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers
Glass fiber-reinforced plastic
Beam shaped like the letter “I”
I-beam
Void space made by utilizing deep parallel-chord trusses
Interstitial space
Column made of vertical units connected with diagonal pieces
Lattice column
Most common walls for unproctected steel-framed buildings
Masonry walls
Prefabricated metal structure that is often made up in a sandwich construction to provide one unit combining thermal insulation and interior finish in a steel-framed structure
Metal panel
A measurement of the ability of steel to distort and restore
Modulus of elasticity
Embedded into the surface
Peened
Flat pieces of steel
Plates
Concrete panels that are precast and brought to the construction site
Precast prestressed concrete panels
Beams set at right angles to trusses or roof rafters
Purlins
Steel structural members; rolled members are one solid piece of metal; built-up members are made up of different sections riveted, bolted, or welded together
Rolled or built-up members
Girders that tie wall columns together in a framed building
Spandrel girders
Distance between the top of one window and the bottom of the one above
Spandrel space
A metal connection that allows for movement of floors
Steel expansion joints
A standard I-beam cut lengthwise through the web, forms two such beams with T-shaped cross sections
Tee
Embossed steel
Tin Ceiling
to evaluate and categorize
Triage
A steel structural member that is rolled in cylindrical, square, or rectangular shapes
Tube
A horizontal beam that ties rows of soldier beams together
Waler
I-beam that have flanges wider than standard I-beams
Wide flange shapes
Members with a Z-shaped cross section
Zees
