Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms

12/8/2014 Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms | Aleck Associates Ltd, Structural Engineers in London UK Structural consultant structural engineering str…
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Factory extension in Perivale, West London.
Structural Problems and Disasters
Conversion of three shops to restaurant, South London.
Extension to bar/restaurant, South London.
Alterations and extensions to shops and flats, Chelsea, London.
Shop and flat refurbishment, Kensington, London.
Garage extension, Willesden, London.
New house, Barnet, London.
Conversion of basement to flat, Barnet, North London.
New house, Barnet, London.
Residential development in Hornsey Lane, North London.
Block of 12 flats, Islington, London.
Major alterations to four storey detached house, St Johns Wood.
Domestic extension, Hampstead, London.
Domestic extension and alterations, North London.
Major extensions and alterations to four storey house, Notting Hill.
Listed building restoration, Hampstead, North London.
Domestic extension, Maida Vale, London.
Refurbishment, extension and loft conversion, Maida Vale, West London
Domestic extension, Fulham, London.
Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms
Contact
An explanation of some terms used in structural engineering, architecture and construction in the UK.
us
Fr.: French equivalent terms, nouns are m(asculine) or f(eminine).
Aleck
A B
C D A:
E F Access
G H Underground chamber enabling access to drains or other underground services.
chamber:
http://www.aleckassociates.co.uk/glossaryofstructuralengineeringterms/ 1/18
I J Unit of land area in the Imperial system; 4840 square yards, or the equivalent of a rectangular
K L Acre: field one chain wide and one furlong long, approximately 4047 square metres or 0.4047
M N hectares.
O P
Q R
S T
U V A telescopic prop much used as a temporary support in construction. Named
Acrow:
W Y after the American manufacturer who first introduced them to the UK.
top
Chemicals added to cement based products (concrete, mortar, render, screed etc) to impart
various desirable properties such as to increase or reduce curing time, increase strength,
Additive:
enhance workability and so on. The amount of additives should be watched carefully since in
excess or combination they can have undesirable effects.
The stones and sand (coarse and fine aggregate respectively) used as a filler in concrete, asphalt
Aggregate:
etc.
Originally, a system by which fresh air is drawn from outside the building and brought to an
Air acceptable condition in terms of temperature and humidity before being introduced into the
conditioning: building. The name is often also applied to chillers with no air handling, drying or heating
capacity.
A lightweight aerated cementbased material from which easily handled high insulating
Aircrete:
buildingblocks are made. (Trade name.)
Allin ballast: Ballast suitable for making into concrete without the addition of any other aggregate.
Steel angle: a steel section whose crosssection is Lshaped. If the vertical and horizontal legs of
Angle: the 'L' are the same length it is called an equal angle, if different, an unequal or odd leg angle.
Angles are also available in other metals.
An amount of rotation. The measurement of angles using 360 degrees in a whole circle, with
each degree divided into 60 minutes of 60 seconds each, is of very great antiquity, going back
to the Babylonians who used a number system based on 60s rather than tens.
A basic form of masonry construction dating back millenia. Brick arches are
found spanning over window and door openings in Victorian and older
Arch: buildings; their disadvantage is that they exert horizontal thrust at their bearings,
which sometimes leads to distortion in poorly designed or maintained arches.
Architrave: Timber moulding around a door frame or similar.
Arris: A sharp corner at the junction of two planes or surfaces.
Timber of triangular cross section (made by cutting a square section diagonally), used for fence
Arris rail: rails and forming fillets at the junctions of flat roofs and walls.
Ashlar: Smooth sawn stonework used in a wall.
A brick arch in which the bricks are cut (traditionally with an axe) to a wedge shape. The
Axed arch:
mortar joints are of even thickness. As opposed to a rough arch.
B:
Traditional terraced housing originally comprised rooms between the front and
rear external walls. When 'indoor plumbing' became the rage, extensions were
Back addition: built at the back of the house to contain the bathroom, wc, kitchen and scullery.
The rear wing of a house is still called the back addition, even if it was built at
the same time as the rest of the house.
Ballast: Mixed size aggregate.
Batten: A small timber such as those used to support roof tiles.
A horizontal member that carries vertical loads along its length. It would traditionally have been
Beam: timber (the word originally meaning "tree trunk") but a modern beam might more often be
reinforced concrete or steel. (Fr. poutre, f)
A steel component designed for use as a beam; "Universal Beam".
A levelling base point of known level. The Ordnance Survey has set up bench marks around the
Benchmark: UK. Contractors often establish 'temporary bench marks' ('TBM') at convenient points around
the site.
Bending The bending force in, for example, a beam. The units of bending moment are those of force x
moment: distance, for example, kiloNewtonmetres.
Berm: An earth bank left against a retaining wall during excavation, until it is propped.
Bessemer
A kind of steelmaking plant, no longer in use.
converter:
Bill of quantitiesA list of all the quantities of each component and operation required in a construction project.
(BOQ): The BOQ enables all the tenderers to price exactly the same work, and makes it simple to work
out the value of the work done at any time during the job. For small jobs the benefit of a BOQ
may be outweighed by the cost of producing it.
Blinding: A layer of concrete covering the ground so that steel reinforcement can be laid out without
becoming contaminated.
Building unit of a regular size usually made of solid or aerated ("aircrete")
Block:
concrete.
Blockwork: Built with blocks.
Threaded fastener used (with a nut and washers) for connecting building
Bolt:
components, particularly steel and/or timber.
The arrangement or pattern of bricks (or other masonry units) in a wall. Each unit should
overlap the unit below by at least one quarter of a unit's length, and sufficient bonding bricks
Bond: should be provided to prevent the wall splitting apart. Common bond patterns are Flemish,
Stretcher, English and English Garden Wall.
A proprietary type of plaster with good adhesive properties. It must be used with care as it is
Bonding plaster:
hygroscopic, i.e. it will readily absorb atmospheric or rising moisture.
A timber gutter lined with lead or some other waterproof material. (Fr. chèneau
Box gutter:
(m) encaissé).
Brace, Bracing: Diagonal members (or rigid membranes) providing rigidity to a structure.
Bressemer,
A timber lintel flush with the surface of the brickwork above it.
Bresumer etc.:
Building unit of a regular size usually made of baked clay. Can also be calcium silicate or
concrete. The standard size of metric bricks in the UK is 65 x 102.5 x 215mm, designed to be
Brick: used with a 10mm mortar joint. The equivalent theoretical size of imperial bricks, used with a
3/ inch joint, is 2 5/ x 4 3/ x 8 5/ inches. Clay bricks are of course of great antiquity as
8 8 16 8
evidenced by archaeology and the bible. (Fr. brique, f).
Brick guard: Steel mesh panel used on scaffolding to make sure that loose bricks cannot fall off the scaffold.
A metal or plastic component to tie together the two leaves of a cavity wall. Older galvanized
Brick tie:
ties tend to rust away and have to be replaced.
Bricklayer: A skilled trade which requires years of training and practice. (Fr. maçon, m).
Brickwork: Made of bricks. (Fr. maçonnerie, f).
Buckethandle
Recessed in the halfround shape of an oldfashioned metal bucket handle.
pointing:
The first Building Control was introduced, in London, after the Great Fire (1666) when District
Surveyors were engaged to enforce the Building Regulations which prevented the spread of fire
Building from house to house – the Regulations had existed before but had often been ignored. The
Control: system now covers the whole UK and includes rules on most aspects of building as it affects
public safety and health, enforced by Building Control Officers. See links for details. Not to be
confused with Town Planning.
Building
Plumbing, electrical wiring, ventilation, gas supply and other support systems in a building.
services:
C:
Calcium silicate Smooth bricks made by compressing and heating a mixture of sand, or ground flint, and lime.
bricks: Popular in the mid 20th century but less used now, because of their tendency to shrink.
The rise in the middle of a roadway for drainage, or the similar shape given to a beam so that it
Camber:
will become level when loaded.
Cantilever: Overhanging beam, roof or floor.
Casement: A window which is hinged rather than sliding.
Cast iron: A brittle material no longer much used in structural engineering.
Cavity tie: See brick tie.
A wall consisting of two leaves or skins of masonry, seperated by a cavity to enhance water
Cavity wall: resistance and thermal insulation. A form of wall construction known but rarely used in
Victorian times but which came into common use in the 1930s. (Fr. mur (m) à double paroi).
A powder which when mixed with water forms a paste that hardens with time. Portland Cement
was first patented by Joseph Aspin in 1824 and is known as hydraulic cement, because it will
set under water. Cement is mixed with sand to make mortar or render, and with larger stones
Cement: added it is known as concrete. The sand and stones are there to reduce the shrinkage to which
Portland cement is subject and to reduce the amount of cement needed. There are various
grades: the usual one is called Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC); others commonly used are
rapid hardening and sulphate resisting.
Mechanical device consisting of a rotating drum with fixed paddles inside, used for mixing
Cement mixer: cement with aggregate and water to produce concrete, mortar, or any other cementbased
mixture.
Centring: Temporary supports used when building an arch.
Surveyors' unit of length in the Imperial system. Gunter's chain, named after its inventor,
comprises 22 yards or 66 feet, approximately 20.117 metres. Gunter's chain is useful for
Chain:
deriving areas in acres. The lesserknown Engineer's chain, 100 feet long, was used for
measuring linear distances, along roads for example.
Channel: A structural steel component which is Cshaped in cross section.
Characteristic
The strength at which a member tested would fail, normally with 95% confidence.
strength:
Cill: Alternative spelling of sill.
Circular hollow
A structural steel component in the shape of a round tube.
section:
Cladding: The seperatelyapplied exterior finish of a framed building.
Clamp: See cramp.
The classical orders are styles of building originating from the construction of
temples in ancient Greece and Rome. Orders are defined by their varying styles
of column, although the orders also include information on the proportions of
Classical orders
the building. The Greeks originally had three orders: the Doric, Ionic and
of architecture:
Corinthian. Doric is the simplest, Ionic more elaborate, and Corinthian more
decorative still. The Romans added the Tuscan and Composite orders which are
respectively plainer and more highly decorated than the Greek orders.
A steel plate or angle with holes for bolting, for connecting the components of a steel frame
Cleat:
together.
Coarse Any aggregate larger than fine aggregate. Gravel. Available with a maximum size of 10, 20 or
aggregate: 40mm.
Collar: A horizontal timber joining two opposing rafters together.
A legal agreement between a developer and a building contractor or designer, allowing the
Collateral
contractor or designer to be made responsible to a third party, such as a finance provider or a
warrantee:
purchaser, for the execution of their duties.
Common rafter: A normal rafter, which extends all the way from wall plate to ridge, as opposed to a jack rafter.
An instrument for drawing arcs and circles. Not to be confused, incidentally,
Compasses: with a compass (in the singular) which is a magnetic instrument for finding
North.
Person with sufficient knowledge of the specific tasks to be undertaken and the risks which the
work will entail, and with sufficient experience and ability to enable them to carry out their
Competent
duties in relation to the project, to recognize their limitations, and to take appropriate action in
person:
order to prevent harm to those carrying out construction work, or those affected by the work.
(Construction Design and Managment Regulations 2007)
One of the ancient classical orders of architecture, introduced by the Romans.
Composite
Its capital combines the volute scrolls of the Ionic with the acanthus foliage of
order:
the Corinthian.
Compression: The pressing force experienced in a column or in the top flange of a beam.
The type of computer program with which technical drawings are prepared. The market leader
Computer aided
design (CAD): is AutoCAD but there are others.
An artifical stonelike substance obtained by mixing large and small stones and sand with
cement and enough water to permit full hydration and make the mix workable. Concrete (like
Concrete: the stone minerals from which it is made) is strong in compression but weak in tension. Roman
concrete was based, not on Portland cement, but on a 'pozzolanic' mix, made from volcanic ash
and incorporating groundup bricks and tiles. (Fr. beton, m).
Concrete pump: A machine for transporting concrete down a delivery pipe. May be truck mounted or static.
Building contracts may legally be formed verbally. Usually however a written contract should
Contract: be used. There are various standard forms of contract, such as those provided by the Joint
Contracts Tribunal and the various engineering institutions.
Many forms of building contract specify a Contract Administrator to manage the contract on
Contract behalf of the Client. It may be the architect, the engineer, or a specialist such as a project
administrator: manager. The CA's main duty is to specify how much the contractor is due to be paid at each
stage.
Contract The contract drawings, bill of quantities, specifications, and any other documents referred to in
documents: the contract.
Contract
The drawings on which the contract is based.
drawings:
Coping: Protective capping on the top of a parapet or free standing wall.
Projecting brick or masonry courses; from NormanFrench meaning 'crow' after
Corbel:
carved stone projections used in medieval times to support roof trusses.
The most elaborate and decorated of the three ancient Greek orders of
architecture, its capital is carved in imitation of the growth of acanthus leaves.
According to Roman writer Vitruvius, a young lady of the nobility in Corinth
Corinthian
died, and her nurse placed a basket containing her belongings on top of the
order:
grave, with a roof tile on top to protect it. An acanthus plant grew right under
the basket and its shoots curved and rolled around the corners of the tile. A
passing architect noticed this and copied it in stone.
(Corrugated galvanized iron). Iron (or for the last hundred years at least, steel) sheet formed
Corrugated iron:
into a ridged shape, used for roofing and cladding.
Coupler, A device for mechanically joining two linear components like pipes, scaffold tubes, or a drill bit
coupling: with an extension.
Course: A layer of bricks or blocks in a wall.
Cramp (also Metal component built into masonry to join it to another member, for example a window frame
clamp): ('frame cramp'), or to join two masonry units together.
Crane: Lifting device which can be fixed or mobile.
Crippled: Of joists, doubledup to form a trimmer. (American term.)
The hardening of concrete and other cement products. Curing requires a certain range of
Cure: temperature (more than 6C but not enough to cause thermal stress) and sufficient internal water
to combine with the cement.
D:
Dado: A timber moulding fixed to the wall at waist level.
An impermeable material built into a wall near the ground to prevent rising damp. Types
Damp proof available include leadbased, bitumenbased, or plasticbased. Two courses of impermeable
course (DPC): engineering bricks can also be used. The DPC must be at least 150mm above the external
ground level.
Damp proof
Usually heavy duty polythene, incorporated within floors built on the ground to prevent rising
membrane
damp.
(DPM):
The weight of the materials which form a permanent part of the structure, as opposed to
Dead load:
imposed load.
Deal: Softwood; a standard piece of softwood used for making joinery.
Design and
A building contract in which the builder is also responsible for all or some of the design.
build contract:
Evaluation of the design to determine whether it conforms with the design brief and can be
Design check:
expected to provide a safe engineered solution.
The improvement of land in order to make use of it, e.g. by building structures on it or by
Development: adapting existing structures. Development can either be for the developer's own use, or else
speculative, i.e. for profit.
Excavators with hydraulic transmission are ubiquitous in groundwork. The first to be produced
Digger: were made the J C Bamford company.
District Borough officers first appointed after the Great Fire of London to supervise the Building
Surveyor: Regulations. Now combined with the Building Control Officer.
The simplest of the ancient Greek orders of architecture. The columns consist of
a plain fluted shaft and a simple capital; there may be no base or a simple round
Doric Order:
one. According to Roman writer Vitruvius the order originated with a temple to
Juno built by one Dorus.
Dormer: A window projecting from the slope of a roof.
(Concrete) A steel bar for transferring load across a joint. (Joinery) A timber moulding with a
Dowel:
circular cross section.
Dragon beam: In traditional pitched roof construction, a diagonal tying timber across the corner of a hip.
A strong mixture of cement and sand damped with a small amount of water, used to fill holes in
Drypack:
existing walls for example in underpinning.
Ductwork: Airhandling pipes fabricated from sheet steel.
Originally a simple but accurate optical instrument invented in 1832 by English civil engineer
Dumpy level:
William Gravatt. Now applied to any optical levelling instrument used by builders.
E:
A concept used in the design of structural members. May be more or less than the actual length
Effective length: to compensate for the degree of restraint of the ends of the member, a member which is more
rigidly held at the ends being stronger.
In English, the term is associated with engines, although this is a historical accident, the first
engineers having been military engineers who were responsible for 'engines of war' such as
tunnels and seige towers. Engineers engaged on public works such as canals, highways and
railways called themselves 'civil engineers' to distinguish themselves from military engineers.
Engineer: There are now many kinds of engineer. The word itself is unprotected in the UK, so that
anybody can call themselves an engineer, such as in the joke job descriptions 'rodent control
engineer' and 'domestic engineer'. In France the equivalent word 'ingenieur' seems closer to
words signifying ingenuity, and is a controlled designation requiring its holder to have
appropriate qualifications.
Engineering A type of brick which is particularly strong and impermeable. The traditional product was blue
brick: in colour; other colours and qualities are available.
Alternate rows of bricks consist of all headers and all stretchers. Traditionally
English Bond: considered to be the strongest bond, it is often found in engineering works like
bridges and retainingwalls.
Most brickwork bonds are designed so that one side of the wall can be built 'fairfaced' (suitable
for viewing as finished work); the other side, inside the building, will be plastered so the
English Garden
brickwork can be left rough. Garden walls however will be seen from both sides, so Garden
Wall Bond:
Wall bond is designed with a minimum number of headers so that both sides can be built fair
faced.
External works: The landscaping, roads and paths created in the parts of the site not occupied by the building.
Extrados: The upper surface of an arch.
F:
Falsework: Temporary structure used to support a permanent structure while it is not selfsupporting.
In roof construction, a decorative board fixed to the ends of the rafters. Also the name board
Fascia:
over a shopfront.
A board which is thicker one side than the other. Used for fencing, where they are fixed
Featheredge
vertically and overlapping. Sometimes found in tiled roofs, fixed horizontally, with the thicker
board:
edge at the top to provide a hanging point for tiles.
Filler Joist An obsolete but commonlyfound form of floor comprising a concrete slab reinforced with steel
Floor: Ibeams known as rolled steel joists.
Fine aggregate: Sand used in making concrete, mortar etc.
A piece of timber cut as a wedge and fixed to the top of a joist. Used to give flat roofs a fall for
Firring:
drainage, or to level up uneven floors.
Electrical and plumbing first fix are the fixing of the wires and pipes in the fabric of the
First fix:
building, before plastering. Carpentry first fix is the provision of joists, studs and rafters.
The top and bottom plates of an I or Hbeam, or of a channel. The top and bottom flanges of a
Flange:
beam are usually in compression and tension respectively.
Lead (or other durable metal sheets) to protect junctions of roofs and walls from water ingress.
Flashing:
(Fr. bande (f) de recouvrement).
Flat roof: A roof with a slope or pitch less than ten degrees from the horizontal.
The most common bond in brickwork 225mm or more in thickness, it consists
Flemish Bond: of alternating headers and stretchers, with each header being in the middle of the
stretchers above and below.
The common type of machinemade yellow/orange frogged brick used in the southeast of
Fletton:
England and London. Named after Fletton, near Peterborough.
Flintlime brick: A kind of calcium silicate brick.
Flitched beam, A timber beam strengthened with one or more steel plates bolted or screwed to it, often
Flitch: sandwiched between timbers.
Channel formed with masonry or specially made blocks or pipes through which the products of
Flue: combustion pass to the outside. Until the middle 20th century, the need to stack flues from
storey to storey imposed a discipline on architecture which is now absent.
Fluid
The science of the properties and motion of liquids and gases.
Mechanics:
Flush pointing: Flush with the surface of the bricks.
Foot: Unit of length in the Imperial system; onethird of a yard, equal to 304.8mm.
That which can accelerate a mass. An example of a force is weight, which acts to accelerate any
mass towards the centre of the earth. Structural engineering is about providing structures which
Force:
are strong enough to resist the weight and other forces acting on them. In the SI system, force is
measured in Newtons.
Trades foremen, for example foreman plasterer, electrician, are in charge of their tradesmen on
Foreman: a site. The general foreman is in charge of the trades foremen. The term does not specify
gender.
Formwork: A mould into which concrete is cast.
The part of a building or structure which transmits loads to the soil. Foundations may be
Foundation:
stepped masonry, mass or reinforced concrete, or piled. (Fr. fondation, f).
Frame clamp or
Metal component screwed to the window or door frame and built into the masonry wall.
cramp:
Frenchman: A tool for forming the shape of pointing.
Frog: The recess in a machinemade brick.
Unit of length in the Imperial system; ten chains, or 660 feet, oneeighth of a mile, equal to
Furlong:
201.168 metres.
G:
Gable: The triangular wall at the end of a building with pitched roofs. (Fr. pignon, m).
Ganger: The leader of a work gang, for example, a concrete gang.
A measuring rule. Also, the height of brickwork, specified as the number of courses per foot or
Gauge: per 300mm. In the south of the UK brickwork gauge is almost universally four courses per foot
or per 300mm.
Ginny wheel: Pulley used for hoisting things up a scaffold.
Glass bead: Moulding used to retain glass in a window frame.
Gram: Unit of mass in the SI system of weights. Symbol g.
Grating: Iron or plastic protection over a gully.
Gravel: Naturally occuring ballast or course aggregate.
Green Roof: A flat roof covered (deliberately) with growing material.
Groundwork: Foundations, drainage, levelling and other building operations involving digging.
Cement mixed with enough water to make it runny, used to fill a gap under the base of a steel
Grout:
column. Also the filler between wall tiles.
Protection against people or things falling off the edge of stairs, landings, balconies or
Guarding:
scaffolds.
Gully: A container with water in it, to seal the inlet to a drain and prevent the release of noxious gases.
Gutter: Open channel for receiving and carrying away rain water. (Fr. gouttière, f).
H:
Hsection: A steel component shaped in crosssection like an H, such as a Universal Column (qv).
Half timbered: A descriptive term for a traditional timberframed house.
Hammerbeam A form of historical roof truss, usually comprising a central truss section spanning between two
roof: cantilevers.
Handrail: A length of timber or metal at hand height at the side of a staircase or landing.
Timber from a deciduous tree; note that hardwood can be softer than softwood, for example
balsa wood is a hardwood although very weak and soft. In construction, hardwood may be used
Hardwood: in preference to more readilyavailable softwood because of its higher strength, its greater
durability, or its superior appearance. Efforts should always be made to ensure that the timber is
from renewable sources. (Fr. bois (m) feuillu).
Header: A brick whose 'head' or short end is visible on the surface of the wall. See stretcher.
Hearth: Fire resisting area of floor adjacent to an open fireplace.
Concrete made with this type of cement hardens faster than with Portland cement. This
advantage once led to HAC being used for manufacturing precast concrete elements, but it has
High alumina the disadvantage that it tends to become weaker over time especially in a moist atmosphere. The
cement (HAC): collapse of some swimming pool roofs in the 1970s led to HAC being banned for structural use.
It is still used for nonstructural purposes, for example, for bedding sanitary ware on a concrete
floor.
High strength
Used for connecting steel components in situations where it is not desirable for the connection
friction grip
to slip.
bolt:
High tensile A grade of steel stronger than mild steel, which may be used both in structural steelwork and
steel: concrete reinforcement.
A roof feature in which two pitched roofs meet at a corner; the rafter forming such a junction.
Hip:
The hip rafter is not usually a load bearing member. (Fr. arête (f) de croupe).
Hipped roof: Featuring hips.
Hod: A three sided container mounted on a pole, used to carry bricks or mortar up a ladder.
Hod carrier: Bricklayer's labourer.
Hoist: An elevator for lifting goods and, usually, people up a scaffold.
Proprietary expanding bolt which can be used in making bolted connections to
Hollobolt: hollow sections, and other situations where lack of access prevents a nut being
used.
A tubular structural steel member, either circular ('CHS'), rectangular ('RHS') or square ('SHS').
Hollow section:
Elliptical hollow sections are also available.
Honeycomb
Built with gaps between the bricks, to allow ventilation.
brickwork:
In the UK imperial units system, a weight of 112 pounds, also equivalent to eight stone, or one
Hundredweight:
twentieth of a ton.
Hydration: The process by which cement hardens by reacting with water.
Hydraulic
Cement which sets under water, like Portland cement.
cement:
I:
Isection: A structural steel section shaped like an I, such as a Universal Beam.
The traditional system of weights and measures used in Englishspeaking countries until
superseded by SI units in a process often called metrication, which took place in the UK in the
Imperial system: early 1970s. The principal Imperial elements are yards (with their subdivisions of feet and
inches), and pounds (divided into ounces and multiplied into hundredweights and tons).
Imposed load: The weight of furniture, people, storage, and any other nonpermanent loads.
Inch: Unit of length in the Imperial system; onetwelfth of a foot, equal to 25.4mm.
Intrados: The underside of an arch.
One of the ancient Greek orders of architecture, characterised by a fluted
Ionic Order: column and a capital consisting of four volute scrolls. Named after Ionia in
Greece, where it was first used.
Iron: An element, which is one of the most common on earth, and the principal component of steel.
J:
Jack rafter: A rafter that is shorter than a common rafter because it is intersected by a hip or a valley.
In traditional timberframed buildings, the projection of an upper storey over the
Jetty: storey below. The reason for this form of construction seems originally to have
been simply to increase the floor area of the upper storeys.
A proprietary steel component which enables a joist to be connected to another timber running
Jiffy hanger:
at right angles.
The fabricated timber components of a building such as doors, windows and staircases. (Fr.
Joinery:
menuiserie, f).
The process of finishing the mortar between bricks or other masonry units at the time of
Jointing:
building, as opposed to pointing the joint later.
(Timber) Horizontal member which is one of a group running parallel and close
Joist:
together, supporting a floor or flat roof. (Fr. solive, f).
Proprietary steel component to support the end of a joist so that it does not have to be built into
Joist hanger:
the wall.
K:
Kentledge: Heavy weights used to counter balance a load or provide a reaction.
Keystone: The centre stone of an arch, if it is larger than the ordinary voussoirs.
In reinforced concrete construction, a concrete plug typically 50 to 100mm high to help locate
Kicker:
the formwork for a wall or column.
The principle unit of mass in the SI system of weights and measures. Equal to 1000 grams.
Kilogram: Abbreviation kg. Approximately equivalent to 2.2046 pounds.
One thousand Newtons – the unit of force in the SI system. Newtons are very small, and the
KiloNewton: kiloNewton is the practical unit most often used by engineers. In imperial terms it is
approximately equivalent to the weight of two hundredweights. Abbreviation kN.
King post truss: Roof truss with a central vertical member.
L:
General labourer: building worker without any specific skill. Specific trades have their own
Labourer: labourers such as bricklayer's, plasterer's, labourer, whose job is to set up scaffolds and carry
materials.
Generally horizontal members that connnect together and reduce the unsupported length of
Lacing:
compression members.
Laminated
strand lumber A type of reconstituted timber made of seperated strands glued together under pressure.
(LSL):
A thin strip of wood nailed to studs or joists as a carrier for plaster. Early laths were riven (split
with a blade); in more modern times they were sawn. Expanded metal lathing (e.m.l.) is used
Lath: for the same purpose, especially for external work with sand and cement render; internally, laths
have been superseded by plasterboard.
In scaffolding, the horizontal members running along the scaffold. They support transomes or
Ledger:
putlogs.
Horizontal; the instrument used for checking whether things are horizontal. Levels on a drawing
Level: are heights above a recognised datum which might either be the Ordnance Datum or a local
datum for the job, whose location and value has to be specified on the drawings.
Levelling: Finding levels during surveying, or providing levels for new construction.
Lewis: A device consisting of expanding wedges used for lifting heavy stone masonry.
Every lift has (by law) to have a clear space below its lowest landing level, fitted with
Lift pit: equipment intended to bring to a safe halt a lift which has failed to stop. This often requires a
lift pit, typically 1.2 to 1.5m deep.
The traditional form of mortar, it is soft and flexible and liable to dissolve slowly in rain water.
Lime Mortar:
It is still available for use in restoration work.
A short beam over a door or window opening; may be steel, concrete or, traditionally, timber.
Lintel, lintol: The spelling with an 'o' is traditionally favoured by draughtsmen; the 'e' however is given
authority by the King James bible (Exodus 12:22 etc). (Fr. linteau, m).
Live load: Imposed load.
Load bearing: Designed to support a load in addition to its own weight.
Engineers design structures to support loads which are more than the maximum load expected.
Load factor: The actual loads are calculated as accurately as possible and then multiplied by the factor.
Typical load factors are 1.4 for dead loads and 1.6 for imposed loads.
London stock: The stock bricks made in the London area for centuries.
M:
Manhole: Hole in the ground to allow access to underground services; access chamber.
A roof which slopes steeply (e.g. 15 degrees from the vertical) to allow more space inside the
Mansard:
roofspace. Named after a French architect.
In general usage this describes work constructed of stone, but technically the term masonry also
Masonry:
includes brickwork and blockwork. (Fr. maçonnerie, m).
A property of all matter. It is measured in, for example, grams. Mass is independent of gravity,
Mass:
unlike weight which depends on gravity.
Unreinforced concrete, as often used in foundations or other applications where the added
Mass concrete:
strength of reinforcement is not required.
Maul: Large wooden hammer used in masonry and paving work.
A document which shows how the construction will be carried out safely. Under most forms of
contract the Contractor will prepare any necessary method statements and the Engineer will
Method
usually check them. Method statements are also sometimes required by neighbouring owners
statement:
where potentially hazardous work is being proposed, or by Planning authorities to ensure that a
proposal is buildable.
The basic unit of length in the SI system of weights and measures. Multiplied and divided by
Metre: 1000 to give derived units such as millimetres and kilometres. Symbol m. In the USA the
spelling meter is used. A metre is approximately equivalent to 3ft, 33/8 inches.
The UK construction and engineering industries were encouraged by the Government to adopt
the metric system in the early 1970s. The system used was and remains (rather shortsightedly)
Metric: based on millimetres rather than the centimetre system taught in schools in the UK and around
the world. See SI system.
In London and other large cities, the stables belonging to large houses would
often be accessed from a small road running along the backs of the properties,
Mews:
known as the mews. The mews properties are often separated from their main
house and converted to soughtafter dwellings.
Structural steelwork and reinforcement generally come in two qualities: mild steel and high
Mild steel:
tensile steel, the latter being stronger but more expensive.
Mile: Unit of length in the Imperial system; 1760 yards, equal to 1609.344 metres.
Mix: The proportions of the ingredients of concrete, mortar and such like.
Mobile crane: Versatile lifting devices in a range of sizes, usually telescopic.
Mock Tudor: An architectural style popular in suburban development in the twenties and
thirties, in which traditional styles were copied poorly.
Modulus of A measure of the amount by which something can be deformed by a force and recover when the
elasticity: force is removed.
Short for bending moment. The bending force which acts on, for example, a beam, and is
Moment:
resisted by an equal internal resistance moment within the beam.
A binder for masonry. The traditional product was Lime Mortar; modern mortars rely upon
Mortar: cement mixed with sand, with the addition of lime or plasticizer added to make them workable
or 'buttery'. (Fr. mortier, m).
Mortice and A traditional way of joining two timbers at right angles: the one coming in from the side is
tenon joint: reduced to a tenon, which fits into the cavity or mortice and is secured by glue or nailing.
Timber (or other material in imitation of timber) shaped into a pattern and used for decorative
Moulding: details such as skirting, picture rail and so on. Traditional moulding shapes include quadrant,
ogee, torus, chamfered, glass bead, half round, dowel and so on.
Moulding pin: A very thin pin or nail used for securing mouldings.
N:
As a noun, a short beam introduced through a wall to provide temporary support while the wall
Needle:
is being resupported. As a verb, to insert such beams.
The point near the middle of a beam's crosssection which experiences neither tension nor
Neutral axis:
compression when the beam is subjected to bending.
Newlyn datum: See Ordnance datum.
The principal SI unit of force. It can be thought of as equivalent to the weight of Sir Isaac
Newton:
Newton's apple.
Node: Theoretical point where two or more members are considered to be connected together.
Noggin (or
A short length of timber fixed crossways between joists, studs or rafters; also the infill between
nogging, naggin
the studs of a traditional timberframed building.
etc):
Also, the brickwork or other infill between the studs of traditional timberframed construction.
O:
Ordnance datum The national leveling standard for the UK, the basis for levelling set up by the Ordnance
(OD): Survey, representing mean sea level at Newlyn, S Wales.
The organisation which makes and maintains accurate maps of the United Kingdom. The maps
Ordnance
were originally for military purposes but are now used for land use planning and development
Survey:
of land.
Oriel window: A bay window that projects from the wall and does not have its own foundations.
P:
A block of concrete or stone used to spread the weight of a beam or joist, to
Padstone: avoid crushing the wall upon which it rests.
Parallel flange
A form of steel channel.
channel:
(pronounced pargeing). Rendering, especially (1) decorative sculptured rendering on the
Pargetting or outside of a building, found mainly in East Anglia (2) the render (traditionally consisting of cow
pargeting: manure) lining the inside of a flue, formed into a cylindrical tube by pulling up an iron sphere
on a chain.
A non load bearing wall between rooms or areas in a building. Partitions may be of any material
Partition:
but are often studwork.
A wall shared between two buildings. Laws have existed for many years, particularly in London
Party wall: but now throughout the UK, for governing the building, alteration and maintenance of party
walls. (Fr. mur (m) mitoyen).
Pea shingle: Shingle consisting of rounded stones that pass through a 10mm grid.
Permissible Stress that can be sustained safely. Codes of Practice for structural design used to specify
stress: permissible stresses with which the actual stress was to be compared.
Perp.: The vertical mortar joint between two bricks (bricklayers' slang).
In structural engineering, a rectangular steel frame consisting of two columns and two beams,
Picture frame:
sometimes used when a load bearing wall has to be removed.
Pier: A masonry column; a jetty.
A foundation consisting of a deep column extending down into the ground, used when the
foundation needs to get support from a deeper and stronger or more stable layer. Originally
piles were timber (often elm) but they can now be concrete or steel or even aluminium. Bored
Pile: piles are made by pouring concrete into a hole drilled in the ground whereas driven piles are
readymade and driven into the ground. There are many ingenious proprietary piling systems
and piling can be used both for new buildings and for strengthening or stabilising the
foundations of existing buildings. Contiguous piles are used to form a retainingwall.
Pile cap: A (normally reinforced concrete) structure transferring loads from the building into the piles.
Pile driver: Machine for hammering or forcing piles into the ground.
Piling rig: A machine which drills a hole in the ground for a castinsitu pile.
Of roofs, the angle of the rafters from the horizontal. Traditionally the pitch was expressed as
Pitch: the number of vertical inches corresponding to twelve horizontal inches, thus a 45 degree roof
was described as a twelve inch pitch.
Pitched roof: One whose slope exceeds ten degrees.
The legal system, operated and enforced by local authorities, by means of which the
Planning: development of land is controlled for the public good. Not to be confused with Building
Control.
The material which is spread to leave a smooth surface on a wall or ceiling. The main binding
material may be cement (when it is known in the UK as render), or lime, or gypsum, the latter
Plaster: two being restricted to internal use; in any case there will be a filler of sand, or in proprietary
prepackaged plasters, powdered vermiculite. (Fr. plâtre, m; enduit (m) interieur).
A sandwich made of two sheets of cardboard with a gypsum plaster filling, typically 9mm or
12mm thick. Nailed or screwed to studs, joists or rafters as a carrier for a plaster skim finish, or
Plasterboard: plasterboards with chamfered edges can be jointed so that they act as a finish without being
skimmed with plaster. Plasterboard helps to provide the resistance to fire of buildings. (Fr.
placoplâtre, m, from a trade name).
Plum: A large stone or piece of solid concrete used as a filler in mass concrete.
Plumb: Vertical or verticality, measured using a plumbline or plumbrule or these days a spirit level.
The surface treatment of the mortar between bricks or other masonry units. There are various
Pointing: styles of pointing: flush, struck and weathered, recessed, tuck, bucket handle etc. (Fr.
jontoiement, m).
Poling board: A short strong board used in the temporary timbering of excavations and tunnels.
A structural frame consisting of two columns and a cross beam, with rigid
Portal frame: connections. Often used for singlestorey warehouses and workshops. The
crossbeam is often formed as two rafters to make a pitched roof shape.
A hydraulic cement used almost universally for making concrete and other cement based
Portland
products. Socalled because concrete made with it resembles limestone from the Isle of
cement:
Portland.
Post stressed
Concrete strengthened with steel wires which are stressed after the concrete has cured.
concrete:
The unit of mass in the imperial system of weights and measures. Confusingly, the same word
Pound: is also used sometimes for a unit of force, more accurately called a poundforce. The UK's unit
of currency called a pound was originally the value of a pound of 'sterling' silver.
Poundal: A unit of force in the imperial system of weights and measures.
Precast
Concrete components made in a factory or yard and transported to the site.
concrete:
Prestressed
Concrete strengthened with steel wires which are stressed before the concrete is poured.
concrete:
Professional
Insurance against claims against a professional person or practice.
indemnity:
Progressive The process wherein the collapse of part of a building leads to the collapse of an adjacent part in
collapse: 'house of cards' fashion.
Traditional infill between timber floor joists intended to enhance the acoustic insulation of the
Pugging: floor. It may occupy the whole depth of the floor or only part of it. Materials used include sand,
mortar, concrete, straw and sea shells.
Pulverised fuel A fine white powder resulting from burning powdered coal in power stations, which can be
ash: used to supplement cement in making concrete for civil engineering works.
A horizontal structural member which supports a sloping roof covering, with or
Purlin: without rafters, and which carries the roof loads to the primary framing
members. (Fr., panne, f).
A horizontal scaffold member one end of which is built into the wall. Putlog scaffolds are not
Putlog or much used these days because they can be dangerous, and because the hole in the wall has to be
putlock: repaired when the scaffold is taken down.
Q:
A quarter of a circle. The name is also used for various things in this shape, such as a timber
Quadrant:
moulding, a corner kerbstone, or a historic navigational instrument.
Queen post
truss: A truss with two posts directly supporting the purlins.
Quoin: The external corner where two brick walls meet.
R:
Rafter: Sloping structural member supporting a roof. (Fr. chevron, m).
Readymixed
Mixed in a batching plant and delivered in readymix trucks.
concrete:
Recessed
Flat pointing set back from the surface of the bricks.
pointing:
Rectangular
A structural steel component in the shape of a steel tube with a rectangular cross section.
hollow section:
Concrete reinforced with steel bars to make a versatile structural material which is very strong
Reinforced
in bending, shear, tension and compression, unlike plain concrete which is strong only in
concrete:
compression.
(Also known as rebar). Steel bars for reinforcing concrete. They are bent into
Reinforcement: special shapes according to the Engineer's bending schedule, and fitted into the
correct position by a skilled operative called a steelfixer.
Render: Cementbased wall plaster.
Retains soil on one side. May be made of masonry, reinforced concrete, or various other
Retaining wall:
traditional or proprietary structural systems.
A percentage withheld from a contractor's payment until an agreed time after the work is
Retention:
complete.
The top of a pitched roof, where roof planes that slope in opposite directions meet. (Fr. faîte,
Ridge: m).
A thin timber used to align the tops of the rafters. In most roofs the ridge board
Ridge board:
is not a load bearing member. (Fr. planche (f) faîtière).
Ridge tile: A curved tile which covers the ridge on a pitched roof.
Riser: Vertical board rising from the back of one tread of a staircase to the front of the next.
Water soaking up through the walls of the building. May be prevented by the use of a damp
Rising damp:
proof course in the walls.
Before structural steel I and H sections became available engineers made up
sections by joining narrow plates together using steel rivets with a head formed
by hammering while redhot. Rivets are no longer used for connecting structural
Rivet: steelwork in the UK, with fabrications mostly replaced by ready made sections,
and with bolting and welding available which are both faster and safer for
connections. The presence of rivets in an existing structure can help in dating it,
and usually indicates steelwork dating to before about the 1950s.
One of a range of I and Hshaped steel members. Only small sizes of joist are still produced,
Rolled steel joistmost of the larger sizes having been replaced by Universal Beam and Universal Column
(RSJ): sections. RSJs were originally devised for use in fillerjoist construction.
A brick arch in which the bricks are rectangular and the arch shape is formed by means of the
Rough arch:
mortar joints being wedgeshaped. (cf 'axed arch').
S:
Aggregate consisting of mineral particles whose size is generally less than 5mm; fine aggregate.
Sand:
Merchants in the UK supply soft sand and coarse or fine sharp sand.
Sandlime brick:A kind of calcium silicate brick.
The traditional type of window which opens by sliding up and down. The frame is called a box
frame, because the side members are hollow wooden boxes inside which the counterweights
Sash window: slide up and down. The biggest problems with them are that overzealous painting leaves them
jammed shut, and the sashcords have frequently to be replaced. Modern versions are available
incorporating draught proofing and springs instead of weights.
A framework for temporary access to building works. The traditional way to
build a scaffold in the UK used to be with timber poles connected together with
wire bonds. Standardised 1 15/16 inch (49mm) steel tube with proprietary steel
Scaffold: connectors came into widespread use after the second world war, based on war
surplus tubing that had been used in beach defenses. Various proprietary
scaffolding systems are also available and may cost less, but "tube and fittings"
scaffolding has the advantage of flexibility. (Fr. échafaudage, m).
Scaffold board: Timber boards used to make walkways on a scaffold.
The crosssectional dimensions of a length of timber; the principal dimensions of a shaped
Scantling:
stone; a piece of timber of a specific size.
Scarf: A traditional woodworking joint for extending the length of a timber.
A temporary rail, installed at a specific level, to enable concrete to be finished at the correct
Screed: level. Also sand and cement, mixed rather dry, laid on a (usually concrete) floor and screeded
and trowelled to make a smooth surface. (Fr. chape, f).
Screw: Threaded fastener.
Contiguous piles where each pile cuts into the one before, to make a moreorless waterproof
Secant piles:
retainingwall.
(See first fix). Work which takes place after plastering, for example, fixing light switches,
Second fix:
skirtings.
Services: See: Building services.
The process of making sure that a building or structure is built in the correct position and the
Settingout:
right size.
The small downwards movement of foundations when the weight of the building comes onto
Settlement: them, due to compression of the soil. Tends to be negligible in clay soil but can be significant in
sand. (Fr. tassement, m).
Shake: A defect of timber: damage caused by rough handling.
Sand which, unlike soft sand, does not include fine silt or clay particles, making it more suitable
Sharp sand:
for use in concrete and screed.
The force which tends to make the top and bottom flanges or fibres of a beam move parallel to
Shear or shear
one another. The web of the beam resists the shear force, which is at its greatest at the ends of
force:
the beam next to where it rests on its supports.
Sheerlegs: A lifting device using two timber poles fixed together at the top.
Shingle: Aggregate consisting of stones whose size is between 5 and 10mm. Also, a wooden roof tile.
Shuttering: Formwork.
Sill: Projecting moulding at the bottom of a window or door. (Also spelled cill).
Simply Describes a beam which rests on a support at each end, that is, it is not supported at more than
supported: two points, is not held rigidly by the supports, and does not form part of a larger framework.
Skirting: Timber or other moulding around the base of a wall.
Supports a timber ground floor, and is often built in honeycomb brickwork to allow ventilation
Sleeper wall:
of the space under the floor.
A metal sheet bent at a rightangle, part of the waterproof flashing of the junction of a tiled or
Soaker:
slated roof abutting a wall.
The underside of a building component such as a lintel or beam. A board fitted to the underside
Soffite: of the ends of rafters or flat roof joists.
Sand which includes fine silt or clay particles, which make it more suitable for making mortar
Soft sand:
or render than sharp sand.
Timber from a coniferous tree, i.e. most of the timber used in construction. Softwood timber
Softwood: comes in a variety of grades, the most common for structural use being classes C16 (for general
use) and C24 (stronger timber with fewer knots and defects). (Fr. bois (m) resineux).
In engineering, the soil is all the solid materials below the earth's surface, including rock, sand,
Soil:
clay and so on.
Soil Mechanics: The science of the strength of soil.
Soldier: A vertical member in a retainingwall, especially in temporary works.
Sole plate: A timber placed on the floor as the base for a partition.
Special (brick): A brick specially made in a nonstandard shape.
Special
Defined, in the Party Wall act, as foundations incorporating steel.
foundations:
Spine wall or In traditional domestic construction, a load bearing partition between the front and rear rooms
partition: of the house. It supports the upper floors and, usually, the roof.
A steelwork connection for joining (for example) two lengths of column to form a longer
Splice: column. Beams can also be spliced, but the splice must not, if possible, be in the middle of the
beam where the bending moment is greatest.
Springing: The masonry supporting an arch.
Square: Rectangular, or at a right angle; the tool used for checking rectangularity.
Square hollow
A structural steel section in the shape of a square tube.
section:
Squint: A special brick for use on a corner which is not a rightangle.
Stanchion: Steel column.
Standard: A vertical tube in scaffolding.
A metal based on iron, with the addition of carefully defined quantities of carbon and other
elements to produce a metal with specific qualities. Structural steel is used for steel frames and
Steel: is weldable and easily cut and shaped. Steel reinforcement (qv) is designed to be cut and bent to
shape. Modern steel use dates from the invention of the Bessemer converter, and the modern
product differs from the older types of steel from which weapons were made. (Fr. acier, m)
Steel angle: A structural steel component, the cross section of which is Lshaped.
Steelfixer: A worker who specialises in placing reinforcement for reinforced concrete.
Stepped Metal flashing cut in a stepped pattern to waterproof the junction of a tiled or slated roof with a
flashing: brick wall.
The traditional handmade brick without a frog, made by moulding clay in a
Stock brick:
wooden mould or 'stock'.
The amount by which something has changed length, measured as a percentage of its original
Strain:
length.
A component, usually steel, installed to ensure that walls are connected to and restrained by
Strap:
floors.
Force divided by area, measured in (for example) Newtons per square millimetre, or pounds per
Stress:
square foot.
(Of timber) tested and marked with a strength grade. The two grades of
Stress graded: softwood most used in construction are C16 or General Structural grade, and
C24 or Special Structural grade.
Stretcher: A brick whose longest side is visible on the surface of the wall. See header.
A brickwork bond consisting only of stretchers, suitable for halfbrick thick walls and cavity
Stretcher bond:
walls.
Stringer: Angled structural beam supporting the treads and risers of a staircase.
Strike: Dismantle (scaffold or falsework).
Struck and
Finished with a sloping surface, recessed slightly at the top and protruding slightly at the bottom
weathered
of the joint.
pointing:
A branch of engineering dealing with structures, such as buildings and bridges. In the UK
Structural structural engineers became distinguished from Civil Engineers when they started to specialise
Engineering: in the new structural material reinforced concrete in the early 20th century, although they soon
began to work in all structural materials.
Glass used in situations where it will or may support more than just its own weight. Glass
Structural glass:
balustrades, stairs and floor panels are becoming common.
Structural
A frame of steel sections supporting other parts of the structure.
steelwork:
Stucco: Rendering shaped and painted to resemble ashlar stonework.
A timber post in a studwork partition or in traditional timberframed
Stud:
construction. There are also steel studs made of lightweight galvanized steel.
A type of partition formed from studs at close intervals, traditionally clad with lath and plaster,
Studwork:
now with plasterboard.
A downwards movement, especially a movement of foundations. The term is most often used to
Subsidence: describe the movement of foundations on clay soil, when the soil shrinks due to becoming drier.
(Fr. affaissement, m).
Sulphates in soil or ground water can damage cement based blocks, mortar or concrete. Special
Sulphate/sulfate:sulphateresisting cement can be used to resist it. Sulphates in the ground are often a result of
industrial pollution.
The system of units, based on the metre, kilogram and second, used by engineers in the UK and
Systeme elsewhere. The metre and kilogram are divided and multiplied by 1000 to make larger and
international smaller units. Many think it is an odd system which is based on a unit, the kilogram, which is
(S.I.): itself a multiple of another unit, being 1000 grams.
T:
Temporary
A levelling base point of known level. See bench mark.
bench mark:
Temporary
Propping or shoring to enable the permanent works to be carried out.
works:
A pulling force, such as that experienced by a cable, or in the bottom flange of a beam with a
Tension:
load on it.
An optical instrument used by land surveyors for surveying and by engineers and builders for
Theodolite:
settingout lines and angles on the ground.
Any member which provides a tensile force to tie two other members together, especially, the
Tie: bottom horizontal member of a roof truss, and (in a steel framed structure) steel beams whose
main function is to tie columns together.
Tile: Ceramic unit for wall decoration or roof weathering.
Timber: Wood suitable for use in construction. In the UK it is usually softwood. (Fr bois, m).
Timber Various kinds of steel fixings designed to make highstrength connections in timber
connector: construction.
Construction in which the main load bearing elements are timber. Traditional
Timberframed: timberframed or 'halftimbered' houses are one example; modern timber
framing uses timber load bearing panels made of studwork clad with plywood.
Unit of mass or weight in the imperial system of weights. The UK or 'long' ton is equal to 20
Ton:
hundredweights, 2240 pounds, or 1016 kg. In the US a 'short ton' of 2000 pounds is used.
Tonne: Unit of mass in the SI system. Equal to 1000 kilograms.
Top plate: A horizontal timber on top of a partition to receive the floor or roof timbers.
A crane with the jib mounted at the top of a tower, to give clearance over obstructions. They
Tower crane: may be static or tracked, with a rigid or 'luffing' (vertically hinged) jib. They are usually
electrically operated.
Town planning
or town and The original name of the discipline and process which is these days generally known simply as
country planning.
planning:
Trade: The various types of construction workers: electricians, carpenters, joiners and such like.
Tread: A single step of a staircase.
A component of scaffolding: a horizontal tube supporting the boards. Also a horizontal member
Transome:
in joinery, for example the part of the frame between an upper and lower window.
Tree
preservation An order under planning regulations, protecting a tree or group of trees from damage.
order:
A joist which carries extra loads, for example, those due to an opening or a partition. Trimmers
Trimmer: should be stronger than the normal joists. Traditionally they were thicker, these days extra
strength is achieved by bolting two or more timbers together.
An arrangement of steel or timber components designed to span across a large distance to
Truss:
support a roof, floor or bridge.
Wooden trusses, usually triangular in shape, spanning between the external
walls at 600mm centres or thereabouts to form a roof. They are cheap and easy
Trussed rafters: to use for new roofs and do not require internal support from beams or
partitions, but their disadvantage is that they restrict the use of the loft space
more than conventional 'cut timber' roofs.
A difficult and expensive form of pointing. The joint is flush pointed with mortar coloured to
Tuck pointing: match the bricks, and a very thin false joint is cut into the mortar and pointed in lime putty of a
contrasting colour. Very difficult to get done today – the art is nearly lost.
The plainest of the five classical orders of architecture, similar to the Doric but
Tuscan order:
with a plain rather than fluted shaft.
Traditional timber connection, typically used to connect trimmers around a
Tusk tenon hearth. The tenon extends through the main joist and is fitted with a wooden
joint: wedge to stop the joint from opening up. In modern construction a steel bracket
would be used instead, unless one were restoring a historical building.
U:
Making existing foundations deeper (by extending them downwards). Usually done with mass
Underpinning:
concrete but other high and lowtech methods are available.
A standardised steel component which is Ishaped in cross section. Over 70 different sizes are
available in two main steel grades. The Universal Beam and Universal Column were introduced
Universal Beam:in the late 1950s and were based on American patterns, and rolled in new 'universal' rolling
mills. They replaced a range of sections which had been developed by various UK
manufacturers over the preceding century.
A standardised steel component which is Hshaped in crosssection. About 30
Universal different sizes are available in the UK, in two main steel grades. The same
Column: comments apply as to Universal Beam above.
V:
Valley: The meeting of two roof planes at an internal angle; the rafter which forms the junction.
Valuation: Building work is valued monthly by the Quantity Surveyor or Contract Administrator.
Vanity unit: Washbasin built in to the top of a cupboard.
Variation: A change to the building contract due to an instruction issued by the Contract Administrator.
An ancient form of construction consisting of masonry formed in an arched
Vault:
shape.
Vermiculated: Of stonework: carved in a random pattern fancifully comparable with the appearance of worms.
Vermiculite: An expanded mineral used as lightweight aggregate in concrete and other filling applications.
Vierendeel
A type of truss consisting of vertical and horizontal members arranged like a ladder on its side.
girder:
Voussoir: One of the stones or bricks forming an arch.
W:
Waling: Horizontal steel or timber member in a retainingwall, especially in temporary works.
A defect of timber. The timber section is too small because it was cut too close to the edge of
Wane:
the trunk.
The middle plate of an Ibeam, Hbeam or channel. The web connects the two flanges, and
Web:
resists shear forces.
Weight: A force resulting from the effect of gravity on a mass.
A technique for joining steel components by the deposition of small drops of molten steel which
Welding:
bonds to the parent metal.
Engineers have made great efforts to understand wind loading since the Tay Bridge disaster in
Wind load:
1879.
Withes: (Pronounced whiffs)The usually halfbrick thick dividers between flues in a chimney.
Woodscrew: Threaded fastener for use in wood.
Y:
Yard: The principal unit of length in the Imperial system; three feet, equal to 914.4mm.
Young's A measure of the elasticity of a material. Defined as stress divided by strain; see modulus of
modulus: elasticity.
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Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms

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Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms

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Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms

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12/8/2014 Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms | Aleck Associates Ltd, Structural Engineers in London UK ­ Structural consultant ­ structural engineering ­ str…

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12/8/2014 Glossary of Structural Engineering Terms | Aleck Associates Ltd, Structural Engineers in London UK Structural consultant structural engineering str…