Key Terms Flashcards
(468 cards)
1
Q
Combines the function of a beam and a column
A
Arch
2
Q
A load that passes through the centroid of a section under construction and is perpendicular to the plane of the section
A
Axial Load
3
Q
Lightweight steel truss joist
A
Bar Joist
4
Q
A structural member which transmits forces perpendicular to such forces to the reaction points
A
Beam
5
Q
Diagonal member that supports what would otherwise be a cantilever
A
Bracket
6
Q
Consists of an exterior wythe of brick directly mortared or parged to an inner wythe of concrete masonry unit (CMU)
A
Brick and Block Composite Wall
7
Q
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at the pressure of one atmosphere and temperature of sixty degrees
A
BTU
8
Q
Made steel plates and angles riveted together, as distinguished from one rolled from one piece of steel
A
Build-up girder
9
Q
Mass of masonry built against a wall to strengthen it. Necessary when a vault or an arch places a heavy load or thrust on one part of a wall
A
Buttress
10
Q
Measured in British thermal units, the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
A
Caloric value
11
Q
A beam supported at one end only, rigidly held in place at that end
A
Cantilever Beam
12
Q
Supported by a cantilever
A
Cantilevered
13
Q
Built of two wythes (a single vertical thickness masonry) separated by a space for rain drainage or insulation
A
Cavity or Hollow wall
14
Q
The center point at which a body would be stable, or balance, under the influence of gravity.
A
Centroid
15
Q
An outside member of a truss, as opposed to the inner “webbed members”
A
Chord
16
Q
A structural member which transmits a compressive force along a straight path in the direction of the member.
A
Column
17
Q
Built up of different parts, pieces or material
A
Composite
18
Q
A wall composed of two or more masonry materials that react that react together under load
A
Composite Wall
19
Q
Direct pushing force, in line with the axis member; the opposite of tension
A
Compression
20
Q
A load acting on a very small area of the structure’s surface; the exact opposite of a distributed load.
A
Concentrated Load
21
Q
A beam supported at three or more points. Structurally advantageous because if the span between two supports is overloaded, the rest of the beam assists carrying the load
A
Continuous beam
22
Q
No external braces involved; bracing is done within the core of the structure.
A
Core construction
23
Q
Any wall at right angles to any other wall; the walls should brace one another.
A
Cross wall
24
Q
The weight of a building; dead load consists of weight of all materials of construction incorporated into a building, including but not limited to walls, floor, roofs, ceiling, stairways, built in partitions, finishes, cladding, and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, as well as fixed slice equipment, including the weight of cranes
A
Dead load
25
The deformation or displacement of a structural member a result of loads acting on it
Deflects
26
Wall bounding a tenant space
Devising wall
27
Braces set at an angle which connects columns and are often concealed within walls
Diagonal brace
28
Designed to stiffen a building against wind and other lateral loads such as earthquakes
Diaphragm floor
29
A force which is perpendicular to the plane of the section but does not pass through the center of the section
Eccentric load
30
The potential fuel available for a fire in a building
Fire load
31
The ability of a material to avoid ignition, combustion, and the thermal effects of fire
Fire resistance
32
Wall with a fire resistive rating and structural stability that separates buildings or subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire
Fire wall
33
The end of a joist is cut at an angle to permit the joist to fall out of a wall without damaging the load-bearing wall
Fire-cut
34
Beam supported at two points and rigidly heal in position at both points. This rigidity may cause collapse of a wall if the beam collapses and the rigid connection does not yield properly
Fixed beam
35
Made by sandwiching a piece of steel between two wooden beams
Flitch plate girder
36
The lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below the ground
Foundation
37
Connecting plate made of lightweight metal I used in trusses
Gang nail
38
A beam that supports other beams
Girder
39
Depends on the weight of the building to hold it in place
Gravity connection
40
Consists of all structural elements and the connections that support and transfer the loads
Gravity resistance system
41
A series of closely spaced beams designed to carry a particularly heavy load
Grillage
42
Connecting plate made of lightweight metal used in trusses
Gusset plate
43
A masonry unit that overlaps two or more adjoining wythes of masonry to tie the together
Header
44
Indicates how fast the potential heat in a fuel is released
Heat release rate - (HRR)
45
When describing wall construction, a wall which acts as one unit (good bonding exists between bricks blocks and mortar)
Homogeneous
46
The effect of a moving load upon a stationary structure
Impact load
47
A beam
Joist
48
An arrangement of braces between columns that resembles the letter "k"
K-bracing
49
Metric equation approximately equivalent to one BTU
Kilojoule
50
A measurement energy release rate of fire
Kilowatts (KW)
51
1000pounds of force
KIP
52
A force that acts on a structure from a horizontal direction, such as wind or seismic forces
Lateral impact load
53
A wood board typically attached to a walls studs which are used to wood joists
Ledger board
54
A collection of lightweight structural components joined in a triangular unit that can be used to support either floors or roof.
Light weight truss
55
The horizontal beam that forms the upper structural member of an opening for a window or door and supports part of the structure above it
Lintel
56
The weight of the building contents
Live load
57
Force or other action that result from the weight of all building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effects, differential movement, and restrained dimensional changes
Load
58
Any wall which carries a load in addition to its own weight
Load-bearing wall
59
A very large structure
Megastructure
60
Measurement energy release rate of a fire
Megawatts (MW)
61
All successive poured concrete castings are joined together so that a structure seems to be like one piece of stone
Monolithic concrete
62
When any change is to be made in the foundation of an existing wall, the wall must be supported. Often holes are cut through the wall, and so called needle beams are inserted and supported on both sides. They pick up the load of the walls
Needle beam
63
The line along which the length of the beam does not change
Neutral axis
64
A wall supporting no load other than its own weight
Non-load bearing wall
65
Projects beyond its support, but not far enough to be a cantilever
Overhanging beam
66
Non-load-bearing enclosing wall on framed buildings
Panel wall (curtain wall)
67
A non-load-bearing wall that subdivides spaces within any story of the building
Partition wall
68
A load bearing wall that is common to two structures
Party wall
69
A short column of masonry, usually rectangular in horizontal cross-section, used to support other structural members
Pier
70
A masonry column built on the inside surface of the wall
Pilaster
71
Structural elements are connected by simple connectors such as bolts, rivets, or welded joints
Pinned
72
Connections that redirect overloads to other sections of the building
Plastic design
73
Heavy riveting of girders to columns from the top to the bottom of the frame
Portal bracing
74
A concrete member that is cast and cured in place other than its final position in the structure
Precast
75
This is a vertical cantilever when being erected and is braced by tormentors or temporary bracing poles.
Precast concrete tilt slab wall
76
A designation of the heat release rate (HRR); refers to the rate at which a fuel will burn
Q
77
Diagonal bracing columns
Rakers
78
The response in structures to the imposed loads, which are generally developed at the supports
Reaction
79
In concrete masonry construction, steel reinforcement that is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resisting forces
Reinforced concrete
80
A load that is applied intermittently
Repeated load
81
Structural frame in which all columns and beams are rigidly concreted. There are no hinged joints, and the angular relationships between beam and column members is maintained under load
Rigid-framed
82
A wall composed of an inner and outer wythe of coursed masonry. The space between is filled with random masonry sometimes mixed with mortar. Such walls are unstable to a lateral thrust
Rubble masonry wall
83
Represents the ratio of the strength of the material just before failure to the safe working stress
Safety factor
84
Water soluble mixture; when water is applied the mortar can be washed away from the wall.
Sand-lime mortar
85
Floor girders are set on brackets attached to columns. A wood cleat or steel dog-iron similar to a big staple is used to provide minimal stability. in heavy-timber construction
Self releasing floor
86
Another term for dead load
Self-weight
87
A curving wall
Serpentine wall
88
Walls that counteract the effects of lateral loads such as wind and earthquakes
Shear wall
89
Supported at two points near it ends. In simple beam construction, the load is delivered to the two reactions points and the rest of the structure renders no assistance in an overload
Simple beam
90
An open web design used for support of floors and roofs
Steel joist
91
Girders that tie wall columns together in a framed building structure renders no assistance in an overload
Spandrel girder
92
The capacity of a member or framework to resist imposed loads without excessive deflection
Stiffness
93
The actual percent of elongation (deformation) when a material is stressed
Strain
94
Force per unit area which produces a deformation
Stress
95
A masonry unit laid horizontally with its length in the direction of the face of the wall
Stretchers
96
Include beams, columns, arches, and walls
Structural elements
97
consists of all members in a structure that are tied together to carry the imposed loads to the substructure, hence to the ground
Structural frame
98
A bracing column
Strut
99
A simple beam, with one or both ends suspended on a tension member such as a chain, cable or rod.
Suspended beam
100
hanging load supported from above.
Suspended load
101
a pulling or stretching force in line with the axis of the body; the opposite of compression, which is pushing, crushing stress
Tension
102
A rod in tension; used to hold parts of a structure together
Tie rod
103
A force tending to twist a structural member
Torsion
104
A beam which typically carries a load around a large opening or over an area in order to avoid intervening columns
Transfer beam
105
Shows how a load is spread from the point of application to the ground
Transmitted
106
Externally braced structure
Tube construction
107
The highest load that a member or structure can sustain before failure occurs
Ultimate strength
108
A load which is applied evenly over an area
Uniformly distributed load
109
A wall made up of a single vertical thickness of masonry designed to improve the exterior appearance of a building
Veneer wall
110
A rectangular truss with very rigid corner bracing
Vierendeel truss
111
Wedge-shaped block whose converging sides radiate from center forming an element of an arch or vaulted ceiling
Voussoir
112
Transmits to the ground the compressive forces applied along the top or received at any point on the wall.
Wall
113
A mixture other than water, aggregate, and cement used as an ingredient in concrete or mortar
Admixture
114
Any of a variety of materials, such as sand and gravel, added to a cement mixture to make concrete
Aggregate
115
A lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. This material has very good conductivity. This noncombustible material that has a low melting point and little mass per unit of area, so it disintegrates rapidly in fire
Aluminum
116
A set of regulations passed in 1990 that includes, among other things, regulations requiring areas of refuge for disabled people in multistory buildings
American Disabilities Act (ADA)
117
An individual who is engaged in the design of buildings and who often supervises construction
Architect
118
An area of a building separated from other spaces by fire-rated smoke barriers in which a tenable environment is maintained for the period of time that such areas may need to be occupied at the time of a fire
Area of refuge
119
A solid or hollow masonry unit of clay mixed with sand, which is molded into a small rectangular shape while in a plastic shape
Brick
120
Regulates the actual design and construction of new buildings, providing for minimum levels of health and safety. Regulates the level and amount of fire protection in a new structure
Building code
121
A shaft of concrete placed under a building column or wall extending down to bedrock
Caisson
122
An engineer who specializes in the design of parking lots, drainage areas, and roadways
Civil engineer
123
Used in construction of cables that are sometimes used to brace failing buildings or as tendons in tensioned concrete. It fails at 800 degree Fahrenheit.
Cold-drawn steel
124
Built up of different parts, pieces and materials, intended to act as one unit.
Composite material
125
Precast hollow or solid structural block. Sometimes referred to as cinder block
Concrete masonry unit (CMU)
126
Occupational health and safety regulations (enforced by state and/or federal authorities such as OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) that apply to construction sites. These include provisions to prevent falls (through the use of safety barriers) and protection from being hit or crushed.
Construction safety regulations
127
grooved ridged material, often metal
Corrugation
128
Internal bracing that transfers the lateral earth pressures between opposing walls through compressive struts
Crosslot bracing
129
Concrete that is hardened to full strength
Cured
130
Pump that removes water from the ground or excavations that hinders construction from an area of the site
Dewatering pump
131
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to oversee all electrical installation.
Electrical contractor
132
Specializes in the design of lighting, power telecommunications, and emergency power of a structure
Electrical engineer
133
Temporary shoring, formwork, beams, or lateral bracing to support the work in the process of construction
Falsework (formwork)
134
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to oversee all fire and security alarm installation
Fire alarm/security contactor
135
Regulates the activities that take place in existing buildings including the maintenance of existing fire protection features such as automatic sprinklers and fire doors, hazardous processes such as spray finishing, the storing of hazardous materials and general fire safety precautions
Fire code
136
A fire-rated assembly that subdivides a building to prevent the spread of fire such as between dwelling units in a multiple dwelling
Fire partition
137
Specializes in the design of fire protection systems including sprinkler and standpipe systems, and fire alarm systems of a structure
Fire protection engineer
138
Subcontractor hired by the contractor to spray a layer of cementitious material onto steel for fire-resistant purposes
Fireproofing contractor
139
Used to strengthen the roof of a structure over large areas
Folded plate
140
Thick concrete pads, usually heavily reinforced, that transfer the loads of piers or columns to the ground
Footing
141
The lower division of a building that serves to transmit and anchor the loads from the superstructure directly to its earth or rock, usually below ground level
Foundation
142
A system of rough timber structural woodwork that is joined together in order to support or enclose, such partitions, flooring, and roofing
Framing
143
The prime contractor who oversees and is responsible for the overall work on the site
General contractor
144
A natural mineral used in the manufacture of drywall and plaster
Gypsum
145
The rules of the insurance company in regard to coverage. These regulations require more fire protection for structures than local building and fire codes require.
Insurance regulations
146
The exposed material on a wall, ceiling, or floor
Interior finish
147
A collection o lightweight wood structural components joined in a triangular configuration that can be used to support floors or roofs
Lightweight wood truss
148
The property of a metal that allows it to be shaped by bending, hammering, or extruding without cracking or rupturing
Malleable
149
Describes the type of masonry used on a given structure. Examples include bricks or concrete block
Masonry unity
150
a person trained in a branch of engineering related to mechanical equipment. Usually designs the HVAC systems and plumbing of the building
Mechanical engineer
151
Made layers of strands of wood cut from logs, with fairly constant width to length ratio
Oriented strand board (OSB)
152
One of a series of large timbers or steel sections driven into soft ground down to bedrock to provide a solid foundation for the superstructure of a building.
Pile
153
A synthetic material that can be heated and shaped
Plastic
154
Subcontractors hired by the contractor to oversee the installation of plumbing within a building
Plumbing contractors
155
Plumbing codes apply to the installation of domestic water systems, sanitary systems, and the like. Mechanical codes apply to systems like air handling systems and smoke control systems. Electrical codes apply to the installation of electrical systems
Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes
156
Wood panels manufactured with grain of alternate plies at right angles to develop the approximate equal strength in either direction
Plywood
157
Most common type of cement in use today. The powder, when mixed with water, will become a hydrated solid over time
Portland cement mortar
158
Extensive structural failure initiated by local structural damage, or chain reaction of failures following damage to a small portion of a structure
Progressive collapse
159
Natural stones such as granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone. Can be used in the construction of walls and foundations
Quarried stone
160
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Raker
161
Steel bar placed in concrete to increase its overall strength
Reinforcement bar
162
Water soluble mixture; when water is applied the mortar can be washed away from the wall.
Sand-lime mortar
163
Stabilization of outer walls, overhangs, floors, and walls to resist destruction by an earthquake.
Seismic protection
164
A foundation wall in an excavation that is heavily reinforced with steel and temporarily filled with a liquid slurry mixture that is subsequently displaced by concrete
Slurry wall
165
A small fragment or chip dislodged from the face of a stone or masonry unit
Spall
166
A subcontractor hired by a contractor to oversee the installation and design of sprinkler systems within a building.
Sprinkler contractor
167
Used in large buildings to design the structural frame
Structural engineer
168
Steel rolled in a variety of shapes and fabricated for use as load-bearing structural members or elements
Structural steel
169
Specialist who undertakes part of a main building contract from a contractor
Subcontractor
170
The foundation and footings
Substructure
171
Any structure above the substructure
Superstructure
172
Units composed of two or more glass panes in a hermetically sealed frame
Thermal pane window
173
Construction material that softens when heated and rehardens when cooled
Thermoplastic
174
Plastic that chars and burns, but does not flow
Thermoset
175
Braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Tieback
176
A large, rigid gypsum sheet that is fastened to the frame of a building and provides the surface finish
Wall board
177
A subcontractor hired by a contractor to oversee the surface finishes of walls that are fastened to the frame of the building
Wallboard contractor
178
Composite lightweight wood material used in an “I” cross section
Wooden I-joist
179
A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature; used for water pipes,, rivets, and other ornamental forged work
Wrought iron
180
Dictate land usage in specific cities (are written by the cities themselves). Spell out what types of buildings can be built in specific locations and their permitted uses.
Zoning regulations
181
The use of high air velocity to stop smoke movement
Air flow
182
Standpipe system attached to a water supply capable of supplying the system demand at all times, requires no action other than opening a hose valve to provide water at hose connections
Automatic-wet standpipe system
183
Burning of heated gaseous products of combustion when oxygen supply is introduced into an environment whose oxygen supply has been depleted due to fire, often occurs with explosive force.
Backdraft
184
Low-density fiberboard made of wood fibers or sugar cane residue
Begasse
185
Fiberglass or rock-wool insulation with various thickness. May or may not have paper covering
Batt insulation
186
Used to protect materials that can be damaged by water. Uses carbon dioxide to suppress the fire
Carbon dioxide system
187
Gaseous fire extinguishing agent that does not leave a residue when it dissipates
Clean agent system
188
Fiberboard in which holes have been punched
Combustible acoustical tile
189
Subdivision of a building into small areas so that fire or smoke is confined to room or section in which it originates
Compartmentation
190
Rapid involvement of a fire situation that goes beyond the normal attack situations that fire departments encounter
Conflagration
191
Valve or plate for controlling draft or the flow of gases, including air
Damper
192
Gallons per minute per square foot required within a sprinkler system
Demand area
193
The unit rate of water application to an area or surface; expressed in gpm/sg ft
Density
194
an automatic fire extinguishing system that discharges a dry chemical agent
Dry chemical system
195
Adequate exits within a building
Egress
196
The classification indicating in time (hours) the ability of a structure or component to withstand a standardized fire test. Does not necessarily reflect performance in an actual fire
Fire-rated
197
Construction designed to provide reasonable protection against fire
Fire resistant
198
Substance that helps delay or prevent combustion
Fire retardant
199
Material applied to structural elements or systems, which provides increased fire resistance; usually serves no structural function
Fireproof
200
Constructed or treated so that it will not support flame
Flame retardant
201
Rapid spread of flame over one or more surfaces
Flameover
202
Resistant to fire
Flameproof
203
Combustible that is capable of easily being ignited and rapidly consumed by fire. Flammables may be solid, liquid or gas
Flammable
204
Stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects in a room or area are heated to their ignition temperature and flames develop on all contents and combustible surfaces at once
Flashover
205
Provides for the delivery of a proportioned foam and water mixture for use in fire extinguishment
Foam system
206
Vents that are located in buildings where dangerous gases are handled
Gravity vents
207
Provides for the transfer of halongenated agents between fire extinguishers, supply containers, and recharge and recovery containers so that none of the halongentated agents escape into the atmosphere
Halon system
208
Class II standpipe system that supplies 100 gpm at 65 psi. Intended for use by building occupants
Houseline
209
Flame resistance that is derived from essential characteristic of the structural member
Inherent fire resistance
210
A system component that originates transmission of a change-of-state condition, such as in a smoke detector, manual fire alarm box, or supervisory switch
Initiating device
211
An extinguishing system that will operate on an individual piece of equipment or hazard
Local
212
Sometimes used as an interior finish, made up of wood particles such as wood shavings and bound together with a suitable binder
Low density fiberboard
213
Dry standpipe system that does not have a permanent water supply attached to the system
Manual-dry standpipe system
214
Wet standpipe system connected to a small water supply for the purpose of maintaining water within the system, or sharing a water supply with an automatic sprinkler system but not having a water supply capable of delivering the system demand attached to the system
Manual-wet standpipe system
215
Ceilings made of embossed steel and wooden boards
Matchboarding
216
Process of removing heat, smoke, and gases from a fire area by using exhaust fans, blowers, air conditioning systems, or smoke ejectors
Mechanical vent
217
A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not aid combustion or add appreciable heat to an ambient fire
Noncombustible
218
Commercially produced organic compound used in capacitors and transformers due to it electrical insulator properties and low flammability rating
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
219
Widely used plastic as an excellent electrical insulator
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
220
Flow of air or an inert medium at a rate that will effectively remove any gaseous or suspended combustibles and replace them with air
Purge
221
Quality ascribed to a wall, floor, or column assembly that has been tested in a standard manner to determine the length of time it remains structurally stable (or resists the passage of fire) when attacked by a test fire
Rated fire resistance
222
Device indicating an off-standard or abnormal condition by both visual and audible signals
Remote annunciator
223
Foam that is used as an interior finish. Organic units joined by urethane
Rigid-foamed polyurethane
224
Asphalt-coated steel
Robertson protected metal
225
Characteristic of a material such that, once the source of ignition is removed, the flame is quickly extinguished
Self extinguishing
226
Standpipe system that is attached to a water supply capable of supplying demand at all times and that requires activation of a control device to provide water at hose connections
Semiautomatic-dry standpipe system
227
When flipped, the alarm is silenced but still active
Silence switch
228
System that utilizes fans to produce pressure differences so as to manage smoke movement
Smoke control
229
System that introduces positive pressure into a stairwell to provide a tenable environment within the stair tower in the event of a building fire
Stairwell pressurization system
230
An arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections, and allied equipment installed in a building or structure, with the hose connections located in such a manner that water can be discharged in streams or spray patterns through attached hose and nozzles, for the purpose of extinguishing a fire, thereby protecting a building or structure and its contents in addition to protecting the occupants
Standpipe system
231
A common term that refers to NFPA 255: Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
Steiner tunnel test
232
Act and manner of discharging an agent for the purpose of achieving a specified minimum agent concentration throughout a compartment
Total flooding
233
Detects the movement of water in a sprinkler system and transmits a signal to the alarm system
Water flow switch
234
Distribution system connected to a water supply or water and atomizing media supplies that is equipped with one or more nozzles capable of delivering water mist intended to control, suppress, or extinguish fires and that has been demonstrated to meet performance requirements of its listing
Water mist system
235
Special fixed pipe system connected to a reliable fire protection water supply and equipped with water spray nozzles for specific water discharge and distribution over the surface or area to be protected
Water spray system
236
Defined are within the protected premises
Zone
237
Smoke-control system that includes smoke exhaust for the smoke zone and pressurization for all contiguous smoke-control zones
Zoned smoke control
238
A “fireproof” roofing shingle that is composed of cement reinforced with asbestos
Asbestos cement shingle
239
Manufactured by saturating a dry felt with asphalt, then coating it with a fine glass fiber.
Asphalt felt siding (gasoline siding)
240
A wooden structure in which all vertical studs in the exterior bearing walls extend the full height of the frame from sill to roof. No fire stops are within the walls
Balloon frame
241
A type of siding that uses vertical strips of wood to cover joints
Batten
242
Laid on the subfloor where the vertical studs are installed
Bottom plate
243
Braces [placed between parallel frame members to prevent movement from their vertical axes. Also known as cross-bracing
Bridging
244
An overhang supported from only one end where one floor extends beyond and over a foundation wall
Cantilevered
245
to cut off the corners of a timber to retard ignition
Chamfer
246
Wood chips that are clued together to make flat sheets. Often used in the floor construction of mobile homes
Chipboard
247
A vertical structural member with support loads
Column
248
The means by which truss systems are connected together
Connector
249
Grooved panels utilized on industrial buildings of wood or steel framing. Poses an electrical hazard from stray electrical wires or lightning
Corrugated metal siding
250
A non-load bearing wall that carries no weight other than its own. It is installed only to keep out the weather
Curtain wall
251
Lumber with tongues and grooves at the ends
End matched
252
In the construction trade, this typically refers to laminated timbers. In this text, it refers to wood modified from its natural state
Engineered wood
253
Balloon-framed structure finished to resemble post frame construction
English Tuder
254
Interlocking wood pieces that are glued together to create a longer piece of dimensional lumber
Finger joints
255
Composite of a steel or plywood sandwiched between two beams
Flitch plate girder
256
Planks glued together to form a solid timber
Glued laminated timber
257
A joist which parallels floor/roof beams and is used to create and opening
Header
258
Buildings constructed with non-combustible or limited combustible exterior walls and floors made of large dimensional combustible materials. Also know as Type IV construction
Heavy timber
259
The rafter at the angle where two sloping roofs or sides of a roof meet
Hip
260
An inverted single compression member where the compression member extends downward
Inverted king post truss
261
Wooden 2X8’s, 10’s or 12’s that run parallel to one another and support a floor or ceiling and are supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls
Joist
262
Structure constructed of entire tree trunks, as opposed to boards sawn from trees
Log cabin
263
Wood that has been sawn and planed
Lumber
264
Tongue and grooved lumber (usually lengthwise)
Matched lumber
265
Made to look like another type of siding. Can be made to look like stone and/or clapboards
Metal siding
266
Joints that are fitted together to transfer loads properly
Mortise and tenon
267
Combustible siding laid over the sheathing of a building. This type of siding comes in many different shapes and is laid horizontally
Novelty siding
268
Another name for oriented strand board (OSB)
Oriented flakeboard
269
Connection points of a truss system
Panel points
270
A truss system in which the top and bottom chords are parallel
Parallel-chord truss
271
Used in modern construction, these buildings are built with heavier beams that are spaced much farther apart than the traditional 16 inches
Plank and beam
272
Subflooring is laid on the joists, and the frame for the first floor walls is erected on the first floor
Platform frame
273
Wood panels manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles to develop the approximate equal strength in either direction
Plywood
274
Four-foot-wide sheets that give the appearance of four-inch-wide strips about a half inch apart
Plywood siding
275
Identifiable frame or skeleton of timber fitted together. Joints are constructed by mortise and tenon, fitted together to transfer loads properly
Post and frame
276
The chemical decomposition of compound into one or more other substances by heat alone; pyrolysis often proceeds combustion
Pyrolytically
277
A truss system that has two compression members
Queen post truss
278
Wood members used to support the roof sheeting and loads
Rafters
279
Placed on the ridge of the roof onto which the upper ends of the rafters are fastened
Ridge board
280
A metal-plate truss roof system that can bow upward, causing separation of ceilings from walls
Rising roof
281
Also known as framing, this includes all of the wood framing members and sheathing of a building
Rough carpentry
282
Lumber that is left a sawn on all four sides
Rough lumber
283
Wooden beam sawn out of a tree trunk. To some extent, they have been replaced by the wooden I-beam due to the weight and cost of true wooden beam
Sawn beam
284
A type of siding; these thick wooden shingles are formed by splitting a short log into tapered sections
Shingle and shake
285
Found on bottom of the frame of a wooden structure. It rests on and is bolted to the foundation
Sill
286
False space above built in cabinets, usually in a kitchen, or in the undersides of stairways and projecting eaves
Soffit
287
Due to the shortage of solid timbers, these members are joined together by various metal connectors to transfer loads so that the spliced timber acts as a single member
Spliced lumber
288
Wooden strips that fit into grooves in two adjacent planks to make a tight floor
Spline
289
A bracing member, or any piece of a frame that resists thrusts in the direction of its own length
Strut
290
Made of Portland cement, it is an exterior plaster finish
Stucco
291
Columns in frame buildings, usually nominal two inches by four inches (2X4) or two inches by six inches (2X6)
Stud
292
Laid on top of the joists, it serves as the base for the finished floor
Subflooring
293
Used in truss systems and subjected to tensile and/or pulling forces. Also known as a tension member
Tie
294
Top horizontal member of a wooden frame wall that supports the ceiling joists
Top Plate
295
Used in the majority of modern roof systems, this truss gives a triangular shape and provides a peaked roof
Triangular truss
296
A piece of lumber that supports a header and can be found in floor openings such as stairwells (runs perpendicular to floor joists
Trimmer
297
Wooden peg used to pin together mortise and tenon joints
Trunnel
298
developed by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, it substitutes sawn beams for truss members used in roof and floors. It is held together with nails
Truss frame
299
Found within a truss roof system, this void space is between the top floor ceiling and the roof. Also known as the cockloft
Truss void
300
The lower slope formed by the connection of two inclined planes of a roof
Valley
301
Mineral used as bulk insulation and as an aggregate in insulating
Vermiculite
302
A thermoplastic that will deform and drip when introduced to a fire situation. Often made to look like wood
Vinyl siding
303
Indicates a structure where the entire structural load is carried on the walls. A opposed to a curtain wall
Wall-bearing
304
A hard fibrous material forming the major part of trees. It is usually milled or otherwise processed for use in construction
Wood
305
Building with exterior walls, interior walls, floors, and roofs made of combustible wood material
Wood framed
306
Narrow, rough strips of wood nailed to studs. Plaster is spread on wood laths. Generally no longer used, wood lath is present in many existing buildings
Wood lath
307
A wall-bearing building that carries the load of the structure and the contents
Wooden-walled building
308
Large, roughly molded, sun-dried clay units of varying sizes
Adobe
309
A truss with an arched upper chord and a straight bottom cord, with vertical hangers between the two chords
Arched truss
310
Stone cut in rectangular units
Ashlar masonry
311
A free-standing wall unsecured at the top, which acts like a cantilever beam with respect to lateral loads, such as wind or a hose stream
Cantilever wall
312
Includes plain concrete, reinforced concrete, and post-tensioned concrete. This concrete is molded in the location in which it is expected to remain
Cast-in-place concrete
313
Hollow wall in which withes are tied together with steel ties or masonry trusses
Cavity wall
314
Void space between the top floor ceiling and the roof
Cockloft
315
Two different masonry materials, such as brick and concrete block, used in a wall and designed to react as one unit under load
Composite wall
316
Precast hollow or solid structural block. Sometimes referred to as cinder block
Concrete masonry unit
317
Concrete placed over the first floor wood floors for fire resistance or to provide sanitary floors
Concrete topping
318
A horizontal line of masonry
Course
319
Any wall set at a right angle to any other wall; the walls should brace one another
Cross wall
320
Connects the girders and imparts some lateral stability under normal conditions; resembles a big staple
Dog iron
321
Older code provision that would not allow a structure to be built without the use of exterior masonry walls that would limit fire extension
Fire limit
322
Material applied to structural elements or systems, which provides increased fire resistance; usually serves no structural function
Fireproof
323
Masonry pier at a distance from a wall and connected to it that resists the outward thrust of the roof
Flying buttress
324
Large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length
Girder
325
Bricks laid so that the end is visible
Header or bond course
326
Two connected withes of masonry with an air space in between
Hollow masonry wall
327
Metal angle or strap used to support individual joist against a beam or a girder
Joist hanger
328
Small court commonly placed in large buildings to admit daylight into interior areas not exposed to an open view
Light well
329
Masonry bracing incorporated into unstable masonry walls; also called piers, buttresses, pilasters, or columns
Masonry column
330
Wire truss embedded into the mortar in specified courses making the header course no longer necessary
Masonry wire truss
331
A low-ceiling story located between two stories; usually constructed directly above the ground floor, often over it as a balcony
Mezzanine
332
Buildings in which the exterior walls are noncombustible or limited combustible, but the interior floors and walls are made of combustible materials
Ordinary construction
333
Application of mortar to the back of the facing material, or the face of the backing material
Parging (or pargetting)
334
Square metal device used to transfer loads of columns on upper floors by passing the loads through intervening beams and girders to metal column caps on the column below
Pintle
335
Rough stones or irregular shapes and sizes, used in rough, uncoursed work in the construction of walls and foundations
Rubble masonry
336
A wall composed of an inner and outer wythe of coursed masonry. The space between is filled with random masonry sometimes mixed with mortar. Such walls are unstable to lateral thrust.
Rubble wall masonry wall
337
Masonry units (either solid or hollow) laid contiguously with joints filled with mortar
Solid masonry walls
338
Bricks laid so that the long side is visible
Stretcher course
339
Ordinary construction building of one-story occupancies that have lightweight wood truss roof and concrete block walls
Strip mall
340
Made of clay and fine sand and fired in a kiln
Terra cotta tile
341
Arch in which a steel tension rod ties the ends of the arch together to eliminate the need for the masonry
Tied arch
342
Used to laterally relocate the vertical load of columns to clear an open area
Transfer beam
343
Also called Ordinary construction
Type III construction
344
Ordinary masonry walls are not reinforced, so they have no resistance to lateral movement
Unreinforced masonry
345
A wall with masonry facing that is not bonded but is attached to a wall so as to form an integral part of the wall
Veneer wall
346
A single continuous vertical wall of bricks, one masonry unit in thickness
Wythe
347
A lightweight metal that is both malleable and nonmagnetic. This material has very good conductivity. This noncombustible material that has a low melting point and little mass per unit of area, so it disintegrates rapidly in fire.
Aluminum
348
Steel Members that have two legs at right angles to one another
Angles
349
Asphalt coating that is combustible and used as weather protective coating on galvanized steel walls
Asphalt asbestos protected metal (AAPM)
350
Generally runs in the same direction as a beam and forms a lightweight, long-span system used as floor supports and built-up roofing supports
Bar joist
351
Plates less than six inches in width, may be square or round
Bars
352
a large hollow column built from steel plates
Box column
353
A large girder, hollow like box columns, and often used for highway bridges
Box girder
354
A tee where the end of the cutoff is thickened
Bulb tee
355
An upright partition that divides a ship into compartments and is meant to prevent the spread of leakage or fire
Bulkhead
356
Noncombustible material often used for friable construction
Cement-asbestos board
357
Steel structural component that has a square U-shaped cross section
Channel
358
Walls made of weatherized steel. Can conduct heat easily
Galvanized steel walls
359
A composite material made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers
Glass-fiber reinforced plastic
360
Beam shaped like the letter I
I-Beam
361
Void space made by utilizing deep parallel-chord trusses
Interstitial space
362
Column made of vertical units connected with diagonal pieces
Lattice column
363
The most common walls for unprotected steel-framed buildings; made of concrete block or a composite of concrete block and brick
Masonry walls
364
Measures the ability of steel to distort and restore
Modulus of elasticity
365
Imbedded into the surface
Peened or peening
366
Flat pieces of steel
Plates
367
Concrete panels that are precast and brought to the construction site
Precast prestressed concrete panels
368
Beams set at right angles to trusses or roof rafters to provide support for lightweight roofing
Purlins
369
Diagonal columns that brace an entire structure
Rakers
370
Steel structural members; rolled members are one piece of metal; built-up members are made up of different sections riveted, bolted, or welded together
Rolled or built-up members
371
Girders that tie wall columns together in a framed building
Spandrel girders
372
Distance between the top of one window and the bottom of the one above
Spandrel space
373
A metal connection which allows for movement of floors
Steel expansion joints
374
A standard I-beam cut lengthwise through the web which forms two such beams with T-shaped cross-sections
Tee
375
Cold-drawn steel cables inserted into holes driven into the rock and anchored with epoxy. Also refers to braced sheeting used in soil walls to protect against collapse
Tiebacks
376
Embossed steel, will transfer heat in either direction
Tin Ceiling
377
Used to laterally relocate the vertical load of columns to clear an open area
Transfer beam
378
To evaluate and categorize
Triage
379
steel structural member that is rolled in cylindrical, square, or rectangular shapes
Tube
380
a horizontal beam that ties rows of soldier beams together
Waler
381
I-beams that have flanges wider than standard I-beams
Wide-flange shapes
382
Members with Z-shaped cross-section
Zees
383
Any verity of materials, such as sand and gravel, added to cement mixture to make concrete
Aggregates
384
Special high-strength, cold-drawn steel cables. Also referred to as strands or tendons
Cables
385
Includes plain concrete, reinforced concrete, and post-tensioned concrete. This concrete is molded in the location in which it is expected to remain
Cast-in-place-concrete
386
A process of placing fluid concrete into molds, generally called forms, in which the concrete is permitted to harden to a certain shape
Casting
387
Small devices designed to keep the rods up off the surface of the form, so concrete will flow underneath
Chairs
388
Columns that use steel and concrete combined into one unit
Composite and combination columns
389
Buildings in which different load-bearing materials are used in different areas of the building
Composite construction
390
Process for casting or pouring concrete without interruption from start to finish
Continuous casting
391
Pouring concrete continuously as forms move upward so that continuous casting may be accomplished
Continuous slipforming
392
Thicker section of floor on top columns to assist in resisting the natural tendency of the floor to shear off at the column
Drop Panel
393
Valve that senses a sudden increased flow, as from a broken line, and shuts off flammable gas
Excess flow rate
394
Temporary shoring, formwork, beams, or lateral bracing to support the concrete work in the process of construction
Falsework
395
Cast-in-place floor in which there are no beams supported by columns; the floor plate itself rests directly on the columns
Flat plate structural system (continuous beam)
396
Thick concrete pads, usually heavily reinforced, that transfer the loads of piers or columns to the ground
Footing
397
Mold that shapes the concrete
Formwork
398
Tile unit composed of vertical hollow cells, utilized in early efforts to lighten concrete floors
Hollow tile
399
Steel pipes filled with concrete to increase their load-carrying capacity
Lally columns
400
Concrete floors that are cast onto corrugated steel
Left-in-place form
401
Type of building construction where concrete slabs are cast on the ground and lifted into place
Lift slab
402
Method in which all the concrete in a building is properly bonded together and acts as one
Monolithic construction
403
Planks on which formwork shores rest
Mudsills
404
Tapered extension at the tops of columns that assist in transfer of loads from floor to column
Mushroom cap
405
system that incorporates floors that have been running in one direction only
One –way structural system
406
Concrete that has no reinforcement to resist temperature changes
Plain concrete
407
Concrete that has been cast at a location other than the place where it will remain
Precast concrete
408
Process by which steel tendons or rods are placed under tension, drawing the anchors together. Tensioned steel places the concrete in compression
Pretensioning and post-tensioning
409
In concrete masonry structure, steel reinforcement that is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resistance forces
Reinforced concrete
410
Steel rods or bars used to reinforce concrete
Reinforcing bars or rods
411
Shores that are put back into concrete to help carry the load of the still-curing concrete
Reshoring
412
Tiles shaped to fit around steel
Skewbacks
413
Technique by which forms are moved up-ward as the concrete is poured
Slipforming
414
Loss of surface material when concrete is subjected to heat
Spalling
415
Special high-strength, cold-drawn steel cables. Also referred to as cables or tendons
Strands
416
After concrete is poured and reaches its specified strength, Steel tendons are stretched and anchored at the ends of the unit. Also referred to as “jacking the cables.”
Stressing the tendons
417
Thin rods installed near the surface of concrete, usually at right angles to the main reinforcing rods, to help the concrete resist cracking due to temperature changes
Temperature rods
418
Special high-strength, cold drawn steel cables. Also referred to as strands or cables
Tendons
419
System that incorporates floors that have beams running in two different directions
Two-way structural system
420
Concrete blocks poured per Underwriters Laboratories’ classifications
Underwriters blocks
421
Two-way structural system with closely spaced beams set at right angles to one another in which unnecessary concrete is formed out; lower side resembles a waffle
Waffle concrete
422
Large stores (often department stores) attached to the mall that have all of their required exits independent of the mall
Anchor stores
423
A large open space within a structure connecting two or more floors
Atria
424
Brick and mortar filling between studs utilized as a makeshift fire barrier
Brick or stone noggin
425
The deterioration of a product by heating to high temperatures
Calcination
426
Smoke that falls downward
Cold smoke
427
A building or portion of a building within which hazardous materials are allowed to be stored, dispensed, used, or handled in quantities not exceeding the maximum allowable quantities
Control area
428
A single building enclosing a number of tenants, including retail stores, drinking and dining establishments, entertainment facilities, offices, and other similar uses where the tenants have an opening onto one or more malls
Covered mall
429
A type of fast-response sprinkler capable of providing fire suppression of specific high-challenge fire hazards
Early Suppression fast response (ESFR)
430
Hallways, corridors, passages, or tunnels used as exit components and separated from other parts of the building in accordance with NFPA 101: Life Safety Code
Exit passageway
431
Easily disintegrated
Friable –
432
Required in most codes; this statement lists the materials, hazards, and quantities of hazardous products within a building
Hazardous materials inventory statement (HMIS)
433
Required in most codes; this plan explains how hazardous materials are to be stored and safely used in a building
Hazardous materials management plan (HMMP)
434
Pallets without product
Idle pallet storage
435
Sprinkler that are placed within racks to control fires where overhead sprinklers are not adequate
In-rack sprinklers
436
A layer of air that is warmer than the air below
Inversion layer
437
in reference to an elevator, this zone is 18 inches above or below the landing floor
Landing zone
438
Individuals who are not capable of self-preservation
Nonambulatory people
439
Used in building codes to refer to the intended use of the building
Occupancy
440
A plan in which low-height partitions create cubicles for personal space; essentially large, open room
Open office plan
441
A material that is applied to a substrate and is designed to protect it from thermal effects
Passive fire protection
442
In reference to atmospheric conditions, the layer of air warmer than the air below it
Pause
443
A raised area in a building for presentations, wrestling matches, and the like where there are no hanging curtains, drops, or scenery other than lighting and sounds effects
Platform
444
Used in smoke control systems. These detectors can cover large areas with a single beam
Projected beam detectors
445
Found on a stage, it is the large ornamental opening and wall that separates audience from the stage
Proscenium arch and wall
446
Gas that ignites in air without the introduction of an ignition source
Pyrophoric gas
447
An acronym: R – remove all people in immediate danger to safety; A – activate manual pull station and have someone call 9-1-1; C – close all doors to contain the spread of smoke and fire; E – Extinguish the fire, if possible
RACE
448
Any combination of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal members that supports stored materials
Racks
449
Storage on structures that are less than 2 ½ feet deep, with shelves usually 2 to 3 feet apart vertically and seldom exceeding 15 feet in total height
Shelves
450
Completely vertical stair with a width that is not more than 24 inches wide
Ship’s ladder
451
A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly that is designed and constructed to resist the movement of smoke. A smoke barrier might or might not have a fire resistance rating. Such barriers might have protected openings
Smoke barrier
452
Storage that is either box on box or pallet load on pallet load
Solid pile
453
The vertical airflow within buildings caused by the temperature-created density differences between the building interior and exterior or between two interior spaces
Stack effect
454
Performance area in a theater that has a proscenium arch and wall; hanging curtains, drops, and scenery; lighting; and support rooms (dressing rooms, etx.)
Stage
455
Heavy weights installed high up in a building that are adjusted by computers to counter wind-induced oscillations
Turned-mass dampers
456
a collapse in which an entire wall fails as one unit
90-degree wall collapse
457
A collapse in which one end of the floor is still supported while the other end is unsupported. Voids can be created in such situation.
Cantilever floor collapse
458
Often associated with brick veneer non-load-bearing walls, but also including other masonry walls. The wall falls like a curtain – straight down
Curtain fall wall collapse
459
A collapse in which one end of the collapsed floor is supported by an interior wall, creating two void spaces
Frame floor collapse
460
Results in the complete failure of the building
Global (total) collapse
461
A collapse in which the exterior wall fails horizontally, with the interior wall “folding” horizontally. The top of the building fails inward while the bottom half fails outward
Inward outward collapse
462
Limited to wood frame structures, this type of collapse is characterized by a wooden building that shifts at the upper levels, leaning into adjacent buildings or totally collapsing sideways in absence of adjacent buildings
Lean over collapse
463
A collapse of a building’s floor in which one end of the floor is still supported. Sometimes at or near the original point of connection to the wall. Triangular void space is created
Lean-to-floor collapse
464
a collapse of a building’s floor (and possibly roof) in a pancake stack fashion with each floor (rood) laying flat on top of the one below
Pancake collapse
465
Results from failure of a portion of a building. A situation in which a section of floor gives way without bringing down the rest of the building would be a partial collapse. A partial collapse can be just as deadly as a global collapse
Partial collapse
466
Extensive structural failure initiated by local structural damage, or chain reaction of failures following damage to a small portion of a structure
Progressive collapse
467
An additional collapse that occurs after the initial collapse. Often occurs when loads shift after a primary collapse, causing additional portions of the structure to fail
Secondary collapse
468
A collapse in which the floor fails near its center, with the perimeter of the floor still partially supported by the walls. Two voids are created in this type of collapse
V-shaped floor collapse
