Material and Methods terms to know

Acoustic controlling trees: coniferous provide better, leaves are denser and thicker than deciduous(broad leafed).

Construction Type: Classification of a building's construction according to the fire resistance of its major components. Limits the area and height of a building according to construction type and intended occupancy.

Critical radiant flux: Amount of radiant energy needed to sustain flame. Test used on flooring. Watts per square centimeter. Two classes, Class I and Class II. Corridors and exitways in Hospitals and Nursing homes must be Class I. Corridors and exitways in commercial and hotels must be Clss II. Only applies to carpet in corridors.

Dead end corridor: Corridor that continues beyond an exit but does not continue to another exit. Maximum distance allowed is 20' per code.

Egress: Consists of three specifically defined parts: exit access, exit and exit discharge.

Fencing materials: most cost efficient - wood or chain link, wood is most common in residential applications, chain link is common in commercial applications.

Fire door: The fire rating classification of the wall into which the door is installed dictates the required fire rating of the door.

Fire door requirements: 4 hr wall = 3 hr door, 2hr wall = 1.5 hr door, 1 hr wall = 1 hr door(occupancy separation), 1 hr wall = .75 hr door(corridor wall), 2 hr wall = 1.5 hr door (exterior wall), 1 hr wall = .75 hr door (exterior wall w/ light fire risk), 1 hr wall = 1/3 hr door(corridor requires smoke and draft control)

Fire Stop(block): A material or member built into a building frame to block a concealed hollow space (or penetration of a rated wall) through which a fire might spread from one part of the building to another.

Means of Egress: A continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any occupied portion of a facility to a public way.

Percolation test: test for determining the rate at which a soil will absorb effluent, made by measuring the rate at which the water level drops after a hole is dug in the soil and filled with water.

Retention pond(basin): Used to manage stormwater runoff, preventing flooding and downstream erosion, improve water quality of adjacent river, stream lake or bay. Provides permenant retension as opposed to a Detention basin which releases collected water at a controlled rate.

Riprap: A layer of broken stones thrown together irregularly on an embankment slope to prevent erosion.

Roofing: Materials and methods used to weatherproof the exterior top surface of a structure.
Sheepsfoot roller: Heavy machinery used to compact soil. looks like a steam roller with knobby looking sheeps feet all over.

Smoke detector: An electronic fire alarm that is activated by the presence of smoke. Governed by NFPA 72. Residential requirements: locate on each floor in each bedroom, each hallway and public space like family room, also in basement and attic.

STC: Sound Transmission Class - Number rating of the performance of a building material or construction assembly in preventing the transmission of airborne sound.

Toilet partition: A panel forming an enclosure around a water closet for privacy in a public lavatory. Cost in order of most to least expensive: Floor to ceiling, Ceiling hung, Floor mounted & overhead braced.

Water table: Underground surface beneath which the earth is saturated with water.

Well points: Used to dewater a site. Perforated tube driven into the ground to collect water from the surrounding area so it can be pumped away in order to lower a water table or prevent an excavation from filling with groundwater.