Access chamber:

Acre:

Acrow:

Additive:
Aggregate:
Air conditioning:
Aircrete:
All-in ballast:
Angle:

Arch:

Architrave:
Arris:
Arris rail:
Ashlar:
Axed arch:
B:
Back addition:

Ballast:
Batten:
Beam:

Bench-mark:
Bending moment:
Berm:
Bessemer converter:

Bill of quantities (BOQ):

Blinding:

Block:

Blockwork:

Bolt:

Bond:
Bonding plaster:

Box gutter:

Brace, Bracing:

Bressemer, Bresumer etc.:

Brick:
Brick guard:
Brick tie:
Bricklayer:
Brickwork:

Bucket-handle pointing:

Building Control:
Building services:
C:

Calcium silicate bricks:

Camber:
Cantilever:
Casement:
Cast iron:
Cavity tie:
Cavity wall:
Cement:
Cement mixer:
Centring:
Chain:
Channel:

Characteristic strength:

Cill:

Circular hollow section:

Cladding:
Clamp:

Classical orders of
architecture:

Cleat:
Coarse aggregate:

Collar:

Collateral warrantee:
Common rafter:

Compasses:

Competent person:

Composite order:

Compression:

Computer aided design (CAD):

Concrete:
Concrete pump:
Contract:

Contract administrator:

Contract documents:
Contract drawings:
Coping:

Corbel:

Corinthian order:

Corrugated iron:
Coupler, coupling:
Course:
Cramp (also clamp):
Crane:
Crippled:
Cure:
D:
Dado:

Damp proof course (DPC):

Damp proof membrane

(DPM):
Dead load:
Deal:

Design and build contract:

Design check:
Development:
Digger:
District Surveyor:

Doric Order:

Dormer:
Dowel:
Dragon beam:
Drypack:
Ductwork:
Dumpy level:
E:
Effective length:
Engineer:
Engineering brick:

English Bond:

English Garden Wall Bond:

External works:
Extrados:
F:
Falsework:
Fascia:
Feather-edge board:
Filler Joist Floor:
Fine aggregate:
Firring:
First fix:
Flange:
Flashing:
Flat roof:

Flemish Bond:

Fletton:
Flint-lime brick:
Flitched beam, Flitch:
Flue:
Fluid Mechanics:
Flush pointing:
Foot:
Force:
Foreman:
Formwork:
Foundation:
Frame clamp or cramp:
Frenchman:
Frog:
Furlong:
G:
Gable:
Ganger:
Gauge:
Ginny wheel:
Glass bead:
Gram:
Grating:
Gravel:

Green Roof:

Groundwork:
Grout:
Guarding:
Gully:
Gutter:
H:
H-section:
Half timbered:
Hammerbeam roof:
Handrail:
Hardwood:
Header:
Hearth:

High alumina cement (HAC):

High strength friction grip

bolt:
High tensile steel:
Hip:
Hipped roof:
Hod:
Hod carrier:
Hoist:

Hollobolt:

Hollow section:
Honeycomb brickwork:
Hundredweight:
Hydration:
Hydraulic cement:
I:
I-section:
Imperial system:
Imposed load:
Inch:
Intrados:

Ionic Order:

Iron:
J:
Jack rafter:

Jetty:

Jiffy hanger:
Joinery:
Jointing:
Joist:

Joist hanger:
K:
Kentledge:
Keystone:
Kicker:
Kilogram:
KiloNewton:
King post truss:
L:
Labourer:
Lacing:
Laminated strand lumber
(LSL):
Lath:
Ledger:
Level:
Levelling:
Lewis:
Lift pit:
Lime Mortar:
Lintel, lintol:
Live load:
Load bearing:
Load factor:
London stock:
M:

Manhole:

Mansard:
Masonry:
Mass:
Mass concrete:
Maul:
Method statement:
Metre:
Metric:

Mews:
Mild steel:
Mile:
Mix:
Mobile crane:

Mock Tudor:

Modulus of elasticity:
Moment:
Mortar:
Mortice and tenon joint:
Moulding:
Moulding pin:
N:
Nail:
Needle:
Neutral axis:
Newlyn datum:
Newton:
Node:
Noggin (or nogging, naggin
etc):
O:
Ordnance datum (OD):
Ordnance Survey:
Oriel window:
P:

Padstone:

Parallel flange channel:

Pargetting or pargeting:
Partition:
Party wall:
Pea shingle:
Permissible stress:
Perp.:
Picture frame:
Pier:
Pile:
Pile cap:
Pile driver:
Piling rig:
Pitch:
Pitched roof:
 Planning:
Plaster:
Plasterboard:
Plum:
Plumb:
Pointing:
Poling board:

Portal frame:

Portland cement:
Post stressed concrete:
Pound:
Poundal:
Pre fabricado Precast concrete:
Prestressed concrete:
Professional indemnity:
Progressive collapse:
Pugging:
Pulverised fuel ash:

Purlin:

Putlog or putlock:
Q:
Quadrant:

Queen post truss:

Quoin:
R:

Rafter:

Ready-mixed concrete:
Recessed pointing:

Rectangular hollow section:

Reinforced concrete:

Reinforcement:
Render:
Retaining wall:
Retention:
Ridge:

Ridge board:

Ridge tile:
Riser:
Rising damp:

Rivet:

Rolled steel joist (RSJ):

Rough arch:
S:
Sand:
Sand-lime brick:
Sash window:

Scaffold:

Scaffold board:
Scantling:

Scarf:

Screed:
Screw:
Secant piles:
Second fix:
Services:
Setting-out:
Settlement:
Shake:
Sharp sand:
Shear or shear force:
Sheerlegs:
Shingle:
Shuttering:
Sill:
Simply supported:
Skirting:
Sleeper wall:
Soaker:
Soffite:
Soft sand:
Softwood:
Soil:
Soil Mechanics:
Soldier:
Sole plate:
Special (brick):
Special foundations:
Spine wall or partition:
Splice:
Springing:
Square:
Square hollow section:
Squint:
Stanchion:
Standard:
Steel:
Steel angle:
Steelfixer:
Stepped flashing:

Stock brick:

Strain:
Strap:
Stress:

Stress graded:
Stretcher:
Stretcher bond:
Stringer:
Strike:
Struck and weathered
pointing:
Structural Engineering:
Structural glass:
Structural steelwork:
Stucco:

Stud:

Studwork:
Subsidence:
Sulphate/sulfate:

Systeme international (S.I.):

T:
Temporary bench mark:
Temporary works:
Tension:
Theodolite:
Tie:
Tile:
Timber:
Timber connector:

Timber-framed:

Ton:
Tonne:
Top plate:
Tower crane:
Town planning ortown and
country planning:
Trade:
Tread:
Transome:
Tree preservation order:
Trimmer:
Truss:
Trussed rafters:

Tuck pointing:

Tuscan order:

Tusk tenon joint:

U:
Underpinning:
Universal Beam:

Universal Column:

V:
Valley:
Valuation:
Vanity unit:
Variation:

Vault:

Vermiculated:
Vermiculite:
Vierendeel girder:
Voussoir:
W:
Waling:
Wane:
Web:
Weight:
Welding:
Wind load:
Withes:
Woodscrew:
Y:
Yard:
Young's modulus:
Underground chamber enabling access to drains or other underground services.

Unit of land area in the Imperial system; 4840 square yards, or the equivalent of a rectangular field
one chain wide and one furlong long, approximately 4047 square metres or 0.4047 hectares.

A telescopic prop much used as a temporary support in

construction. Named after the American manufacturer who
first introduced them to the UK.

Chemicals added to cement based products (concrete, mortar, render, screed etc) to impart various desirable properties such a
The stonesaand
Originally, sandby(coarse
system which and
freshfine
air aggregate
is drawn fromrespectively) used
outside the as a filler
building andinbrought
concrete,
to asphalt etc.
an acceptable
condition in terms of temperature and humidity before being introduced into the building. The name is often
A lightweight
also applied toaerated
chillerscement-based materialdrying
with no air handling, from or
which easily
heating handled high insulating building-blocks are
capacity.
made. (Trade name.)
Ballast suitable
Steel angle: for making
a steel section into concrete
whose withoutisthe
cross-section additionIf of
L-shaped. theany otherand
vertical aggregate.
horizontal legs of the 'L' are
the same length it is called an equal angle, if different, an unequal
An amount of rotation. The measurement of angles using 360 degrees in a whole or odd leg angle. Angles
circle, areeach
with alsodegree
available
in other metals.
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 buildings; their
disadvantage is that they exert horizontal thrust at their
bearings, which sometimes leads to distortion in poorly
designed or maintained arches.

Timber moulding around a door frame or similar.

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 rails and
forming fillets at the junctions of flat roofs and walls.
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 mortar joints are of even thickness. As
Traditional terraced housing originally comprised rooms
between the front and rear external walls. When 'indoor
plumbing' became the rage, extensions were 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.

Mixed size aggregate.

A
A small timber
horizontal such asthat
member those usedvertical
carries to support
loadsroof tiles.
along its length. It would traditionally have been timber (the
word originally meaning "tree trunk") but a modern beam might more often be reinforced concrete or steel.
(Fr. poutre,
A steel f)
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 UK.
Contractors
The bendingoften forceestablish 'temporary
in, for example, bench
a beam. Themarks'
units ('TBM') at convenient
of bending moment are points
thosearound thex site.
of force distance, for
example, kiloNewton-metres.
An earth bank left against a retaining wall during excavation, until it is propped.
A kind of steel-making plant, no longer in use.
A list of all the quantities of each component and operation required in a construction project. 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.
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") concrete.

Built with blocks.

Threaded fastener used (with a nut and washers) for

connecting building 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 should be provided to prevent
A
theproprietary type
wall splitting of plaster
apart. Commonwithbond
good patterns
adhesiveare
properties.
Flemish, ItStretcher,
must be English
used with
andcare as it Garden
English is hygroscopic,
Wall.
i.e. it will readily absorb atmospheric or rising moisture.
A timber gutter lined with lead or some other waterproof
material. (Fr. chèneau (m) encaissé).
Diagonal members (or rigid membranes) providing rigidity to a structure.

A timber lintel flush with the surface of the brickwork above it.

Building unit of a regular size usually made of baked clay. Can also be calcium silicate or concrete. The standard size of metric b
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 ties tend to rust away and have to
A skilled trade which requires years of training and practice. (Fr. maçon, m).
Made of bricks. (Fr. maçonnerie, f).

Recessed in the half-round shape of an old-fashioned metal bucket handle.

engaged to enforce the Building Regulations which prevented the spread of fire from house to house – the
Regulations had existed before but had often been ignored. The system now covers the whole UK and
includes
Plumbing,rules on most
electrical aspects
wiring, of building
ventilation, gasas it affects
supply andpublic safety and
other support health,inenforced
systems by Building Control
a building.

Smooth bricks made by compressing and heating a mixture of sand, or ground flint, and lime. 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 will become
level when loaded.
Overhanging beam, roof or floor.
A window which is hinged rather than sliding.
A brittle material no longer much used in structural engineering.
See brick tie.
A wall consisting of two leaves or skins of masonry, seperated by a cavity to enhance water resistance and thermal insulation. A
is mixed with sand to make mortar or render, and with larger stones added it is known as concrete. The sand
and stones are
Mechanical there
device to reduceofthe
consisting shrinkage
a rotating to which
drum Portland
with fixed cement
paddles is subject
inside, used forand to reduce
mixing thewith
cement amount
aggregate and water to produce concrete, mortar, or any other cement-based mixture.
Temporary supports
Surveyors' unit usedinwhen
of length buildingsystem.
the Imperial an arch.Gunter's chain, named after its inventor, comprises 22 yards
or 66 feet, approximately 20.117 metres. Gunter's chain is useful for deriving areas in acres. The lesser-
known Engineer's
A structural chain, 100 feet
steel component long,
which was usedinfor
is C-shaped measuring
cross section.linear distances, along roads for example.

The strength at which a member tested would fail, normally with 95% confidence.

Alternative spelling of sill.

A structural steel component in the shape of a round tube.

The seperately-applied exterior finish of a framed building.

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 the building. The Greeks originally had three
orders: the Doric, Ionic and 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 together.
Any aggregate larger than fine aggregate. Gravel. Available with a maximum size of 10, 20 or 40mm.

A horizontal timber joining two opposing rafters together.

A legal agreement between a developer and a building contractor or designer, allowing the contractor or
designer to be made responsible to a third party, such as a finance provider or a purchaser, for the execution
of their duties.
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, with a compass (in the singular)
which is a magnetic instrument for finding North.

entail, and with sufficient experience and ability to enable them to carry out their duties in relation to the
project, to recognize their limitations, and to take appropriate action in order to prevent harm to those
carrying out construction work, or those affected by the work. (Construction Design and Managment
One of the ancient classical orders of architecture,
introduced by the Romans. Its capital combines the volute
scrolls of the Ionic with the acanthus foliage of
the Corinthian.
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 is AutoCAD
but there are others.
enough water to permit full hydration and make the mix workable. Concrete (like the stone minerals from
which it is made) is strong in compression but weak in tension. Roman concrete was based, not on Portland
cement,
A machine butfor
ontransporting
a 'pozzolanic' mix, made
concrete downfrom volcanicpipe.
a delivery ash and
Mayincorporating
be truck ground-up
mounted bricks and tiles. (Fr.
or static.
Building contracts may legally be formed verbally. Usually however a written contract should be used. There
are various standard forms of contract, such as those provided by the Joint Contracts Tribunal and the
variousforms
Many engineering institutions.
of building contract specify a Contract Administrator to manage the contract on behalf of the
Client. It may be the architect, the engineer, or a specialist such as a project manager. The CA's main duty is
to specify how much the contractor is due to be paid at each stage.
The contract drawings, bill of quantities, specifications, and any other documents referred to in the contract.
The drawings on which the contract is based.
Protective capping on the top of a parapet or free standing wall.

Projecting brick or masonry courses; from Norman-French

meaning 'crow' after 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 gro

(Corrugated galvanized iron). Iron (or for the last hundred years at least, steel) sheet formed into a ridged
shape,
A deviceused for roofing and
for mechanically cladding.
joining two linear components like pipes, scaffold tubes, or a drill bit with an
extension.
A layer of bricks or blocks in a wall.
Metal component built into masonry to join it to another member, for example a window frame ('frame
cramp'), or to join two masonry units together.
Lifting device which can be fixed or mobile.
Of joists, doubled-up to form a trimmer. (American term.)
The hardening of concrete and other cement products. Curing requires a certain range of temperature (more
than 6C but not enough to cause thermal stress) and sufficient internal water to combine with the cement.

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 available include
lead-based, bitumen-based, or plastic-based. Two courses of impermeable engineering bricks can also be
used. The DPC must be at least 150mm above the external ground level.
Usually heavy duty polythene, incorporated within floors built on the ground to prevent rising damp.

The weight of the materials which form a permanent part of the structure, as opposed to imposed load.
Softwood; a standard piece of softwood used for making joinery.

A building contract in which the builder is also responsible for all or some of the design.
Evaluation of the design to determine whether it conforms with the design brief and can be expected to
provide a safe engineered
The improvement solution.
of land in order to make use of it, e.g. by building structures on it or by adapting existing
structures. Development can either be are
Excavators with hydraulic transmission for the developer's
ubiquitous own use, orThe
in groundwork. elsefirst
speculative, i.e. for were
to be produced profit.made
the J C Bamford company.
Borough officers first appointed after the Great Fire of London to supervise the Building Regulations. Now combined with the B

The simplest of the ancient Greek orders of architecture. The columns consist of a plain fluted shaft and a simple capital; there

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 circular cross section.
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 existing
walls for example in underpinning.
Air-handling pipes fabricated from sheet steel.
Originally a simple but accurate optical instrument invented in 1832 by English civil engineer William Gravatt.
Now applied to any optical levelling instrument used by builders.
A concept used in the design of structural members. May be more or less than the actual length to
compensate for the degree of restraint of the ends of the member, a member which is more rigidly held at
to
thedistinguish
ends beingthemselves
stronger. from military engineers. There are now many kinds of engineer. The word itself is
unprotected in which
A type of brick the UK,is so that anybody
particularly canand
strong callimpermeable.
themselves anThe
engineer, suchproduct
traditional as in thewas
joke jobindescriptions
blue colour;
other colours and qualities are available.

Alternate rows of bricks consist of all headers and all stretchers. Traditionally considered to be the strongest bond, it is often fo

Most brickwork bonds are designed so that one side of the wall can be built 'fair-faced' (suitable for viewing as finished work);
The landscaping, roads and paths created in the parts of the site not occupied by the building.
The upper surface of an arch.

Temporary structure used to support a permanent structure while it is not self-supporting.

In roof construction, a decorative board fixed to the ends of the rafters. Also the name board over a shop-
A board which is thicker one side than the other. Used for fencing, where they are fixed vertically and
front.
overlapping. Sometimes found in tiled roofs, fixed horizontally, with the thicker edge at the top to provide a
hanging point for tiles.
An obsolete but commonly-found form of floor comprising a concrete slab reinforced with steel I-beams
known as rolled steel joists.
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 drainage, or
to level upand
Electrical uneven floors.
plumbing first fix are the fixing of the wires and pipes in the fabric of the building, before
plastering.
The top and bottom platesfix
Carpentry first ofisanthe provision
I- or H-beam,ofor
joists,
of a studs andThe
channel. rafters.
top and bottom flanges of a beam are
usually in compression and tension respectively.
Lead (or other durable metal sheets) to protect junctions of roofs and walls from water ingress. (Fr. bande (f)
de recouvrement).
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 of alternating headers and stretchers, with each

The common type of machine-made yellow/orange frogged brick used in the south-east of England and
London. Named after Fletton, near Peterborough.
A kind of calcium silicate brick.
A timber beam strengthened with one or more steel plates bolted or screwed to it, often sandwiched
Channel
betweenformed
timbers.with masonry or specially made blocks or pipes through which the products of combustion
pass to the outside. Until the middle 20th century, the need to stack flues from storey to storey imposed a
discipline
The science onofarchitecture which
the properties andis motion
now absent.
of liquids and gases.
Flush with the surface of the bricks.
Unit
That of length
which caninaccelerate
the Imperial system;
a mass. An one-third
example of ofaaforce
yard,isequal to 304.8mm.
weight, which acts to accelerate any mass
towards the centre of the earth. Structural engineering is about providing structures which are strong
Trades
enoughforemen, for example
to resist the foreman
weight and other plasterer, electrician,
forces acting on them.areIn in
thecharge of their
SI system, tradesmen
force on ainsite.
is measured The
Newtons.
general foreman is in charge of the trades foremen. The term does not specify gender.
A mould into which concrete is cast.
The part of a building or structure which transmits loads to the soil. Foundations may be
stepped masonry, mass or reinforced concrete, or piled. (Fr. fondation, f).
Metal component screwed to the window or door frame and built into the masonry wall.
A tool for forming the shape of pointing.
The recess in a machine-made brick.
Unit of length in the Imperial system; ten chains, or 660 feet, one-eighth of a mile, equal to 201.168 metres.

The triangular wall at the end of a building with pitched roofs. (Fr. pignon, m).
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 per 300mm.
In the south of the UK brickwork gauge is almost universally four courses per foot or per 300mm.
Pulley used for hoisting things up a scaffold.
Moulding used to retain glass in a window frame.
Unit of mass in the SI system of weights. Symbol g.
Iron or plastic protection over a gully.
Naturally occuring ballast or course aggregate.

A flat roof covered (deliberately) with growing material.

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 column. Also
the filler between wall tiles.
Protection against people or things falling off the edge of stairs, landings, balconies or scaffolds.
A container with water in it, to seal the inlet to a drain and prevent the release of noxious gases.
Open channel for receiving and carrying away rain water. (Fr. gouttière, f).

A steel component shaped in cross-section like an H, such as a Universal Column (qv).

A descriptive term for a traditional timber-framed house.
A form of historical roof truss, usually comprising a central truss section spanning between two cantilevers.
A length of timber or metal at hand height at the side of a staircase or landing.
hardwood although very weak and soft. In construction, hardwood may be used in preference to more
readily-available softwood because of its higher strength, its greater durability, or its superior appearance.
A brick whose 'head' or short end is visible on the surface of the wall. See stretcher.
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

Used for connecting steel components in situations where it is not desirable for the connection to slip.
A grade of steel stronger than mild steel, which may be used both in structural steelwork and concrete
reinforcement.
A roof feature in which two pitched roofs meet at a corner; the rafter forming such a junction. The hip rafter
is not usually a load bearing member. (Fr. arête (f) de croupe).
Featuring hips.
A three sided container mounted on a pole, used to carry bricks or mortar up a ladder.
Bricklayer's labourer.
An elevator for lifting goods and, usually, people up a scaffold.

Proprietary expanding bolt which can be used in making

bolted connections to 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'). Elliptical
hollow sections are also available.
Built with gaps between the bricks, to allow ventilation.
In the UK imperial units system, a weight of 112 pounds, also equivalent to eight stone, or one twentieth of
a ton.
The process by which cement hardens by reacting with water.
Cement which sets under water, like Portland cement.

A structural steel section shaped like an I, such as a Universal Beam.

by SI units in a process often called metrication, which took place in the UK in the early 1970s. The principal
Imperial elements are yards (with their subdivisions of feet and inches), and pounds (divided into ounces
The weight of furniture, people, storage, and any other non-permanent loads.
Unit of length in the Imperial system; one-twelfth of a foot, equal to 25.4mm.
The underside of an arch.

One of the ancient Greek orders of architecture, characterised by a fluted column and a capital consisting of four volute scrolls

An element, which is one of the most common on earth, and the principal component of steel.

A rafter that is shorter than a common rafter because it is intersected by a hip or a valley.

In traditional timber-framed buildings, the projection of an

upper storey over the 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 at right
angles.
The fabricated timber components of a building such as doors, windows and staircases. (Fr. menuiserie, f).
The process of finishing the mortar between bricks or other masonry units at the time of building, as opposed to pointingthe jo
(Timber) Horizontal member which is one of a group
running parallel and close 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 the wall.

Heavy weights used to counter balance a load or provide a reaction.

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 the formwork
for
Theaprinciple
wall or column.
unit of mass in the SI system of weights and measures. Equal to 1000 grams. Abbreviation kg.
One thousand Newtons
Approximately – the
equivalent unit ofpounds.
to 2.2046 force in the SI system. Newtons are very small, and the kiloNewton is
the practical unit most often used by engineers. In imperial terms it is approximately equivalent to the
weight of two
Roof truss withhundredweights.
a central verticalAbbreviation
member. kN.

General labourer: building worker without any specific skill. Specific trades have their own labourers such as
bricklayer's, plasterer's,
Generally horizontal labourer,
members thatwhose job istogether
connnect to set upand
scaffolds
reduceand
thecarry materials.length of compression
unsupported
members.
A type of reconstituted timber made of seperated strands glued together under pressure.
in more modern times they were sawn. Expanded metal lathing (e.m.l.) is used for the same purpose,
especially for external work with sand and cement render; internally, laths have been superseded by
In scaffolding,
Horizontal; thethe horizontal
instrument members
used running
for checking along the
whether scaffold.
things They support
are horizontal. transomes
Levels or putlogs.
on a drawing are heights
above a recognised datum which might either be the Ordnance Datum or a local datum for the job, whose
location and value
Finding levels during hassurveying,
to be specified on thelevels
or providing drawings.
for new construction.
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 equipment intended to
bring to a safe halt
The traditional forma ofliftmortar,
which has
it is failed to stop.
soft and This
flexible often
and requires
liable a lift pit,
to dissolve typically
slowly in rain1.2 to 1.5m
water. deep.
It is still
A short beam
available over
for use in arestoration
door or window
work. opening; may be steel, concrete or, traditionally, timber. The spelling
with an 'o' is traditionally favoured by draughtsmen; the 'e' however is given authority by the King James
bible
Imposed(Exodus
load.12:22 etc). (Fr. linteau, m).
Designed
Engineersto support
design a load in
structures toaddition
support to its own
loads weight.
which are more than the maximum load expected. The actual
loads are calculated as accurately as possible and then multiplied by the factor. Typical load factors are 1.4
for
Thedead
stockloads
bricksand
made 1.6 in
forthe
imposed
Londonloads.
area for centuries.

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 roofspace.
Named after
In general a French
usage architect.work constructed of stone, but technically the term masonry also
this describes
includes brickwork and blockwork. (Fr. maçonnerie, m).
A property of all matter. It is measured in, for example, grams. Mass is independent of gravity, unlike weight which depends on
Unreinforced concrete, as often used in foundations or other applications where the added strength of
reinforcement is not required.
Large wooden hammer used in masonry and paving work.
Contractor will prepare any necessary method statements and the Engineer will usually check them. Method
statements are also sometimes required by neighbouring owners where potentially hazardous work is being
The basic unit of length in the SI system of weights and measures. Multiplied and divided by 1000 to give derived units such as
The UK construction and engineering industries were encouraged by the Government to adopt the metric system in the early 1

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, known as the
mews. The mews properties are often separated from their
main house and converted to sought-after dwellings.
Structural steelwork and reinforcement generally come in two qualities: mild steel and high-tensile steel, the
latter being stronger but more expensive.
Unit of length in the Imperial system; 1760 yards, equal to 1609.344 metres.
The proportions of the ingredients of concrete, mortar and such like.
Versatile lifting devices in a range of sizes, usually telescopic.
An architectural style popular in suburban development in
the twenties and thirties, in which traditional styles were
copied poorly.
A measure of the amount by which something can be deformed by a force and recover when the force is
removed.
Short for bending moment. The bending force which acts on, for example, a beam, and is resisted by an equal internal resistan
A binder for masonry. The traditional product was Lime Mortar; modern mortars rely upon cement mixed
with sand, with
A traditional waytheof addition of lime
joining two or plasticizer
timbers addedthe
at right angles: to make them workable
one coming or side
in from the 'buttery'. (Fr. mortier,
is reduced to a m).
Timber (or other
tenon, which fits material in imitation
into the cavity of timber)
or mortice and isshaped
securedinto a pattern
by glue and used for decorative details such
or nailing.
as skirting, picture rail and so on. Traditional moulding shapes include quadrant, ogee, torus,
chamfered, glass
A very thin pin or bead, halffor
nail used round, dowel
securing and so on.
mouldings.

Metal spike used as a fixing for timber.

As a noun, a short beam introduced through a wall to provide temporary support while the wall is being re-
supported. As a verb, to insert such beams.
The point near the middle of a beam's cross-section which experiences neither tension nor compression when the beam is sub
See Ordnance datum.
The principal SI unit of force. It can be thought of as equivalent to the weight of Sir Isaac Newton's apple.
Theoretical point where two or more members are considered to be connected together.

A short length of timber fixed crossways between joists, studs or rafters; also the infill between the studs of a traditional timbe

The national leveling standard for the UK, the basis for levelling set up by the Ordnance Survey, representing
mean sea level atwhich
The organisation Newlyn, S Wales.
makes and maintains accurate maps of the United Kingdom. The maps were
originally for military purposes but are now used for land use planning and development of land.
A bay window that projects from the wall and does not have its own foundations.

A block of concrete or stone used to spread the weight of a

beam or joist, to avoid crushing the wall upon which it
rests.
A form of steelpargeing).
(pronounced channel. Rendering, especially (1) decorative sculptured rendering on the outside of a
building, found mainly in East Anglia (2) the render (traditionally consisting of cow manure) lining the inside
of
A a flue, formed into a cylindrical tube by
orpulling upa an iron sphere on a may
chain.
A non
wall load bearing
shared wall
between between
two rooms
buildings. Laws areas in
have existedbuilding. Partitions
for many be of any
years, particularly materialbut
in London butnow
are often studwork.
throughout the UK, for governing the building, alteration and maintenance of party walls. (Fr. mur (m)
mitoyen).
Shingle consisting of rounded stones that pass through a 10mm grid.
Stress that can be sustained safely. Codes of Practice for structural design used to specify permissible stresses with which the a
The vertical mortar joint between two bricks (bricklayers' slang).
In structural engineering, a rectangular steel frame consisting of two columns and two beams, sometimes
used when a load bearing wall has to be removed.
A masonry column; a jetty.
they can now be concrete or steel or even aluminium. Bored piles are made by pouring concrete into a hole
drilled in the ground whereas driven piles are ready-made and driven into the ground. There are many
A (normally reinforced concrete) structure transferring loads from the building into the piles.
Machine for hammering or forcing piles into the ground.
A
Ofmachine which
roofs, the angledrills
of thea hole in the
rafters fromground for a cast-in-situ
the horizontal. pile. the pitch was expressed as the number of
Traditionally
vertical inches corresponding to twelve horizontal inches, thus a 45 degree roof was described as a twelve
inch pitch. slope exceeds ten degrees.
One whose
The legal system, operated and enforced by local authorities, by means of which the development of land is controlled for the
be cement (when it is known in the UK as render), or lime, or gypsum, the latter two being restricted to
internal
Nailed oruse; in anytocase
screwed there
studs, willorberafters
joists a fillerasofasand, orfor
carrier in proprietary prepackaged
a plaster skim plasters, powdered
finish, or plasterboards with
chamfered edges can be jointed so that they act as a finish without being skimmed with plaster. Plasterboard
A large stone or piece of solid concrete used as a filler in mass concrete.
Vertical or verticality, measured using a plumb-line or plumb-rule or these days a spirit level.
The surface treatment of the mortar between bricks or other masonry units. There are various styles of
pointing: flush, struck and weathered, recessed, tuck, bucket handle etc. (Fr. jontoiement, m).
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 connections. Often used for single-storey
warehouses and workshops. The cross-beam 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 products. So-called because concrete
Concrete
The unit ofstrengthened with steelsystem
mass in the imperial wires which are stressed
of weights after the
and measures. concrete has
Confusingly, thecured.
same word is also used
sometimes for a unit of force, more accurately called a pound-force. The UK's unit of currency called a pound
was originally
A unit of forcethe value
in the of a pound
imperial systemofof
'sterling'
weightssilver.
and measures.
Concrete components made in a factory or yard and transported to the site.
Concrete strengthened with steel wires which are stressed before the concrete is poured.
Insurance against claims against a professional person or practice.
The process wherein the collapse of part of a building leads to the collapse of an adjacent part in 'house of
Traditional infill between timber floor joists intended to enhance the acoustic insulation of the floor. It may
cards' fashion.
occupy the whole depth of the floor or only part of it. Materials used include sand, mortar, concrete, straw
A fine
and white
sea powder resulting from burning powdered coal in power stations, which can be used to
shells.
supplement cement in making concrete for civil engineering works.
A horizontal structural member which supports a sloping
roof covering, with or 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 much used
these days because they can be dangerous, and because the hole in the wall has to be repaired when the
scaffold is taken down. (Fr. boulin, m).
A quarter of a circle. The name is also used for various things in this shape, such as a timber moulding, a corner kerbstone, or a

A truss with two posts directly supporting the purlins.

The external corner where two brick walls meet.

Sloping structural member supporting a roof. (Fr. chevron,

m).
Mixed in a batching plant and delivered in ready-mix trucks.
Flat pointing set back from the surface of the bricks.

A structural steel component in the shape of a steel tube with a rectangular cross section.
Concrete reinforced with steel bars to make a versatile structural material which is very strong
in bending, shear, tension and compression, unlike plain concrete which is strong only in compression.

(Also known as rebar). Steel bars for reinforcing concrete. They are bent into special shapes according to the Engineer's bendin
Cement-based wall plaster.
Retains soil on one side. May be made of masonry, reinforced concrete, or various other traditional or
proprietary structural systems.
A percentage withheld from a contractor's payment until an agreed time after the work is complete.
The top of a pitched roof, where roof planes that slope in opposite directions meet. (Fr. faîte, m).
A thin timber used to align the tops of the rafters. In most
roofs the ridge board is not a load bearing member. (Fr.
planche (f) faîtière).
A curved tile which covers the ridge on a pitched roof.
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 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 red-hot. Rivets are no longer used for
connecting structural 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 H-shaped steel members. Only small sizes of joist are still produced, most of the
larger sizes having been replaced by Universal Beam and Universal Columnsections. RSJs were originally
devised for use
A brick arch in filler-joistconstruction.
in which the bricks are rectangular and the arch shape is formed by means of the mortar joints being wedge-shape

Aggregate consisting of mineral particles whose size is generally less than 5mm; fine aggregate. Merchants in
the UK supply soft sand and coarse or fine sharp sand.
A kind ofthe
because calcium silicate brick.
side members are hollow wooden boxes inside which the counterweights slide up and down.
The biggest problems with them are that over-zealous painting leaves them jammed shut, and the sash-
cords have frequently to be replaced. Modern versions are available incorporating draught proofing and

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 15/16inch (49mm) steel tube with proprietary
steel 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).

Timber boards used to make walkways on a scaffold.

The cross-sectional dimensions of a length of timber; the principal dimensions of a shaped stone; a piece of
timber of a specific size.
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 level. Also sand
and cement, mixed rather dry, laid on a (usually concrete) floor and screeded and trowelled to make a
smooth
Threaded surface. (Fr. chape, f).
fastener.
Contiguous piles where each pile cuts into the one before, to make a more-or-less waterproof retaining-wall.
(See first fix). Work which takes place after plastering, for example, fixing light switches, skirtings.
See: Building services.
The process of making sure that a building or structure is built in the correct position and the right size.
The small downwards movement of foundations when the weight of the building comes onto them, due to
compression of the soil. Tends to be negligible in clay soil but can be significant in sand. (Fr. tassement, m).
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 for use in
The forceand
concrete which tends to make the top and bottom flanges or fibres of a beam move parallel to one another.
screed.
The web of the beam resists the shear force, which is at its greatest at the ends of the beam next to where it
rests on device
A lifting its supports.
using two timber poles fixed together at the top.
Aggregate consisting of stones whose size is between 5 and 10mm. Also, a wooden roof tile.
Formwork.
Projecting moulding at the bottom of a window or door. (Also spelled cill).
Describes a beam which rests on a support at each end, that is, it is not supported at more than two points,
is not held rigidly by the supports, and does not form part of a larger framework.
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 of the space
under
A metalthe floor.bent at a right-angle, part of the waterproof flashing of the junction of a tiled or slated roof
sheet
abutting a
The underside wall.of a building component such as a lintel or beam. A board fitted to the underside of the ends
of
Sandrafters
which or includes
flat roof fine
joists.
silt or clay particles, which make it more suitable for making mortar or render
Timber
than sharpfromsand.
a coniferous tree, i.e. most of the timber used in construction. Softwood timber comes in a
variety of grades, the most common for structural use being classes C16 (for general use) and C24 (stronger
In engineering,
timber with fewer theknots
soil isand
all the solid materials
defects). below
(Fr. bois (m) the earth's surface, including rock, sand, clay and so
resineux).
on.
The science of the strength of soil.
A vertical member in a retaining-wall, especially in temporary works.
A timber placed on the floor as the base for a partition.
A brick specially made in a non-standard shape.
Defined, in the Party Wall act, as foundations incorporating steel.
In traditional domestic construction, a load bearing partition between the front and rear rooms 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 column. Beams can also be spliced, bu
The masonry supporting an arch.
Rectangular, or at a right angle; the tool used for checking rectangularity.
A structural steel section in the shape of a square tube.
A special brick for use on a corner which is not a right-angle.
Steel column.
A verticalatube
produce metal inwith
scaffolding.
specific qualities. Structural steel is used for steel frames and 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 inventionsteel
A structural of the Bessemerthe
component, converter, and the
cross section ofmodern
which isproduct differs from the older types of steel from
L-shaped.
A worker who specialises in placing reinforcement for reinforced concrete.
Metal flashing cut in a stepped pattern to waterproof the junction of a tiled or slated roof with a brick wall.

The traditional handmade brick without a frog, made by moulding clay in a wooden mould or 'stock'.

The amount by which something has changed length, measured as a percentage of its original length.
A component, usually steel, installed to ensure that walls are connected to and restrained by floors.
Force divided by area, measured in (for example) Newtons per square millimetre, or pounds per square foot.
(Of timber) tested and marked with a strength grade. The
two grades of softwood most used in construction are C16
or General Structural grade, and C24 or Special Structural
grade.
A brick whose longest side is visible on the surface of the wall. See header.
A brickwork bond consisting only of stretchers, suitable for half-brick thick walls and cavity walls.
Angled structural beam supporting the treads and risers of a staircase.
Dismantle (scaffold or falsework).

Finished with a sloping surface, recessed slightly at the top and protruding slightly at the bottom of the joint.
A branch of engineering dealing with structures, such as buildings and bridges. In the UK structural engineers
became distinguished from Civil Engineers when they started to specialise in the new structural material
Glass used concrete
reinforced in situations where
in the earlyit20th
will or may support
century, more
although than
they just
soon its own
began weight.
to work Glass
in all balustrades,
structural stairs
materials.
and floor panels are becoming common.
A frame of steel sections supporting other parts of the structure.
Rendering shaped and painted to resemble ashlar stonework.
A timber post in a studwork partition or in traditional
timber-framed 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, now with
plasterboard.
A downwards movement, especially a movement of foundations. The term is most often used to describe
the movement
Sulphates in soiloforfoundations on can
ground water claydamage
soil, when the soilbased
cement- shrinks due to
blocks, becoming
mortar drier. (Fr.
or concrete. affaissement,
Special sulphate-m).
resisting
The cement
system canbased
of units, be used
onto resist
the it. Sulphates
metre, in the
kilogram and groundused
second, are by
often a resultinofthe
engineers industrial
UK andpollution.
elsewhere.
The metre and kilogram are divided and multiplied by 1000 to make larger and smaller units. Many think it is
an odd system which is based on a unit, the kilogram, which is itself a multiple of another unit, being
1000 grams.
A levelling base point of known level. See bench mark.
Propping or shoring to enable the permanent works to be carried out.
A pulling force, such as that experienced by a cable, or in the bottom flange of a beam with a load on it.
An optical instrument used by land surveyors for surveying and by engineers and builders for setting-out
Any
linesmember which
and angles provides
on the a tensile force to tie two other members together, especially, the bottom
ground.
horizontal member of a roof truss, and (in a steel framed structure) steel beams whose main function is to
tie columns
Ceramic unittogether.
for wall decoration or roof weathering.
Wood suitable for use in construction. In the UK it is usually softwood. (Fr bois, m).
Various kinds of steel fixings designed to make high-strength connections in timber construction.

Construction in which the main load bearing elements are

timber. Traditional timber-framed or 'half-timbered' 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 hundredweights,
2240 pounds, or 1016 kg. In the US a 'short ton' of 2000 pounds is used.
Unit of mass in the SI system. Equal to 1000 kilograms.
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 may be static or
tracked, with a rigid or 'luffing' (vertically hinged) jib. They are usually electrically operated.
The original name of the discipline and process which is these days generally known simply as planning.

The various types of construction workers: electricians, carpenters, joiners and such like.
A single step of a staircase.
A component of scaffolding: a horizontal tube supporting the boards. Also a horizontal member in joinery, for
example the part of the frame between an upper and lower window.
An order
A joist under
which planning
carries extraregulations, protecting
loads, for example, a tree
those dueortogroup of treesorfrom
an opening damage.Trimmers should be
a partition.
stronger than the normal joists. Traditionally they were thicker, these days extra strength is achieved by
An arrangement
bolting of steel
two or more or timber
timbers components designed to span across a large distance to support a roof,
together.
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 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 match the bricks, and a very thin f

The plainest of the five classical orders of architecture,

similar to the Doricbut with a plain rather than fluted shaft.

Traditional timber connection, typically used to connect

trimmers around a hearth. The tenon extends through the
main joist and is fitted with a wooden 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.

Making existing foundations deeper (by extending them downwards). Usually done with mass concrete but
other high-steel
two main andgrades.
low-tech methods
The areBeam
Universal available.
and Universal Column were introduced in the late 1950s and
were based on American patterns, and rolled in new 'universal' rolling mills. They replaced a range of
A standardised steel component which is H-shaped in cross-
section. About 30 different sizes are available in the UK, in
two main steel grades. The same comments apply as to
Universal Beam above.

The meeting of two roof planes at an internal angle; the rafter which forms the junction.
Building work is valued monthly by the Quantity Surveyor or Contract Administrator.
Washbasin built in to the top of a cupboard.
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 shape.
Of stonework: carved in a random pattern fancifully comparable with the appearance of worms.
An expanded mineral used as lightweight aggregate in concrete and other filling applications.
A type of truss consisting of vertical and horizontal members arranged like a ladder on its side.
One of the stones or bricks forming an arch.

Horizontal steel or timber member in a retaining-wall, especially in temporary works.

A defect of timber. The timber section is too small because it was cut too close to the edge of the trunk.
The middle plate of an I-beam, H-beam or channel. The web connects the two flanges, and resists shear forces.
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 bonds to
the parent metal.
Engineers have made great efforts to understand wind loading since the Tay Bridge disaster in 1879.
(Pronounced whiffs)The usually half-brick thick dividers between flues in a chimney.
Threaded fastener for use in wood.

The principal unit of length in the Imperial system; three feet, equal to 914.4mm.
A measure of the elasticity of a material. Defined as stressdivided by strain; see modulus of elasticity.
url:
http://www.aleckassociates.co.uk/glossary-of-structural-engineering-terms/