Chapter 4: Unit 11
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
On demand water heaters
Americans with Disabilities Act
Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commerical buildings.
Wood Framing
Pieces of wood used in framing are called "studs". Studs in exterior walls of one and two story buildings are at least 2x4 inches with the 4 inch dimension forming the basic wall thickness. Stud spacing is normally 16 inches in exterior walls, although 24 inch spacing of 2x4 studs is acceptable in one story buildings of wall sheathing or siding is of adequate thickness to bridge across studs. In three story buildings, 3x4 or 2x6 inches and may not exceed 16 inch spacing
Roof Framing
1. Frame The combination of head, jambs and sill to form a precise opening in which a window sash or door panel fits. 2. Glass A framed sheet of glass within a window or door frame. 3. Grilles Any bar that divides window or door glass. Also called a muntin, grid or windowpane divider. 4. Head The main horizontal part forming the top of the window or door frame. 5. Jamb The main vertical parts forming the sides of a window or door frame. 6. Sash A single assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass. 7. Sill The main horizontal part forming the bottom of the frame of a window or door.
Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act
A federal law regulating the interstate sale of land under certain conditions.
Voltage
A measure of how much pressure the electrons in a circuit are under
Amperage
A measure of the number of elections moving through the circuit
Reflective
A metallic foil material (usually aluminum) designed to block radiant heat transfer across open space
Conduit
A pipe made from plastic, steel or aluminum that is used for protection and routing of electrical widening, can be used for above ground and underground applications
Fuse
A protective device containing a wire that melts and breaks the circuit when the current exceeds a certain value
The Minimum Property Standards (MPS)
A set of HUD regulations, establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs.
Greenfield conductors
A type of flexible metal conduit (FMC) similar to armored cable, except that the conductors are installed by an electrician
Guidelines for Wells
Adequate access to well for inspection, maintenance, repair, renovation, treatment, and testing. Subject to seasonal flooding or surface water contamination. Up-grade from any potential or known source of contamination unless property boundaries, site typography, location and structures and accessibility require a different location
Aluminum vs Copper
Aluminum wiring is used where the current is heaviest, Usually where the current comes into the building. Cooper wiring does not overheat and it can care both large and small loads
Circuit Breaker
An automatic switch that steps the flow of the electric current in a suddenly overloaded or otherwise abnormally stressed electric circuit
Electric Heat
Baseboard heaters along the walls of a room
Romex Cable
Brand name for a type of plastic insulated wire, or non-metallic sheath. "NM", Suitable for use in dry, protected areas that are not subject to mechanical damage or excessive heat
BTU Ratings
British Thermal Unit. Is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree
Pipe size
Building codes dictate that the minimum pressure (the lowest pressure that will allow the system to operate safely and effectively) for plumbing fixtures
Which type of pipe is typically found in drainage systems?
Cast Iron
County and Local Standards, Laws, and Regulations
Cities, counties and local governments have the power to impose their own land use regulations and building codes. These laws may not be in opposition to any federal or state laws; however, they can be more restrictive
Air conditioning Systems
Combined with forced air heating units to deliver heat through the ductwork system in cold seasons and cool, dehumidified air for air conditioning in warm seasons. Pumps liquid refrigerant in the air handling unit
Solar Hot Water Heaters
Composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system Sri move the heat from the collector to its point of usage
Platform-Frame
Construction technique in which each floor of a building provides support for the floor above it.
Electronic water heaters
Cost per KWH of electricity, slow to recover
Steam Systems
Delivers steam to radiators or other heating elements where the steam gives up its heat and is condensed back to water
Forced Air
Electric, oil fired, and gas fired. Draws room air through duct work and a filter into a furnace, where the air is heated
National Environmental Policy Act (1969)
Environmental Impact statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands is started. Created a council on environmental quality.
Balloon Frame
Exterior wall studs continue through the first and second stories. Both first and second story studs bear on the anchored sill
What kind of refrigerant is used for cooling in air conditioners?
Freon
Gas Water Heaters
Have an insulated tank where water is heated and stored until it is needed
Heating Systems
Hot water, steam, forced air or electric
Hot water systems
Hydronics is the name for the use of water as the heat transfer medium in heating and cooling systems. Water is heated in a boiler and circulated by means of one or more circulator pumps
Federal standards, laws, and regulations
If a property is built with any money from a federal program, such as the Veterans Administration (VA) or Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the property must be approved in advance and be inspected by the proper agency as the construction progresses
Sanitary Waste
In spite of the trend toward public sewage systems, individual household sewage treatment systems are still the only method of sewage treatment available in many areas
Loose Fill
Includes loose fibers or fiber pellets that are poured or blown into building cavities or attics using special equipment
Septic Systems
Installed in homes that do not have access to municipal sewers. Used to dispose of wastewater. Wastewater runs into a underground tank, the solids precipitates out while the water proceeds downhill to gravel fill trenches and microbes decompose the remaining waste
Ventilation
Intentional movement of air from outside a building to the inside.
BX Cable
Known as armored cable or "AC", has flexible aluminum or steel sheath over the conductors and is resistant to damage
Which of the following is NOT an aspect of a houses construction that a competent real estate agent s expected to know about?
Location of underground wires
Rigid Board
Made from fiberglass, polystyrene, and polyurethane and used for work on flat roofs, basement walls and as perimeter insulation at concrete slab edges, and cathedral ceilings
Batts and Blankets
Mode of mineral fiber — either processed fiberglass or rock wool — and used to insulate below floors, above ceilings, and within walls
National Electric Code
NEC is a United States standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment
National Electric Code
Public and private buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings. Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations. Installations used by electric utility.
Brass
Rarely used in plumbing installations today's because of its expense
Wells
Residents in rural areas who do not have access to public water must depend on private wells for their water supply
Joints
Same size as studs but used horizontally to frame floors and ceilings
Wall Framing
Studs Sole Plate Top Plate (caps the tops of studs) Headers (window and door openings)
Rafters
Studs used to frame the roofing system
PEX
Suited for portable water plumbing applications. Able to withstand any temperature, highly resistant to chemicals
Insulation
The "R-Value" or "R-Factor" is the degree of resistance to the heat transfer. The R-value of a surface determines how quickly heat is conducted across it. The larger the R-Value, the greater the insulation value. Exterior walls will usually use an R-Value of 13, floors and crawl spaces R-19, attics R-30 or higher
Basement
The area between the foundation walls has been excavated deeply enough for to provide head room
Footings
The base of a foundation wall or column, which is wider to provide a larger bearing surface
Sill Plate
The first component of the framing, bolted to the foundation walls, supports the building while anchoring it to the foundation.
Flooring
The floors of the building are supported by a series of joists. The distance between an opposing pair of outside walls is usually too great to be spanned by just on joist. So, when two or more joists are required to cover the span, support is provided for the joists ends by "girders" or "support beams". These beams or girders can be made of steel or can be several wooden members fastened together
Wall Finishing
The high resistance of wood team construction to hurricane, earthquake, and other natural forces is provided when wall "sheathing" is nailed to the outside edges of exterior wall studs, plates and headers
Spray Foam
Two part liquid containing a polymer and a foaming agent sprayed through a nozzle into wall, ceiling, and floor cavities
Copper
Used for both water supply lines and drainage . Used for hot and cold water supply lines. Lasts longer than a metal
Galvanized
Used for hot and cold water supply lines (not found in steel and is not used for underground plumbing at a residence)
Cast Iron
Used for underground drainage systems because of its strength and sturdiness
PVC
Used mostly in areas where hard water is a problem. Crushes easily, flexible and requires more support
Fascia
Used to describe the vertical "fascia board" which caps the end of rafters outside of the building. The fascia can be used to hold the rain gutter. The finished surface below the fascia and rafters is called the "soffit"
Venting Requirements
Water and wastes are carried from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom fixtures through a system of pipes that lead to the main structure drain
Roof Finishing
When roof rafters are installed, they typically extend beyond the structure walls to form an overhand. The overhangs are called "eaves". The eaves are the lowest part of the roof. The contractor then installs a thin impermeable material called "flashing" to prevent water penetration
Slab-on-grade construction
When the ground at a building site of level. Around the edge of the slab, the concrete forms a beam that is perhaps 2 feet deep. The rest of the slab is 4 to 6 inches thick. A 4 to 6 inch layer of gravel lies beneath the slab. A 4 millimeter sheet of plastic lies between the concrete and the gravel to keep moisture out. Embedded in the concrete is a 6x6 inch wire mesh and steel reinforcing bars
Post and Beam
Wider beams are spaces up to eight feet apart. Floors and roofs are covered with 2 inch planks. These serve as sub flooring and roof sheathing, and, where tongue and grooved planking is used, provide an attractive finished floor and ceiling
Wiring Materials
Wiring runs throughout the structure from the electric panel box through the walls to the outlet
Heat Pumps
a device that reverses standard flow of heat; absorbs heat from cooler locations and transfer it to a warmer location. can be used for heating or cooling.
Environmental Regulation
a form of government intervention in the marketplace that is widely used to help control or prevent pollution and to reduce resource waste and environmental degradation. Most legislation is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Which is the most common type of framing for residential construction?
platform
Foundation Walls
the sidewalls that support a structure, typically made of poured concrete, concrete block, or brick...
Crawl space
the space between the ground surface and the first floor; frequently found in homes w/o basements that are not built on a slab foundation
