Search Results for S safe load The maximum load on a structure that does not produce stresses greater than those allowable. sag rod A tension member used to limit the deflection of a girt or purlin in the direction of its weak axis or to limit the sag in angle bracing. sagging The condition of a horizontal structural member bending downward under load. salt treatment One method of preserving wood, using any of various waterborne salts to impregnate the wood. Among the more widely used systems are Wolman Salts and Osmose Salts. samples Examples of workmanship establishing the standards against which the rest of the work will be measured. Includes products, materials, and equipment as well. sand Granular material passing the 3/8" sieve, almost entirely passing the No. 4 (4.75-millimeter) sieve, and predominantly retained on the No. 200 (75-micrometer) sieve. sandwich panel A panel formed by bonding two thin facings to a thick, and usually lightweight, core. sanitary sewer A sewer line designed to carry only liquid or waterborne waste from the structure to a central treatment plant. sash (window sash) The framework of a window that holds the glass. scab A short piece of wood fastened to two formwork members to secure a butt joint. scaffolding A temporary structure for the support of deck forms, cartways, and/or workers, such as an elevated platform for supporting workers, tools, and materials. scale The flaky material resulting from corrosion of metals, especially iron or steel. scissors truss A roof truss with tension members extending from the floor of each principal rafter to the upper half of its opposite member. score To tool grooves in a freshly placed concrete surface to reduce cracking from shrinkage. scratch coat The first coat of plaster or stucco applied to a surface in three-coat work and usually cross-raked or scratched to form a mechanical key with the brown coat. screed To strike off concrete lying above the desired plane or shape. screed guide Firmly established grade strips or side forms for unformed concrete, which will guide the strikeoff in producing the desired plane or shape. screw anchor A type of molly whose metal, plastic, or fiber shell is inserted into a hole in masonry, plaster, or concrete, and expanded when the screw is driven in. scupper Any opening in a wall, parapet, bridge curb, or slab that provides an outlet through which excess water can drain. sealer Any liquid coating used to seal the pores of the surface to which it is applied. seasoned Timber that is not green, having a moisture content of 19% or less, and is air-or-kiln-dried. seasoning check A small split that occurs in the grain of wood when moisture is extracted too rapidly. secondary reinforcement Reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete, such as stirrups, ties, or temperature steel. Secondary steel is any steel reinforcement other than main reinforcement. section A drawing of an object or construction member cut through to show the interior makeup. section modulus A term pertaining to the cross section of a flexural member. select A high-quality piece of lumber graded for appearance. Select lumber is used in interior and exterior trim, and cabinetry. select structural The highest grade of structural joists and planks. This grade is applied to lumber of high quality in terms of appearance, strength, and stiffness. self-furring Metal lath or welded-wire fabric formed in the manufacturing process to include means by which the material is held away from the supporting surface, thus creating a space for keying of the insulating concrete, plaster, or stucco. semi-rigid frame A type of structural framework construction in which some flexibility is allowed at the joints of columns and beams. semibasement A basement that is only partly below ground level. sensor A device designed to detect an abnormal ambient condition, such as smoke or high temperature, and to sound an alarm or operate a device. service The conducting equipment used to deliver electricity from the supply system to the wiring system of a building. service conductors Those conductors (wires) that carry electrical current from the street mains, or transformers, to the service equipment of the building being supplied. service drop The overhead conductors that connect the electrical supply or communication line to the building being served. service entrance switch The circuit breaker or switch, with fuses and accessories, located near the point of entrance of supply conductors to a building and intended to be the main control and cut-off for the electrical supply to that building. service equipment The equipment located at the point of entry of supply conductors to a building intended to control and, if necessary, cut off the electrical supply to that building. Consists of a circuit breaker or switch and fuses. service lateral Those underground electrical service conductors (wires) between the street main, including any risers at a pole or other structure or from transformers, and the point of initial connection with the service entrance conductors in a terminal box or other enclosure, either inside or outside a wall of the building being served. In the absence of such a box or enclosure, the service lateral connects the street main and the point at which the service conductors into the building. service pipe The water or gas pipe that leads from a supply source, usually public distribution mains in the street, to the particular building(s) being served. service systems The heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, water, and electric distribution systems in a building. set The condition reached by a cement paste, mortar, or concrete when it has lost plasticity to an arbitrary degree usually measured in terms of resistance to penetration of deformation. Initial set refers to first stiffening; final set refers to attainment of significant rigidity. settling The lowering in elevation of sections of pavement or structures due to their mass, the loads imposed on them, or shrinkage or displacement of the support. sewer Generally, an underground conduit in which waste matter is carried in a liquid medium. sewer appurtenances Manholes, sewer inlets, and other devices, constructions or accessories related to a sewer system but exclusive of the actual pipe or conduit. shaft (1) An elevator well. (2) Any enclosed vertical space in a building used for utilities or ventilation. shake Roofing or sidewall material produced from wood, usually cedar, with at least one surface having a grain split face. shank The main body of a nail, screw, bolt, or similar fastener extending between the head and the point. shear An internal force tangential to the plane on which it acts. shear connector A welded stud, spiral bar, short length of channel, or any other similar connector that resists horizontal shear between components of a composite beam. shear stress The shear-producing force per unit area of cross section, usually expressed in pounds per square inch. shear stud A short unthreaded bolt welded to the top flange of a steel beam. The shear studs are embedded in a concrete slab to form a composite beam and stud. shear wall (shearwall) A wall portion of a structural frame intended to resist lateral forces, such as earthquake, wind, and blast, acting in the plane or parallel to the plane of the wall. shear-plate connector A type of timber connector employed in wood-to-wood or wood-to-steel applications. sheathing (1) Plywood, waferboard, oriented strand board, or lumber used to close up sidewalls, floors, or roofs preparatory to the installation of finish materials on the surface. (2) The first covering of exterior studs or rafters by boards, plywood, or particle board. shed dormer A dormer window having vertical framing projecting from a sloping roof, and an eave line parallel to the eave line of the principal roof. A shed dormer is designed to provide more space under a roof than a gabled dormer would provide. sheet metal Metal, usually galvanized steel but also aluminum, copper, and stainless steel, that has been rolled to any given thickness between 0.06" and 0.249" and cut into rectangular (usually 4' x 8') sections, which are then used in the fabrication of such items as ductwork, pipe, and gutters. sheet-metal work The fabrication, installation, and/or final product, such as the ductwork of a heating or cooling system, as performed or produced by a worked skilled in that trade. sheeting Planks used to line the sides of an excavation, such as for shoring and bracing. shelf angle A section of angle iron or steel which is welded or otherwise secured to an I-beam or channel section to provide support for the formwork or the hollow tiles of a concrete slab, or which, when similarly attached to a girder, carries the ends of joists. shim A strip of metal, wood, or other material used to set base plates or structural members at the proper level for placement of grout, or to maintain the elongation in some types of posttensioning anchorages. shingle A roof-covering unit made of asphalt, wood, slate, asbestos, cement, or other material cut into stock sizes and applied on sloping roofs in an overlapping pattern. shiplap Lumber that has been worked to make a rabbeted joint on each edge so that pieces may be fitted together snugly for increased strength and stability. shoddy work Any work which has been performed carelessly and/or unprofessionally. shoe Any piece of timber, metal, or stone receiving the lower end of virtually any member. shoe molding A base shoe used at the bottom of a baseboard to cover the space between the finished flooring and the baseboard. shop coat A surface coating applied in a fabricating shop. shop drawings Drawings created by a contractor, subcontractor, vendor, manufacturer, or other entity that illustrate construction, materials, dimensions, installation, and other pertinent information for the incorporation of an element, or item into the construction. shoring Props or posts of timber or other material in compression; used for the temporary support of excavations, formwork, or unsafe structures. shotcrete Mortar or concrete pneumatically projected at high velocity onto a surface. Also known as air-blown mortar. shower pan A pan of concrete, terrazzo, concrete and tile, or metal used as a floor in a shower bath. shrinkage Volume decrease caused by drying and/or chemical changes, such as of concrete or wood. shrinkage cracking The cracking of a structure or member due to failure in tension caused by external or internal restraints from carbonation and/or reduction in moisture content. shrinkage reinforcement Reinforcement designed to resist shrinkage stresses in concrete. siamese connection A wye connection on the outside of a building with two inlet connections, used by the fire department to supply water to a sprinkler and/or standpipe system. sidewall The exterior wall of a building. siding (weatherboarding) Lumber or panel products intended for use as the exterior wall covering on a house or other building. sieve size The nominal size of openings, usually between cross wires of a testing sieve. sight glass A glass tube used to indicate the liquid level in boilers, tanks, etc. silicone A resin, characterized by water-repellent properties, in which the main polymer chain consists of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, with carbon-containing side groups (free radicals). Silicones may be used in caulking or coating compounds or admixtures for concrete. sill The horizontal member of the bottom of a window or exterior door frame. sill cock A water faucet located in the exterior of a building roughly at the top of the sill. A sill cock is usually threaded to provide a connection for a hose. sill course A course of brickwork at a windowsill, usually projected to shed water. simple beam A beam without restraint or continuity at its supports. single bridging Single pieces of wood fixed between joists, as opposed to diagonal bridging. sinking in The penetration of a paint binder into an unprimed, porous surface resulting in a finish coat with low gloss. siphonage The removal of fluid from a device such as a trap, caused by suction produced by fluid flow. sistering The reinforcement of a structural member by nailing or attaching a stronger piece to a weaker one. site The location of the project geographically, usually defined by legal boundaries. site investigation A complete examination, investigation, and testing of surface and subsurface soil and conditions. The report resulting from the investigation is used in design of the structure. skin The materials, such as steel, aluminum and/or glass that make up a curtain wall. skin friction The friction between soil and a structure, such as a retaining wall, or between soil and a pile. skylight A glazed opening in a roof to admit light. slab A flat, horizontal (or nearly horizontal) molded layer of plain or reinforced concrete, usually of uniform but sometimes of variable thickness, positioned either on the ground or supported by beams, columns, walls, or other framework. slab on grade A concrete slab placed on grade, sometimes having insulation board or an impervious membrane beneath it. slate batten A batten fastened across rafters in order to support slates on a roof. sleeper One of many strips of wood fastened to the top of a concrete slab to support a wood floor. slender beam A beam that if loaded to failure without lateral bracing of the compression flange would fail by buckling rather than in flexure. slump A measure of consistency of freshly mixed concrete, mortar, or stucco equal to the subsidence measured to the nearest º" (6mm) of the molded specimen immediately after removal of the slump cone. slurry A mixture of water and any finely divided insoluble material, such as Portland cement, slag, or clay in suspension. smooth ashlar A rectangular stone block with smooth faces used in masonry construction. snow load The live load allowed by local code, used to design roofs in area subject to snowfall. soffit The underside of a part or member of a structure, such as a beam, stairway, or arch. soil class A classification of soil by particle, size, used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: (1) gravel, (2) sand, (3) clay, (4) loam, (5) loam with some sand, (6) silt-loam, (7) clay-loam. soil creep The slow movement of a mass of soil down a slope, caused by gravity and aggravated by pore water. soil pipe A pipe that conveys the discharge from water closets or similar fixtures to the sanitary sewer system. soil sample A representative sample of soil from a specific location or elevation of a construction site, usually extracted to determine bearing capacity. soil stack A vertical soil pipe that carries the discharge from water closet fixtures. soldier course A course of brick units set on end with the long, narrow face vertical on the wall face. soldier pile In an excavation, a vertical member that supports horizontal sheeting and is supported by struts across the excavation and by embedment below the excavation. soleplate A soleplate or shoe that serves as a base for studs in a core of solid wood or mineral composition, as opposed to a partition. solid core A flush door used in entries and as fire-resistant doors in which particleboard or wood blocks completely fill the area between the door skins. solid masonry unit A masonry unit whose minimum net cross-sectional area parallel to its bearing surface is 75% or more of its gross cross-sectional area. solid masonry wall A wall built of solid masonry units with all joints filled with mortar and no hollow wythes. Sonotube A product consisting of a preformed casing made of laminated, waxed paper; used to form cylindrical piers or columns. sound transmission class (STC) A single number indicating the sound insulation value of a partition, floor-ceiling assembly, door, or window, as derived from a curve of insulation value as a function of frequency. The higher the number is, the greater the insulation value. soundness The freedom of a solid from cracks, flaws, fissures, or variations for an accepted standard. soundproofing The design and construction of a building or unit to reduce sound transmission. spacer A device that maintains reinforcement in proper position, or keeps wall forms a given distance apart before and during concreting. spackle (speckling, sparkling) A paste, or dry mixture blended with water to form a paste; used to fill holes and cracks in plaster, wallboard, or wood. spall A fragment usually in the shape of a flake, detached from a larger mass by a blow through the action of weather, by pressure, or by expansion within the larger mass. span The horizontal distance between supports. spandrel beam A beam in the perimeter of a building spanning columns, and usually supporting floor or roof loads. spandrel wall The area of a curtain wall between the sill of one window and the top of a window one story below. spanner A horizontal cross brace. specification A detailed and exact statement of particulars, especially a statement prescribing materials, dimensions, and workmanship for something to be built or installed. specs Contraction of specifications. spigot The end of a pipe that fits into the bell, or upset, end of another pipe to form a joint after caulking. spiral stair A flight of stairs whose treads wind around a central newel in a spiral or helix shape. spirally reinforced column A column in which the vertical bars are enveloped by spiral reinforcement, (i.e., closely spaced, continuous hooping). splash block A small masonry block set in the ground beneath a rain gutter to receive roof drainage and prevent puddling or soil erosion. splashboard A board placed on a wall at a sink to protect the wall. splice Connection of two similar materials to another by lapping, welding, gluing, mechanical couplers, or other means. splice plate A plate laid over a joint and fastened to the pieces being joined to provide stiffness. split A crack extending completely through a piece of wood or veneer. split-face block Concrete masonry units with one or more faces produced by purposeful fracturing of the unit to provide architectural effects in masonry wall construction. split-level A type of house in which the floor levels on one side of the house are one-half story above or below those on the other side. split-ring connector A timber connector consisting of a metal ring set in circular grooves in two pieces; the assembly being held by bolts. sprayed fireproofing An insulating material sprayed directly onto structural members with or without wire mesh reinforcing to provide a fire endurance rating. spread footing A generally rectangular prism of concrete, larger in lateral dimensions than the column or wall it supports, used to distribute the load of a column or wall to the subgrade. spreader A piece of wood or metal used to hold the sides of a form apart until the concrete is placed. spreader bar A temporary member at the base of a preassembled door frame to maintain alignment during shipment ad installation. sprinkled Said of an area of a building that is protected from fire by an automatic sprinkler system. SPT Standard penetration test. spud vibrator A vibrator used for consolidation concrete, having a vibrating casing or head that is inserted into freshly placed concrete. spud wrench A tool used by ironworkers to align holes and tighten bolts, that has a long, tapering steel handle with an open-end wrench on one end. sq. e. Square edge sq. ft. Square foot sq. in. Square inch square A quantity of shingles, shakes, or other roofing or siding materials sufficient to cover 100 square feet when applied in a standard manner; the basic sales units of shingles and shakes. stability A measure of the ability of a structure to withstand overturning, sliding, buckling or collapsing. stack bond (stacked bond) A masonry pattern bond in which all vertical and horizontal joints are continuous and aligned. stack vent The extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain or fixture connected to the stack. stage grouting Sequential grouting of a hole in separate steps or stages, in lieu of grouting the entire length at once. staging (scaffolding) A temporary working platform against or within a building or construction, repairs, or demolition. stair headroom The least clear vertical distance measured from a nosing of a tread to an overhead obstruction. staircase A single flight or multiple flights of stairs including supports, frameworks, and handrails. stairwell A vertical shaft enclosing a stair. stanchion A vertical post or prop supporting a roof, window, etc. standard A grade of lumber suitable for general construction and characterized by generally good strength and serviceability. In light framing rules, the standard grade applies to lumber that is 2-4" wide. It falls between the construction and utility grades. standard penetration resistance (Proctor penetration resistance) The load required to produce a standard penetration of a standard needle into a soil sample at a standard rate. standby lighting Lighting provided to supply illumination in the event of failure of the lighting system so that normal activities can continue. standing seam A seam, in sheet metal and roofing, made by turning up two adjacent edges and folding the upstanding parts over in themselves. standpipe A pipe or tank connected to a water system and used to absorb surges that can occur. star expansion bolt A fastener used in concrete, consisting of two semicircular shields that are forced apart, to bear on the walls of a hole, as a bolt is driven into the shields. starter board A 6" or 8" board used at the eave of a roof to provide a solid nailing surface for the first courses. A starter board is also used in reroofing to replace the old shingles at the eaves. starting course The first course of shingles applied along the eaves. statement of probable construction cost A cost estimate prepared by the design professional during each of the design phases for the ownerís use. statics That branch of mechanics dealing with forces acing on bodies at rest. Statics is the basis of structural engineering. statute of limitations Provision of law establishing a certain time limit from an occurrence during which a judgment may be sought for a court of law. statute of repose A legislative enactment that bars a claim against a party unless the claim is brought within a specified period of time following an event described in the statute, regardless of whether or not the statute of limitations period for that claim has expired. steel erector A contractor who undertakes to place, plumb, and secure a steel structure. steel stair fill Concrete that is poured into metal pans to form stair treads and landings. steel troweling A steel hand tool or machine used to create a dense, smooth finish on a concrete surface. steel-frame construction Construction in which steel columns, girders, and beams comprise the structural supporting elements. stepped footing A wall footing with horizontal steps to accommodate a sloping grade or bearing stratum. stepped foundation A foundation constructed in a series of steps that approximate the slope of the bearing stratum. The purpose is to avoid horizontal force vectors that might cause sliding. stick built A term describing frame houses assembled piece-by-piece from lumber delivered to the site with little or no previous assembly into components. The more typical type of residential construction is stick built. stiffened compression element A compression element that has been stiffened on its weak axis in order to resist buckling on that axis. stiffener A bar, angle, channel, or other shape attached to a metal plate or sheet to increase its resistance to buckling. stiffness factor A measure of the stiffness of a structural member. For a prismatic member, the stiffness factor is equal to the ratio of the product of the moment of inertia of the cross section and the modulus of elasticity for the material to the length of the member. stile The vertical members forming the outside framework of a door or window. stirrup Reinforcement used to resist shear and diagonal tension stresses in a concrete structural member. stone dust Pulverized stone used in the construction of walkways or other stable surfaces. The dust is mixed with soil and compacted or used with gravel to fill spaces between irregular stones. Stone dust is a by-product of stone crushing operations. stool A narrow interior shelf, across the lower part of a window opening, that butts against the sill. stoop A small platform at the entrance to a house, often consisting of several wide steps. stop On doors, the molding on the inside of the doorjamb that causes the door to stop in its closed position, preventing it from swinging through. On windows, the molding that covers the inside face of the jamb. stop work order An order issued by the ownerís representative to stop work on a project. Reasons for the order include failure to conform to specifications, unsatisfied liens, labor disputes, and inclement weather. storm drain A drain used to convey rain water, subsurface water, condensate, or similar discharge, but not sewage or industrial waste. story-and-a-half The designation of a building in which the second story rooms have low headroom at the eaves. straightedge (rod) A rigid, straight piece of wood or metal used to strike off or screed a concrete surface to proper grade, or to check the flatness of a finished grade. stratification The separation of overwet or overvibrated concrete into horizontal layers with increasingly lighter material toward the top. Water, laitance, mortar, or course aggregate will tend to occupy successively lower positions in that order. stress Intensity of internal force (i.e., force per unit area) exerted by either of two adjacent parts of a body on the other across an imagined plane of separation. When the forces are parallel to the plane, the stress is called shear stress; when the forces are normal to the plane, the stress is called normal stress; when the normal stress is directed toward the part on which it acts it is called compressive stress; when it is directed away from the part on which it acts it is called tensile stress. stretcher bond (running bond, stretching bond) A masonry bond with all courses laid as stretchers and with the vertical joint of one course falling midway between the joints of the courses above and below. strike plate (strike, striking plate) A plate or box mounted in a jamb, with a hole or recess shaped to receive and hold a bolt or latch from a lock on the door. striker A slightly beveled metal plate attached to a strike plate to guide a door latch to its socket. stringer A secondary flexural member parallel to the longitudinal axis of a bridge or other structure. structural A term applied to those members in a structure that carry an imposed load in addition to their own weight. structural analysis The determination of stresses in members in a structure due to imposed loads from gravity, wind, earthquake, thermal effects, etc. structural engineering That branch of engineering concerned with the design of the load-supporting members of a proposed structure, and also with the investigation of existing structures which are suspect. structural failure The inability of a structure or structural member to perform its intended function, perhaps caused by collapse or excessive deformation. structural frame All the members of a building or other structure used to transfer imposed loads to the ground. structural glued-laminated timber A wooden structural member made from selected boards strongly glued together. stucco A cement plaster used to cover exterior wall surfaces; usually applied over a wood or metal lath base. stud (1) A vertical member of appropriate size. (2) A framing member, usually cut to a precise length at the mill, designed to be used in framing building walls with little or no trimming before it is set in place. Studs are most often 2" x 4", but 2" x 3", 2" x 6" and other sizes are also included in the stud category. Studs may be of wood, steel, or composite material. stud partition A partition in which studs are used as the structural base. A wallboard is usually applied over the studs. stud welding Attaching a special metal shear stud into a steel member by resistance welding. A special gun is used to hold the stud and provide electric current for the welding process. Shear studs are used for composite construction in which steel and concrete form a composite beam. subcontractor One under contract to a prime contractor for completion of a portion of the work for which the prime contractor is responsible. subdrain A pipe with perforations or open joints that has been buried in a trench backfilled with pervious soil for the purpose on intercepting groundwater or seepage. subfeeder An electric feeder that originates at a distribution center other than the main distribution centers and supplies one or more branch-circuit distribution centers. subfloor (blind floor, counterfloor) A rough floor laid on floor joists and serving as a base for the finish floor. A subfloor may also be used as a structural diaphragm to resist lateral loads. subgrade The soil prepared and compacted to support a structure or a pavement system. submittal A sample, manufacturerís data, shop drawing, or other such item submitted to the owner or the design professional by the contractor for the purpose of approval or other action, usually a requirement of the contract documents. subsidence Settlement over a large area as opposed to settlement of a single structure. subsoil drain A drain installed to collect subsurface or seepage water and convey it to a point of disposal. substantial completion The condition of the work when the project is substantially complete and ready for owner acceptance and occupancy. Any items remaining to be completed should, at this point, be duly noted or stipulated in writing. substitution A product, material, or piece of equipment offered in place of the specified. substrate An underlying material that supports or is bonded to another material on its surface. substructure The foundation of a building that supports the superstructure. subsurface sewage disposal system A system for treating and disposing of domestic sewage, usually from a single residence, by means of a septic tank and a soil absorption system. suction The adhesion of mortar to brick. summer (1) A horizontal beam supporting floor joists or a wall of a superstructure. (2) A lintel of a door or window. superimposed drainage A natural drainage system developed by erosion and having little relation to the areaís geological structure. superstructure The part of a building or other structure above the foundation. supply air The conditioned air delivered to a space or spaces. supply grille A grille through which conditioned air is delivered to a space. supply system The connected ducts, plenums, and fittings through which conditioned air is transferred from a heat exchanger to the space or spaces to be conditioned. surety bond A bond or pledge made by an individual or company that guarantees another individualís or companyís performance according to a contractís terms. surface course The top course of asphalt pavement ñ the wearing course. surface hinge A hinge, often ornamental, mounted on a face of a door rather than the edge. surfacing The upper wearing or protective layer of materials, such as on a roof or road. suspended ceiling (dropped ceiling) A finished ceiling suspended from a framework below the structural framework. swale A shallow depression, in a flat area of land, that may be artificial and used in a storm water drainage system. swan-neck The connector between a gutter outlet and the downspout. sweat joints In plumbing, the union of two copper pipes made by coating the pipes with a tin-based solder, fitting them together, and applying heat to the joint, fusing the pipes together. swelling A volume increase caused by wetting and/or chemical changes. switchgear Any switching and interrupting devices combined with associated control, regulating, metering, and protective devices, used primarily in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution, and conversion of electric power. 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