PE Architectural key terms

The continuous chain of structural members that carries gravity and lateral forces from the roof and floors down through beams, columns, and walls into the foundation and soil.

The permanent, static weight of a building's own construction, including structure, floors, roofs, partitions, and fixed equipment, which the structure must support throughout its life.

The temporary or variable weight a structure must carry, such as occupants, furniture, stored goods, and snow, with minimum design values set by the building code.

A wall of concrete, masonry, or framed sheathing that resists lateral forces from wind or earthquakes by acting as a stiff vertical cantilever or braced panel.

An internal rotational force in a beam or slab created by loads, producing compression on one face and tension on the opposite face, which the section must resist.

A widened concrete base under a column or wall that spreads the load over enough soil area to keep bearing pressure and settlement within acceptable limits.

The building system that heats, cools, humidifies, dehumidifies, filters, and distributes air or water to maintain indoor comfort and acceptable indoor air quality.

A central unit containing fans, heating and cooling coils, filters, and controls that conditions air and delivers it through supply ductwork to building zones.

A terminal air device that varies the volume of conditioned air delivered to a zone in response to thermostat demand while the central fan maintains a set supply temperature.

A refrigeration machine that removes heat from chilled water used by cooling coils, then rejects that heat to a condenser water loop or to outdoor air.

A pressure vessel that burns fuel or uses electricity to heat water or generate steam for space heating, domestic hot water, or process loads.

A networked control system of sensors, controllers, and software that monitors and adjusts mechanical and electrical equipment to hold setpoints and conserve energy.

The assembly where utility power enters a building, including the service conductors, meter, main disconnect, and switchgear that feed the distribution system.

A metal enclosure holding circuit breakers or fuses that divides incoming power into branch circuits and provides overcurrent protection for each circuit.

A deliberate low-resistance connection between electrical equipment and the earth that gives fault current a safe path and stabilizes voltage during normal operation.

The reduction in voltage along a conductor caused by its resistance and reactance, which codes limit so motors and equipment receive adequate voltage.

A complete lighting fixture, including the lamp or LED module, driver or ballast, reflector, lens, and housing, that delivers and controls light.

A unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square foot, used to compare designed lighting levels with code or recommended criteria for a task.

The number of people a space is designed to hold, calculated from floor area and code factors, which sets egress width, number of exits, and plumbing fixture counts.

The continuous, unobstructed route from any point in a building to a public way, meeting code requirements for width, lighting, travel distance, and number of exits.

The time in hours a tested assembly of walls, floors, or doors resists fire spread and structural failure, used to separate occupancies and protect exit routes.

The ratio of total building floor area to the area of its lot, a zoning measure that controls density and building bulk on a site.

The exterior shell of a building, including walls, roof, windows, and doors, that separates conditioned interior space from weather and outside air.

A non-load-bearing exterior wall of metal framing and glass or panels hung from the building structure, carrying only its own weight and wind loads.

The ratio of water mass to cementitious material mass in a concrete mix; lower values increase strength and durability but reduce workability.

Keeping placed concrete moist and at a suitable temperature for a period after casting so cement hydration continues and the mix reaches design strength.

A field test measuring how much fresh concrete settles when a standard cone is lifted, indicating the consistency and workability of the mix.

The stress at which a metal, such as structural steel, begins to deform permanently; it is the basis for allowable or factored design strength.

Deterioration that occurs when two different metals touch in the presence of moisture, causing the more active metal to corrode while the other is protected.

A membrane or coating with low permeability to water vapor, placed in an assembly to limit moisture migration and prevent condensation within walls or roofs.

The longest sequence of dependent activities through a project schedule; it sets the shortest possible project duration, and delay on it delays completion.

The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project finish date or a later activity; also called slack.

A written, signed amendment to the construction contract that modifies scope, cost, or schedule after the contract has been executed.

A formal written question from the contractor to the design team asking for clarification or interpretation of the contract documents.

Shop drawings, product data, samples, or mockups the contractor sends to the design professional for review and approval before fabrication or installation.

The stage when the work is complete enough for the owner to use it for its intended purpose, starting warranty periods and punch list corrections.