Crown: The sloped top of a masonry chimney designed to shed water away from the flue; also called a splay or a wash.

CSA: Canadian Standards Association

Cumulative Style Report: A reporting style for multi-family properties that creates an individual report for each unit in a building.

Curb: A square or rectangular-shaped member that is built above the level of the roof that provides a means of support for flashing.

Curb Cut: A solid ramp that transforms a curb into an accessibility feature.

Curb Gutter: The extension portion of the curb that is sloped for drainage towards the curb.

Curtain Wall: A non-load-bearing exterior wall system attached to the building’s exterior framing, like a curtain is hung on a wall. It extends from the foundation through floor levels, positioned on the exterior of the structure.

Damper: A valve or plate for controlling draft or flow of gases, including air, in a vent or ductwork; a manually-operated plate for controlling draft in a flue.

Dampers: Controls that vary airflow through an air outlet, inlet, or duct. A damper position may be immovable, manually adjustable, or part of an automated control system.

Dead Load: Static load imposed by gravitational forces acting upon the structure and permanently installed building materials, such as a roof, wall, floor, and ceiling-covering materials.

Dead-Level Roof: A roof with no slope; a flat roof.

Deck: Exterior floor system supported on at least two opposing sides by an adjoining structure and/or post, piers, or other independent supports.

Decorative: Ornamental; not required for the operation of essential systems and components of a building.

Defensible Space: An area around a building designed to slow the rate of an advancing wildfire

Deferred Maintenance: Maintenance and repairs that were not performed when scheduled or needed, and have been postponed to a future date. This often leads to a decline in the condition or performance of building systems, components, equipment, or building envelope, and may require corrective action to restore function or prevent further decline.

Deferred-Maintenance Items: Deficient items that cannot be remedied with routine maintenance, generally caused by neglect, and requiring attention before escalating into failures or causing a significantly adverse impact.

Deflection: The amount of bending movement of any part of a structural member perpendicular to the axis of the member under an applied load; also referred to as sag.

Delamination: A term used to describe the separation of laminated layers, either membrane plies or insulation.

Describe: To report, in writing, a system or component by its type or other observed characteristics to distinguish it from other components used for the same purpose.

Destructive: An act of demolishing, damaging or probing any system, structure or component, or to dismantle any system or component that would not be taken apart by an ordinary person in the course of normal maintenance.

Detectable Warning: Raised bumps or domes that signal via cane or underfoot an approach to a traffic lane or change in surface level.

Detention Basin: A basin that temporarily holds runoff during heavy rains and releases it slowly to prevent flooding and erosion

Determine: To arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant to examination.

Diagonal Crack: A crack typically found at the corner of walls and oriented at some angle; can indicate structural movement.

Diaphragm: A horizontal structural element designed to transmit lateral loads to the shear wall and is built in as part of the roof and floor structures.

Diffuser: A component of the ventilation system that supplies conditioned air into a space and can manage air output.

Diffusers and Grilles: Components of the ventilation system that distribute and diffuse air to promote air circulation in the occupied space. Diffusers supply air and grilles return air.

Dilution Air: The combination of air and flue gases that lower emission concentration.

Dimensional Lumber: Yard lumber from 2 to 5 inches thick and 2 or more inches wide, and includes joists, rafters, studs, planks, and small timbers.

Disability: A condition related to a person’s mobility, hearing, vision, speech, or cognition that impairs their ability.

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