A
ABC
Associated Builders and Contractors – National association representing construction related firms.
Access
A passageway or means of approach to a room or building; a corridor between rooms; also a term used in building construction referring to points at which concealed equipment may be reached for inspection and repair.
Accessibility
(DSA code AC) The condition resulting from the inclusion of appropriate architectural elements to permit unrestricted entrance to, exit from, and use of buildings and facilities.
Accordion Door
Folding doors supported by carriers with rollers which run on a track; the doors fold up in a manner similar to the bellows of an accordion, hence the name.
Acoustical Board
Any type of special material, such as insulating boarding, used in the control of sound or to prevent the passage of sound from one room to another.
Acoustical Tile
Any tile composed of materials having the property of absorbing sound waves, hence reducing the reflection of sound; any tile designed and constructed to absorb sound waves.
Admixture
Material added to cement or the concrete mix to increase workability, strength, or imperviousness; to lower freezing point (eg: anti-freeze). Accelerators, plasturizers and air-entraining agents are admixtures.
A/E
Architect/Engineer; normally engaged by an Owner.
AGC
Associated General Contractors of America – Trade association compromised of general contractors and industry related companies.
AIA
American Institute of Architects – Trade association compromised of architects and similar professionals.
Air Conditioner
One or more factory made assemblies which include an evaporator or cooling coil and an electrically driven compressor and condenser combination, and may include a heating function.
Air Conditioner – Window
Self-contained room conditioner arranged to be supported in, or connected with a window opening, circulating outside air over the high side and room air over the low side.
Aluminum Window
A glazed window with aluminum sash and frame.
Anchor
1. In pre-stressed concrete, to lock the stressed tendon in position so that it will retain its stressed condition; in pre-cast concrete construction, to attach the pre-cast units to the building frame; in slabs on grade or walls, to fasten to rock or adjacent structures to prevent movement of the slab or wall with respect to the foundation, adjacent structure or rock.
2. That bolt or fastening device which attaches to the anchorage.
Anchorage
In post-tensioning, a device used to anchor the tendon to the concrete member; in pre-tensioning, a device used to anchor the tendon during hardening of the concrete; in pre-cast concrete construction, the devices for attaching pre-cast units to the building frame; in slab or wall construction, the device used to anchor the slab or wall to the foundation, rock, or adjacent structure. Sometimes called a deadman.
Anchor Bolt
A bolt with the threaded portion projecting from a structure, generally used to hold the frame of a building secure against wind load.
AOR
Architect of Record
Architectural Barrier
Any physical conditioning of a building or facility which creates unsafe or confusing conditions or prevents accessibility and free mobility.
Asphalt Shingles
Composition roof shingles made from asphalt impregnated felt covered with mineral granules.
Auger
Also called “Earth Drillâ€; a horizontal rotating drill having a screw thread-type bit that carries cuttings up and away from the face.
Awning
A roof-like shelter extending over a doorway, window, porch, etc. which provides protection from the sun or rain.
B
Backfill
Earth or other material used to replace material removed during construction.
Baseboard
A horizontal decorative element used to cover the joint between a wall and floor.
Batch
Quantity of concrete or mortar mixed at one time.
Batten
Pairs of horizontal boards nailed to wood slates; used as a guide to elevations and to outline the building.
Batter Boards
Any type of special material, such as insulating boarding, used in the control of sound or to prevent the passage of sound from one room to another.
Bearing Wall
A wall which supports any vertical load in a building as well as its own weight.
Bench Mark
A point of known or assumed elevation used as a reference in determining other vertical elevations.
Blinds
(Shutters) Light wood sections in the form of doors to close over windows to shut out light, give protection, or add temporary insulation. Commonly used now for ornamental purposes, in which case they are fastened rigidly to the building.
Bond Breaker
A material used to prevent adhesion of newly-placed concrete to the substrate or additional concrete.
Bottom Plate
Horizontal framing member located at bottom of wall.
Bow Roof
A roof supported by bow string trusses.
Bow String Truss
A roof structural member having a bow shaped element at the top and a straight or combined element connecting the two ends. A pre-assembled unit consisting of a horizontal bottom chord and a curved top chord. The top and bottom members are secured by either metal web members of lumber. The width of the bow truss is equal to the unit width and is normally 16? on-center.
Breezeway
A covered passage, open at each end, which passes through a house or between two structures increasing ventilation and adding an outdoor living effect.
Brick Veneer
The outside facing of brickwork used to cover a wall built of other material; an outer covering of a four inch brick wall tied to a wood-frame wall.
C
Cage
A rigid assembly of reinforcement steel ready for placing in position within a concrete form.
Can
A housing for a recessed fixture.
Canopy
An ornamental roof-like covering supported by posts or suspended from a wall; a sheltering member, as over a niche, a doorway or a seat of honor.
Carpet Density
The number of pile tuft rows, per inch, for the length of the carpet.
Carpet Pitch
The number of yarns across the width of the carpet expressed in yard ends per 27 inches of width.
Casement
A type of window having a sash with hinges on the side allowing window to open horizontally.
Casement Door
(French Door) A hinged door or pair of doors almost completely glass.
Casing
The framework around a window or door.
Casework
Cabinetry or shelving inside a building.
Cast-in-Place
Mortar or concrete which is deposited in the place where it is required to harden, as opposed to “pre-castâ€.
Caulking
The process of filling seams with mastic material to prevent leaking.
Ceiling
Interior finish of an overhead surface.
Central Air Conditioner
An air conditioner which provides service to an entire structure from a single, central source.
Central Heating
A system of heating in a building which depends upon one source, with distribution ducts.
Ceramic Tile
A thin, flat piece of fired clay, usually square and attached to walls, floors, or countertops with cement or other adhesives creating durable, decorative and dirt-resistant surfaces.
Chair Rail
A plain or molded strip on a wood or plaster wall as a protection against chair backs.
Cinder Block
Also known as: CMU or Concrete Masonry Unit.
Clear Span
The distance, or clear and unobstructed opening, between two supports of a beam; always less than the effective span.
CMU
Concrete Masonry Unit – Type of building construction utilizing cinder block or concrete block.
Cohesion of Soil
The quality of some soil particles to be attracted to similar particles. It is manifested in a tendency to stick together, as in clay.
Column
A compression member, vertical or nearly vertical, the width of which does not exceed four times its thickness and the height of which exceeds four times its least lateral dimension.
Column Footings
Concrete footings reinforced with steel pads or un-reinforced; used as supports for columns which in turn carry the load of beams which serve as supports for the superstructure of a building.
Concrete
A composite material which consists essentially of a binding medium within which are embedded particles or fragments of aggregate, Portland cement, and water. When set it attains hardness and strength similar to stone.
Cornice
Projection at the top of a wall; a term applied to construction under the eaves or where the roof and side walls meet; the top course, or courses, of a wall when treated as a crowning member.
Corridor
A long passage wall or hall connecting parts of a building.
Cove
A concave molding, the curved junction between a ceiling and a sidewall.
Cove Base
Made of vinyl, rubber, tile and/or metal in a variety of heights and shapes for a wide range of sheet goods and tile installations.
Crawl Space
In cases where buildings have no basements, the space between the first floor and the surface of the ground; large enough for a man to crawl through for repairs and installation of utilities. Also called a crawl way.
Crown Molding
A molding used above eye level; usually the corner molding under the roof overhang or at the wall/ceiling connection on the interior.
D
Dead Bolt Lock
A lock worked only by key from both sides or combination key and lever, and having no door knobs.
Deck
An exterior floor system generally above grade.
Diffuse Reflection
Light reflection off a surface to produce a uniform light in all directions. Light reflection from a surface rather than radiating directly from a light source.
D.I.G. Window
The use of two sheets of glass with an inert gas sealed into the space between them to provide insulation against the passage of heat.
Distribution Box
(Also known as: Distribution Panel) In electricity, an insulated board from which connections are made between the main feed lines and branch lines.
DCA
Department of Community Affairs – Department which oversees modular building construction in Florida.
Double Hung Window
A type of window containing two movable sash sections which open vertically.
Down Spout
A vertical pipe used to drain rainwater from a roof.
Drip Cap
A molding placed on the exterior top part of a door or window to cause water to drip beyond the outside of the frame.
Drop Ceiling
A false or lowered ceiling, typically a T-Bar system.
Drywall
A wall constructed of material which is put in place without the use of plaster. Pre-formed sheets such as gypsum wallboard.
Dual-Duct System
An HVAC system using two ducts, one for supply and one for return air. The air from these ducts is blended in mixing boxes before distribution to each location.
Duct
1. In post-tensioning, a hole made in a post-tensioned member to accommodate a tendon.
2. In a building, usually round or rectangular metal or insulated pipe for distributing conditioned air to rooms from a conditioning device.
DWG
Working drawings.
E
Earth Drill
(Also known as: auger) A horizontal rotating drill having a screw thread-type bit that carries cuttings up and away from the face.
Eaves
That part of a roof which projects over the side wall.
Elephant Trunk
(Also known as: drop chute) An articulated tube or chute used in concrete placement.
ENG
Energy calculations
Excavation
Any man-made cavity or depression in the earth’s surface; formed by earth removal.
Exit Light
(An illuminating sign above an exit identifying it as an exit.
Exterior Wall
Any outside wall or vertical enclosure of a building other than a party wall.
F
Back to top
FAC
Fire alarm component.
Fill
Soil or other materials used to raise grade.
Fire Door
A metal sheathed door that will resist fire, often held from sliding shut by a fusible link. Doors designed to resist standard fire tests and labeled for identification.
Fireproofing
Any material or combination of materials built to protect structural members so as to increase their fire resistance.
Fire Wall
Any wall which subdivides a building to resist the spread of fire and which extends continuously from the foundation through the roof.
Flame Spread Classification
A standard test rating of fire resistive and protective characteristics of a building material.
Flanking Window
A window set beside an outside door which is often used to light a hallway.
Flat Roof
A roof having only minimal slope for drainage.
Flexible Metal Roofing
Roof covering of flat flexible metal sheet.
Flooring Tiles
Concrete or clay tiles set in cement mortar, bituminous or other adhesive. For a more sound absorbent, heat-insulating, decorative or comfortable walking surface, linoleum, glass, cork, rubber, asphalt or plastic tiles are used.
Fluorescent Lighting
A light source in which light is produced by a fluorescent power, phosphor coated on the inner surface of a glass tube. A mercury vapor arc between electrodes sealed into each end of the tube generates ultra-violet radiation which is changed by the phosphor into visible light.
Flush-Door
A door, any size not paneled, having two flat surfaces; flush-doors are frequently of various types of hollow core construction.