Glossary terms

crazing

tiny almost invisible surface cracks in an irregular network pattern

curtain-wall

window-wall hung from a structural grid, often used to clad sky-scrapers

cyclical

recurring

dead load

weight of the structure itself

deck

floor or roof surface supported by joists or rafters

deformation

change in shape

delaminate

to peel off

developer

someone who contracts for and supervises the construction of a building

dew-point

surface or location where water vapor condenses into water as drops of dew

diaphragm

flat structural floor, wall, or roof plane which resists torsion and diagonal forces

differential

differential settlement: portion of a structure sinks into the ground more than others

earth shelter

building a portion of a structure into a hillside or berm of earth to reduce exposure

eave

part of a roof that overhangs the wall

evaporation

formation of water vapor from water due to increase of ambient temperature

expanded

expanded metal: sheet steel cut and stretched to form a diamond shaped mesh

ferrocement

method of creating highly reinforced thin shell concrete structures, a type of thin highly reinforced concrete construction

flame spread rating

measure of surface burning characteristics of materials, how fast a flame will spread across material

flashing

rubber or metal strip to cover joint between a roof and a wall, dormer, or chimney

formaldehyde

toxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic organic compound using in wood construction, including treated wood, plywood, kitchen cabinets

formwork

temporary wooden structure into which concrete is poured to form a building part