screw-lamp holder: a lamp base that requires a screw-in-type lamp, such as a compact fluorescent, incandescent, or tungsten-halogen bulb.

scrim: A woven or mat-type fabric that is used as a membrane sandwiched between other materials to provide reinforcement and stretch resistance.

scupper: An outlet in the wall of a building or a parapet wall for the drainage of water from a flat roof.

secondary drain: Also called an emergency overflow, a scupper or drain on a low-slope roof plumbed independently to limit the accumulation of water if the primary drain is clogged.

service life: The number of years, as determined by the manufacturer, of service that a system or component is deemed to provide before requiring repair due to wear and tear or replacement.

shear: The lateral force that makes two sheets or components slide parallel in opposite directions.

shear wall: A vertical structural element designed to resist lateral forces, such as wind and seismic loads; connected to the foundation through to the roof level.

shoring: A temporary prop used to support a structure or trench to prevent collapse.

short-circuiting: Situation that occurs when the supply air flows to exhaust registers before entering the breathing zone. To avoid short-circuiting, the supply air must be delivered at a temperature and velocity that results in mixing throughout the space.

short-term cost: estimated cost of repairs which may not require immediate attention, but which should not be delayed for more than two years.

shrinkage: A term used to describe stretch in a membrane.

shut down: turned off, unplugged, inactive, not in service, or not operational.

sick building syndrome: Term sometimes used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be spread throughout the building.

side-step ladder: a type of fixed ladder that requires the user to step to the side of the ladder’s rail in order to get off and onto a landing or a platform at the top.

single-ply membrane: A descriptive term for a roof membrane composed of only one layer of material (EPDM, TPO, PVC).

single-wall metal chimney: a field-constructed chimney not permitted in one- and two-family dwellings.

slab on grade: A concrete slab that is directly supported by the grade; a type of construction in which footings are needed, but little or no foundation wall is poured.

slag: A byproduct of smelting ore, such as iron, lead or copper, and may be used as a surfacing material on bituminous roofing systems.

sleeping unit: a room or space in which people sleep.

slippage: Lateral movement of the roof membrane and layers underneath.

slope: The incline or pitch of a roof surface, drainage plane, etc.

smoke alarm: a single or multiple alarm responsive to smoke and not connected to a sprinkler system.

smoke detector: a device that senses particles of combustion.

soil gases: Gases that enter a building from the surrounding ground (e.g., radon, volatile organics, pesticides).

solid fuel: wood, coal, pellets, and other materials that can be burned for heat.

spandrel: The panels of a wall located between visible areas of windows that conceal structural columns, floors, and shear walls.

special consultant: a person with particular expertise in a subject who assists the inspector with portions of the inspection.

special equipment: any tools or devices other than those normally used by an inspector to perform a typical and customary, non-invasive, physical examination of the systems, structures and components of a building, including, but not limited to: levels, probes, meters, video or audio devices, and measuring devices.

splitting: The formation of long rupture that goes completely through a membrane. Splits are frequently associated with lack of allowance for expansion stresses. They can also be a result of deck deflection or change in deck direction.

stack effect: Pressure-driven airflow produced by convection as heated air rises, creating a positive pressure area at the top of a building and a negative pressure area at the bottom of a building. The stack effect can overpower the mechanical system and disrupt ventilation and circulation in a building.

1 … 12 13 14 15 16 17