Geotechnical investigation
Estudio geotécnicoGround investigation providing information for foundation design and other project decisions.
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.
2,147 construction and renovation terms9 specialtiesEasy-to-understand definitions
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Building terms, clearly explained.
2,147 terms found
Geotechnical model
Modelo geotécnicoRepresentation of subsurface layers, properties, and groundwater used to analyze ground behavior.
Geotextile
GeotextilPermeable textile product used against ground for separation, filtration, or reinforcement.
Glare
DeslumbramientoDiscomfort or reduced visibility caused by excessive brightness differences within the visual field.
Glass cutter
CortavidriosCutting tool that scores a surface line to guide the breaking of annealed glass.
Glass suction lifter
Ventosa para vidrioTool attaching to glass by vacuum to make holding and moving it easier.
Glass wool
Lana de vidrioInsulation made from glass fibres and used in thermal and acoustic building solutions.
Glass-break detector
Detector de rotura de cristalSensor recognising characteristics of breaking glass and reporting an event to the security system.
Glaze crazing
Craquelado cerámicoNetwork of glaze cracks, intentional for decoration or caused by incompatible dimensional changes.
Glazed gallery
Galería acristaladaSpace that forms an elongated area beside a facade enclosed with glass.
Glazed tile
Baldosa esmaltadaTile with a glassy surface layer providing colour, texture and finishing properties.
Glazed wall tile
AzulejoGenerally porous glazed ceramic tile used primarily to cover internal wall surfaces.
Glazing bead
JunquilloRetaining profile holding the glass in position within a window frame or sash.
Glazing cavity
Cámara de acristalamientoSealed space between panes of an insulating unit filled with air or another specified gas.
Glazing spacer
Intercalario de acristalamientoPerimeter profile maintaining separation between panes and forming part of the insulating unit’s edge seal.
Globe valve
Válvula de asientoA component of a water installation that helps to regulate flow by pressing a closure against its seat.
Gloss finish
Acabado brillanteFinish with high specular reflection emphasising light and irregularities in the supporting surface.
Glued laminated timber
Madera laminada encoladaMember made from bonded timber laminations with grain mainly parallel to its length.
Grain direction
Dirección de la fibraPredominant longitudinal orientation of wood cells, strongly influencing mechanical properties.
Granite
GranitoIgneous rock rich in quartz and feldspars, used for countertops, floors and cladding.
Granular soil
Suelo granularSoil consisting mainly of sand or gravel particles, with behavior governed principally by friction.
Granulated blast-furnace slag
Escoria granulada de alto hornoRapidly cooled ironmaking by-product that can act as a cementitious constituent when ground.
Graphic scale
Escala gráficaRelationship between drawing and real distances through a graduated bar.
Graphite EPS
EPS con grafitoExpanded polystyrene containing graphite particles that modify radiative heat transfer within the insulation material.
Gravity retaining wall
Muro de gravedadRetaining wall whose stability relies principally on its own weight.
Gravity roof outlet
Sumidero gravitatorioDrain conveying water by gravity through pipes that normally also contain air.
GRC panel
Panel GRCGlass-fibre-reinforced cement mortar element used to form components of an external facade.
Grease separator
Separador de grasasA component of the sanitary installation used to retain floating grease before it reaches the drainage network.
Green roof
Cubierta ajardinadaRoof incorporating vegetation and dedicated layers for growing medium, drainage and waterproof protection.
Greywater
Aguas grisesUsed water from showers, washbasins or other household tasks, excluding toilets.
Greywater reuse
Reutilización de aguas grisesUse of selected domestic wastewater after treatment appropriate for its intended purpose.
Grid export
Vertido a redDelivery of generated electricity to the external network through a connection point.
Gross measurement
Medición brutaTotal quantity before subtracting openings or other deductions.
Ground anchor
Anclaje al terrenoElement transferring tensile forces from a structure into a resisting zone of the ground.
Ground bearing capacity
Capacidad portante del terrenoResistance of the ground to support loads without a geotechnical bearing failure.
Ground floor
Planta bajaFloor that is at the usual level of access from outside.
Ground heat probe
Sonda geotérmicaA component of a climate control installation used to circulate fluid through a borehole to exchange heat with the subsurface.
Ground heave
Hinchamiento del terrenoUpward movement caused by soil expansion, potentially lifting foundations or surfaces resting on it.
Ground permeability
Permeabilidad del terrenoAbility of the ground to allow water to flow through its interconnected pores.
Ground preloading
Precarga del terrenoTemporary load applied before construction to induce part of the anticipated settlement in advance.
Understanding line items makes comparison easier.
Use the dictionary as you review the materials, work and terms in your quote.
Technical references consulted
Definitions written in plain language using technical reference documentation.
- Fundación MUSAAT · Zapata
- Fundación MUSAAT · Zuncho
- ANFAPA · SATE
- CTE: Documento Básico SE-C Cimientos
- CTE: Documento Básico SE-A Acero
- CTE: Documento Básico SE-F Fábrica
- CTE: Documento Básico SE-M Madera
- European Commission JRC: Eurocode 7 geotechnical design examples
- WoodWorks: What is mass timber?
- Steel Construction Institute / BCSA: Member design
- American Concrete Institute: Self-consolidating concrete
- American Shotcrete Association: About shotcrete
- American Cement Association: types of cement
- NRMCA: Concrete in Practice technical topics
- FHWA: Alkali-silica reaction mechanisms
- American Concrete Institute: Chlorides and reinforcement corrosion
- Concrete Society: Carbonation of concrete
- American Concrete Institute: Guide to estimating prestress losses
- European Commission JRC: Major concepts of the EN Eurocodes
- CTE: Documento Básico SE Seguridad estructural
- CTE: Documento Básico SE-AE Acciones en la edificación
- Steel Construction Institute / BCSA: Composite construction
- Steel Construction Institute / BCSA: Welding
- Steel Construction Institute / BCSA: Steel construction products
- Steel Construction Institute / BCSA: Simple connections
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Wood handbook
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Wood composite materials
- WoodWorks: Index of mass timber connections
- Structural Timber Association: Timber systems
- Hispalyt: ejecución of fábricas of ladrillo, colocación
- American Cement Association: applications of cement
- ITeC: evaluación técnica of mortero of cal para revoco
- USG: joint compound technical data
- Sika: backer rod and sealant joint geometry
- Natural Stone Institute: varieties of stone
- Natural Stone Institute: technical bulletins
- Tikkurila: common painting problems
- Bona: recoating wood floors
- Placo: soluciones of yesos of terminación
- Kreidezeit: Tadelakt technical information
- Mapei: adhesive classification and selection
- Forbo: linoleum raw materials
- CTE DB-HS: Salubridad
- CTE DA DB-HE/1: Parámetros of la envolvente
- CTE DA DB-HE/2: Condensaciones
- CTE DA DB-HE/3: Puentes térmicos
- CTE DB-HR: Protección frente al ruido
- SOPREMA: Blue roofs and stormwater
- Building Science Corporation: Understanding Air Barriers
- Sika: Single-ply roof membranes
- SOPREMA: Tecnologías of impermeabilización
- Aliaxis: Akasison siphonic roof drainage systems
- ITeC: Evaluaciones DAU of sistemas of fachada
- CSTB: Laboratoire façades
- EOTA EAD 040083-01-0404: External thermal insulation composite systems with rendering system
- US Department of Energy: Guide to cool roofs
- Passive House Institute: Airtightness measurements
- Passive House Institute: Grundlagenwissen Luftdichtheit
- pro clima: Humidity-variable vapour control
- US EPA: Types of green infrastructure
- Saint-Gobain Glass: Acoustic laminated glass
- Saint-Gobain Glass: Solar control and low-emissivity coatings
- Saint-Gobain Glass: Glazing cavities and warm-edge spacers
- IDAE — La bomba of calor en la rehabilitación energética of edificios
- IDAE — Instalaciones of climatización con equipos autónomos
- IDAE — Instalaciones of climatización por agua
- IDAE — Sistemas of intercambio geotérmico of circuito cerrado
- U.S. Department of Energy — Whole-House Ventilation
- U.S. Department of Energy — Heat Pump Water Heaters
- U.S. EPA — Types of Septic Systems
- U.S. EPA — Point-of-Use Reverse Osmosis Systems
- U.S. EPA — Home Water Treatment Guide
- U.S. EPA — HEPA Filters
- Caleffi — Separation in Hydronic Systems
- Caleffi — Hydraulic Separators
- Grundfos — Non-return Valve
- Honeywell — SV2 Safety Shut-off Valves
- CDC — Legionella Control
- CDC — Carbon Monoxide Basics
- Schneider Electric — Electrical Installation Guide: Earthing schemes
- IET — Residual current devices
- Schneider Electric — Arc fault detection devices
- U.S. Department of Energy — Solar Photovoltaic Technology Basics
- Cisco — What is Power over Ethernet?
- INSST — Fichas of selección y uso of EPI
- INSST — Equipos of trabajo y máquinas: Listado of NTP
- Siemens — Aspirating smoke detectors
- DALI Alliance — Introducing DALI
- Schneider Electric — Types of RCDs
- KNX Association — What is KNX?
- U.S. Department of Energy — Solar Integration: Inverters and Grid Services Basics
- CharIN — Technical Details CCS (Basic)
- Televés — PAUs (Cajas), distribución of telefonía
- Fluke Networks — What parameters are tested with the CableIQ?
- Tyco Fire — Solenoid valves for deluge and preaction systems
- Autodesk: architectural drawings
- RICS: New Rules of Measurement
- National Park Service: Preservation Briefs
- HSE: demolition
- ASSA ABLOY: door controls
- EGGER: wood-based boards
- Pilkington: solar control glass
- Festool: circular saws for carpentry
- Pilkington: float glass manufacturing
- Pilkington: toughened and heat-strengthened glass
- Autodesk: clash detection setup
- Autodesk: common data environment
- Bohle: suction lifters for glass
- ISO: air permeability test method
- Barcelona City Council: building works authorisation
- ChovA: roof drain outlets