Glossary

permit issued by a zoning authority that allows property to be used in a manner not ordinarily allowed in the zone where it’s located; primarily for uses that benefit the pubic, such as hospitals, schools and cemeteries. Also called a special exception permit.

An agreement that a court would refuse to enforce; for example, it may be unenforceable because its contents can’t be proven, or because isn’t in writing, or because the statute of limitations has run out.

When one party promises to do something if the other party performs a certain act, but the other party does not promise to perform it; the contract is formed only if the other party does perform the requested act.

Posttensioned concrete construction in which the tendons are not grouted to the surrounding concrete.

Laid without continuous horizontal joints; random.

Flat, insulated electrical conductors that are run under carpeting, and their associated outlet boxes and fixtures.

A course of shingles laid beneath an exposed course of shingles at the lower edge of a wall or roof, in order to provide a waterproof layer behind the joints in the exposed course.

The floor of a fireplace.

A panel laid over a subfloor to create a smooth, stiff surface for application of finish flooring.

The process to placing new foundations beneath an existing stucture.

Subsidence of the various foundation elements of a building at the same rate, resulting in no distress to the structure of the building.

A curtain wall system consisting of prefabricated panel units secured with site-applied mullions.

A curtain wall system consisting entirely of prefabricated panel units.

Constructed without steel reinforcing bars or welded wire fabric.

A membrane roof assembly in which the thermal insulation lies above the membrane.

A water-based foam used as thermal insulation.

An open-top U-shaped loop of steel bar used as reinforcing against diagonal tension in a beam.