Bush-hammered finish
AbujardadoRough finish produced by percussion with a tool having toothed heads or points.
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
Butane
ButanoCombustible gas that can be stored liquefied under pressure in suitable containers.
Butt joint
Unión a topeJoint bringing ends or faces together without overlaps or interlocking profiles.
Butt weld
Soldadura a topeWeld joining components along opposing edges, with preparation and penetration as specified by design.
Butterfly valve
Válvula de mariposaA component of a water installation that helps to control flow with a rotating internal disc.
Buttress
ContrafuerteMember attached to a wall to improve stability against thrust or lateral actions.
Butyl mastic
Masilla butílicaButyl-rubber-based sealing product, normally remaining plastic and having relatively low permeability.
Bypass diode
Diodo de derivaciónComponent providing an alternative current path around particular parts of a solar module.
C1 adhesive
Adhesivo C1Cementitious adhesive class meeting normal adhesion performance requirements under the standardised classification.
C2 adhesive
Adhesivo C2Cementitious adhesive class with improved adhesion performance compared with class C1 requirements.
Cable clamp
Abrazadera de cableFastening component holding a cable or group of cables against a support.
Cable cutter
CortacablesTool with blades or jaws designed to cut cables within a specified capacity.
Cable gland
PrensaestopasFitting securing and sealing the entry of a cable into a box or device.
Cable ladder
Escalerilla portacablesCable support with side rails and crosspieces providing routes with good ventilation.
Cable locator
Detector de cablesInstrument helping locate hidden conductor routes through electrical or electromagnetic signal detection.
Cable lug
Terminal de cableConductive fitting attached to a cable end to facilitate connection to another component.
Cable pulling guide
Guía pasacablesFlexible component facilitating the passage of cables through the inside of a conduit.
Cable sheath
Cubierta de cableOuter layer protecting the components of a cable against influences from its surroundings.
Cable tie
Brida de cableAdjustable strip bundling cables or fastening lightweight components during installation work.
Cable tray
Bandeja portacablesContinuous open or perforated support carrying cables along their planned installation route.
Cable trunking
Canaleta eléctricaCovered channel organising and protecting cables along walls or other building surfaces.
Cabling certification
Certificación de cableadoInstrument-based verification of installed link performance against the project's specified technical criteria.
Calcareous onyx
Ónix calcáreoBanded carbonate decorative stone, often translucent, distinct from silica-based mineral onyx varieties.
Calcium silicate brick
Ladrillo silicocalcáreoUnit made from sand, lime and water, hardened using pressurised steam.
Camber
ContraflechaSpecified initial curvature or displacement intended to offset part of future deformation.
Cantilever
VoladizoStructural portion projecting beyond its support with no support at its free end.
Cantilever retaining wall
Muro en ménsulaRetaining wall whose stem and base resist loads structurally through cantilever action.
Capillarity
CapilaridadMovement of water through a material’s small pores; it can cause damp rising from the ground.
Capillary rise
Ascenso capilarUpward water movement through connected material pores in contact with a moisture source below.
Capillary soldered copper joint
Soldadura capilar de cobreCopper pipe joint using filler metal drawn into the gap by capillarity.
Carbon dioxide extinguisher
Extintor de dióxido de carbonoExtinguisher using carbon dioxide as its agent and leaving no solid agent residue.
Carbon dioxide sensor
Sonda de dióxido de carbonoA component of a ventilation installation used to measure CO2 concentration to provide information to ventilation controls.
Carbon monoxide
Monóxido de carbonoColorless, odorless toxic gas that can be produced by incomplete combustion.
Carpet
MoquetaTextile floor covering with fibres attached to a continuous or modular backing.
Cassette indoor unit
Unidad de climatización cassetteCeiling-recessed indoor unit distributing conditioned air through a visible outlet panel.
Cast stone
Piedra artificialManufactured material of aggregates and binders reproducing stone uses or its visual appearance.
Casting plaster
EscayolaHigh-purity fine gypsum plaster used for mouldings, prefabricated elements and finishes.
Category 6 cable
Cable de categoría 6Data cable whose category specifies transmission performance and compatibility with components of the same level.
Category 6A cable
Cable de categoría 6AData cable offering higher performance than Category 6 for links operating at greater frequencies.
Cavity fire barrier
Barrera cortafuego de cámaraComponent dividing a facade cavity to limit the spread of fire within the assembly.
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