Red Seal Carpenter flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Fall protection trigger height

In general construction, fall protection is required at 3 m (10 ft) above a lower level. Guardrails, a personal fall arrest system, or a written fall protection plan must be in place before work starts.

Maximum arrest force

A personal fall arrest system must limit the maximum arresting force on the body to 8 kN (1,800 lbf) and keep free fall to 1.8 m (6 ft) or less when a shock-absorbing lanyard is used.

Ladder setup rule

A portable ladder is set at a 4:1 slope, one horizontal unit out for every four vertical units up, and must extend at least 1 m (3 ft) above the landing for safe access.

Silica dust control

Cutting concrete, masonry, or fibre-cement releases respirable crystalline silica. Wet cutting or a dust-collection shroud on the tool is the primary control; a respirator is the last line of defence.

Circular saw blade depth

Set the blade so no more than one tooth depth, about 6 mm (1/4 in), projects below the material. Excess projection increases kickback severity and the risk of contact with the blade.

Nail gun contact safety

A nail gun must have a functioning contact tip safety. The trigger is not held down while bumping the tool along the work, and air is disconnected before clearing a jam.

Powder-actuated fastener limits

Powder-actuated fasteners require the correct cartridge strength for the base material. They must not be driven into cast iron, hardened steel, or hollow block without a tested and approved application.

Structural bolt torque source

Final torque for structural bolts and lag screws comes from the engineered drawings or the manufacturer's tables. An impact driver is not used to set structural bolts to final torque.

Drawing precedence rule

Architectural drawings show finishes and dimensions; structural drawings govern member sizes, connections, and load paths. Where they conflict, the structural drawing controls and the conflict is raised in writing.

Specification versus drawing

The written specification supersedes drawing notes for materials, finishes, and workmanship. The drawing governs geometry and dimensions. A conflict is documented and resolved before work proceeds.

Waste factor for takeoffs

Add waste to net quantities: about 5-10% for framing lumber, 10% for sheet goods, and 10-15% for siding and roofing. Waste covers cuts, defects, and breakage.

Squaring a corner

The 3-4-5 method marks a right angle on a small layout. For a building, compare both diagonals of the rectangle; they must be equal within the specified tolerance.

Batter board purpose

Batter boards are set outside the excavation, and strings stretched between them mark the building faces and corners. The strings are checked for square by comparing diagonals.

Footing bearing requirement

Footings must bear on undisturbed soil or compacted granular fill. Organic material, loose fill, and frost-susceptible soil are removed before forming and pouring.

Slab vapour barrier lap

A polyethylene vapour barrier under a slab is typically 0.15 mm (6 mil) and laps 150 mm (6 in) at joints. It is sealed and protected from puncture before the pour.

Formwork design load

Formwork is designed for the weight of concrete, about 24 kN/m3 (150 lb/ft3), plus the pressure of fresh concrete, which depends on pour rate and temperature, plus live and impact loads.

Form stripping strength

Formwork is not stripped until the concrete reaches the strength specified for that member, often 70% of design strength for soffits. Cylinder tests confirm the strength before stripping.

Wall form tie spacing

Tie spacing is set by the formwork designer to resist lateral pressure from fresh concrete. Tie capacity and spacing come from the design, not from habit or previous jobs.

Joist hole rule

In solid sawn joists, a hole may be up to one-third of the joist depth, located in the middle third of the depth, and not closer than 50 mm (2 in) to any edge.

Joist bearing length

Floor joists bear at least 38 mm (1.5 in) on wood or metal and at least 89 mm (3.5 in) on masonry. Bearing length is measured along the joist, not across it.

Roof pitch and rafter length

Pitch is rise over run, written as a ratio such as 4:12. Rafter length equals the run divided by the cosine of the pitch angle, plus the overhang and the ridge allowance.

Wall stud notch limit

A stud may be notched no more than 25% of its width and bored no more than 40% of its width. Larger cuts require reinforcement or a designed header or stud pack.

Ice dam membrane extent

An ice dam membrane runs from the eave to at least 900 mm (36 in) inside the exterior wall line. It is installed over the roof deck before the underlayment and shingles.

Flashing sequence rule

Water must always run over, never behind, metal. Step flashing is woven with each shingle course, and counter-flashing laps over the wall cladding above the step flashing.

Siding grade clearance

Siding is held at least 200 mm (8 in) above grade and below any roof or deck surface. A weather-resistive barrier behind it laps in the direction of water flow.

Attic ventilation ratio

Attic vent area is typically 1 sq ft of free vent per 150 sq ft of ceiling area, split evenly between soffit and ridge vents, or 1 per 300 sq ft with a sealed vapour barrier.

Drywall screw spacing

Screws are spaced 400 mm (16 in) on centre for walls and 300 mm (12 in) for ceilings. Screws are driven just below the paper surface without breaking the core.

Vapour barrier placement

The vapour barrier goes on the warm side of the insulation. In cold climates that is the interior side, with joints lapped and sealed to the air barrier at the perimeter.

Door undercut for return air

A door slab needs about 3 mm (1/8 in) clearance at the sides and top and a 12-19 mm (1/2-3/4 in) undercut above the finished floor to allow return air.

Load-bearing wall test

A wall is load-bearing if it supports a joist, beam, or roof member above. Before demolition, the structural drawings are checked and temporary shoring is designed by a qualified person.

Stair formula

Two risers plus one tread should equal 600-640 mm (24-25 in). The number of risers is total rise divided by the desired riser, rounded up, and the exact unit rise is total rise divided by that number.

Deck guardrail dimensions

A residential deck guardrail is at least 900 mm (36 in) high, with balusters spaced so a 100 mm (4 in) sphere cannot pass and a bottom rail no more than 100 mm above the deck.