Search Results for P packaged air-conditioner A factory-assembled air-conditioning unit ready for installation. The unit may be mounted in a window, an opening through a wall, or on the building roof. packaged boiler A factory-assembled water or steam heating unit ready for installation. pad foundation A thick slab-type foundation used to support a structure or a piece of equipment. paint system A specific combination of paints applied in sequence. A paint system consists of a combination of some of the following coats: sealer or primer, stain, filler, undercoat, and one or more top coats. pan A prefabricated form unit used in concrete joist floor construction. pan construction A type of concrete floor or roof in which pan forms are used to create intersecting ribs and resulting in a waffle-like undersurface. pan steps Prefabricated treads for a pan form stair. pane A flat sheet of glass installed in a window or door. The installed sheet is also referred to as a light. panel A section of form sheathing constructed from boards, plywood, metal sheets, etc., that can be erected and stripped as a unit. panel box A box in which electric switches and fuses are mounted. panel door A door constructed with panels, usually shaped to pattern, installed between the stiles and rails, which form the outside frame of the door. panel point Point of intersection of the members of a truss. panel product Any of a variety of wood products such as plywood, particleboard, hardboard, and waferboard, sold in sheets or panels. Although sizes vary, the board size for most panel products is 4' x 8'. paneling The material used to cover an interior wall. Paneling may be made from 4' x 4' select milled to a pattern and may be either hardwood or softwood plywood, often prefinished or overlaid with a decorative finish, or hardboard, and usually prefinished. parapet That part of a wall that extends above the roof level. parge To coat with plaster, particularly foundation walls and rough masonry. parquet flooring A floor covering composed of small pieces of wood, usually forming a geometric design. parsing A thin coat of plaster or masonry cement. particle board A generic term used to describe panel products made from discrete particles of wood or other ligno-cellulosic material rather that from fibers. The wood particles are mixed with resins and formed into a solid board under heat and pressure. parting bead A narrow strip between the upper and lower sashes in a double-hung window frame. party wall A common wall between two living units. patent defect A defect present in materials, equipment, or completed work detectable by reasonably careful observation. A patent defect is distinguished from a latent defect, which could not be discovered by reasonable observation. patina Color and texture added to a surface as a result of oxidation or use, such as the green coating on copper or its alloys. patten The base of a column. pavement sealer A bituminous coating used to seal and renew the surface of asphalt paving. paving The hard surface covering of areas such as walks, roadways, ramps, waterways, parking areas, and airport runways. pcf Pounds per cubic foot PE Professional engineer pedestal An upright compression member whose height does not exceed three times its average least lateral dimension, such as a short pier or plinth used as the base for a column. pelmet A valance or cornice, sometimes decorative, at the head of a window to conceal a drapery track or other fittings. penetration test A test to estimate the bearing capacity of soil by recording the number of blows required to drive a standard tool into soil. peppermint test A test for leaks in a drainpipe using oil of peppermint as a trace odor source. percent saturation The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the volume of water in a soil sample to the volume of voids. percentage of reinforcement The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the cross-sectional area of reinforcing steel to the effective cross-sectional area of a member. percolation The movement of a fluid through a soil. perforated drain A subsurface draining system that uses pipes with holes in the bottom to allow water or other liquid to percolate into the soil. performance bond A guarantee that a contractor will perform a job according to the terms of the contract, or the bond will be forfeited. performance specification A description of the desired results or performance of a product, material, assembly, or piece of equipment with criteria for verifying compliance. perlite A volcanic glass having a perlitic structure, usually having a higher water content than obsidian when expanded by heating. Perlite is used as a lightweight aggregate in concretes, mortars, and plasters. permeability The property of a material that permits passage of water vapor. permit A document issued by a governing authority such as a building inspector approving specific construction. personal injury (insurance terminology) Protection against claims for bodily or character injury, or damage to oneís reputation. The insurance protects against damage caused by specified actions of the insured. Includes false arrest, malicious prosecution, willful detention or imprisonment, libel, slander, defamation of character, wrongful eviction, invasion of privacy, or wrongful entry. pervious soil A soil that allows relatively free passage of water. petcock A small valve installed on equipment or piping for drainage of liquids or air. pier A short column to support a concentrated load. pigtail splice A connection of two electric conductors, made by placing the ends of the conductors side by side and twisting the ends about each other. pilaster A column built within a wall, usually projecting beyond the wall. pile A slender timber, concrete, or steel structural element, driven, jetted, or otherwise embedded on end in the ground for the purpose of supporting a load. pile cap A structural member placed on, and usually fastened to, the top of a pile or a group of piles and used to transmit loads into the pile or group of piles and, in the case of a group, to connect them into a bent. Also known as a rider cap or girder. pile foundation The system of piles, and pile caps, that transfers structural loads to bearing soils or bedrock. pile load test A static load test of a pile or group of piles used to establish an allowable load. The applied load is usually 150% to 200% of the allowable load. pillar A post or column. pin-connected truss A truss in which the main members are connected by pins. pipe chase A vertical space in a building reserved for vertical runs of pipe. pipe expansion joint An assembly, other than a fabricated U-bend, designed to compensate for pipe contraction or expansion. pipe sleeve A cylindrical insert cast in a concrete wall or floor for later passage of a pipe. pit-run gravel Ungraded gravel used as taken from a pit. pitch The angle or inclination of a roof, which varies according to climate, architectural design, and roofing materials used, and is expressed as a ratio of rise per run. pitch dimension The distance between the bases of the top and the bottom risers in a flight of stairs, measured parallel to the slope. placing The deposition, distribution, and consolidation of freshly mixed concrete in the place where it is to harden. Also, appropriately referred to as pouring, plain ashlar A rectangular block of stone, the face of which has been smoothed with a tool. plain concrete Concrete without reinforcement plain masonry Masonry with no reinforcement or with reinforcement only for shrinkage and temperature changes. plane of weakness The plane along which a body under stress will tend to fracture. The plane of weakness may exist by design, by accident, or because of the nature of the structure and its loading. plaster A cementitious material or combination of cementitious material and aggregate that, when mixed with a suitable amount of water forms a plastic mass or paste. plasterboard (sheetrock, drywall) Any prefabricated board of plaster with paper facings. Plasterboard may be painted or used as a base for a finish coat of applied plaster. plastic cracking Cracking that occurs in the surface of fresh concrete soon after it is placed and while it is still plastic. plastic deformation Deformation that does not disappear when the force causing the deformation is removed. plasticizer A material that increases plasticity of a cement paste, mortar, or concrete mixture. plate glass High-quality glass of the same composition as window glass but thicker, up to 1-º", with ground and polished faces, usually used for large areas in a single sheet. platform framing A framing system in which the vertical members are only a single story high, with each finished floor acting as a platform upon which the succeeding floor is constructed. Platform framing is the common method of house construction North America. plenum A closed chamber used to distribute or collect warmed or cooled air in a forced air heating/cooling system. plumb Vertical, or to make vertical. plumbing fixture A receptacle in a plumbing system, other than a trap, in which water or wastes are collected or retained for use and ultimately discharged to drainage. plumbing system Arrangements of pipes, fixtures, fittings, valves, and traps, in a building which supply water and remove liquid-borne wastes, including storm water. ply A single layer or sheet of veneer. plywood A flat panel made up of a number of thin sheets (veneers) of wood. The grain direction of each ply, or layer, is at right angles to the one adjacent to it. The veneer sheets are united under pressure by a bonding agent. pocket A recess in a masonry wall to receive an end of a beam. point load A term used in structural analysis to define a concentrated load on a structural member. point-bearing pile A pile that transfers its load to the supporting stratum by point bearing as opposed to a friction pile. pointing The finishing of joints in a masonry wall. pole-frame construction A construction system using vertical poles or timbers. polyethylene A thermoplastic high-molecular-weight organic compound. In sheet form, polyethylene is used as a protective cover for concrete surfaces during the curing period, a temporary enclosure for construction operations, and as a vapor barrier. polystyrene foam A low cost, foamed plastic weighing about 1 lb. per cu. ft., with good insulating properties and resistance to grease. polyurethane finish A synthetic varnish that is exceptionally hard, and wear-resistant. ponding The accumulation of water at low points in a roof. The low points may be produced or increased by structural deflection. pore water pressure The pressure of the water in a saturated soil. porosity The ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of the volume of voids in a material to the total volume of the material, including the voids. portico A covered walk consisting of a roof supported on columns. positive moment A condition of flexure in which, for a horizontal simply supported member, the deflected shape is normally considered to be concave downward and the top fibers subjected to compression stresses. post A member used in a vertical position to support a beam or other structural member in a building, or as part of a fence. In lumber, 4x4s are often referred to as posts. Most grading rules define a post as having dimensions of 5" x 5" or more in width, with the width not more than 2" greater than the thickness. post and beam framing A structural framing system in which beams rest on posts rather than bearing walls. posttensioning A method of prestressing reinforced concrete in which tendons are tensioned after the concrete has hardened. potable water Water that satisfies the standards of the responsible health authorities as drinking water. powder post A condition in which wood has decayed to powder or been eaten by borers that leave holes full of powder. power panelboard A panelboard used for circuits supplying motors and other heavy power-consuming devices, as opposed to a panelboard used for lighting circuits. Pratt truss A type of truss with parallel chords, all vertical members in compression, and all diagonal members in tension. The diagonals slant toward the center. preaction sprinkler system A dry pipe sprinkler system in which water is supplied to the piping when a smoke or heat detector is activated. precast concrete Concrete structural components, such as piles, wall panels, beams, etc., fabricated at a location other than in-place. prefabricate The fabricated units or components at a mill or plant for assembly at another location. preferred angle Any angle of inclination of a stair between a 30? pitch and a 35? pitch. prefinished Lumber, plywood, molding, or other wood products with a finish coating of paint, stain, vinyl, or other material applied before it is taken to the job site. preheat coil A coil, in an air-conditioning system, used to preheat air which is below 32?F (0?C). prehung door A packaged unit consisting of a finished door on a frame with all necessary hardware and trim. pressed edge Edge of a footing along which the greatest soil pressure occurs under conditions of overturning. pressure treating A process of treating lumber or other products with various chemicals, such as preservatives and fire retardants, by forcing the chemicals into the structure of the wood using high pressure. pressure-reducing valve A valve which maintains a uniform fluid pressure on its outlet side as long as pressure on the inlet side is at or above a design pressure. prestressed concrete Concrete in which internal stresses of such magnitude and distribution are introduced that the tensile stresses resulting from the service loads are counteracted to a desired degree. In reinforced concrete, the prestress is commonly introduced by tensioning the tendons. primary member One of the main load-carrying members of a structural system, generally columns or posts. prime coat The first or preparatory coat in a paint system prime contractor Any contractor on a project having a contract directly with the owner. principal The principal authority or person responsible for a business such as architecture, engineering, or construction. principal beam The main beam in a structural frame. product data Information furnished by the manufacturer to illustrate a material, product, or system for some portion of the work, which includes illustrations, standard schedules, performance charts, instructions, brochures, diagrams, and warranties. professional engineer A professionally qualified and duly licensed individual that performs services such as structural, mechanical, electrical, sanitary, and civil engineering professional liability insurance Insurance coverage protecting against legal liability for damage claims sustained by others. Damage claims allege negligent acts, errors, or omissions in the performance of professional services. progressive scaling The progressive disintegration of materials, such as concrete, which first appears as surface scaling but continues in deeper layers. projection Any component member or part that extends out from a building for a relatively short distance. psf Pounds per square foot psi Pounds per square inch public system A water or sewer system owned and operated by a governmental authority or by a utility company that is controlled by a government authority. puddle To settle loose soil by flooding and turning it over. pulling Installing and connecting wires in an electric system. pumping (of pavements) The ejection of water, or water and solid materials, such as clay or silt, along transverse or longitudinal joints and cracks and along pavement edges. Pumping is caused by downward slab movement activated by the passage of loads over the pavement after the accumulation of free water on or in the base course, subgrade, or subbase. punch list A list of items within a project, prepared by the owner or his representative, and confirmed by the contractor, which remain to be replaced or completed in accordance with the requirements of the contract for construction at the time of substantial completion. purlin One of several horizontal structural members that support roof loads and transfer them to roof beams. pyramid roof A roof with four slopes terminating at a peak. Search Again