am-cor inc.

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Modified 2008-03-26

common terms and definitions

active solar	use of the sun's energy with collector panels, pumps, circulation of coolant and fans

aggregate	stone for mixing with cement, sand, and water to form concrete

ambient	relating to the immediate surroundings

amcorite	patented fibered structural gel added to cement mix to strengthen and reduce ferrocement

back flashing	rubber or metal strip to cover the joint between flashing and its vertical surface

backfill	to place fill (earth or sand) against a subgrade wall or over a subgrade roof surface

basalt fiber	fire resistant fiber of Basalt, a mineral from the earth's mantle, used in amcorite

batten	insulation; modular blanket of fiberglass wool insulation to fit between studs/rafters

breathing	(structure) material which allows the slow passage of air and/or water vapor

bugle head	self tapping wood to steel screw with trumpet shaped philip head to apply decking

builder	someone who contracts for and supervises the construction of a building

carbon steel	steel hardened with Carbon; as opposed to mild steel (ordinary structural steel)

catchment	having to do with collecting water; basin or reservoir used for collecting or draining water

cavity	space between wall studs, floor joists, or roof rafters in a framed structure

ceiling tray	corrugated galvanized sheet metal screwed to joists to support concrete floor slab

cell	a small compartment in a larger structure

center	center of gravity; geometric point at the center of an object's mass

ceramcorite	white ceramic-like waterproof cement finish coat that cures at room temperature; developed by am-cor inc.

chromium	hard white metal used in stainless steel and other alloys

CO2	Carbon Dioxide; greenhouse gas. More info here

coefficient	coefficient of expansion; compares rate of size change with temperature change

cold rolled steel	forming process in which metal is rolled or drawn through dies, usually at room temperature; produces tighter tolerances, increased properties, improved finish and straightness. More info here

composite	structure in which concrete or cement encases a steel shape or member

compression	pushing stress or force

concrete	a composite building material made from the combination of aggregate and cement binder - from Wikipedia.org

condense	formation of water from water vapor due to lowering of ambient temperature

coolth tube	under slab air duct to cool incoming air in order to temper interior space

coping	masonry, ceramic, or metal strip formed to cover the top of a parapet

corrugated	sheet metal formed with regular parallel ripples for strength

crazing	tiny almost invisible surface cracks in an irregular network pattern

curtain-wall	window-wall hung from a structural grid, often used to clad sky-scrapers

cyclical	recurring

dead load	weight of the structure itself

deck	floor or roof surface supported by joists or rafters

deformation	change in shape

delaminate	to peel off

developer	someone who contracts for and supervises the construction of a building

dew-point	surface or location where water vapor condenses into water as drops of dew

diaphragm	flat structural floor, wall, or roof plane which resists torsion and diagonal forces

differential	differential settlement: portion of a structure sinks into the ground more than others

earth shelter	building a portion of a structure into a hillside or berm of earth to reduce exposure

eave	part of a roof that overhangs the wall

EIFS	exterior insulated finishing system: applies plastic based stucco over foam board

evaporation	formation of water vapor from water due to increase of ambient temperature

expanded	expanded metal: sheet steel cut and stretched to form an almond shaped mesh

ferrocement	method of creating highly reinforced thin shell concrete structures, a type of thin wall reinforced concrete construction where usually a hydraulic cement is reinforced with layers of continuous and relatively small diameter mesh. Mesh may be made of metallic material or other suitable materials - from L. Robles-Austriaco's great paper

flame spread rating	measure of surface burning characteristics of materials, how fast a flame will spread across material

flashing	rubber or metal strip to cover joint between a roof and a wall, dormer, or chimney

FOB	Free On Board; place where the buyer becomes responsible for the shipment and the shipping charges

formwork	temporary wooden structure into which concrete is poured to form a building part

fossil fuel	fuel created from deterioration of prehistoric plants. examples: oil, natural gas, coal, peat

Fy	maximum allowable stress before significant deformation of a material

galvanized	coated with zinc, usually to weatherproof steel, named after Luigi Galvani. More info here

grommet	rubber or plastic based ring which fits inside am-cor steel stud punch outs

groundworks	pipes and electrical power supply conduit to be cast under a floor slab

grout	mixture of cement, sand, small size aggregate and water poured into block cavities

hex head	self tapping steel to steel screw with hexagonal head for structural connections

humidity	measure of the amount of water vapor in air

hydronic	a heating or cooling system that transfers heat by circulating fluid through a closed system of pipes

hygroscopic	absorbs moisture

ICF	Insulated Concrete Forms: foam plastic walls into which concrete is poured

icynene	non-combustible, zero contribution to flame, plastic-based cellular insulation. recommended for use in am-cor buildings. More info here

imbedded	alternate for embedded; encased

impermeable	membrane or skin which allows no water or water vapor to pass through itself

inertia	thermal inertia: measure of the response of a material to temperature changes within a substance

intermediate	upper floor or slab between ground floor and roof

jamb	side of a wall or partition opening: door, window

joist	horizontal member supporting a floor of a frame structure

keystone	trapezoidal stone at the center of a flat or curved arch or of a window/door lintel

lateral force	sideways force

lath	thin flat strip of wood or metal laid as a series, foundation for supporting plaster or cement

LEED rating system	(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. More info here

lintel	short beam over a wall opening

live load	weight the structure is designed to support: people, goods, wind, earthquake

living truss	welded galvanized 3-dimensional amcorite truss forming exterior PADS surfaces

medium-span	spans between 14 and 40 feet (4.7 and 13 meters)

mesh	square welded mild steel wire matrix to increase concrete temperature resistance; same as sheathing

mid-rise	buildings from 1 to 5 stories high

midspan	half of the span

module	standardized self contained building element (of any size and complexity)

modulus	modulus of elasticity: measure of strain to stress (deformation to applied force)

moment I	moment of inertia: measure of ability to resist stress relative to shape

moment M	measure of ability to resist bending (or at a joint: rotation) relative to stress

monocoque	single integral shell or piece. More info here

out-gas	emitting gaseous chemicals

owner-builder	property owner acting as general contractor for his own projects, hires sub-contractors directly, overseeing and being responsible for the work himself; typically hires an architect for schematic design

PADS	Permanent Architectural Dwelling Space: unified steel & cement living module

panelize	to create am-cor™ panel diagrams from a set of architectural plans

Pantheon	round temple of Ancient Rome with a concrete-encased dome, built about 110AD. More info here

parapet	low protective wall or railing along the edge of a raised structure such as a roof or balcony

partition	interior wall

passive solar	use of the sun's energy through basic geometric design of an entire building shell

perforated	having an array of small holes

perimeter	outside edge

perm	a measurement unit of how quickly water vapor will pass through a membrane or skin

permeable	allowing liquids or gases to pass through

photovoltaic	creating electricity from sunlight

portland cement	cement manufactured from limestone and clay, hardens underwater; most commonly used structural cement

prefabrication	technique in which large units of a building are fabricated beforehand in factories to be assembled on the building site. more info here

progressive	progressive collapse: motion of part of a structure causes collapse of adjacent part

quoin	series of cornerstones, one over the other, at exterior building corner

rafter	member supporting a roof of a frame structure

reducer	chemical to reduce the amount of water required to mix with cement for workability

reinforcing	reinforcing bar (rebar): round mild steel rod to increase tensile strength of concrete

ridge	horizontal member along the peak of the roof of a frame structure

scupper	drain pipe through a parapet

seismic	having to do with earthquakes

sheathing	exterior skin to the walls of a frame structure; same as mesh

shell	structural shell: building frame and enclosure, walls, floors, columns, beams, roof

sill plate	horizontal member at the bottom of the studs of a frame wall or partition

soffit	underside of an architectural structure

spall	to crack, splinter, break off in fragments

span	distance between supports of a beam, floor, or roof

square drive	thin self tapping wood to steel screw with square shaped head to apply trim

stick-built	wooden frame construction, cut and assembled in the field

strain	deformation of a structure or material due to application of stress (a force)

strength	strength to weight ratio: measure of a structure's strength relative to its weight

stress	force or load applied to a structure or to a material

stress skin	structure in which forces are directed to and through its skin or outer layer(s)

stud	vertical member in the wall or partition of a framed structure

subgrade	below the earth's surface

substrate	surface or element to which a finish is attached; surface or material on which an organism lives, grows, finds sustenance

suspended	floor or slab held up by bearing walls or columns and beams

temper	(heating & cooling) to control interior temperature

tension	pulling stress or force

thermal	having to do with temperature; thermal break: insulating layer within an assembly to slow energy transfer

threshold	door sill

top plate	horizontal member at the top of the studs of a frame wall or partition

torsion	twisting force

track	framing component with a myriad of uses, such as securing wall studs, head and sill openings, etc.

UL	Underwriters Laboratory: internationally recognized material testing & certification. More info here

unit stress	force per unit of measure, lbs./sq.ft., lbs./sq.inch

urea	urea-formaldahyde: chemical used in chip board or plywood glue which out-gasses

Vierendeel	truss with vertical structs between top & bottom chords, invented by Arthur Vierendeel. More info here

wafer head	self tapping steel to steel screw with wide flange philip head for applying mesh

water table	sloped ledge that runs around perimeter of building at floorline

wicking	movement of moisture by osmosis through a fibrous or granular material

© 2008 am-cor inc.