Construction glossary linked to cost, quality and execution

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Featured glossary articles

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Terms

• Foundation
  Structural base that transfers building loads to soil.
• Reinforcement
  Steel elements that increase concrete tensile capacity.
• Concrete grade
  Specified compressive strength class of concrete.
• Waterproofing
  Barrier systems preventing water penetration.
• Wet-area drain slope
  Floor fall geometry directing water to drains.
• Floor trap
  Drain element with seal preventing sewer odors.
• Roof slope
  Planned roof gradient for reliable water runoff.
• Emergency overflow drain
  Backup roof drainage path during heavy rain.
• Plumbing rough-in
  Early installation of water supply and drainage lines.
• Electrical rough-in
  Conduits, cable routes, and panel prep before finishes.
• Low-voltage systems
  Data, security, automation, and communication wiring.
• Building envelope
  External shell separating interior from climate.
• Glazing level
  Performance and quality tier of glass systems.
• Facade finish
  Visible exterior finish system and detailing.
• Site drainage
  Ground-level water management around the building.
• Soil type
  Ground condition category used for design factors.
• Site access
  Logistic difficulty of delivering labor and materials.
• Setting-out
  Transfer of building axes and reference geometry onto the site.
• Survey benchmark
  Protected survey reference used for levels and positional control.
• Plinth
  Lower facade zone that meets ground, splash water, and hardscape.
• Movement joint
  Joint detail allowing controlled movement between building elements or finishes.
• Sealant joint
  Flexible sealed joint used to close and protect movement-sensitive interfaces.
• Lighting driver
  Electrical component that regulates power for LED luminaires.
• Climate exposure
  Environmental stress conditions such as rain and salt.
• Commissioning
  Integrated testing and handover readiness checks.
• Mechanical ventilation
  Fan-assisted supply or extract air system used when natural airflow is not enough.
• Fresh-air supply
  Controlled intake of outdoor air into occupied spaces.
• Split air conditioner
  Cooling system with separated indoor and outdoor units connected by refrigerant and drain lines.
• Ducted air conditioning
  Cooling system distributing conditioned air through ducts, plenums, and air terminals.
• Condensate drain
  Drainage path that removes water formed during cooling operation.
• ERV / heat-recovery ventilation
  Balanced ventilation system that exchanges indoor and outdoor air with heat or energy recovery.
• Airflow balancing
  Measurement and adjustment of air volumes so a ventilation system performs as intended.
• Diffuser and air terminal
  Visible air outlet or inlet that shapes how air enters or leaves a room.
• Return air
  Air path that allows room air to travel back to HVAC equipment for recirculation or treatment.
• Thermostat
  Room control device that senses temperature and tells cooling or ventilation equipment how to respond.
• Filter access
  Service clearance and access route needed to inspect, remove, and replace HVAC filters safely.
• Indoor air quality
  Practical measure of how healthy, comfortable, and usable indoor air feels for occupants.
• As-built documentation
  Final record set showing what was actually installed, routed, adjusted, and handed over on site.
• Operations and maintenance manual
  Handover document set explaining how installed systems should be operated, serviced, and maintained.
• Opening flashing
  Water-shedding detail around windows and exterior doors that keeps rain out of the wall assembly.
• Moisture bridge
  Unwanted path that lets moisture bypass a protection layer and move into the building fabric.
• Substrate preparation
  Cleaning, leveling, priming, moisture control, and compatibility checks before finish materials are installed.
• Screed
  Floor leveling or base layer that sets height, falls, flatness, and support for final floor finishes.
• Plaster tolerance
  Accepted flatness, plumbness, and alignment quality for plastered walls before finishes and joinery.
• Finish joint
  Visible or concealed joint where finish materials meet, terminate, or allow movement.
• Load path
  Continuous route by which gravity, wind, and other forces move through the structure into the foundation.
• Concrete cover
  Distance between reinforcement and concrete surface that protects steel and helps structural performance.
• Concrete curing
  Post-pour moisture and temperature control that helps concrete develop strength and durability.
• Formwork
  Temporary mould and support system that holds wet concrete in the required shape until it can carry itself.
• Construction joint
  Joint formed where concrete placement stops and later continues, requiring structural and waterproofing continuity.
• Concrete honeycombing
  Voids or rough porous zones in concrete caused by poor compaction, congestion, leakage, or placement defects.
• Anchor bolt
  Embedded or post-installed fixing used to transfer forces between concrete, steel, equipment, or facade elements.
• Slab deflection
  Vertical movement or sag of a slab under load that can affect structure, finishes, partitions, and drainage.
• Pool type
  Selected technical pool concept (skimmer or overflow).
• Work sequence
  The planned order in which construction activities are executed so each trade has the right access, information and inspection status.
• Method statement
  A document that explains how a construction activity will be carried out, controlled, inspected and made safe.
• Material consumption rate
  A planning quantity of material expected per unit of work, such as kg per m², m³ per m² or linear meters per room.
• Productivity rate
  The amount of work a crew or resource can complete in a defined time, usually measured per day, shift or labor-hour.
• Hold point
  A required pause in the work sequence where an inspection or approval must happen before work continues.
• Inspection and test plan
  A quality control plan that lists inspections, tests, acceptance criteria, hold points and required records for a work package.
• Temporary works
  Temporary structures, services or controls used to build the permanent works safely and efficiently.