Odisha CHSE +2 Vocational Building Maintenance key terms

Broken pieces of burnt clay brick, smaller than a full brick, used as aggregate in lime concrete or as filler in masonry cores and foundations where full bricks are not needed.

A single horizontal layer of bricks, stones, or blocks laid in mortar, forming one unit of height within a wall and bonded to the layers above and below.

The corner stone or brick of a wall, often larger or specially shaped, that ties the two faces together and gives the corner strength and a true vertical edge.

Exactly vertical, checked with a spirit level or plumb bob; a wall or column that is plumb has no lean in any direction.

A workable mixture of cement or lime, sand, and water that hardens to bind bricks, blocks, or stones together and fill the joints between them.

Keeping freshly placed concrete, mortar, or plaster moist for a set period so that cement hydrates fully and gains strength without early drying shrinkage cracks.

Sand, gravel, or crushed stone mixed with cement and water to form concrete; the aggregate provides bulk and volume stability while cement acts as the binder.

A quick-setting white powder made by heating gypsum, mixed with water for fine finishing coats, mouldings, and small patch repairs where fast setting is wanted.

A soft paste of whiting and linseed oil, or ready-mixed filler, used to seal small cracks and nail holes and to level a surface before painting.

A first thin coat of paint applied to bare wood, metal, or plaster to seal the surface, improve adhesion, and protect against corrosion before the finishing coats.

The coat applied over the primer and beneath the finishing coat, chosen to give opacity, colour, and a smooth base so the top coat covers evenly.

Coating walls with a thin slurry of slaked lime and water, a cheap traditional finish that brightens interior surfaces and is renewed periodically.

A water-based decorative coating of chalk or whiting with glue or resin binder, used on interior plastered walls; it is cheaper than paint but not washable.

A U-shaped or P-shaped pipe fitting that holds a water seal to stop sewer gases and odours from entering a building through the drainage system.

The vertical or horizontal pipe that carries sewage from water closets to the drainage system, distinct from the waste pipe that carries sullage from sinks and basins.

A small covered chamber built on a drain line at a junction or change of direction, giving access for rodding and inspection of the drain without excavation.

The depth of water retained in a trap, usually about 50 mm for sanitary fittings, that blocks the passage of foul air while allowing wastewater to flow through.

Connecting exposed metal parts of an electrical installation to the ground through a low-resistance path so that fault current trips protection instead of giving a shock.

Miniature circuit breaker, an automatic switch that trips on overload or short circuit to protect wiring and equipment, and can be reset after the fault is cleared.

The resistance measured between live conductors and earth, or between conductors, to confirm that cable insulation is sound; low readings indicate moisture or damage.

A projecting tongue cut on the end of a timber member that fits into a matching mortise hole in another member to form a strong joint.

A rectangular slot cut into timber to receive a tenon; the mortise-and-tenon joint is a standard framing and joinery connection in doors, windows, and furniture.

A stepped rectangular groove cut along the edge of a timber member so that glass, a panel, or another member can sit flush within it.

Controlled drying of green timber to reduce moisture content, which prevents shrinkage, warping, and splitting after the wood is built into a structure.

Roughening a smooth concrete or old plaster surface with a chisel or mechanical tool so that a new plaster or mortar coat keys to it and does not debond.

Filling cracks, joints, or gaps with a fluid cement, epoxy, or chemical mix to restore continuity, seal against water, or anchor fixings into masonry.

Inspection such as rebound hammer, ultrasonic, or cover meter testing that assesses concrete strength or reinforcement position without breaking or damaging the member.

A record listing each item of work with its description, number, length, breadth, and height, from which quantities are calculated for the bill of quantities.

A priced schedule listing measured quantities of each work item with rates and amounts, forming the basis of a tender and of payment during construction.

A summary prepared from the measurement sheet that groups quantities under work heads and multiplies them by rates to give the estimated project cost.

The process of working out the unit rate of a work item from material, labour, plant, and overhead costs plus contractor profit, used to fix tendered rates.

An estimating method that measures the total centre-line length of walls once and multiplies by width and height, adjusting at junctions to avoid double counting.

A temporary working platform of standards, ledgers, and boards erected alongside a building so that work can be done safely at height.

A body-worn arrangement of straps connected to a lifeline or anchor point that arrests a fall and distributes the arresting force over the body.

A short briefing held at the workplace before a task to explain hazards, controls, and individual responsibilities, keeping the crew alert to site-specific risks.

Items worn by a worker such as helmet, safety shoes, gloves, goggles, and high-visibility vest that reduce exposure to site hazards; the last line of defence.

Separating construction and demolition waste by type, such as concrete rubble, timber, metal, and packaging, so each stream can be reused, recycled, or disposed of properly.

An impervious layer of bitumen felt, polythene, or dense cement mortar built into a wall near ground level to stop rising damp reaching the interior.

A white powdery salt deposit on masonry or plaster caused by soluble salts migrating to the surface with moisture and crystallising as the water evaporates.