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.

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.

disconnected: shut down.

Disinfectants: One of three groups of antimicrobials registered by EPA for public health uses. EPA considers an antimicrobial to be a disinfectant when it destroys or irreversibly inactivates infectious or other undesirable organisms, but not necessarily their spores. EPA registers three types of disinfectant products based upon submitted efficacy data: limited, general or broad spectrum, and hospital disinfectant.

dismantle: to open, take apart or remove any component, device or piece that would not typically be opened, taken apart, or removed by an ordinary occupant.

door closer: a mechanical device that controls the closing of a door.

downspout: Also called a leader, the pipe that carries water down from the gutter or scupper.

duct: a passageway, tube or conduit utilized for the transmission of air and vapors.

due diligence: a level of care in the inspection process that varies, depending upon the scope of work agreed upon by the inspector and his/her client.

dwelling unit: a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

easement: that portion of a land or property reserved for use by a person or agency other than the owner of the property.

easily visible: describes systems, items and components that are both conspicuous and in plain sight, absent of the need for intrusive inspection techniques, probing, disassembly, or the use of special equipment.

edge drainage: A drainage system on a low-slope roof where water flows from the high points to the building’s perimeter, which usually has scuppers, a gutter system, and/or downspouts.

egress: a means of exiting.

EIFS: exterior insulation and finish system

emergency shutoff valve: a valve designed to shut off the flow of gases or liquids.

energy analysis: a method for estimating the annual energy use of a building.

energy-recovery ventilation system: a system that uses air-to-air heat exchangers to recover energy from exhaust air for the purpose of pre-heating or pre-cooling outdoor air prior to supplying the air to an interior space.

engineering service: any professional service or creative work requiring engineering education, training and experience, and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences to such professional service or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design and/or supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures, buildings, machines, equipment, works or processes.

enter: to access or go into an area to observe visible components.

environmental agents: Conditions other than indoor air contaminants that cause stress, comfort, and/or health problems (e.g., humidity extremes, drafts, lack of air circulation, noise, and overcrowding).

EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer): A single-ply membrane consisting of synthetic rubber, usually in 45 or 60 mils. Application can be ballasted, fully adhered, or mechanically attached.

ergonomics: Applied science that investigates the impact of people’s physical environment on their health and comfort (e.g., determining the proper chair height for computer operators).

ETS: Environmental tobacco smoke.

evaluate: to assess the systems, structures and/or components of a building.

evidence: plainly visible and conspicuous material objects or other things presented to the senses that would tend to produce conviction in the mind of an ordinary person as to the existence or non-existence of a fact.

examine: to visually examine; to look for and identify material physical deficiencies in systems, structures or components of a building through a non-intrusive physical inspection. See inspect.

exhaust ventilation: Mechanical removal of air from a portion of a building (e.g., piece of equipment, room, or general area).

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