Search Results for F face The surface of a wall, masonry unit, or sheet of material that is exposed in finish work. face brick (facing brick) Any brick that is exposed, such as on a fireplace. face grain The grain on the face of a plywood panel. The face grain should always be placed at right angles to the supports when applying it to a roof or sub-floor. facing (facework) Any material used to cover a rough or inferior surface, in order to provide a finished and more attractive appearance. facing block A concrete masonry unit having a decorative exterior finish. factor of safety (1) Stress factor of safety: the ratio of the ultimate strength, or yield point, of a material to the design working stress. (2) Load factor of safety: the ratio of ultimate load, moment, or shear, respectively, assumed in design. falsework The temporary structure erected to support work in the process of construction. Falsework consists of shoring or vertical posting formwork or beams and slabs, and lateral bracing. fan-coil unit An air-conditioning unit that houses an air filter, heating or cooling coil, and a centrifugal fan, and operates by moving air through an opening in the unit and across the coils. fascia (facia) A board nailed across the ends of the rafters at the eaves. fatigue failure The phenomenon of rupture that occurs when a material is subjected to repeated loadings at a stress substantially less than the ultimate tensile strength. fault A defect in an electrical system caused by poor insulation, imperfect connections, grounding, or shorting. fee Remuneration for professional services. feeder An electrical cable or group of electrical conductors that runs power from a larger central source to one or more secondary or branch-circuit distribution centers. felt A fabric of matted compressed fibers, usually manufactured from cellulose fibers from wood, paper, or rags, or from glass fibers. fenestration The layout and design of windows in a building. fiberboard A general term referring to any of various panel products, such as particle board, hardboard, chipboard, or other types formed by bonding wood fillers by heat and pressure. fiberglass (fibrous glass, glass fiber) Filaments of glass formed by pulling molten glass into random lengths that are either gathered in a wool-like mass or formed as continuous threads. The wool-like form is used as thermal and acoustical insulation. The thread-like form is used as reinforcing material and in textiles, glass fabrics, and electrical insulation. fibrous concrete Concrete with glass or other fibers added to increase tensile strength. field In masonry, an expanse of brickwork between two openings or corners. field applied The application of a material, such as paint, at a job site, as opposed to being applied at a factory. fill The soil or other material used to raise the grade of a site area. fillet A concave junction formed where two surfaces meet. fin A narrow, linear projection on a formed concrete surface, resulting from mortar flowing out between spaces in the formwork. final acceptance The formal acceptance of a contractorís completed construction project by the owner, upon notification from an architect that the job fulfills the contract requirements. Final acceptance is often accompanied by a final payment agreed upon in the contract. final inspection An architectís last review of a completed project before issuance of the final certificate for payment. fine aggregate That portion of an aggregate passing the No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve and predominantly retained on the No.200 (75-micrometer) sieve. fines Soil which passes through a No. 200 sieve. finger joint A method of joining two pieces of lumber end to end by sawing into the end of each piece a set of projecting "fingers" that interlock. When the pieces are pushed together, these form a strong glue joint. finish carpentry (joinery) The wood finish to a building, such as moldings, doors, and windows. finish flooring The material used to make the wearing surface of a floor, such as hardwood, tile or terrazzo. finishing Leveling, smoothing, compacting, and otherwise treating surfaces of fresh or recently placed concrete or mortar to produce the desired appearance and service. fire wall An interior or exterior wall that runs from the foundation of a building to the roof or above, constructed to stop the spread of fire. firestop A short piece of wood, usually a 2" x 4" or 2" x 6", placed horizontally between the studs of a wall. Firestops are equal in width to the studs. They are usually placed halfway up the height of the wall to slow the spread of the fire by limiting drafts in space between the sheathing on the two sides of the wall. Building codes usually do not require firestops in walls that are less than 8' high. firm price Promise to do work for a guaranteed price. fitting A standardized part of a piping system used for attaching sections of pipe together, such as a coupling, elbow, cross, or tee. fixed light A window or portion of a window that does not open. fixed retaining wall A retaining wall supported both at its top and bottom. fixture An electrical device, such as a luminaire, attached to a wall or ceiling. flange (1) A projecting ring, ridge, or collar placed on a pipe or shaft to strengthen, prevent sliding or accommodate attachments (2) The longitudinal part of a beam, or other structural member, that resists tension and compression. flashing A thin impervious sheet of material placed in construction to prevent water penetration or direct the flow of water. Flashing is used especially at roof hips and valleys, roof penetrations, joints between a roof and a vertical wall, and in masonry walls to direct the flow of water and moisture. flat roof A roof with only enough pitch to allow drainage. flexible connector In ductwork, an airtight connection of nonmetallic materials installed between ducts or between a duct and fan to isolate vibration and noise. flitch beam (flitch girder, sandwich beam) A beam built up by two or more pieces bolted together, sometimes with a steel plate in the middle. float finish A rather rough concrete surface texture obtained by finishing with a float. flood coat A top layer of bitumen poured over a built-up roof, which may have gravel or slag added as a protective layer. floor joist Any light beam that supports a floor. floor load The live load for which a floor has been designed, selected from a building code, or developed from an estimate of expected storage, equipment weights, and/or activity floor underlayment Particleboard, plywood, waferboard, or similar products used on a subfloor to provide a smooth surface on which to lay the finish floor. flooring A tongued and grooved piece of lumber used in constructing a floor. The basic size of flooring is 1" x 4", although other sizes are used. flue lining (chimney lining) The lining of a chimney flue composed of heat-resistant firebrick or other fire-clay materials, which prevents fire, smoke, and gases from escaping the flue to contaminate surroundings. flush Having a surface or face even with the adjacent surface. flush door A door with flush surfaces and concealed structural parts. flush plate In electricity, the metal or plastic cover that shields the flush wiring device in a wiring box and provides covering for an outlet or switch, with holes cut into its face to accommodate switch handles and plugs. flying form A system that can be used repetitively and moved in large sections not requiring disassembly. folded-plate construction A type of construction used with span roofs. Thin, flat elements of concrete, steel, or timber are connected rigidly at angles to each other, similar to accordion folds, to form members with deep cross sections. folding partition Large panels hung from a ceiling track, sometimes supported also by a floor track, which form a solid partition when closed, but stack together when the partition is maneuvered into an open position. footing That portion of the foundation of a structure that spreads and transmits the load directly to the soil. footing step A change in elevation of a strip footing. force account Work ordered on a construction project without an existing agreement on it cost, and performed with the understanding that the contractor will bill the owner according to the cost of labor, materials, and equipment, plus a certain percentage for overhead and profit. force, compression A force acting on a body, tending to compress the body. (Pushing action). force, shear A force acting on a body which tends to slide one portion of the body against the other side of the body. (Sliding action). force, tension A force acting on a body tending to elongate the body. (Pulling action). forced-air furnace A warm-air furnace, outfitted with a blower, that heats an area by transmitting air through the furnace and connecting ducts. form stop A wooden piece used in concrete formwork to regulate or limit the flow of concrete at the end of a workday. Also used to create drops and special openings. form tie A tensile unit adapted to prevent concrete forms from spreading due to the fluid pressure of freshly placed unhardened concrete. formwork The total system of support for freshly placed concrete, including the mold or sheathing which contacts the concrete, as well as all supporting members. foundation wall That part of the foundation of a building forming a retaining wall for the portion of the building that is below grade. framework A network of structural members or components joined to form a structure, such as a truss or multi-level building. French door (casement door, door window) A door, or pair of doors, with glass panes constituting all or nearly all of its surface area. French drain A drain ditch containing loose stone covered with earth. friction pile (floating pile foundation) A load-bearing pile that receives its principal vertical support from skin friction between the surface of the buried pile and the surrounding soil. frost line The depth to which frost penetrates the ground. This depth varies from one part of the country to another. Footings should be placed below the frost line to prevent shifting. furnace That part of a boiler or warm-air heating plant in which combustion takes place. furring Strips of wood or metal fastened to a wall or other surface to even it, to form an air space, to give the appearance of greater thickness, or for the application of an interior finish such as plaster. furring strip Wood or metal channels used for attaching gypsum or metal lath to masonry walls as a finish or for leveling purposes. fusible link A metal link made of two parts held together by a low-melting-point alloy. When exposed to fire-condition temperatures, the link separates, allowing a door, damper, or device to be closed. Search Again