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UNDERSTAND YOUR BUILDING PROJECT

Construction dictionary

Does ‘ring beam’ sound like something at the gym? Does ‘footing’ make you think of footwear? Look up a word from your project and discover what it means, in plain language.

Muestras de ladrillo, hormigón, madera y acero sobre una mesa de obra; imagen ilustrativa
2,147 construction and renovation terms9 specialtiesEasy-to-understand definitions

Building terms, clearly explained.

2,147 terms found

Joinery and finishes

Elastomeric paint

Pintura elastomérica

Flexible paint formulated to accommodate small deformations within its declared performance limits.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electric arc

Arco eléctrico

Electrical discharge through a gas that can produce very high temperatures and intense light.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electric current

Corriente eléctrica

Movement of electrical charges through a conducting material that supplies equipment with energy.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electric door release

Abrepuertas eléctrico

Mechanism releasing a door's latch when it receives an electrical control command.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electric doorbell

Timbre eléctrico

Sound-producing device announcing a call when activated by a pushbutton or signal.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electric storage heater

Acumulador eléctrico de calefacción

A component of a heating installation used to store heat in dense materials to release it at another time.

Plumbing and drainage

Electric storage water heater

Termo eléctrico

A component within a technical installation whose purpose is to heat and store water using an electrically powered resistance element.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical access point

Registro eléctrico

Accessible point along a cable route allowing inspection or access to electrical components.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical battery

Batería eléctrica

Set of cells storing energy through electrochemical reactions and delivering it as electricity.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical circuit

Circuito eléctrico

Set of conductors and components intended to supply particular equipment or points of use.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical conductor

Conductor eléctrico

Material or component that carries electric current between points in an installation.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical connector

Conector eléctrico

Device making a detachable electrical connection between cables, equipment or other components.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical energy

Energía eléctrica

Energy consumed or generated over a period, commonly measured in kilowatt hours.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical energy storage

Almacenamiento eléctrico

System retaining energy to supply loads or a network at a later time.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical frequency

Frecuencia eléctrica

Number of alternating-current cycles occurring each second, expressed using the unit hertz.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical harmonics

Armónicos eléctricos

Components at multiples of the fundamental frequency that distort current or voltage waveforms.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical installation

Instalación eléctrica

Arrangement of cables, protective devices and equipment distributing electricity throughout a building.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical installation certificate

Boletín eléctrico

Common name for the electrical installation certificate documenting its characteristics and checks.

Work and tools

Electrical insulating gloves

Guantes aislantes eléctricos

Gloves with electrical insulating properties for applications and voltages covered by their classification.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical insulator

Aislante eléctrico

Material that restricts current flow and separates conductive parts within an electrical installation.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical load

Carga eléctrica

Equipment or a group of devices drawing energy from a circuit or supply.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical overload

Sobrecarga eléctrica

Current demand greater than the intended capacity of a circuit during normal operation.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical panel

Cuadro eléctrico

Assembly bringing together the devices that control and protect electrical circuits.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical plug

Clavija eléctrica

Component with contacts inserted into a socket to supply an electrical appliance.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical power

Potencia eléctrica

Amount of electrical energy transferred per unit of time, usually expressed in watts.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical pushbutton

Pulsador eléctrico

Accessory temporarily changing a contact while operated and returning to its original position afterwards.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical resistance

Resistencia eléctrica

Opposition offered by a material to the flow of current, expressed in ohms.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical service connection

Acometida eléctrica

Connection bringing electricity from the external network to the building's supply entrance.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical terminal

Borna eléctrica

Connection point securing a conductor and electrically joining it to another component.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrical transformer

Transformador eléctrico

Equipment changing alternating voltage levels through magnetic coupling between its electrical windings.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electricity meter

Contador eléctrico

Device recording electrical energy consumed or exchanged at a particular supply point.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electricity self-consumption

Autoconsumo eléctrico

Use within a property of electricity generated by a system associated with its consumption.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electricity surplus

Excedente eléctrico

Generated electricity not immediately used by the loads associated with the generating system.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electronic lock

Cerradura electrónica

Lock incorporating an electrical or electronic system to manage opening and access authorisation.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Electrothermal actuator

Actuador electrotérmico

A component of a heating installation used to move a valve through expansion of an electrically heated element.

Work and tools

Elevation drawing

Plano de alzado

Drawing showing the appearance of one vertical face of the building.

Electrical and HVAC systems

Emergency lighting

Alumbrado de emergencia

Lighting operating when the normal supply fails to assist orientation and evacuation.

Insulation and damp

Emissivity

Emisividad

Relative ability of a surface to emit thermal radiation compared with a blackbody at the same temperature.

Joinery and finishes

Emulsion paint

Pintura plástica

Water-based paint with resins, common on walls and ceilings; performance depends on the product.

Joinery and finishes

Enamel paint

Esmalte

Paint producing a resistant uniform finishing film on substrates compatible with its formulation.

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Technical references consulted

Definitions written in plain language using technical reference documentation.