Search Results for C C.M.U. Concrete masonry unit. caisson A drilled, cylindrical foundation shaft used to transfer a load through soft strata to firm strata or bedrock. The shaft is filled with reinforced or unreinforced concrete. camber A slightly convex curvature built into a beam or truss to compensate for deflection under a load. Camber is also built into structural components, roadways, or bridges to facilitate run off of water. cant strip (chamfer strip) A three-sided piece of wood, one angle of which is square, used under the roofing on a flat roof where the horizontal surface abuts a vertical wall or parapet. cantilever A structural member supported at one end only. cantilever wall A wall that resists its overturning moment with a cantilever footing. cap sheet The top ply of mineral-coated felt sheet used on a built-up roof. capillary action In subsurface soil conditions, the rising of water above the horizontal plane of the water table. carriage bolt A threaded bolt with a round, smooth head. The bolt is prevented from rotating in its hole by a square neck directly under the head. cased beam An exposed interior beam encased in finished millwork. casement A window sash that opens on hinges that are fixed on either side. casework A term for assembled cabinetry or millwork. casing (1) The exposed millwork enclosure of cased beams, posts, pipes, etc. (2) The exposed trim molding or lining around doors and windows. cast-in-place concrete (in-situ concrete) Concrete poured into forms at its final location. catch basin (catch pit) A receptacle or reservoir that receives surface water runoff or drainage. Typically made of precast concrete, brick, or concrete masonry units, with a cast-iron frame and grate on top. catwalk A small, permanent walkway, usually elevated to provide access to a work area. cavity wall (hollow masonry wall, hollow wall) An exterior masonry wall, in which the inner and outer wythes are separated by an air space, but tied together with wires or metal stays. CDX Plywood, grade C and D, exterior glue ceiling diffuser Any air diffuser located in a ceiling, through which warm or cold air is blown into an enclosure. ceiling plenum In air conditioning systems, the air space between a hung ceiling and the underside of the floor or roof above. Acts as a return to the air-handling unit. ceiling suspension system A gridwork of metal rails and hangers erected for the support of a suspended ceiling and ceiling mounted items, e.g., air diffusers, lights, fire detectors, etc. cement grout A thin, watery mortar or plaster that is pumped or forced into joints, cracks, and spaces as an adhesive sealer. cement mortar A plastic building material made by mixing lime, cement, sand, and water. Cement mortar is used to bind masonry blocks together or to plaster over masonry. cementitious Capable of setting like a cement. centimeter A metric unit of length equal to one-hundredth of a meter. One inch equals 2.54 cm. certificate for insurance A document prepared by an insurance company or its agent that states the period of time for which the policy is in effect, along with the types and amounts of coverage for the insured. certificate of occupancy A written document issued by the governing authority in accordance with the provisions of the building permit. The certificate of occupancy indicates that in the opinion of the building official, the project has been completed in accordance with the building code. This document gives the owner permission from the authorities to occupy and use the premises for the intended purpose. chair A frame built into a wall to provide support for a sink, lavatory, urinal, or toilet. Also called a carrier. chair rail A horizontal piece of wood attached to walls to prevent damage to plaster or paneling from the backs of chairs. chamfer The beveled edge formed at the right-angle corner of a construction member. change order Written authorization provided to a contractor approving a change from the original plans, specifications, or other contract documents, as well as a change in the cost. With the proper signatures, a change order is considered a legal document. channel iron (channel bar) A U-shaped rolled, structural steel member, the web of which is always deeper than the width of the flanges. The web depth is the size of the channel. charging The insertion of refrigerant into a refrigeration or air-conditioning system. chase A continuous enclosure in a structure that acts as a housing for pipe, wiring conduits, ducts, etc. A chase is usually located in or adjacent to a column, which provides some physical protection. check valve (back-pressure valve, clack valve, reflux valve) A valve designed to limit the flow of fluid to one direction only. cherry picker A powered lift for raising workers or materials. chiller A piece of equipment that utilizes a refrigeration cycle to produce cold (chilled) water for circulation to the desired location or use. chord The top or bottom members of a truss (typically horizontal), as distinguished from the web members. cinder block (clinker block) A masonry block made of crushed cinders and Portland cement. This type of block is lighter and has a higher insulating value than concrete. Because moisture causes deterioration of cinder block, it is used primarily for interior rather than exterior walls. circuit breaker (automatic circuit breaker) An electrical device for discontinuing current flow during an abnormal condition. Unlike a fuse, a circuit breaker becomes reusable by resetting a switch. civil engineer An engineer specializing in the design of public works, such as roads, buildings, dams, bridges, and other structures, as well as water distribution, drainage, and sanitary sewer systems. cladding A covering or sheathing applied to provide desirable surface properties, such as durability, weathering, and corrosion or impact resistance. Class A, B, C Fire-resistance ratings applied to building components such as doors or windows. Class A is an Underwritersí Laboratories classification for a component having a 3-hour fire endurance rating; Class B, a 1 or 1?-hour rating; Class C, a æ-hour rating. clay A fine-grained material, consisting of hydrated silicates of aluminum, that is soft and cohesive when moist, but becomes hard when baked or fired. Clay is used to make bricks, tiles, pipes, earthenware, etc. clay tile A fired earthenware tile used on roofs. Called quarry tile when used in flooring. cleanout A pipe fitting with a removable threaded plug that permits access for inspection and cleaning of the run. clear span The distance between the inside surfaces of the two supports of a structural member. cleat A small block of wood nailed to the surface of the wood member to stop or support another member. clerk of the works A representative of the architect or owner who oversees construction, handles administrative matters, and insures that construction is in accordance with the contract documents. closer A mechanism for automatically closing a door. code The legal requirements of local and other governing bodies concerning construction and occupancy. coefficient of expansion For building materials, the increase in dimension per unit of length caused by a rise in temperature of one degree Fahrenheit, expressed in decimal form. collar A flashing for a metal vent or chimney where it passes through a roof. collar beam The horizontal board that joins the approximate midpoints of two opposite rafters in order to increase rigidity. column A long, relatively slender, supporting pillar. A column is usually loaded axially in compression. column footing The foundation under a column that spreads the load out to an area large enough so that the bearing capacity of the soil is not exceeded and differential settling does not occur. column ties Steel reinforcement surrounding the vertical reinforcement in a concrete column to align the bars and provide additional strength. May be rectangular or ring-shaped. combination window A window with replacement screen and glass inserts for summer and winter use. compacted volume The volume of any mass of material after it has been compressed, particularly soil in an embankment or fill area. completion list (punch list) The final list of items of work to be completed or corrected by the contractor. composite beam A beam combining different materials to work as a single unit, such as structural steel and concrete or cast-in-place and precast concrete. composite column A column designed to combine two different materials or two different grades of material to form a structural member. A structural steel shape may be filled with concrete, or a structural steel member or reinforcing may be encased in concrete. composition board (composite board) A manufactured board consisting of any of several materials usually pressed together with a binder. Composition board is frequently used as sheathing, wallboard, or as an insulation or acoustical barrier. composition shingles (asphalt shingles) Shingles made from felt impregnated and covered with asphalt, and then coated on the exposed side with colored granules. compressive strength The resistance capacity of any material, but especially structural members, to crushing force. Compressive strength is usually expressed as the maximum number of pounds per square inch that can be resisted without failure. concave joint A masonry joint formed by a curved pointing tool and used particularly on exterior masonry walls concrete A composite material consisting of sand, coarse aggregate (gravel, stone, or slag), cement, and water. When mixed and allowed to harden, it forms a stone-like material. concrete admixture A special substance or chemical added to a concrete mix. Typically, an admixture is used to control setting, entrain air, impart color, control workability, or to waterproof. concrete block A masonry building unit of concrete that has been cast into a standard shape, size, and style. concrete contraction The shrinkage of concrete that occurs as it cures and dries. concrete curing compound A chemical applied to the surface of fresh concrete to minimize the loss of moisture during the first stages of setting and hardening. concrete cylinder test A compression test for concrete strength. Wet samples of concrete are carefully placed in specially made containers 6" in diameter and 12" high. The cylinders are sent to a laboratory where a compression test is performed. This is done by putting the concrete in a hydraulic machine that measures the pressure(s) needed to crush it. Cylinder tests are usually performed for each pour on a project that requires concrete strength control. concrete floor hardener An additive used to impart extra wear and chip resistance to concrete floors. The additive may be placed in the mix before the floor is cast, or it may be applied to the surface in liquid or granular form. concrete reinforcement Metal bars, rods, or wires placed within formwork before concrete is added. The concrete and the reinforcement are designed to act as a single unit in resisting forces. concrete, pre-stressed Concrete members with internal tendons that have been tensioned to put a compressive load on the members. When a load is applied to a pre-stressed member, compression is decreased where tension would normally occur. See also pre-stressed concrete. condominium A legal system by which individual units of real property, such as apartments, stores, or offices, may be owned separately. Each unit owner obtains the entire rights incidental to ownership of real property, and shares with the other owners, rights to the common areas in the building, facilities, or land of the condominium. construction documents The written specifications and drawings that provide the requirements of a construction project. contact pressure The pressure or force that a footing and the structure it supports exerts on the soil below. continuous beam A beam supported at three or more points, and thus having two or more spans. continuous footing A concrete footing supporting a wall or two or more columns. The footing may vary in depth and width. contraction joint (control joint) A formed, sawed, or tooled groove in a concrete structure. The purpose of the joint is to create a weakened plane and to regulate the location of cracking resulting from the dimensional change of different parts of the structure. cooling tower An outdoor structure, frequently placed on a roof, over which warm water is circulated for cooling by evaporation and exposure to the air. cope To cut structural steel beams so that they fit tightly together. coping The protective top member of any vertical construction such as a wall or chimney. A coping may be masonry, metal, or wood, and is usually sloped or beveled to shed water in such a way that it does not run down the vertical face of the wall. Copings often project out from a wall with a drip groove on the underside. core test A compression test on a sample of hardened concrete cut out with a core drill. cornice An exterior ornamental trim at the meeting of the roof and wall. This type of cornice usually includes a bed molding, a soffit, a fascia, and a crown molding. corrosion The oxidation or eating away of a metal or other material by exposure to chemical or electrochemical action such as rust. counterflashing A thin strip of metal frequently inserted into masonry construction and bent down over other flashing to prevent water from running down the masonry and behind the upturned edge of the base flashing. counterfort In masonry construction, a pier, buttress, or pilaster on the inner side of a wall to resist thrust. crack-control reinforcement The use of steel reinforcing rods in concrete and masonry to minimize crack size and occurrence. creep The slow but continual permanent deformation of a material under sustained stress. creosote An oily liquid obtained from tar and used to prevent wood from decaying. Creosote is used extensively for preserving railroad ties, wood piles, posts, and foundations. cripple In construction framing, members that are less than full length; for example, studs above a door, or below a window. CRSI Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute crushed gravel Gravel that has been crushed and screened so that substantially one face or each particle is a fractured face. curing blanket A layer of straw, burlap, sawdust, or other suitable material placed over fresh concrete and moistened to help maintain humidity and temperature for proper hydration. curtain wall The exterior closure or skin of a building. A curtain wall is nonbearing and is not supported by beams or girders. cut Material excavated from a construction site. cutback asphalt A bituminous roof coating or cement that has been thinned with a solvent so that it may be applied without heat to roofs or other areas that need sealing or cementing. Also used for dampproofing concrete and masonry. Search Again