Bedroom: A room used for sleeping purposes.

Bidet: A toilet-like plumbing fixture designed to promote posterior hygiene; not a toilet.

Billowing: A term used to describe a membrane that is filled or lifted with air and swells outward.

Biological Contaminants: Agents derived from or that are living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can cause many types of health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity diseases, and infectious diseases. Also referred to as “microbiologicals” or “microbials.”

Bitumen: Any of a variety of mixtures of hydrocarbons occurring naturally or obtained through the distillation of coal or petroleum.

Blister: A term used to describe an enclosed raised spot evident on the surface of a roof.

Blistering: The process and occurrence of a void or unhindered area between the plies or between the substrate, mainly caused by the expansion of trapped air, water vapor, moisture, or other gases.

Blueberry Blister: A term used to describe a small raised spot on the roof covering’s surface, which forms when liquid or vapor is trapped in asphalt in a BUR system.

Bollard: A short and sturdy vertical post installed to protect a system or component from impact.

Bonding: The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity, and the capacity to conduct safely any fault current likely to be imposed.

Boot: A flexible material or metal that is used as flashing.

Branch Circuit: The circuit conductors between the final over-current device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

Breathing Zone: Area of a room in which occupants breathe as they stand, sit, or lie down.

BRI: Building-Related Illness

Buckling: A condition in concrete: a localized upward movement or shattering of concrete slabs. Also known as blow up.

Building: The primary building subject of the commercial inspection.

Building Code: Rules and regulations adopted by the governmental authority having jurisdiction over the construction and/or remodeling of the commercial property.

Building Department: Local authority having jurisdiction over the construction, alteration and use of a property.

Building Envelope: The enclosure that defines the heated/cooled area of a building, namely, the exterior walls and roof.

Building Systems: Components, assemblies, and systems that are a part of the overall building and property, such as pavement, flatwork, structural components, roofing, exterior walls, plumbing, HVAC, electrical components, fire prevention, etc.

Building-Related Illness: Diagnosable illness whose symptoms can be identified and whose cause can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g., Legionnaire’s disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis).

Built-In: Permanently installed.

Built-Up Roofing (BUR): Also called tar-and-gravel roofing, BUR is a roofing system composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch or asphalt, and finished on top with a smooth surface, crushed slag or gravel.

BUR: Built-up roofing

Buttress: An architectural element and supporting member that is built against or projecting from a wall, often found in gothic-style buildings and barrel vaults.

Cabinet: A sheet metal enclosure for the components of an HVAC equipment.

Cantilever: A projecting beam or other structure supported at only one end. Also, any part of a structure that projects beyond its main support and is balanced on it.

Cap Flashing: A type of roof flashing that covers and protects the uppermost part of a wall or parapet to protect base flashing or other construction components.

Casement Windows: Windows with hinges on one side that allow the sash to swing outward or inward, like a door, for opening and closing.

Catch Basin: A receptacle used to catch stormwater runoff from the street or parking area and empty it into the underground storm sewer system.

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