Building Terms
Building term definitions, organised by category:
Building Terms: General
- Above ground level
- Higher than ground level. Pertaining to work carried out after a building is out of the ground.
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- Accreditation
- An approval granted by a recognised authority, e.g. FMB.
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- Active fire protection
- Devices to warn/extinguish fires, such as sprinklers, alarms, fire detectors, heat detectors and smoke detectors. They require regular inspection and maintenance, and often need standby power.
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- Act of God Force majeure.
- A term used to describe the occurrence of something generally unforeseeable and beyond the control of interested parties. Typically used in contracts, insurance documents etc.
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- Building control
- The process through consultation and inspection to ensure building regulations are complied with. It is carried out by the local authority and there is usually a charge applied.
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- Building regulations
- Laws in Britain made under the Building Act 1984. They control the layout and materials used in buildings to ensure the strength and durability of the fabric as well as the health and safety of the occupants, particularly in a fire.
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- Fixer
- A tradesman who installs objects in place on site, kitchens, stairs etc.
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- Fixture
- Anything built in and permanently attached to the fabric of a building. Its removal is usually prevented by law, although what are fixtures and what are fittings may need to be agreed between landlord and tenant.
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- Joiner
- A craftsman who makes joinery working mainly in the good conditions of a joinery shop. The work is finer than that of a carpenter.
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- K value
- A reference to the amount of heat that passes through unit area (m2) of a material of unit thickness (m) for unit temperature difference (°C).
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- Planning
- details of internal and external layout compiled generally by an architect. Planning approval must be sought from the local authority before certain types of work can be commenced.
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- Snagging
- Completing or making good any defects.
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- Snagging list
- A schedule of defects.
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