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A
A Zone:
That portion of the 100 year flood plain not subject to wave action. May, however be subject to residual forward momentum of breaking waves.
Addition:
An extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.
Agricultural:
Relating to or used in producing or storing crops and livestock or their properties.
Anchorage:
The principle of securing one member to another in a manner that does not allow for easy separation except under extreme conditions.
Annular ring shank nail:
A nail having a rough shank consisting of ridges, which form rings around the shank.
Approved:
Judged to meet or exceed specified standards.
B
Batten:
A strip of wood placed across a surface to cover joints or provide a nailing strip.
Beam:
A principal structural member used between posts, columns, or walls to support loads.
Belled Hole:
A hole, which is belled out or flared at the bottom, which aids in distributing the mass or weight throughout the foundation.
Bird Box:
Finishes overhang at the corners of the soffit system on gabled overhangs.
Board:
Lumber measuring two inches (2") or less in thickness.
Bond Beam:
A horizontal beam found in masonry walls, which strengthens the wall.
Breakaway Walls:
Walls, which are designed to break away from their structural supports when subjected to wind and/or water loads.
Brick Ledge:
That portion along the exterior of a slab on grade foundation, which is reserved for and supports the brick veneer.
Brick Ties:
Non-corrosive metal strips or heavy wire, which are used to secure masonry veneer to the structure it is applied to.
Brick Veneer:
An exterior finish for walls, which consists of a single layer of brick.
Built-Up Roof:
A type of roof composed of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or gravel.
Butt Joint:
Formed when two members are placed end to end without overlapping.
C
Cant Strip:
A strip having triangular cross-section, which provides support for felt layers of a roof as they curve from a horizontal to a vertical position.
Cantilever:
A projecting beam or member, which is supported only at one end.
Ceiling Joist:
One of a series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads.
Clear Span:
The horizontal distances between structural supports.
Code Approved:
Accepted by either the Southern Building Code Congress International or the National Evaluation Service.
Commercial Buildings:
Structures designed and used for business purposes.
Compliance:
The act or process of conforming to official requirements, or to a desire or proposal.
Corrosion Resistant:
Treated in such a way as to deter or retard weakening, wear and decay.
Cripple Stud:
A short stud used above a wall opening. It extends from the header above the opening to the top plate. Also used beneath an opening between the sole plate and the rough sill.
D
Dead Load:
The weight of permanent, stationary construction included in a building.
Diagonal Brace:
A support placed at a 45-degree angle, which has the purpose of bracing a part of a structure against lateral loads.
Diameter:
The width or thickness of a circular, or somewhat circular, object.
Dimension Lumber:
Lumber, which is two to five inches (2" - 5") thick and up to twelve inches (12") wide.
Discontinuous Member:
A member, which has one or more break points and is not considered a whole unit unless tied or fastened together.
Drip Edge:
A strip, usually metal, placed on the edges of a roof to alter water flow freely away from the underlying corn
i
ce and protect that area from water damage.
E
Eaves:
The part of a roof structure which projects over an exterior wall. Also called overhang. This area of a structure is subject to very high wind loads.
Eave Closure:
That component of a tile roofing system, which is used to seal the opening along the eaves of a structure under the first layer of tile. Also called closure tile.
Elevation
:
The height of an object or specific part of an object above grade level.
Embedment;
Embedded:
Set firmly into a surrounding mass.
Equivalent:
Having an equal value, amount, or force.
F
Fascia:
A wood member used for the outer face of a box cornice where it is nailed to the ends of the rafters and lookouts.
Felt:
A heavy paper of organic or asbestos fibers impregnated with asphalt.
Flashing:
Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction (especially around chimneys and vents, and at roof valleys), to prevent moisture from entering the structure.
Flood Plain:
The land which is likely to be flooded.
Flood Way:
The land that lies in the path of rushing waters during a heave runoff. (Flood)
Floor Joist:
One of a series of parallel framing members used to support floor loads and supported, in turn, by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.
Footing:
The spreading course or courses at the base or bottom of a foundation wall, pier, or column.
Foundation:
The supporting portion of a structure below the first floor construction, or grade, including the footings and floor joists.
Framing Anchor:
A corrosion-resistant (galvanized) pre-engineered metal piece designed to fasten wooden members together or to masonry. They prevent lateral motion and/or uplift. Also called hurricane clips.
G
Gable Roof:
A roof shape characterized by two sections of roof of constant slope which meet at the ridge and which form a vertical triangle at the end of the structure.
Gable Stud:
A stud, which is a component of the framing of the gable end of a structure. These members normally extend from the top plate to the end of the rafter.
Girts or Girders:
The largest or principal horizontal beam used to support concentrated loads at particular points along its path.
Grade (Finish Grade):
A reference plane representing the average finished ground level, adjoining or around a structure.
Grade (Lumber Grade):
The designation of the quality of a manufactured piece of wood.
Green Lumber:
Lumber, which has not been dried or seasoned.
Grout:
A thin mortar used in masonry work.
H
Header:
(1) A horizontal structural member, which supports the load over an opening, such as a window or door; also called a lintel. (2) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway, or other similar opening.
High Wind Area:
All 14 counties along the Texas coast have been determined to be in high wind area for the purposes of this inspection program.
Horizontal:
Parallel to the horizon
Hurricane Clip:
See framing anchor
I
Inland:
The area in the 14 coastal counties located on the western side (inland) of the Intercostals Waterway.
Inward:
Directed toward the interior
J
See Ceiling or Floor Joist
K
Knee Brace:
A diagonal member (usually at a 45 degree angle) that is attached from a piling to a main structural beam or girder, and serves to stiffen the foundation.
L
Lateral:
See horizontal
Lateral Brace:
A wall brace, which stiffens a structure against loads acting on the sidewalls.
Lath:
A building material fastened to the sides of a structure against loads, acting on the sidewalls.
Ledger:
A strip attached to framing or structural members, which supports joists or other horizontal framing.
Let-in:
R
efers to the process of cutting a notch in a series of studs, joists, or other structural members and placing another member into the notches. The other member is used to stiffen or strengthen the original members.
Lintel:
See definition (1) under header.
Live Load:
The total of all moving and variable loads, which may be placed upon a structure.
Load-bearing Wall:
A wall, which is subject to forces other than its own weight. Such as roof
M
Masonry:
Stone,
brick, hollow tile, concrete block, tile, poured concrete, gypsum block, or similar materials, or a combination of the above, bonded together with a mortar to form a wall, pier, buttress, column, etc.
Mechanical Equipment:
Any mechanical device located on the exterior of a structure.
Mobile Home:
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is eight body feet or more in width, and is 32 body feet or more in length, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein.
Moisture Content:
The weight of the water in wood, expressed as a percentage of the weight of oven dry wood.
Monolithic:
Term used for concrete construction poured and cast in one unit without joints.
N
Non-load bearing Wall:
A wall, which supports no load other than its own weight.
O
On Center (abbreviated by O.C.):
The measurement of spacing for framing members, fasteners, etc., which designates the distance from the center of one member or component to the center of the next. Also called center, to center spacing.
Outward:
Directed toward the outside, usually at a 90-degree angle, (perpendicular to) the exterior surface.
Overhang:
That area of a roof or upper story, which projects beyond the wall of the lower part.
P
Partition:
Any wall, which subdivides spaces within any story of a structure.
Permanent Incorporation:
When referring to wood framing members, this occurs when the wood is cut to size and nailed in place.
Perpendicular:
Being at right angles (90 degrees) to a given line, plane or surface.
Pitch:
The slope of a roof, usually expressed as the number of inches of rise for each 12 horizontal inches (for example: 3 in 12).
Powder Actuated Fasteners:
A fastener, which is set (usually into masonry or concrete) by a powder charge.
Purlins:
Horizontal members which, when laid over roof framing members are used to support rafters or other roofing, and, when placed over vertical wall framing members, are used to fasten siding to.
Q
R
Rafter:
One of a series of structural members of a roof, designed to support roof loads, which generally run from the ridge to the wall top plate. The rafters of a flat roof are sometimes called roof joists.
Rake Edge:
The edge of a gable roof system, which runs parallel to the roof slope, from the eave to the ridge.
Repair:
The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of maintenance.
Ridge Beam:
The board or beam placed on edge at the ridge (peak) of the roof into which the upper ends of the rafters are framed.
S
S.B.C.C.I.:
Southern Building Code Congress International. This is the group who writes the Standard Building Code.
Scab:
A piece of wood or metal, which is fastened or attached to another member and serves to add additional length or width.
Scouring:
The erosion of sand and soil caused by wave action.
Seaward:
That area of the Texas Gulf Coast is located on the eastern side (or seaward) of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Shall:
Used to denote a mandatory condition.
Sheathing:
The structural covering. Consists of boards or prefabricated panels (plywood) that are attached to the exterior studding or rafters of a structure.
Siding:
The finished covering on the outside wall of a building.
Sill:
The lowest member of the frame of a structure, usually horizontal, resting on the foundation and supporting the uprights of the frames. Also the lowest member of a window or outside door frame.
Soffit:
The underside of the members of a building, such as overhangs, staircases, cornices, arches, etc.
Sole Plate:
The lowest horizontal member on wall and partition framing. (See sill).
Span:
The horizontal distance between structural supports such as walls, columns, piers, beams, girders, and trusses.
Start of Construction:
The first placements of a permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as pouring slabs or footings, or any other work beyond the stage of excavation.
Story:
That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.
Stringer:
A long horizontal timber, which is used to connect uprights in a frame and/or to support a floor.
Strongback:
An L-shaped wooden support attached to tops of ceiling joists to strengthen them, maintain spacing, and bring them to the same level.
Structure:
That which is built, constructed, or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
Stud:
The vertical framing member of a wall.
Suspense:
A term used to describe the status of an inspection in which an inspection is not yet approved, but the basic method being used is correct.
T
T
.C.P.I.A.:
Abbreviation for the Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association.
Top Plate:
The horizontal member resting on top of the wall studs which the joists and rafters rest on and are anchored or fastened to.
Trimmer:
The beam or floor joist into which a header is framed. Adds strength to the side of the opening.
Trimmer Stud:
A stud, which supports a header over a wall opening. The trimmer stud extends from the sole plate to the bottom of the header.
Truss:
A structural member consisting of such members as beams, bars, webs, and ties, usually arranged to form triangles. It provides rigid support over wide spans with a minimum amount of material.
U
Unapproved:
A term used to describe the status of an inspection in which the procedure or material being used is not correct and changes need to be addressed.
Underlayment:
A thin cover of asphalt saturated felt or other material, which acts as a water barrier.
Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.):
A non-profit, independent organization which maintains and operates laboratories for the examination and testing of devices, systems, and materials to determine their relation to life, fire, casualty hazards and crime prevention.
Unit:
A group of rooms arranges as a private residence and permanently equipped for housekeeping.
Uplift:
An upward exerted force or pressure.
V
V-Zone:
An area within the 100-year flood plain, which is subject to high velocity waters, including hurricane storm surge and wave action.
Vapor Barrier:
A watertight material used to prevent the passage of moisture or water vapor into or through structural elements.
Veneer:
A facing attached to a wall for the purpose of providing ornamentation, protection or insulation, but not counted as adding strength to the wall.
Vertical:
Perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; straight up and down.
W
Water Repellent:
Treated so as to retard changes in moisture content.
Weep Hole:
A small hole, usually used in masonry to drain water to the outside.
Windward Wall:
The wall of a structure, which is facing the direction from which the wind is blowing. As a hurricane passes, the wind changes directions so that every wall may act as the windward wall at one time to another.
Withdrawal:
Removal of a fastener or pulling it out by applying a force in the opposite direction from the force used to install it.
Wind Load:
The force exerted on a structure by the wind.
Wood Preservative:
A treatment of wood used to protect against decay and insects.
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