Waffle Structural System: A type of two-way cast-in-place concrete roof and floor structural system that uses a square dome with concrete placed on top.

Walk-Through Survey: That portion of the inspection where the inspector makes non-intrusive, visual observations of readily accessible areas of the subject property.

Walking Surface: The ground or floor surface that meets specific requirements to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Wall Protector: Non-combustible shield between a wall and anything heat-producing for the purpose of reducing required clearance.

Weep Hole: A hole located near the base of a masonry that allows for the drainage of entrapped water. It may be an omission of mortar, a rope wick, or a screened material.

Weep Screed: A type of flashing material that drains excess moisture, installed along the base and at roof-wall transitions of exterior stucco or stone.

Well: A means of enclosure that is part of the permanent structure that completely encompasses all or a portion of the climbing space of a fixed ladder.

WHO: World Health Organization

Wide Cracking: A crack exceeding 1/16 inch wide; often an indication of movement or structural concern. Also referred to as deep cracking.

Wind Uplift: The upward force exerted by wind traveling across a roof.

Window Wall: A non-load-bearing exterior wall system consisting of framed window panels stacked between concrete slabs. Unlike curtain walls, window walls are installed from the interior with the bottom of each window set directly on the structural base or foundation, and do not extend past the slab edges. They align closely with the building's floors and do not span multiple floors. They provide extensive natural light and views but require individual installation at each floor level.

Wooden Lath: Thin wood strips used as a base for applying stucco to walls.

Workmanlike: Executed in a skilled manner.

Wrinkling: A term used to describe lines and folds that randomly appear in a membrane, usually caused by membrane slippage, and is the result of the slope of the roof such that the asphalt is too viscous or the membrane was not properly attached to the decking.

Wythe: A continuous vertical section of masonry that is 1 unit in thickness. It may be independent of or interlocked with the adjoining wythe(s). A single wythe of brick that is not structural in nature is referred to as a veneer. A multiple-wythe masonry wall may be composed of a single type of masonry unit layered to increase its thickness and structural strength, or different masonry units chosen by function, such as an economical concrete block serving a structural purpose, and a more expensive brick chosen for its appearance.