Section 7

alliancing

'a cooperative arrangement between two or more organisations that forms part of their overall strategy, and contributions to achieving their major goals and objectives for a particular project

adhesive

(adj) Abble to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky (n) a substance used for sticking objects or materials together; glue

moment connection

A connection between two structural members that is highly resistant to rotation between the members and therefore capable of transmitting bending moments between the connected members, as differentiated from a shear connection, which allows (slight) rotation.

seated connection

A connection in which a steel beam rests on top of a steel angle or tee that is fastened to a column or girder.

flush joint

A connection with both male and female threads cut into the pipe.

general contractor subcontractor

A construction entity with responsibility for the overall conduct of a construction project.

electrode

A consumable steel wire or rod used to maintain an arc and furnish additional weld metal in electric arc welding.

Occupational Health and Safety Administrations (OSHA)

A United States federal agency that develops and enforces standards and regulations for Occupational health and safety in the workplace.

column spiral

A continuous coil of steel reinforcing used to tie a concrete column.

quoin

A corner reinforcing of cut stone or bricks in a masonry wall, usually done for decorative effect.

rowlock course

A course with the long dimension parallel to the wall and the small face looking outward. Most commonly used at the topmost course of a wall and above or below openings within it

cup

A curl in the cross section of a board or timber caused by unequal shrinkage or expansion between one side of the board and the other.

drying shrinkage

A decrease in the volume of concrete as it dries, due to loss of moisture.

form tie hole

A depression, typically conical in shape, in a cast-in-place concrete wall that remains after the protruding portions of a form tie are removed.

penny (d)

A designation of nail size.

exterior elevation

A detailed, scaled and dimensional drawings of the roof and exterior walls of a building. They show your home's profiles - front, sides and area - and indicate the location and types of exterior finishing materials to be used.

tie

A device for hold ing two parts of a construction together; a structural device that acts in tension.

impact wrench

A device for tightening bolts and nuts by means of rapidly repeated torque impulses produced by electrical or pneumatic energy.

chair

A device used to support reinforcing bars.

valley rafter

A diagonal rafter that supports a valley.

framing plan

A diagram showing the arrangement and sizes of the structural members in a floor or roof.

rise

A difference in elevation, such as the rise of a stair from one floor to the next or the rise per foot of run in a sloping roof.

load indicator washer, direct tension indicator (DTI)

A disk placed under the head or nut of a high-strength bolt to indicate sufficient tensioning of the bolt by means of the deformation of ridges on the surface of the disk; also called a direct tension indicator washer.

shake-on hardener

A dry powder that is dusted onto the surface of a concrete slab before troweling to react with the concrete and produce a hard wearing surface for industrial use.

bolt

A fastener consisting of a cylindrical metal body with a head at one end and a helical thread at the other, intended to be inserted through holes in adjoining pieces of material and closed with a threaded nut.

fire-retardant treatment (FRT)

A fire retardant is a substance that reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion. This includes chemical agents, but may also include substances that work by physical action, such as cooling the fuels, such as fire-fighting foams and fire-retardant gels.

mushroom capital

A flaring conical head on a concrete column.

flat roof

A flat roof is a type of covering for a building. In contrast to the more sloped form of roof, a flat roof is horizontal or nearly horizontal.

gusset plate

A flat steel plate used to connect the members of a truss; a stiffener plate.

dropchute

A flexible hose-like tube for placing concrete; used to break the fall of the concrete and prevent segregation.

pan

A form used to produce the cavity between joists in a one-way concrete joist system.

eccentrically braced frame

A frame whose centerline braces are offset from the intersection of the centerlines of the columns and beams.

rafter

A framing member that runs up and down the slope of a steep roof.

king stud

A full-length stud nailed alongside a jack stud.

kiln

A furnace for firing clay or glass products; a heated chamber for seasoning wood; a furnace for manufacturing quicklime, gypsum hemihydrate, or port land cement.

clinker

A fused, pebble-like mass that is an intermediate product of cement manufacture

scarf jointed

A glued end connection between two pieces of wood, using a sloping cut to create a large surface for the glue bond, to allow it to develop the full tensile strength of the wood that it connects

finger jointed

A glued end connection between two pieces of wood, using an interlocking pattern of deeply cut "fingers. A finger joint creates a large surface for the glue bond, to allow it to develop the full tensile strength of the wood it connects.

Gantt chart

A graphic representation of a construction schedule, using a series of horizontal bars representing the duration of various tasks or groups of tasks that make up the project.

portland cement

A gray or white powder, composed principally of calcium silicates, which, when combined with water, hydrates to form the binder in concrete, mortar, and stucco.

knot

A growth characteristic in wood, occurring where a branch joins the trunk of the tree from which the wood has been sawed.

paving brick

A half-thickness brick used as finish flooring.

high-density overlay (HDO)

A heavy weight, resin-treated overlay applied to plywood panels to achieve a smoother, more durable face.

luffing-boom crane

A heavy-duty lifting device that uses a tower-mounted boom that may rotate in any vertical plane as well as in a horizontal plane.

hammerhead boom crane

A heavy-duty lifting device that uses a tower-mounted horizontal boom that may rotate only in a horizontal plane.

grout

A high-slump mixture of port land cement, aggregates, and water,which can be poured or pumped into cavities in concrete or masonry for the purpose of embedding reinforcing bars and/or increasing the amount of load-bearing material in a wall; a specially formulated mortar like material for filling under steel baseplates and around connections in precast concrete framing; a mortar used to fill joints between ceramic tiles or quarry tiles.

girt

A horizontal beam that supports wall cladding between columns.

waler

A horizontal beam used to support sheeting or concrete formwork.

coursebed joint

A horizontal layer of mortar on which masonry units are laid.

rough sill

A horizontal member laid across the bottom of an unfinished opening to act as a base during construction of a window frame

modular home

A house assembled on the site from boxlike factory-built sections.

masonry cement

A hydraulic cement made from a blend of portland cement, lime and other dry admixtures designed to increase the workability of the mortar. See also Cement-lime mortar.

blast furnace slag, slag cement

A hydraulic cementitious material formed as a byproduct of iron manufacture, used in mortar and concrete mixtures; also called slag cement.

vee joint

A joint whose profile resembles the letter V.

trimmer joist

A joist that supports a header around an opening in a floor or roof frame.

periodic kiln

A kiln that is loaded and fired in discrete batches, as differentiated from a tunnel kiln, which is operated continuously.

tunnel kiln

A kiln through which clay products are passed on railroad cars.

plate girder

A large beam made up of steel plates, sometimes in combination with steel angles, that are welded, bolted, or riveted together.

lag screw

A large-diameter wood screw with a square or hexagonal head.

Fair Housing Act

A law enacted as part of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination of home sales, rentals and financing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or those with disabilities.

zoning ordinance

A law that specifies in detail how land with in a municipality may be used.

joist girder

A light steel truss used to support open-web steel joists.

open-web steel joist (OWSJ)

A lightweight, prefabricated, welded steel truss used at closely spaced intervals to support floor or roof decking.

curing compound

A liquid that, when sprayed on the surface of newly placed concrete, forms a water-resistant layer to prevent premature dehydration of the concrete.

bolster

A long chair used to support reinforcing bars in a concrete slab.

bull float

A long-handled tool used for the initial floating of a freshly poured concrete slab. See also Darby.

shotcrete, pneumatically placed concrete

A low-slump concrete mixture that is deposited by being blown from a nozzle at high speed with a stream of compressed air; pneumatically placed concrete.

Ijoist

A manufactured wood framing member whose cross-sectional shape resembles the letter /.

cavity wall

A masonry wall that includes a continuous airspace between its outermost wythe and the remainder of the wall.

medium-density overlay (MDO)

A medium-weight, resin-treated overlay applied to plywood panels to achieve a smoother, more durable face.

diagonal bracing

A member installed at an angle to make a rectangular frame more rigid.

moisture barrier, vapor retarder

A membrane used to resist the migration of liquid water through a floor, wall, or roof.

steel trowel

A metal bladed tool used in the final stages of finishing of a concrete slab.

stick system

A metal curtain wall system that is largely assembled in place.

termite shield

A metal flashing placed on top of a concrete foundation to prevent termites from traveling undetected from the ground into the superstructure.

tee

A metal or precast concrete member with a cross section resembling the letter T.

turn-of-nut method

A method of achieving the correct tightness in a high-strength bolt by first tightening the nut snugly, then turning it a specified additional fraction of a turn.

lift-slab construction

A method of building multistory site-cast concrete buildings by casting all the slabs in a stack on the ground, then lifting them up the columns with jacks and welding them in place.

low-lift grouting

A method of constructing a reinforced masonry wall in which the reinforcing bars are embedded in grout in increments not higher than 4 feet (1200mm)

high-lift grouting

A method of constructing a reinforced masonry wall in which the reinforcing bars are embedded in grout in story-high increments.

tilt-up construction

A method of constructing concrete walls in which panels are cast and cured flat on a floor slab, then tilted up into their final positions.

hot-dip galvanized nail

A method of galvanizing in which a steel member or assembly is dipped into a bath of molten zinc.

stiff mud process

A method of molding bricks in which a column of damp clay is extruded from a rectangular die and cut into bricks by fine wires

dry-press process

A method of molding slightly damp clays and shales into bricks by forcing them into molds under high pressure.

panelized construction

A method of prefabricated wood light frame construction, in which whole sections or walls or floors are framed and sheathed in the factory and then transported to the construction site for erection.

sequential construction

A method of providing design and construction services in which each major phase of design and construction is completed before the next phase is begun.

design/build construction manager

A method of providing design and construction services in which the design and construction phases of the project are provided by a single entity, frequently used in combination with fast track construction.

lintel

A beam that carries the load of a wall across a window or door opening.

cantilever

A beam, truss, or slab that extends beyond its last point of support.

high-strength bolt

A bolt designed to connect steel members by clamping them together with sufficient force that the load is transferred between them by friction.

tension-control bolt

A bolt tightened by means of a splined end that breaks off when the bolt shank has reached the required tension.

lockpin and collar fastener, swedge bolt

A bolt-like device that is passed through holes in structural steel components, held in very high tension, and closed with a steel ring that is squeezed onto its protruding shank.

diaphragm action

A bracing action that derives from the stiffness of a thin plane of material when it is loaded in a direction parallel to the plane. Diaphragms in buildings are typically floor, wall, or roof surfaces of plywood, reinforced masonry, steel decking, or reinforced concrete.

soldier

A brick laid on its end, with its narrow face toward the outside of the wall.

rowlock

A brick laid on its long edge, with its end exposed in the face of the wall.

sand-struck brick, sand-mold brick

A brick made in a mold that was wetted and then dusted with sand before the clay was placed in it.

water-struck brick

A brick made in a mold that was wetted before the clay was placed on it.

firebrick

A brick made to withstand very high temperatures, as in a fireplace, furnace, or industrial chimney.

stretcher

A brick or masonry unit laid in its most usual position, with the broadest surface of the unit horizontal and the length of the unit parallel to the surface of the wall.

facing brick, face brick

A brick selected on the basis or appearance and durability for use in the exposed surface of a wall.

gauged brick

A brick that has been rubbed on an abrasive stone to reduce it to a trapezoidal shape for use in an arch.

masonry unit

A brick, stone, concrete block, glass block, or hollow clay tile in tended to be laid in mortar.

plate

A broad sheet of rolled metal 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) or more thick; a two way concrete slab; a horizontal top or bottom member in a platform frame wall structure.

joist band

A broad, shallow concrete beam that supports one-way concrete joists whose depths are identical to its own.

shed roof, single-pitch roof

A building or dormer with a single-pitched roof.

oriented strand board (OSB)

A building panel composed of long shreds of wood fiber oriented in specific directions and bonded together under pressure.

particleboard

A building panel composed of small particles of wood bonded together under pressure.

wafer board

A building panel made by bonding together large, flat flakes of wood.

cable stay

A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers, from which cables support the bridge deck. There are two major classes of cable-stayed bridges: harp and fan

sodium borate (SBX)

A chemical used to preserve wood against attack by decay and insects

alkaline copper quat (ACQ)

A chemical used to preserve wood against attack by decay and insects.

copper boron azoles (CBA and CA)

A chemical used to preserve wood against attack by decay and insects.

chromated copper arsenate (CCA)

A chemical used to protect wood against attack by decay and insects. Due to toxicity concerns, this chemical has been phased out of most treated wood used in residential and commercial building construction.

cellulose

A complex polymeric carbohydrate of which the structural fibers in wood are composed.

firestop

A component or mastic installed in an opening through a floor or around the edge of a floor to retard the passage of fire; frequently used interchangeably with fire blocking.

sill sealer

A compressible material placed between a foundation and a sill to reduce air infiltration between the out doors and in doors.

shrinkage-reducing admixture

A concrete additive that reduces drying shrinkage and the cracking that results.

corrosion inhibitor

A concrete admixture intended to prevent oxidation of reinforcing bars.

high-volume-fly-ash concrete (HVFA concrete)

A concrete in which a high percentage of cementing substance is fly ash rather than portland cement.

freeze protection admixture

A concrete or mortar additive, used to allow curing under conditions of low ambient temperature.

superflat concrete floor

A concrete slab finished to a high degree of flatness and levelness according to a recognized system of measurement.

exposed aggregate finish

A concrete surface in which the coarse aggregate is revealed.

slab on grade

A concrete surface lying upon, and supported directly by, the ground beneath

design/bid/build construction document

A method of providing design and construction services in which the design and construction phases of the project are provided by different entities, usually used in combination with sequential construction.

model building code

A model building code is a building code that is developed and maintained by a standards organization independent of the jurisdiction responsible for enacting the building code.

raked joint

A mortar joint in which mortar has been removed from the portion of the joint closest to the surface of the masonry.

concave joint

A mortar joint tooled with a round jointer.

fireclay mortar

A mortar that consists of stand, fire clay (ground firebricks) and Portland cement.

rotary power trowel

A motor-driven revolving disk that smooths, flattens, and compacts the surface of concrete floors or floor toppings

toothed plate

A multi-pronged fastener made from stamped sheet metal, used to join members of a lightwood wood truss.

end nailing

A nail driven through the side of one piece of lumber and into the end of another.

face nailing

A nail driven through the side of one wood member into the side of another.

nail gun

A nail gun, nailgun or nailer is a type of tool used to drive nails into wood or some other kind of material.

box nail

A nail with a more slender shank than a common nail, used for fastening framing members in wood light frame construction.

lime

A non-hydraulic, cementitous material, used as an ingredient in mortars and plasters. See also Hydrated lime, Quicklime.

nonveneered panel

A non-veneer panel is a type of wood panel product that does not contain plys made from wood veneer.

ridge board

A nonstructural framing member against which the upper ends of rafters a refastened.

wide-module concrete joist system, skipjoist system

A one-way concrete framing system with joists that are spaced more widely than those in a conventional one-way concrete joist system.

intumescent mastic

A paint or mastic that expands to form a stable, insulating char when exposed to fire.

intumescent paint

A paint or mastic that expands to form a stable, insulating char when exposed to fire.

structural insulated panel (SIP)

A panel consisting of two face sheets of wood panel bonded together by plastic foam core.

stressed-skin panel (SSP)

A panel consisting of two face sheets of wood, metal, or concrete bonded to perpendicular spacer ribs or framing members such that the panel can act as a composite structural panel.

underlayment panel

A panel laid over a sub floor to create a smooth, stiff surface for the application of finish flooring. Or, a water-resistant material applied under shingled roofing.

knee wallpitch

A partition that forms a side wall or supports roof rafters under a pitched roof.

creep

A permanent inelastic deformation in a material due to changes in the material caused by the prolonged application of a structural stress, common in wood and concrete.

collar tie

A piece of wood nailed across two opposing rafters near the ridge to resist wind uplift.

white portland cement

A portland cement that is white in color; used for architectural concrete where greater color control is required.

draped tendon

A post-tensioning strand that is placed along a curving profile that approximates the path of the tensile forces in a beam.

natural pozzolan

A pozzolan is a siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material which, in itself, possesses little or no cementitious value but which will, in finely divided form and in the presence of water, react chemically with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious properties

fly rafter

A rafter in a rake overhang.

beam blank, bloom

A rectangular solid of steel formed from an ingot as an intermediate step in creating rolled steel structural shapes.

one-way solid slab

A reinforced concrete floor or roof slab that spans between parallel beams or bearing walls.

one-way concrete joist system, ribbed slab

A reinforced concrete framing system in which closely spaced concrete joists span between parallel beams or bearing walls.

two-way flat plate

A reinforced concrete framing system in which columns directly support a two-way slab that is planar on both of its surfaces.

waffle slab, two-way concrete joist system

A reinforced concrete framing system in which columns directly support an orthogonal grid of intersecting joists.

two-way flat slab

A reinforced concrete framing system in which columns with mushroom capitals and/or drop panels directly support a two-way slab that is planar on both of its surfaces.

closed stirrup-tie

A reinforcement used to resist shear and diagonal tension stresses in a concrete structural member. A steel bar bent into a "U" or box shape and installed perpendicular to, or at an angle to the longitudinal reinforcement, and properly anchored. Lateral reinforcement formed of individual units, open or closed, or of continuously wound reinforcement. The term stirrups is usually applied to lateral reinforcement in flexural members and the term ties to lateral reinforcement in vertical compression members.

bottom bar

A reinforcing bar that lies close to the bottom of a beam or slab.

finish nail

A relatively thin nail with a very small head, used for fastening trim and other finish woodwork items.

hip roof

A roof consisting of four sloping planes that intersect to form a pyramidal or elongated pyramid shape.

gable roof

A roof consisting of two oppositely sloping planes that intersect at a level ridge.

hip rafter

A roof rafter at the intersection of two sloping roof planes. See also Common rafter.

common rafter

A roof rafter that runs parallel to the main slope of the roof. See also Hip rafter.

gambrel roof

A roof shape consisting of two superimposed levels of gable roofs with the lower level at a steeper pitch than the upper.

mansard roof

A roof shape consisting of two superimposed levels of hip roofs with the lower level at a steeper pitch than the upper.

folded plate

A roof structure whose strength and stiffness derive from a pleated or folded geometry.

tagline

A rope attached to a building component to help guide it as it is lifted by a crane or derrick.

soldier course

A row of bricks stacked verticlly

level cut

A saw cut that produces a level surface in a sloping rafter when the rafter is in its final position. See also Plumb cut.

plumb cut

A saw cut that produces a vertical (plumb) surface in a sloping rafter after the rafter is in its final position.

hot saw

A saw with a continuously rotating circular blade; used for cutting trees

barrel shell

A scalloped roof structure of reinforced concrete that spans in one direction as a barrel vault and in the other as a folded plate.

ceiling joist

A secondary horizontal framing member attached between the bottom chords of trusses. Serves as a structural member to which gypsum wallboard or other ceiling finishing materials may be attached.

barrel vault

A segment of a cylindrical surface that spans as an arch.

hook

A semicircular bend in the end of a rein forcing bar, made for the purpose of anchoring the end of the bar securely into the surrounding concrete.

access standard

A set of regulations ensuring that buildings are accessible and usable by physically handicapped members of the population.

building code

A set of regulations intended to ensure a minimum standard of health and safety in buildings.

nail

A sharp-pointed metal pin used for fastening of wood.

framed connection

A shear connection between steel members made by means of steel angles or plates connecting to the web of the beam or girder.

joist hanger

A sheet metal device used to create a structural connection where a joist is framed into a header or a ledger.

dowel

A short cylindrical rod of wood or steel; a steel reinforcing bar that projects from a foundation to tie it to a column or wall, or from one section of a concrete slab or wall to another.

glue-laminated wood, glulam

A short expression for glue laminated wood.

lookout

A short rafter, running perpendicular to the other rafters in the roof, which supports a rake overhang.

trimmer, jack stud

A shortened stud that carriers a header above a wall opening; also called a trimmer stud.

column tie

A single loop of steel bar, usually bent into a rectangular configuration, used to tie a concrete column.

single-purpose entity

A single purpose entity ("SPE"), also referred to i l i l i as a single-asset or special purpose entity (defined hereinafter), is a legal entity created to satisfy a narrow, specific or temporary purpose. SPE's are typically used to isolate liability between companies and among other assets.

broom finish

A skid-resistant texture imparted to an uncured concrete surface by dragging a stiff-bristled broom across it.

ironworker

A skilled laborer who erects steel building frames or places reinforcing bars in concrete construction.

camber

A slight, intentional initial curvature in a beam or slab.

key

A slot formed into a concrete surface for the purpose of interlocking with a subsequent pour of concrete; a slot at the edge of a precast member into which grout will be poured to lock it to an adjacent member; a mechanical interlocking of plaster with lath.

capillary break

A slot or groove intended to create an opening too large to be bridged by a drop of water and, thereby, to eliminate the passage of water by capillary action; the coarse aggregate layer under a concrete slab on grade which reduces the migration of water from the ground below into the concrete slab above.

backup bar, backing bar

A small rectangular strip of steel applied beneath a joint to provide a solid base for beginning a weld between two steel structural members.

bar

A small rolled steel shape, usually round or rectangular in cross section; a rolled steel shape used for reinforcing concrete.

common nail

A standard-sized nail used for the fastening of framing members in wood light frame construction.

stainless steel

A steel alloy, silvery in color, with superior corrosion resistance due principally to high chromium and nickel content.

washer

A steel disk with a hole in the middle, used to spread the load from a bolt, screw, or nail across a wider area of material.

Fully-Restrained moment connection, AISC Type 1 connection

A steel frame moment connection sufficiently rigid such that the geometric angles between connected pieces remain unchanged during normal loading; previously referred to as an "AISC Type 1" connection.

Partially-Restrained moment connection, AISC Type 3), connection

A steel frame moment connection that is less rigid than a fully restrained moment connection but that still possesses a usable degree of resistance to rotation; previously referred to as an "AISC Type 3" connection.

Simple connection. AISC Type 2 connection

A steel frame shear connection with no useable resistance to rotation; previously referred to as an "AISC Type 2" connection.

channel

A steel or aluminum section shaped like a rectangular box with one side missing.

form tie

A steel or plastic rod with fasteners on either end, used to hold together the two surfaces of formwork for a concrete wall.

stiffener plate

A steel plate attached to a structural member to support it against heavy localized loading or stresses.

baseplate

A steel plate inserted between a column and a foundation to spread the concentrated load of the column across a larger area of the foundation.

leveling plate

A steel plate placed in grout on top of a concrete foundation to create a level bearing surface for the lower end of a steel column.

tendon

A steel strand used for prestressing a concrete member.

slump test

A test in which wet concrete or plaster is placed in a cone-shaped metal mold of specified dimensions and allowed to sag under its own weight after the cone is removed. The vertical distance between the height of the mold and the height of the slumped mixture is an index of its working consistency.

drop panel

A thickening of a two-way concrete structure at the head of a column.

veneer

A thin layer, sheet, or facing.

flitch-sliced veneer

A thin sheet of wood cut by passing a block of wood vertically against a long, sharp knife.

rotary sliced

A thin sheet of wood produced by rotating a log against a long, sharp knife blade in a lathe.

flashing

A thin, continuous sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, or waterproof paper used to prevent the passage of water through a joint in a wall, roof, orchimney.

drift pin

A tapered steel rod used to align bolt holes in steel connections during erection.

welded wire reinforcing (WWR), welded wire fabric (WWF)

A welded grid of steel reinforcing wires or bars, used most commonly for reinforcing of slabs; also called welded wire fabric (WWF).

advanced framing techniques, optimum value engineering

A wood light framing system that minimizes redundant framing members, reducing the amount of lumber required and increasing the thermal efficiency of the insulated frame.

plywood

A wood panel composed of an odd number of layers of wood veneer bonded together under pressure.

pattern rafter

A wood rafter cut to size and shape and then used to trace cuts onto additional wood members so as to assure consistent dimensions among all rafters.

cripple stud

A wood wall framing member that is shorter than full-length studs because it is interrupted by a header or sill.

platform frame

A wooden building frame composed of closely spaced members nominally 2 inches (51 mm) thick in which the wall members do not run past the floor framing members.

balloon frame

A wooden building frame composed of closely spaced members nominally 2 inches (51 mm) thick, in which the wall members are single pieces that run from the sill to the top plates at the eave.

band joist

A wooden joist running perpendicular to the primary direction of the joists in a floor and closing off the floor platform at the outside face of the building.

rim joist

A wooden joist running perpendicular to the primary direction of the joists in a floor and closing off the floor platform at the outside face of the building.

property specification

According to ASTM C270, mortar mixes may be specified in one of two ways: either by proportion specification, in which the quantities of ingredients used to prepare the mix are specified, or my property specification in which the compressive strength and other properties of the hardened mortar as determined by laboratory testing are defined. Proportion specification is the simpler (no laboratory testing is require) and the more common method. On large jobs, however property specification gives the mason more flexibility in the choice of mortar ingredients and can result in an overall cost savings, even considering lab testing cost.

cleanout hole

An opening at the base of a masonry wall through which mortar droppings and other debris can be removed prior to grouting the interior cavity of the wall.

bright nail

An uncoated nail, susceptible to rust and corrosion, not used for exterior work

vertical bar, column bar

An upright reinforcing bar in a concrete column; also called a column bar.

slip forming

Building multistory sitecast concrete walls with forms that rise up the wall as construction progresses.

Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)

CSC is committed to ongoing development and delivery of quality education programs, publications and services for the betterment of the construction community

nonhydraulic cement

Cementitious materials, such as gypsum and lime, that remain water soluble after curing.

hydraulic cement

Cementitious materials, such as portland cement or blast furnace slag, that harden by reacting with water and whose hardened products are not water soluble. Non hydraulic cements, such as lime, can also be mixed with pozzolans to create cements with hydraulic properties.

galling

Chafing or tearing of one material against another under extreme pressure.

hollow brick

Clay brick with up to 60 percent void area.

coloring agent

Colored aggregates or iron oxides ground finer then the cement.

flying formwork

For floor slabs that are cast in place, flying framework is fabricated in large sections that are supported on deep metal trusses.

wracking

Forcing out of plumb.

brick Grade

Designation for durability of the unit expressed as SW for severe weathering, MW for moderate weathering, or NW for negligible weathering. See ASTM Specifications C 216, C 62 and C 652.

rough carpentry

Framing carpentry, as distinguished from finish carpentry

coarse aggregate

Gravel or crushed stone in a concrete mix.

Green Globes

Green Globes is the first web-enabled, fully interactive green building assessment and certification program. It includes an on-site visit by a third-party assessor comprehensive customer support.

green lumber

Green wood is wood that has been recently cut and therefore has not had an opportunity to "season" by evaporation of the internal moisture. Green wood is relatively high in moisture relative to seasoned wood

self-consolidating grout

Grout formulated so that it is highly flowable

joist hanger nail

Hardened nails to be put into a joist hanger to hold it in place

high reactivity metakaolin

High Reactivity Metakaolin is an engineered, high strength, pozzolanic material. It is an economical alternative to silica fume and can be utilized in high performance concrete.

high-strength, low-alloy steel

High-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) is a type of alloy steel that provides better mechanical properties or greater resistance to corrosion than carbon steel.

shop drawing

Detailed drawings prepared by a fabricator to guide the shop production of such building components as cut stonework, steel or precast concrete framing, curtain wall panels, and cabinetwork.

hollow structural section (HSS)

Hollow steel cylindrical or rectangular shapes made to be used as structural members; also called structural tubing.

run

Horizontal dimension in a stair or sloping roof.

steel reinforcing bars

Hot-rolled, deformed steel bars used to impart tensile strength and ductility to concrete structures; rebar

blended hydraulic cement

Hydraulic cement made from a mixture of cementitious materials such as portland cement, other hydraulic cements, and pozzolans for the purpose of altering one or more properties of the cement or reducing the energy required in the cement manufacturing process.

supplementary cementitious material (SCM)

Hydraulic cementitious material or pozzolan mixed with portland cement to modify the cement product's properties or lower the energy required to manufacture the cement.

muriatic acid

Hydrochloric acid.

harped tendon

In a concrete member, tendons which have a curved trajectory with respect to the gravity axis of the member.

hip jack rafter

In a hip roof, a rafter shorter in length than most of the other rafters used in the same construction, whose upper end is secured to a hip rafter.

cover

In concrete, a specified thickness of concrete surrounding steel reinforcing bars to provide full embedment for the bars and protect them against fire and corrosion.

microfiber reinforcing

In concrete, fibrous reinforcement against plastic shrinkage cracking. See also Macrofiber reinforcing.

macrofiber reinforcing

In concrete, fibrous reinforcement capable of providing resistance to drying shrinkage and thermal stresses, and in some specialized concretes, also capable of act ing as primary reinforcing. See also Microfiber reinforcing.

cross bracing

In construction, cross bracing is a system utilized to reinforce building structures in which diagonal supports intersect. Cross bracing can increase a building's capability to withstand seismic activity from an earthquake.

sustainability

Providing for the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for their needs. Providing healthy, resource- conserving, energy-efficient buildings. "Green" building.

fibrous reinforcing

Short fibers of glass, steel, or polypropylene mixed into concrete to act as either microfiber reinforcing or macrofiber reinforcing.

incising

Short, repetitive cuts made in the surface of a wood member to increase its absorption of treatment chemicals.

trowel

A thin, flat steel tool, either pointed or rectangular, provided with a handle and held in the hand, used to manipulate mastic, mortar, plaster, or concrete. Also, a machine whose rotating steel blades are used to finish concrete slabs; to use a trowel.

split-ring connector

A timber connector consisting of a metal ring set in circular grooves in two pieces; the assembly being held by bolts.

diamond saw

A tool with a moving chain, belt, wire, straight blade, or circular blade whose cutting action is carried out by diamonds.

chord

A top or bottom member of a truss.

manufactured home

A transportable house that is entirely factory built on a steel under-frame supported by wheels;euphemistically referred to as a mobile home.

distribution rib

A transverse beam at the midspan of a one-way concrete joist structure, used to allow the joists to share concentrated loads.

truss

A triangulated arrangement of structural members that reduces non-axial external forces to a set of axial forces in its members. See also Vierendeel truss.

valley

A trough formed by the intersection of two roof slopes.

space truss, space frame

A truss that spans with two-way action.

ray

A tubular cell that runs radially in a tree trunk.

isolation joint, expansion joint

A type of structure/enclosure joint used with concrete slabs on grade to allow differential movement where they abut adjacent walls and columns.

Heavy Timber construction

A type of wood construction made from large wood members and solid timber decking in a post and beam configuration; in the International Building Code, buildings of Type IV HT construction, consisting of heavy timber interior construction and noncombustible exterior walls, are considered to have moderate fire-resistive properties.

board foot

A unit of lumber volume, a rectangular solid nominally 12 square inches in cross-sectional area and 1 foot long.

stirrup

A vertical loop of steel bar used to reinforce a concrete beam against diagonal tension forces.

slab band

A very broad, shallow beam used with a one-way solid slab.

hardwood plywood

A very dense panel product, usually with at least one smooth face, made of highly compressed wood fibers.

subpurlin

A very small roof framing member that spans between joists or purlins.

bearing wall

A wall that supports floors or roofs.

slurry

A watery mixture of insoluble materials with a high concentration of suspended solids.

shore

Temporary vertical or sloping supports of steel or timber.

bearing-type connection

Slip-critical joint, from structural engineering, is a type of bolted structural steel connection which relies on friction between the two connected elements rather than bolt shear or bolt bearing to join two structural elements.

lead

Soft, non-ferrous material; in masonry, a corner or wall end accuratelyconstructed with the aid of a spirit level to serve as a guide for placing the bricks in the remainder of the wall

shrinkage-compensating cement

Specially formulated cement, used to counteract the drying shrinkage that normally occurs during curing.

ACI 301

Specifications for concrete

timber

Standing trees; a large piece of dimension lumber.

cast steel

Steel casting is a specialized form of casting involving various types of steel. Steel castings are used when cast irons cannot deliver enough strength or shock resistance.[1]

cold-worked steel, cold-formed steel

Steel formed at a temperature at which it is no longer plastic, as by rolling or forging at room temperature.

deformed reinforcing bars

Steel reinforcing bars with surface ribs for better bonding to concrete.

FRP reinforced glulam

Structural capacity is increased by gluing a thin strip of fiber reinforced plastic between the first and second laminations

oriented strand lumber (OSL)

Structural composite lumber made from shredded wood strands, coated with adhesive, and pressed into a rectangular cross section.

parallel strand lumber (PSL)

Structural composite lumber made of wood shreds oriented parallel to the long axis of each piece and bonded together with adhesive.

laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

Structural composite lumber made up of thin wood veneers joined with glue.

architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS)

Structural steel intended to be left exposed in the finished building and fabricated and installed to a higher-standard.

formwork

Structures, usually temporary, that serve to give shape to poured concrete and to support it and keep it moist as it cures.

hybrid glulam beam

Subsitutes a laminated veneer fro the usual solid wood at the top and bottom laminations of the beam, this creates a much stronger proffesor

structural composite lumber, engineered lumber

Substitutes for solid lumber made from wood veneers or wood fiber strands and glue; also called engineered lumber.

high-range water-reducing admixture, superplasticizer

Superplasticizers, also known as high range water reducers, are chemical admixtures used where well-dispersed particle suspension is required.

knee board

Support pads worn by workers during concrete finishing that distribute the finisher's weight and minimize marring of the concrete surface.

green building

Sustainable building; energy-efficient building; See also Sustain ability.

centering

Temporary formwork for an arch, dome, or vault.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world's forests.

middle strip

The half-span-wide zone of a two-way concrete slab that lies midway between columns.

curing

The hardening of concrete, plaster, gunnable sealant, or other wet materials. Curing can occur through evaporation of water or a solvent, hydration, polymerization, or chemical reactions of various types, depending on the formulation of the material.

sill

The horizontal bottom portion of a window or door; the exterior surface, usually sloped to shed water, below the bottom of a window or door.

top plate

The horizontal member at the top of the studs in a wall in a light frame building.

sole plate, bottom plate

The horizontal piece of dimension lumber at the bottom of the studs in a wall in a light frame building; also called a bottom plate.

head

The horizontal top portion of a window or door.

sapwood

The living wood in the outer region of a tree trunk or branch.

tracheid

The longitudinal cells in a softwood.

equilibrium moisture content

The moisture content at which wood stabilizes after a period of time in its destination environment.

lignin

The natural cementing substance that binds together the cellulose in wood.

span rating

The number stamped on a sheet of plywood or other wood building panel to indicate how far in inches it may span between supports.

Advanced Energy Design Guides

The Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDG) are a series of publications designed to provide recommendations for achieving energysavings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1

shear wrench

Tightens the nut onto the bolt and shears off the excess bolt

snug-tight

Tightness of the bolt when all piles are in firm contact. Not overtightned.

straightedge

To strike off the surface of a concrete slab using screeds and a straight piece of lumber or metal; as a noun, a long, straight item, used to perform straight-edging, test the flatness of a surface, or trace a straight line.

rigid frame

Two columns and a beam or beams attached to one another with moment connections; a moment-resisting frame.

mortar type

Type N is of medium strength, which means it is the best choice for projects with bricks that are not load bearing. Type S is known for its strength and is used outdoors. The strongest mix that you will find in a home improvement store, Type M is typically used only with stone. Refractory mortar is used when heat is of a concern.

LEED credit

Under LEED 2009, there are 100 possible base points distributed across six credit categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design. Four additional points may be received for Regional Priority Credits, and six additional points for Innovation in Design. Certified: 40-49 points, Silver: 50-59 points, Gold: 60-79 points,Platinum: 80 points and above

full-penetration groove weld

Used to produce a moment connection, often used with stiffiner plates

silica fume, microsilica

Very finely divided silicon dioxide, a pozzolan, used as an admixture in the formulation of high-strength, low-permeability concrete; also called microsilica

fixed fee compensation, lump sum compensation

With this kind of contract the engineer and/or contractor agrees to do the a described and specified project for a fixed price. Also named "Fixed Fee Contract". Often used in engineering contracts. A Fixed Fee or Lump Sum Contract is suitable if the scope and schedule of the project are sufficiently defined to allow the consulting engineer to estimate project costs.

softwood

Wood from coniferous (evergreen) trees.

hardwood

Wood from deciduous (broadleaf) trees.

wood-plastic composite (WPC)

Wood like products made from wood fibers, plastics of various types, and other additives,with a plastic content not exceeding 50 percent

laminated strand lumber (LSL)

Wood members made up of long shreds of wood fiber joined with a binder.

pressure-treated wood

Wood that has been impregnated with chemicals under pressure for the purpose of retarding decay or reducing combustibility.

preservative-treated wood

Wood that has been impregnated with preservative chemicals to increase its resistance to decay and biological attack; also commonly called pressure-treated wood.

kiln-dried after treatment

Wood that is dried in a kiln after being treated

crook

a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc. a bend, turn, or curve

clamp

a brace, band, or clasp used for strengthening or holding things together.

clinker brick

a brick that is over-burned.

fiberboard

a building material made of wood or other plant fibers compressed into boards.

concrete admixture

a chemical added to the concrete at the time of mixing to impart desirable behavior.

pentachlorophenol

a colorless, crystalline, synthetic compound used in insecticides, fungicides, weed killers, and wood preservatives.

shear connection

a connection designed to resist only the tendency of one member to slide past another. Not to resist any tendency to rotate

creosote

a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative. It contains a number of phenols, cresols, and other organic compounds.

pressure impregnation

a deeper and more uniform penetration and a higher absorption of preservative is achieved. Another advantage is that the treating conditions can be controlled so that retention and penetration can be varied. These pressure processes can be adapted to large-scale production.

shear

a deformation in which planes of material slide with respect to one another

architectural floor plan

a diagram, usually to scale, of the relationships between rooms, spaces and other physical features at one level of a structure. Dimensions are usually drawn between the walls to specify room sizes and wall lengths.

steel truss

a framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure

electric arc furnace

a furnace that uses an electric arc as a heat source, esp. for steelmaking.

light transmitting concrete

a mixture of optical glass fibres and fine concrete. It can be used as prefabricated blocks or panels. Thousands of optical glass fibres form a matrix and run parallel to each other between the two main surfaces of every block.

shear stud

a piece fo steel welded to the top the top of a steel beam or girder so as to become embedded in the concrete fill over the beam and cause the beam and the concrete to act as a single structural unit

form finding

a process of discovery and editing (form emerges from analysis)

corbel

a projection jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it.

castellated beam

a rolled metal beam the web of which is first divided by a lengthwise zigzag cut, then welded together so as to join the peaks of both halves, thus increasing its depth and strength

tower crane

a rotatable cantilever jib on top of a steelwork tower used on building sites where the operator needs to command a good view of the site

headsaw

a saw that cuts and trims logs as they enter a mill

screw

a short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated so that it pierces wood or other material and is held tightly in place.

flitch

a slab of timber cut from a tree trunk, usually from the outside. the strengthening plate in a flitch beam.

jack arch, flat arch

a small arch only one brick in thickness, esp. as used in numbers to support a floor.

pilot hole

a small hole drilled as a guide for the insertion of a nail or screw, or for the drilling of a larger hole.

brick

a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.

coke

a solid fuel made by heating coal in the absence of air so that the volatile components are driven off.

drywall screw

a specialized self-tapping screw with a cylindrical shaft that has proved to have uses far beyond its original application.

shear wall

a stiff wall that imparts lateral force resistance to a building frame

roof truss

a structural framework of timbers designed to bridge the space above a room and to provide support for a roof

concurrent design

a systematic approach to integrated product development that emphasizes the response to customer expectations.

shear tab

a tab welded to a column and bolted to the web of the beam

fiber

a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed.

cellulosic fiberboard

a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fiberboard (in order of increasing density) include particle board, medium-density fiberboard, and hardboard. Fiberboard is sometimes used as a synonym for particle board

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. (1990)

cooling bed

after i-beams are rolled/formed into the proper shape, they are cut with a hot saw and then progress along a cooling bed before being cut with a cold saw and sent off for shipping.

Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

an organization that keeps and changes the standardization of construction language as it pertains to building specifications.

struck joint

angled in joint, meant to emphasize horizontal

frogged unit

having indentations on one of the longer faces

puddle weld

he small area of molten metal that forms during welding. The cooled weld puddle forms the permanent joint. A weld puddle is also called a weld pool, molten pool, or molten puddle.

Type M mortar

high stregth mortar

draped tendon set

in post-tensioning tendons can assume a shape instead of using place straight across. This shape typically mimics the european moment diagrams (or the opposite of ours.) once these draped tendons are pulled tight they cause a camber in the beam.

interior elevation

interior face of the building

line block

linecut: engraving consisting of a block that has been etched or engraved

Type O mortar

low strength mortar, non-load bearing

structural fingerjointed lumber

lumber of a structural qaulity using finger joints as a connection (SEE IMAGE)

flat-grain

lumber sawed in such a way that annual rings a reoriented close to parallel with the face. See also Vertical grain lumber.

carbon-neutral

making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, esp. through offsetting emissions by planting trees.

lay to the line

mason laying a row of bricks in a straight line. they need only a trowel in one hand and a brick in the other to create a perfect wall.

rigid core

material with a more rigid sturdy material running through the middle of it

Type S mortar

medium strength mortar, commonly used for ground connections

weathered joint

mortar joint with a downward and outward slope

sinker, cooler

nail ofsmaller diameter which may be lubricated, purpose is fast nailing for carpenters. DO NOT USE IN STRUCTURAL SITUATIONS

floating

not settled in a definite place; fluctuating or variable.

weld symbols

notate where to weld and what type of weld to make

edge-grain, vertical grain

refer to the orientation of the tree's annular growth rings to the sawn surface of the shingle or the split face of a shake. quarter sawn, rift sawn or radial grain

two-way solid slab

reinforced concrete framing system where two columns directly support a two way slab planar on both surface.

rigid perimeter

reinforcement aroud the perimeter of a material

stripped joint

removed formwork around join. Ex: around roof flashing

formwork stripping

taking away the formwork once the concrete slab has set.

wood light frame construction

technique for constructung using wooden frames

calibrated wrench method

technique to get all the bolts tightend the same amount (same pressure/torque)

staple

that was easy

foundation sill plate

the bottom horizontal member of a wall or building to which vertical members are attached.

carbon offsetting

the counteracting of carbon dioxide emissions with an equivalent reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

structural bond

the interlocking pattern of masonry units used to tie two or more wythes together

water table

the level to which water will fill an excevation

subfloor

the loadbearing structure below a finish floor

column strip

the portion of a flat slab over the columns and consisting of the two adjacent quarter panels on each side of the column center line.

pith

the spongy cellular tissue in the stems and branches of many higher plants.

decay

the state or process of rotting or decomposition.

bark

the tough exterior covering of a woody root or stem;specifically : the tissues outside the cambium that include an inner layer especially of secondary phloem and an outer layer of periderm

surfaced two sides (S2S)

this also should be common sense

surfaced four sides (S4S)

this should be common sense

cored unit

three cylindrical holes drilled through a brick

lumber

timber sawn into rough planks or otherwise partly prepared.

bow

to bend into a curve

retemper

to mix (concrete or mortar) again with or without additional water after initial set has taken place

vessel, pore

tube like series of water conducting cells

tensile fabric structure

uses only tension to support structure, tension trnasfers through fabric

recycled plastic lumber (RPL)

wood-like product made from recovered plastic or recovered plastic mixed with other materials

American Standard shape, 1-beam

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dimension lumber

2 in to 4 in in nominal thickness. 5 or larger is timber. 2 in or smaller is a board

basic oxygen process

A steel-making process in which a stream of pure oxygen is introduced into a batch of molten iron so as to remove excess carbon and other impurities.

restraightening

A step in the finishing of concrete slabs for the purpose of removing minor undulations produced during floating or troweling.

sheeting

A stiff material used to retain the soil around an excavation; a material such as polyethylene in the form of very thin, flexible sheets.

darby

A stiff straightedge of wood or metal used to level the surface of wet plaster or concrete.

story pole

A strip of wood marked with the exact course heights of masonry for a particular building, used to make sure that all the leads are identical in height and coursing.

ridge beam

A structural beam supporting the upper ends of rafters in a sloped roof, required where the rafters are not tied at their lower ends.

braced frame

A structural building frame strengthened against lateral forces with diagonal members.

moment-resisting frame

A structural building frame, strengthened to resist lateral forces with moment connections between beams and columns.

buttress

A structural device of masonry or concrete that resists the diagonal forces from an arch or vault.

arch

A structural device that supports a vertical load by translating it into axial inclined forces at its supports.

rivet

A structural fastener on which a second head is formed after the fastener is in place.

expanded shale aggregate

A structural lightweight aggregate made from ground shale particles that have been heated to the point that moisture within the particles vaporizes, causing the particles to expand.

concrete

A structural material produced by mixing predetermined amounts of cement, aggregates, and water and allowing this mixture to cure under controlled conditions.

angle

A structural section of steel or aluminum whose profile resembles the letter L.

slip-critical connection, friction connection

A structural steel connection in which the members are clamped together by high-strength bolts with sufficient force that the loads on the members are transmitted between them by friction along their mating (faying) surfaces; also called a friction connection.

dormer

A structure protruding through the plane of a sloping roof, usually containing a window and having its own smaller roof.

air-supported structure

A structure, usually long-span, with a fabric roof supported by an increase in air pressure inside the structure.

form release compound

A substance applied to concrete formwork to prevent concrete from adhering.

extended set-control admixture

A substance that retards the onset of the curing reaction in concrete or mortar.

extended-life admixture

A substance that retards the onset of the curing reaction in mortar so that the mortar may be used over a protracted period of time after mixing.

mortar

A substance used to join masonry units, consisting of cementitious materials, fine aggregate, and water.

pozzolan

A supplementary cementitious material, such as fly ash, silica fume, and some naturally occurring shales and clays, that has few or no inherent cementitious properties but that, in the presence of moisture, can react with calcium hydroxide released by other cementitious materials to create a hydraulic cement product. The Romans mixed natural pozzolans with lime to make the first hydraulic cement.

exposure durability classification

A system for rating the expected resistance of a wood panel product to weathering.

insulating concrete form (ICF)

A system of lightweight components, most commonly made of rigid polystyrene insulating foam, used as permanent formwork for the casting of concrete walls.

proportion specification

According to ASTM C270, mortar mixes may be specified in one of two ways: either by proportion specification, in which the quantities of ingredients used to prepare the mix are specified, or my property specification in which the compressive strength and other properties of the hardened mortar as determined by laboratory testing are defined. Proportion specification is the simpler (no laboratory testing is require) and the more common method. On large jobs, however property specification gives the mason more flexibility in the choice of mortar ingredients and can result in an overall cost savings, even considering lab testing cost.

workability agent

Admixture for concrete that improves the plasticity of wet material to make it easier to place in forms and to finish.

mast

Also called pillar. the upright support of a jib crane.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

American National Standards Institute, an organization that fosters the establishment of voluntary industrial standards.

ASTM International

American Society for Testing and Materials, an organization that promulgates standards for testing, materials, and methods of building construction.

framing square

An L-shaped measuring tool used by carpenters to lay out right angle cuts as well as more complicated cuts, such as those required for stairs and sloping roof rafters.

air-entraining admixture

An admixture that causes a controlled quantity of stable microscopic air bubbles to form in concrete or mortar during mixing, usually for the purposes of increasing workability and resistance to freeze-thaw conditions.

accelerating admixture

An admixture that causes concrete or mortar to cure more rapidly.

retarding admixture

An admixture used to slow the curing of concrete, mortar, or plaster.

cost plus a fee compensation

An agreement to pay a company for a job based on the amount of money used to buy the materials required to complete that job plus an added payment.

birdsmouth cut

An angled notch cut into a rafter to allow the rafter to seat securely on the top plate of a wall.

nominal dimension

An approximate dimension assigned to a piece of material as a convenience in referring to the piece.

rough arch

An arch made from masonry units that are rectangular rather than wedge- shaped.

dome

An arch rotated about its vertical axis to produce a structure shaped like an inverted bowl; a form used to make one of the cavities in a concrete waffle slab.

section detail

An architectural drawing representing a vertically cut plane through a whole building, part of a building, or detail.

Bessemer process

An early method of steel manufacturing in which air was blown into a vessel of molten iron to burn out impurities.

water-cement ratio, w-c ratio

An expression of the relative proportions, by weight, of water and cement in a concrete mixture.

F-number

An index number expressing the statistical flatness or levelness of a concrete slab.

control joint, contraction joint

An intentional, linear discontinuity in a structure or component designed to form a plane of weakness where cracking can occur in response to various forces so as to minimize or eliminate cracking elsewhere in the structure. Also called a contraction joint.

wane

An irregular rounding of a long edge of a piece of dimension lumber caused by cutting the lumber from too near the outside surface of the log.

U-stirrup

An open-top, U-shaped loop of steel bar used as reinforcing against diagonal tension in a concrete beam.

ferrous metal

Any iron-based metal.

wide-flange shape

Any of a wide range of structural steel components rolled in the shape of the letter I or H.

building section

Any portion of a building, whether a single room, a group of rooms, a floor, or a group of floors, that is within the limits of a fire division.

prestress

Applying an initial compressive stress to a concrete structural member, either by pretensioning or posttenssioning.

permanent wood foundation

Basically a below grade stud wall built of preservative-treated plywood and lumber, a PWF is just like any other foundation system.

end plate connection

Beam gets welded to an end plate, which is then bolted to another beam.

two-way action

Bending or a slab or deck in which bending stresses are approximately equal in the two principal directions of the structure.

batter board

Boards mounted on stakes outside the excavation area of a building, used to preserve locations for string lines marking the corners of the building foundation.

solid unit

Both facing bricks and building bricks are specified as solid units. solid units may be genuinely solid, or despite their name, they may be cored or frogged, as long as any plane measure parallel to the bearing surface of the brick is at least 75% solid.

bridging

Bracing or blocking installed between steel or wood joists at midspan to stabilize them against buckling and, in some cases, to permit adjacent joists to share loads.

building brick

Brick used for concealed masonry work where appearance is not a concern.

modular brick

Bricks which can be laid to modular dimensions; bricks sized so that the brick plus the mortar joint will form a 4, 8 or 12 inch increment, or module.

running bond

Brickwork consisting entirely of stretchers.

reinforced brick masonry (RBM)

Brickwork into which steel bars have been embedded to impart tensile strength to the construction.

English bond

Brickwork laid with alternating courses, each consisting entirely of headers or stretchers.

Flemish bond

Brickwork laid with each course consisting of alternating headers and stretchers.

common bond

Brickwork laid with five courses of stretchers followed by one course of headers.

composite panel

Composite panels are factory engineered panels used mainly for exterior cladding, partitioning, load bearing walls and roofing elements in a wide range of non-residential buildings.

pretensioning

Compressing the concrete in a structural member by pouring the concrete for the member around stretched high-strength steel strands, curing the concrete, and releasing the external tensioning force on the strands.

posttensioning

Compressing the concrete in a structural member by tensioning high strength steel tendons against it after the concrete has cured.

water-reducing admixture

Concrete admixture that allows a reduce in the amount of mixing water while retaining the same workability, resulting in higher strength concrete.

self-consolidating concrete (SCC)

Concrete formulated so that it is highly flowable and fills formwork completely without needing consolidation

architectural concrete

Concrete intended as a finish surface and produced to a higher-quality standard.

transit-mixed concrete

Concrete mixed in a drum on the back of a truck as it is transported to the building site.

prestressed concrete

Concrete that has been pretensioned or post-tensioned.

sitecasting, cast-in-place construction

Concrete that is poured and cured in its final position in a building; cast in place.

reinforced concrete

Concrete work into which steel bars have been embedded to impart tensile strength to the construction.

phased construction, fast track construction

Construction in which the stages of design and construction overlap, thereby shortening the time necessary to complete the project.

prefabrication

Construction that takes place in a factory or shop, rather than on the building site.

tempering

Controlled heating and cooling of a material to alter its mechanical properties; a form of heat-treatment.

coped flange

Coping or notching of beams is required to ensure that beams and columns fit without conflict (interference). It is often necessary to remove material from a flange or web in order for the intersecting steel pieces to fit.

roller straightener

Corrects residual crookedness

oxidation

Corrosion; rusting; rust; chemically, the combining with oxygen.

metal decking

Corrugated metal sheets used as the structural base for floors ("floor decking") and roofs ("roof decking") in steel frame construction. See also Cellular decking and Composite metal decking.

composite metal decking

Corrugated steel decking manufactured in such a way that it bonds securely to the concrete floor fill to form a reinforced concrete deck.

plastic shrinkage cracking

Cracking in freshly mixed concrete, most commonly in slabs, that occurs when the surface of the concrete dries too rapidly.

insect damage

Damage caused by insects

Green Home Building Guidelines

Developed by the National Association of Home Builders

Chevron bracing, inverted V bracing

Diagonal bracing nailed to the truss in the plane of the specified webs to add stability

let-in diagonal bracing

Diagonal bracing that is nailed in to notches cut in the face of the studs so as not to increase the thickness of the wall.

brace

Diagonal members, either temporary or permanent, installed to stabilize a structure against lateral loads.

self-drilling wood screw

Drills its own hole

load duration factor

Duration of load is the total cumulative length of time that the full design load is applied. For example, when assigning a duration of load factor (CD) for a snow load in allowable stress design (ASD) procedures, the CD factor is based on the total length of time that the design maximum snow load would be applied.

fly ash

Dust collected in the stacks of coal-fired power plants, used as a supplementary cementituos material in concrete and mortar.

electric arc welding

Electrical arc welding is a process utilizing the concentrated heat of an electric arc to join metal by fusion of the parent metal and the addition of metal to the joint usually provided by a consumable electrode.

composite wood trim

Engineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board; includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation[1] to form composite materials.

vermiculite

Expanded mica, used as an insulating fill or lightweight aggregate.

perlite

Expanded volcanic glass, used as a lightweight aggregate in concrete and plaster and as an insulating fill.

toe nailing

Fastening with nails driven at an angle.

insulating fiberboard sheathing

Fiberboard sheathing is composed of various plant fibers held together with an asphalt binder. It provides more insulating ability than plywood or oriented-strand board, and is lower in cost, but also has less strength.

spray-applied fire-resistive materials (SFRvf )

Fibrous or cementitious insulation applied to steel or concrete with a sprayer to provide protection against the heat of fire.

header

In framed construction, a member that carries other perpendicular framing members, such as a beam above an opening in a wall or a joist supporting other joists where they are interrupted by a floor opening. In steel construction, a beam that spans between girders. In masonry construction, a brick or other masonry unit that is laid across two wythes with its end exposed in the face of the wall.

bleed water

In freshly placed concrete, water that rises to the top surface of the concrete as the solid cement and aggregate particles settle.

consolidation

In freshly poured concrete, eliminate trapped air and cause the concrete to fill completely around the reinforcing bars and into all the corners of the formwork, usually by vibrating the concrete.

mortar cement

In masonry, a blend of portland cement, lime, and other additives, that produces mortar comparable in its bond strength properties to cement lime mortar.

bond

In masonry, the adhesive force between mortar and masonry units, or the pattern in which masonry units are laid to tie two or more wythes together in to a structural unit. In reinforced concrete, the adhesion between the surface of a reinforcing bar and the surrounding concrete.

touch sanded

In plywood, lightly sanded to produce a smoother, flatter surface.

iron ore

In pure form, a metallic element. In common usage, ferrous alloys other than steels, including cast iron and wrought iron.

occupancy group

In the International Building Code, a definition of the types of activities that occur within the building or a part of the building, relating to considerations of life safety.

construction type

In the International Building Code, any of five major systems of building construction that are differentiated by their relative resistance to fire.

tangential shrinkage

In wood, shrinkage along the circumference of the log.

longitudinal shrinkage

In wood, shrinkage along the length of the log.

radial shrinkage

In wood, shrinkage perpendicular to the growth rings.

grain

In wood, the direction of the longitudinal axes of the wood fibers or the figure formed by the fibers. In stone, see Quarry bed.

springwood, earlywood

In wood, the portion of the growth ring comprised of relatively larger, less dense cells; also called earlywood.

summerwood, latewood

In wood, the portion of the growth ring comprised of relatively smaller, denser cells; also called late wood.

bound water

In wood, the water held with in the cellulose of the cell walls. See also Free water.

free water

In wood, water held within the cavities of the cell

aggregate

Inert particles, such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, or expanded minerals, in a concrete, mortar, or plaster.

reshoring

Inserting temporary supports under concrete beams and slabs after the formwork has been removed to prevent overloading prior to full curing of the concrete.

integrated practice

Integrated practice (IP) is the term that is being assigned to this collaborative process. IP is a meaningful response to the ongoing marketplace mandate for buildings that are faster to design and construct, at lower cost, as well as more sustainable and of higher quality than those built in the past.

Energy Star program

Introduced in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products to help reduce greenhouse emissions by identifying energy efficient products.

steel

Iron with a controlled amount of carbon, generally less than 2 percent.

cast iron wrought iron

Iron with too high a carbon content to be classified as steel

OmmiClass

It is a classification system for the construction industry. OmniClass is useful for many applications, from organizing library materials, product literature, and project information, to providing a classification structure for electronic databases.

laser cutting

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses, and hobbyists.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods.

cradle-to-grave

Life-cycle assessment is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from-cradle-to-grave.

lightweight aggregate

Lightweight aggregate is a type of coarse aggregate that is used in the production of lightweight concrete products such as concrete block, structural concrete, and pavement.

structural lightweight aggregate

Lightweight aggregate with sufficient density and strength for use in structural concrete.

segregation

Separation of the constituents of wet concrete caused by excessive handling or vibration.

chippage

Loss of wood due to cutting, broken edges

carbon steel

Low-carbon or mild steel

quartersawn, riftsawn, edge-sawn

Lumber sawn in such a way that the annual rings run roughly perpendicular to the face of each piece.

structural-grade plastic lumber (SGPL)

Lumber-like plastic members, reinforced with glass fibers, and formulated to be roughly as strong as conventional solid wood.

plastic lumber

Lumber-like products with a plastic content of 50 percent or more.

soft mud process

Making bricks by pressing wet clay into molds.

air drying

Making or becoming dry through contact with unheated air

lime mortar

Masonry mortar made from a mix of lime, sand, and water; used principally in the restoration of historic structures.

fireproofing

Materials used around a steel (or concrete) structural element to insulate it against excessive temperatures in case of fire.

rebar congestion

Mechanical couplers are an effective means to reduce rebar congestion in highly reinforced areas for cast-in-place concrete construction. These couplers are also used in precast concrete construction at the joints between members.

pneumatic structure

Membrane structure that is stabilized by the pressure of compressed air. Air-supported structures are supported by internal air pressure.

lean construction

Methods of construction and its management that emphasize efficiency, elimination of waste, and continuous improvement in quality.

cement-lime mortar

Mortar made from portland cement, hydrated lime, aggregate, and water, the most traditional formulation of modern masonry mortars. See also Masonry cement, Mortar cement.

collated nail

Nails glued together in a strip for insertion into a nail gun.

nonbearing wall, partition

Not carrying a load.

Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC)

Offers services focused on research, innovation and the creation of integrated solutions.

runoff bar

One of a pair of small rectangular steel bars attached temporarily at the end of a prepared groove for the purpose of permitting the groove to be filled to its very end with weld metal.

joist

One of a parallel array of light, closely spaced beams used to support a floor deck (floor joist) or low-slope roof (ceiling joist).

stud

One of an array of small, closely spaced, parallel wall framing members; a heavy steel pin.

dehydration

One of the first stages of burning in a kiln, to drive out the water.

mason

One who builds with bricks, stones, or concrete masonry units; one who works with concrete.

sawyer

One who saws either wood or concrete; also, someone who operates a mill.

open-hearth method

Open hearth furnaces are one of a number of kinds of furnace where excess carbon and other impurities are burnt out of pig iron to produce steel.

knothole

Opening produced when knots drop from the wood in which they were once embedded.

mild steel

Ordinary structural steel, containing Jess than three-tenths of 1 per cent carbon.

volatile organic compound (VOC)

Organic (carbon-based) chemical compound that evaporates readily, is a significant air pollutant, a potential irritant to building occupants, and, in some cases, a green house gas.

cellular decking

Panels made of steel sheets corrugated and welded together in such a way that hollow longitudinal cells are created within the panels.

phenol-formaldehyde

Phenol formaldehyde resins (PF) are synthetic polymers obtained by the reaction of phenol or substituted phenol with formaldehyde. Phenolic resins are mainly used in the production of circuit boards. They are better known however for the production of molded products including pool balls, laboratory countertops, and as coatings and adhesives.

blocking

Pieces of wood inserted tightly between joists, studs, or rafters in a building frame to stabilize the structure, inhibit the passage of fire, provide a nailing surface for finish materials, or retain insulation.

topping out

Placing the last member in a building frame.

plasma cutting

Plasma cutting is a process that is used to cut steel and other metals of different thicknesses (or sometimes other materials) using a plasma torch.

ganged form

Prefabricated form panels connected together to produce large reusable units.

quicklime

Produced by burning calcium carbonate found in limestone or sea shells; once hydrated, used as an ingredient in mortars and plasters; chemically, calcium oxide.

net zero energy

Producing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site

slaked lime, hydrated lime

Quicklime mixed with water, either in the factory or on the job site; an ingredient in masonry mortars, portland cement plaster, and gypsum plasters, to which materials it imparts properties such as workability, bulk, and smoothness; chemically, calcium hydroxide; also called slaked lime.

reclaimed lumber

Reclaimed lumber is processed wood retrieved from its original application for purposes of subsequent use.

shrinkage-temperature steel

Reinforcing bars laid at right angles to the principal bars in a one-way slab for the purpose of preventing excessive cracking caused by drying shrinkage or temperature stresses in the concrete.

anticlastic curvature

Saddle-shaped or having curvature in two opposing directions.

fine aggregate

Sand used in concrete, mortar or plaster mixes.

plainsawn, flatsawn

Sawing a log into dimension lumber with out regard to the direction of the annual rings.

manufacturing characteristics

The changes that take place during the seasoning process and milling proccess that result in deformation

bending moment

The combination of tension and compression forces that cause a beam or other structural member to bend. See also Moment.

fabricator

The company that prepares structural steel members for erection; any entity that assembles building components prior to arrival on the construction site.

building information modeling (BIM)

The computerized three-dimensional modeling of building systems, with the linking of model components to a database of properties and relationships.

faying surface

The contacting surfaces of steel members joined with a slip-critical connection.

MasterFormat

The copyrighted title of a uniform indexing system for construction specifications, as created by the Construction Specifications Institute and Construction Specifications Canada.

critical path method

The critical path method (CPM) is a step-by-step technique for process planning that defines critical and non-critical tasks with the goal of preventing time-frame problems and process bottlenecks. The CPM is ideally suited to projects consisting of numerous activities that interact in a complex manner.

heartwood

The dead wood cells in the center region of a tree trunk.

hip

The diagonal intersection of planes in a hip roof.

computer-aided design (CAD)

The digital two-dimensional representation of building systems.

seasoned

The drying of wood, to bring its moisture content into equilibrium with ambient conditions.

fascia

The exposed vertical face of an eave.

National Green Building Standard

The goal of NGBCP is to establish a much needed and nationally recognizable standard definition of green building.

appearance grading

The grading of wood for its appearance properties, asdistinct from its structural properties; not to be confused with usual grading.

visual grading

The grading of wood for its structural properties, based on visual inspection, as distinct from machine grading, not to be confused with appearance grading.

machine grading

The grading of wood for its structural properties, performed by automated machinery, as distinct from visual grading.

tier

The portion of a multistory steel building frame supported by one set of fabricated column pieces, commonly two stories in height.

structural mill, breakdown mill

The portion of a steel mill that rolls structural shapes.

National Building Code of Canada

The predominant Canadian model building code. (NBCC)

International Building Code (IBC)

The predominant U.S. model building codes.

International Residential Code (IRC)

The predominant U.S. model building codes.

hydration

The process by which cements combine chemically with water to harden.

carbonation

The process by which lime mortar reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide to cure.

water smoking

The process of applying heat to evaporate the last water from clay products before they are fired.

firing, burning

The process of converting dry clay into a ceramic material through the application of intense heat.

plumbing up

The process of making a steel building frame vertical and square.

vitrification

The process of transforming a material into a glassy substance by means of heat.

quenching

The rapid cooling of metal so as to alter its physical properties; a form of heat treatment.

critical path

The sequence of tasks that determines the least amount of time in which a construction project can be completed.

rake

The sloping edge of a steep roof.

one-way action

The structural action of a slab that spans between two parallel beams or bearing walls.

erector

The subcontractor who raises, connects, and plumbs up a building frame from fabricated steel or precast concrete components.

heat of hydration

The thermal energy given off by concrete or gypsum as it cures.

cambium

The thin layer beneath the bark of a tree that manufactures cells of wood and bark.

fire resistance rating

The time, in hours or fractions of an hour, that a material or assembly will resist fire exposure as determined by ASTM Ell9.

embodied energy

The total life cycle energy expended in extraction of raw materials, processing, fabrication, and transportation of a material or product to its point of use in a building; in some calculations, may also include energy required to dispose of or recycle the material.

actual dimension

The true dimension of a material, as distinct from its nominal dimension.

head joint

The vertical layer of mortar between ends of masonry units.

collar joint

The vertical mortar joint between wythes of masonry.

spandrel

The wall area between the head of a window on one story and the sill of a window on the floor above; the area of a wall between adjacent arches.

growth characteristics

The way wood grows to form rings, knots, and other bits of interest.

stretcher course

brick or m,asonry unit layed in its most posiiton. Broadsisde horizontal, length of unit parrellel to surface of wall.

utility brick

brick used for concealed masonry work where appearance is not a concern. Common wall brick (4",4",12")

precasting

cast (an object or material, typically concrete) in its final shape before positioning.

air-entraining cement

cement that creates tiny air bubbles inside (increases durability of hardened concrete, esp. in climates subject to freeze-thaw; also increases workability in the plasic state).

fireclay

clay capable of withstanding high temperatures, chiefly used for making firebricks.

certified wood

come from responsibly managed forests - as defined by a particular standard. With third-party forest certification, an independent organization develops standards of good forest management, and independent auditors issue certificates to forest operations that comply with those standards.[1]

teaming

coming together as ateam to achieve a common goal. Diviiding tasks into these teams for work / completion

ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC)

concretes with compressive strengths as high as 30,000 PSI and even usabel tensile strength.

wythe

contnuous vertical section of masonry 1 unit high

rustication strip

create an architectural reveal in concrete

brick Type

defines limits on the variation in size, distortion in shape, and chippage(extent of physical damage to face or visible corners) among brick units.

twist

deformity in wood caused by drying process casuuing baord to twist

split

deformity in wood where the lumber seperates

demand-critical weld

demand-critical welds as those that require increased quality and toughness requirements based upon inelastic strain demand and the consequence of failure.

valley jack rafter

diagonal rafter that supports a valley

S-DRY

dried wood betweeen 16-19% moisture.

medium-density fiberboard (MDF)

fine-grained wood fiber and resin panel product.

tooled joint

finished joint with a certain profile through pressing and compacting

floor truss

floor trusses allow heating, plumbing and electrical material to run inside them rather than below. Trusses are generally deeper and more expensive then joists.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

forest certification group who promotes sustainable practices in logging

trade association

founded and funded by businesses in that specific trade,

Type N mortar

general purpose mortar

structural grading

grading lumber on its strength

S-GRN

green wood, moisture content over 19%

raising gang

guide the steel into place as the cranes lift it up

weathering steel

oxidizes an outer layer of rust to protect the rest of the steel

structural wood panel

panel such as plywood, OSB, MDF, and other wood based materials used in structures.

wood screw

pointed tip screw meant for use in wood, pulls two members together

troweled slab

poured concrete slab that has been fiunished/ smoothed with a trowel.

turnkey

project in which everything is completed to livable status by a set of contractors, Architects, etc,

machine-stress rated

rated mechanically by a machine that evaluates its structural properties.

unsurfaced

raw lumber. Not planed, jointed, etc.

roof decking

roofing material between primary structural components and other layers ( sheet material that sits on trusses and joists)

sheathing

rough cover alied to outside of roof wall or floor framing of a structure

Uniformat

s a standard for classifying building specifications, cost estimating, and cost analysis in the U.S. and Canada

sawyer

saw mill operator, responsible for getting most out of each piece

framed panel

sections of framing, usually 4 feet wid, (sheathed with a sheet of plywood or OSB?)

Use Category System

sets standards for what wood may be used for what function in a building

hold-down

shear walls subject to high forces require these, to prevent walls from pulling up from the foundation or floor platform

surfaced

smoothed ( usually thru planing)

preloaded

something loaded or applied as a load beforehand.

check

stop or slow down the progress, examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.

strike off, screed

strip of wood, metal, or plaster that establishes the level to which concrete or plaster will be placed.

specification section

sub secrion of building coide (specific)

specification division

sub section of building code (more broad)