Borehole core
Testigo geotécnicoCylindrical sample recovered during drilling to inspect materials and geological discontinuities.
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
Bottle trap
Sifón de botellaA component of the sanitary installation used to form a water seal inside an enlarged removable body.
Bottom-hung window
Ventana oscilanteWindow that tilts the sash inwards around a lower horizontal axis.
Brace
RiostraMember connecting and stabilizing other structural members by limiting their relative movements.
Break tank
Depósito de rotura de cargaA component of a water installation that helps to separate networks hydraulically and interrupt their pressure continuity.
Breaking capacity
Poder de corteMaximum current a switching device can interrupt under defined testing conditions.
Brick bed face
Tabla del ladrilloLargest face of a brick, normally used as its bearing surface.
Brick bedding by sliding
Colocación a restregónSeating a brick using pressure and slight sliding over fresh bedding mortar.
Brick header face
Testa del ladrilloShort end face of a brick defined by its width and thickness.
Brick jointer
LlagueroNarrow tool designed to compact or shape the exposed mortar joints.
Brick length
SogaLongest brick dimension; also denotes its lengthwise orientation along a wall face.
Brick stretcher face
Canto del ladrilloLong narrow brick face defined by the unit's length and thickness.
Brick-on-edge masonry
PandereteArrangement with bricks resting on their narrow longitudinal face, forming thin masonry.
Bricklaying trowel
PaletaMasonry tool used to pick up, place and work small quantities of mortar.
Brise-soleil
External assembly of shading elements designed for orientation to reduce the facade’s solar exposure.
Brittleness
FragilidadTendency of a material to fracture with little preceding plastic deformation.
Brushed stone finish
Cepillado de piedraTreatment with abrasive brushes smoothing raised areas and modifying the stone surface texture.
Buckling
PandeoInstability producing substantial lateral deformation in a compressed member when critical conditions are reached.
Budget contingency
Contingencia presupuestariaFinancial allowance for uncertainties and unforeseen work.
Buffer tank
Depósito de inerciaA component of a climate control installation used to store circuit water to stabilize flow and thermal operation.
Building automation
InmóticaAutomation and coordinated management of services in shared-use, commercial or other non-residential buildings.
Building bay
CrujíaSpace that forms a strip between two parallel lines of supports or walls.
Building conservation
Conservación del edificioMaintaining and protecting existing components to limit deterioration.
Building defect manifestation
Lesión constructivaVisible or measurable manifestation of deterioration, such as cracks, stains, distortion or detachment.
Building depth
Profundidad edificadaDistance from the main facade to the rear built boundary.
Building diagnosis
Diagnóstico constructivoIdentification of a problem's causes and extent through building observations, measurements and tests.
Building drainage
SaneamientoNetwork collecting and discharging wastewater and, depending on the system, rainwater.
Building gypsum plaster
Yeso de construcciónCalcium-sulfate-based binder that hardens when mixed with water for construction applications.
Building information dossier
Libro del edificioDocument recording information about the completed building and its maintenance instructions.
Building information model
Modelo de información del edificioDigital representation linking building geometry with data about its elements and characteristics.
Building orientation
Orientación del edificioArrangement of facades and spaces relative to compass directions.
Building pathology
Patología constructivaStudy of damage or problems in a building and their causes.
Building repair
Reparación constructivaCorrecting local damage and restoring the affected element's function.
Building works permit
Licencia de obraAdministrative permission to carry out certain works under the municipality's conditions and procedure.
Built floor area
Superficie construidaArea including building elements according to the measurement method used.
Built-up steel girder
Viga armada de aceroBeam fabricated by joining plates or other components into a specifically designed load-bearing section.
Bullnose stone edge
Canto redondeado de piedraConvex curved edge profile used to finish stone countertops and stair treads.
Burnished finish
BruñidoPressure-smoothed finish that densifies the surface and increases its visible sheen.
Bus cable
Cable de busCable carrying shared communication signals between several devices in a control installation.
Busbar assembly
EmbarradoSet of conductive bars distributing current between devices inside an electrical board.
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