" I’ve always appreciated your innovative thinking and input on alternative systems and process. "
Werner Brisske
Partners In Design Architects
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AIA |
Acronym for
"American Institute of Architects". |
| AGC
|
Acronym for "Associated
General Contractors of America". |
| Aggregate
|
A mixture of sand and
stone and a major component of concrete. |
| Allowance
|
A sum of money stated
in contract documents to cover the cost of materials or items
in those documents, the full description of which is not known
at the time of bidding. All contractors bid the allowance as
part of their proposals. The actual costs of the items
are determined by the contractor (not including installation)
at the time of their selection by the architect or owner and
the total contractual amount is adjusted accordingly.
|
| AMP
|
A unit of electrical
current; electric circuits are rated in AMPs for a given voltage,
for example, “a 110 volt, 15AMP circuit”. To determine
the “AMP draw” of an electrical device use the formula: AMPs
= Watts / Volts. A 1,500-watt electric heater on
110 volt current will draw 13.6 AMPs. (See
“Voltage”, “Watts”) |
| ASHRAE
|
Acronym for “American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers”;
an institute that sets engineering standards for HVAC and refrigeration
systems. (See “HVAC”) |
| Assignment
|
The transfer of rights
or responsibilities, or placement of contractual obligations
by one person or entity to another. Frequently prime
trade contractors are assigned by an owner to a general contractor
or construction manager to better coordinate the execution of
a construction project. (See “Prime Contractor”)
|
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|
Backfill
|
The replacement of excavated
earth into a trench around or against a basement, crawl space,
or foundation wall. |
| Backing
|
Frame lumber installed
between the wall studs to give additional support for drywall
or an interior trim related item, such as handrail brackets,
cabinets, and towel bars. In this way, items are screwed and
mounted into solid wood rather than weak drywall that may allow
the item to break loose from the wall. Carpet backing
holds the pile fabric in place. |
| Balusters
|
Vertical members in a
railing used between a top rail and bottom rail or the stair
treads, sometimes referred to as ‘pickets' or ‘spindles'.
|
| Bedrock
|
A subsurface layer of
earth that is suitable to support a structure. |
| Bid
Guarantee |
A
bid bond or certified check, cashier's check or similar instrument
to assure the owner that a bid is valid and that the bidder
will enter into a contract if awarded. Refusal to enter
into a contract leads to a forfeiture of the guarantee. (See
“Bid Bond”)
|
| Bid
Bond |
A bond issued by a surety
on behalf of a contractor that provides assurance to the recipient
of the contractor's bid that, if the bid is accepted, the contractor
will execute a contract and provide a performance bond.
Under the bond, the surety is obligated to pay the recipient
of the bid the difference between the contractor's bid and the
bid of the next lowest responsible bidding if the bid is accepted
and the contractor fails to execute a contract or provide a
performance bond. |
| Blue
Print(s) |
A type of copying method
often used for architectural drawings. Usually used to describe
the drawing of a structure which is prepared by an architect
or designer for the purpose of design and planning, estimating,
securing permits and actual construction. |
| Board
Foot |
A unit of measure for
lumber equal to 1 inch thick by 12 inches wide by 12 inches
long. Examples: 1” x 12” x16' = 16 board feet, 2” x 12” x 16'
= 32 board feet. |
| Bond
|
A written agreement containing
a financial guarantee that one party, the surety, obligates
itself to a second party, the obligee (usually the owner), to
assure the performance, service or payment by a contractor (also
called the obligor). |
| Bond
Beam |
A horizontal structural
element in a block wall located above a window or other opening
in the wall. Created by filling one course of block with rebar
and concrete. Often used to add strength for wind load
or to create small lintels. The top course of a block
wall may be a bond beam to facilitate roof blocking, roofing
and flashing. |
| Bonding
Capacity |
The limit of bonded work,
which a contractor can perform; a function of the willingness
of a surety to provide bonding. (See “Bond”)
|
| Borrow
Pit |
An excavation on a jobsite
from which quality fill material is taken and replaced with
less desirable material. |
| Brick
Ledge |
Part of the foundation
wall where brick (veneer) will rest. |
| BTU
|
Acronym for “British
Thermal Unit”; a unit of measure of heat; HVAC equipment is
rated in BTU capacity. |
| Budget
|
The total cost that the
owner is willing to pay for a certain segment of work associated
with the project. In the largest sense the budget will encompass
all the budgets for all the scopes of work including general
conditions (overhead & profit). |
| Builders
Risk Insurance |
Insurance coverage on
a construction project during construction, including extended
coverage that may be added for the contract for the customer's
protection. |
| Building
Envelope |
The entire volume of
a building defined by its exterior walls, its roof and its lowest
floor; if the structure includes basement areas, they are included
in this volume. |
| Built–Up
Roof |
Roofing composed of three
to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch,
or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or
gravel. Generally used on flat or low-pitched roofs.
|
| Buttress
|
A structural support
element in a building, usually constructed of concrete or masonry,
built against a wall for support. |
Close
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| Caisson
|
A 10” or 12” diameter
hole drilled into the earth and embedded into bedrock 3-4 feet.
The structural support for a type of foundation wall,
porch, patio, monopost, or other structure. Two or more
“sticks” or reinforcing bars (rebar) are inserted into and run
the full length of the hole and concrete is poured into the
caisson hole. |
| Cantilever
|
An overhang. Where
one floor extends beyond and over a foundation wall.
For example at a fireplace location or bay window cantilever.
Normally, not extending over 2 feet. |
| Carbon Footprint |
A measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. |
| Casement
Window |
A window with hinges
on one of the vertical sides and swings open like a normal door.
|
| Case
Goods |
Prefabricated cabinets,
counters, storage units, etc. |
| Casing
|
Wood trim molding installed
around a door or window opening. |
| Certificate
of Occupancy |
This certificate is issued
by the local municipality and is required before anyone can
occupy the building. It is issued only after the local
municipality has made all inspections and all monies and fees
have been paid. |
| CFM
|
Abbreviation for “Cubic
Feet per Minute”; a unit of measure of air volume used most
commonly in reference to HVAC systems. (See “HVAC”)
|
| Change
Order |
A written document which
modifies the plans and specifications and/or the price of the
construction contract. |
| Construction
Documents |
The drawings and specifications
that describe the construction requirements. |
| Construction
Manager |
A person or entity who
provides construction management services, either as an advisor
or as a contractor. |
| Contingency
Funds |
A sum of money stated
in contract documents to cover the costs of unforeseen items
uncovered through discovery during the course of a project.
This may be due to unforeseen underground conditions,
unforeseen conditions in demolition, incomplete, incorrect or
inconsistent plans, minor and reasonable errors and omissions,
and unanticipated schedule. Unused contingency funds
typically become the owner's savings at the end of a project.
|
| Control
Joint |
Tooled, straight grooves
made on concrete floors to “control” where the concrete should
crack. |
| Corbel
|
A bracket usually of
stone, brick or other masonry material projecting from the face
of a wall. Often used to support a cornice or an arch.
|
| Corbeling
|
An overlapping arrangement
usually of brick in which each course extends farther out from
the vertical of a wall than the course below. |
| Cornice
|
Overhang of a pitched
roof, usually consisting of a fascia board, a soffit and appropriate
trim moldings. |
| Counter
Flashing |
A metal flashing usually
used on chimneys at the roofline to cover shingle flashing and
used to prevent moisture entry. |
| Covenant
|
The basic rules establishing the rights and
obligations of owners of real property within a subdivision
in relation to other owners within the same tract and in relation
to an association of owners organized for the operation and
maintenance of property owned in common by the individual owners.
|
| CSI
|
The copyrighted title of a uniform indexing
system for construction specifications, as created by the Construction
Specifications Institute and Construction Specifications Canada,
commonly called the CSI format or numbering system.
|
| CSM
|
Acronym for “Certified
Survey Map”. |
| Curtain
Wall |
Refers to a large mass
of a window system on the exterior of a building. |
Close
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| Damp
Proofing |
The black, tar like waterproofing material
applied to the exterior of a foundation wall. |
| DBE
|
Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise (DBE) Program. The goal of the program is to increase
the participation of firms owned by disadvantaged individuals.
|
| Design
Build |
Also known as “design-construct”
or “single responsibility”, Design Build is a system of contracting
under which one entity performs both architecture/engineering
and construction under a single contract. |
| Design
Development |
The phase of the architect's basic services
in which the architect prepares drawings and other presentation
documents to fix and describe the size and character of the
entire project as to architectural, structural, mechanical,
and electrical systems, materials, and other essentials as may
be appropriate. The architect also prepares a statement of probable
construction cost. |
| Diffuser
|
HVAC system registers
and grilles; registers supply air to a room, grilles take return
air from a room. |
| Drain
Tile |
A perforated, corrugated plastic pipe laid
at the bottom of the foundation wall and used to drain excess
water away from the foundation. It prevents ground water from
seeping through the foundation wall. Sometimes called perimeter
drain. |
Close
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| Eave
|
The projecting overhang
at the lower border of a roof. |
| EIFS
|
Acronym for "Exterior
Insulation Finishing System". |
| Elevation
Sheet |
The page on the blue
prints that depicts the building or room as if a vertical plane
were passed through the structure. |
| Estimate
|
The amount of labor,
materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for
a project as summarized in the contractor's bid proposal for
the project. |
| Estimating
|
The process of calculating
the cost of a project. |
| Expansion
Joint |
Fibrous material (at 1/2" thick) installed
in and around a concrete slab to permit it to move up and down
(seasonally) along the non-moving foundation wall. |
| Exhaust
Fan |
HVAC devices that cause
massive negative pressure in a building and sucks all the exterior
doors shut. (See “HVAC”) |
Close
|
| Facade
|
The face of a building.
|
| Fascia
|
Horizontal boards attached
to rafter/truss ends at the eaves and along gables. Roof
drain gutters are attached to the fascia. |
| Fast
Track |
Compression of a construction schedule by
over lapping some activities that otherwise would be performed
sequentially. |
| Fiber
Mesh Concrete |
Concrete with fiber glass
added to increase strength; used instead of standard concrete
mix with wire mesh reinforcing. |
| Fire
Stop |
A solid, tight closure of a concealed space,
placed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through such
a space. In a frame wall, this will usually consist of 2 by
4 cross blocking between studs. Work performed to slow the spread
of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling (behind the drywall).
Includes stuffing wire holes in the top and bottom plates with
insulation, and installing blocks of wood between the wall studs
at the drop soffit line. This is integral to passing a Rough
Frame inspection. |
| Flatwork
|
Common word for concrete floors, driveways,
basements, and sidewalks. |
| Footprint
|
The outline of a building on the ground, used
in site planning and in judging compliance with planning and
zoning laws. |
| Footing
|
Continuous 8" or 10" thick concrete
pad that supports the foundation wall or monopost. |
| Form
|
Temporary structure erected to contain concrete
during placing and initial hardening. |
| Foundation
|
The bottom of a building.
|
Close
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| General
Contractor |
A contractor who enters
into a contract with the owner of a project for the construction
of the project and who takes full responsibility for is completion,
although the contractor may enter into subcontracts with others
for the performance of specific parts or phases of the project.
|
| GFI
outlet |
Ground Fault Interrupted
outlet - code required outlet in kitchens, and bathrooms.
|
| Girder
|
A large or principal beam of wood or steel
used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along
its length. |
| Glazing
|
Glass windows, doors
and trim in a building. |
| GMP
|
Abbreviation for “Guaranteed
Maximum Price”. |
| GPM
|
Abbreviation for “Gallons
Per Minute”; a unit of measure of liquid volume used most commonly
in reference to plumbing systems. |
| Grade
Beam |
A foundation wall that is poured at level
with or just below the grade of the earth. An example is the
area where the 8' or 16' overhead garage door "block out"
is located, or a lower (walk out basement) foundation wall is
poured . |
| Guaranteed
Maximum Price (GMP) |
An amount stipulated in a construction contract
as the maximum sum payable by the owner to the contractor for
the work specified. |
Close
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| Header
|
(a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists
and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway,
or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural
member over an opening (for example over a door or window).
|
| HM
Door |
Abbreviation for "Hollow
Metal Door". |
| Hollow
Metal |
Steel door and window
frames. |
| Home
Run (Electrical) |
The electrical cable that carries power from
the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical box,
plug, or switch in the circuit. |
| HVAC
|
Acronym for "Heating,
Ventilating and Air Conditioning". |
| Hydraulic
|
Liquid operated; some
elevators and dock levelers operate with hydraulic cylinders.
|
Close
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| ID
|
Abbreviation for "Inside
Diameter". |
Close
|
| Jamb
|
The inside finish trim
of a door opening. (See “Casing”) |
| Joist
|
Wooden 2 X 8's, 10's, or 12's that run parallel
to one another and support a floor or ceiling, and supported
in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.
|
Close
|
| Lateral
|
The underground trench and related services
(i.e., electric, gas, telephone, sewer and water lines) that
will be buried within the trench. |
| Lean
Mix |
Sand mixed with a small
quantity of Portland cement, normally used to backfill undercuts
required below column footings and grade beam. |
| LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) |
A voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings |
| Leibert
|
A brand name of cooling
equipment widely used for temperature and humidity control in
computer rooms. The name has become a generic term used
to describe computer room cooling equipment. Real Leibert
systems almost exclusively use glycol as the coolant and are
plumbed to air handlers to cool the room and also plumbed directly
to mainframe computers to cool the equipment. |
| Lien
|
An encumbrance that usually makes real or
personal property the security for payment of a debt or discharge
of an obligation. |
| Lime
Stabilization |
A process of mixing lime
into existing soil to create a more workable site. |
| Lintel
|
A horizontal structural member that supports
the load over an opening such as a door or window. |
| Lumens
|
Unit of measure for total light output. The
amount of light falling on a surface of one square foot.
|
Close
|
| Mesh
|
Used in concrete slabs
to add strength. (see also WWF) |
| MEP
|
Acronym for "Mechanical,
Electrical and Plumbing". |
| Metal
Lath |
Sheets of metal that are slit to form openings
within the lath. Used as a plaster base for walls and ceilings
and as reinforcing over other forms of plaster base.
|
| Millwork
|
Generally all building materials made of finished
wood and manufactured in millwork plants. Includes all doors,
window and door frames, blinds, mantels, panelwork, stairway
components (ballusters, rail, etc.), moldings, and interior
trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling, or siding.
|
| Mullion
|
A vertical divider in the frame between windows,
doors, or other openings. |
Close
|
| NEMA
|
Acronym for “National
Electrical Manufacturing Association”; an institute that sets
engineering standards for electrical products and components.
|
| Nominal
|
A word usually used in
reference to a dimension to indicate that it is approximate;
often used in stating pipe and fitting dimensions. For
example, 1" nominal pipe may actually be 1" ID and
1-1/8" OD, while 1" pipe fittings may be 1-1/8"
ID and 1-1/4" OD. |
| NTE
|
Abbreviation for “Not
To Exceed”. |
| NTX
|
Abbreviation for "Not
To Exceed". |
Close
|
| OD
|
Abbreviation for "Outside
Diameter". |
| OH
& P |
Abbreviation for "Overhead
and Profit". |
| OH
Door |
Abbreviation for "Overhead
Door". |
| Outline
Specification |
An abbreviated form of specifications normally
produced with schematic design or design development drawings.
|
Close
|
| Parabolic
|
Silver or gold plated
lenses on light fixtures (usually florescent lay-in fixtures)
that provide some down light character to the fixture.
Common parabolic lenses have 18 square opening in a 2' x 4'
fixture. Parabolic lenses are commonly 3” deep and therefore
require a deeper lay-in fixture. (See “Troffer”)
|
| Paracube
and Parasquare |
Silver or gold plated
lenses on light fixtures (usually florescent lay-in fixtures)
that allow the light to shine down and reduce the brightness
normally visible when looking at the light fixture itself.
|
| Parapet
|
A wall placed at the edge of a roof to prevent
people from falling off. |
| Patina
|
A thin layer of corrosion,
usually brown or green that appears on copper or copper alloys,
such as bronze, as a result of natural or artificial oxidation.
|
| Pedimat
|
A mat at the entrance
to a building, usually in the vestibule and recessed into the
floor. |
| Performance
Bond |
An amount of money (usually 10% of the total
price of a job) that a contractor must put on deposit
with a governmental agency as an insurance policy that guarantees
the contractors' proper and timely completion of a project or
job. |
| Permit
|
A
governmental municipal authorization to perform a building
process as in: demolition, grading, septic, building, electrical,
and plumbing permits. |
| Pier
|
A column of masonry, usually rectangular in
horizontal cross section, used to support other structural members.
|
| Pilaster
|
A pillar or column set
into a wall as an ornamental feature. |
| Plumb
|
Exactly vertical and perpendicular.
|
| Precast
|
A concrete horizontal structural member that
is cast and cured in other than its final position, on or off-site.
|
| Prime
Contractor |
A contractor that has
a contract directly with the owner; a general contractor is
therefore also a prime contractor. |
| Punch
List |
A list of minor details,
created (at a punch list walk through) with the owner at the
end of a project, that need to be corrected.
|
Close
|
| Radiant
Heating |
A method of heating, usually consisting of
a forced hot water system with pipes placed in the floor, wall,
or ceiling. Also electrically heated panels. |
| Rebar
|
Ribbed steel bars installed in foundation
concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures
designed to strengthen concrete. Comes in various thickness'
and strength grade. |
| Retaining
Wall |
A structure that holds back a slope and prevents
erosion. |
| R
Factor or Value |
A measure of a materials resistance to the
passage of heat. New homewalls are usually insulated with 4"
of batt insulation with an R value of R-13, and a ceiling insulation
of R-30. |
| RFI
|
Abbreviation for “Request
For Information”. |
| RFP
|
Abbreviation for “Request
For Proposal”. |
| RFQ
|
Abbreviation for “Request
For Qualifications”. |
| Rocking
|
Term for installing drywall.
|
| Roof
Blocking |
Lumber fastened to the
top of a building's exterior walls to which roofing materials
are attached and then often trimmed with an architectural flashing
. |
| Roof
Scuttle |
Small roof access opening
normally with a hinged lid and equipped with a vertical access
ladder. |
| RTU
|
Abbreviation for "Rooftop
Unit". |
Close
|
| Sash
|
The frame in which the
panes of a window or door are set. |
| Scheduling
|
An itemization in chronological order, often
in chart form, of project tasks in order to start and complete
a building or structure. |
| Schematic
Design |
The first phase of the architect's basic services
in which the architect consults with the Owner on project requirements
and prepares schematic design studies consisting of drawings
and other documents showing the scale and components for the
Owner's approval. |
| Screed
|
To level-off concrete to the correct elevation
during a concrete pour. |
| Scribing
|
Cutting and fitting woodwork to an irregular
surface. |
| Shear
Block |
Plywood that is face nailed to short (2 X
4's or 2 X 6's) wall studs (above a door or window, for example).
This is done to prevent the wall from sliding and collapsing.
|
| Shear
Wall |
A structural wall in
the interior of a building designed to provide lateral structural
integrity. |
| Sheet
Rock |
Drywall |
| Shop
Drawings |
Detailed graphics of
equipment or building components prepared by manufacturers,
vendors or subcontractors of the items. The drawings
are used for the production, fabrication and installation of
the components and are necessarily approved by both designers
and contractors prior to execution of the segment of work.
|
| Shoring
|
Temporary support of
a structure until permanent structural support can be completed.
|
| Sill
Plate |
Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall
frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill.
Also sole plate, bottom member of an interior wall frame.
|
| Site
Plan |
A plan drawing showing the site and buildings.
|
| Slag
|
Concrete cement that sometimes covers the
vertical face of the foundation void material. |
| Sleeper
|
Usually, a wood member embedded in concrete,
as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten the subfloor
or flooring. |
| Sound
Attenuation |
Sound proofing a wall or subfloor, generally
with fiberglass insulation. |
| Spandrel
Glass |
Opaque glass used as
an architectural element on building facades. |
| Static
Pressure |
A unit of measure of
air pressure used most commonly in reference to HVAC systems.
HVAC systems are engineered to deliver a certain volume
of CFMs at a given static pressure. For example, more
CFMs can be delivered through the same size duct if the static
pressure is increased. (See “CFM”, “HVAC”) |
| Sound
Transmission Class (STC) |
The measure of sound stopping of ordinary
noise. |
| Stringer
|
A structural element
most often tying opposed walls together; when used also as the
structural support for a finished ceiling or below a roof they
are more commonly referred to as ceiling joists. (See
“Joist”) |
| Subcontractor
|
1. A contractor whose contract is with the
general contractor, not the owner. 2. An individual or entity
contracting to perform part or all of another's contract.
|
| Superintendent
|
An individual who is at the top level of a
construction team in the field. |
Close
|
| T
& M |
Abbreviation for “Time
and Materials” - a method of pricing work. |
| Tempered
|
Strengthened. Tempered glass will not shatter
nor create shards, but will "pelletize" like an automobile
window. Required in tub and shower enclosures and locations,
entry door glass and sidelight glass, and in a windows when
the window sill is less than 16" to the floor.
|
| TI
|
Abbreviation for “Tenant
Improvement”; usually refers to interior space buildout to accommodate
a tenants requirements in a multi-tenant building. |
| Troffer
|
Florescent light fixture
recessed in a suspended ceiling. |
| Turnkey
|
A type of project delivery
system within the category of “design-build” in which the contractor
provides financing, design and construction under a performance
set of specifications and provides a completed project for an
agreed upon price. Upon completion, the contractor turns
the key over to the owner in return for full payment.
|
Close
|
| Undercutting
|
Removing
poor soil below column pads and footings. (See “Lean Mix”)
|
| Underpinning
|
Temporary propping up
part of a structure similar to shoring, but usually this term
is used in reference to propping up foundation elements.
|
| Unit
Price |
1. The price charged for a single unit or
minimum unit of production. 2. The price charged for a unit
of length, volume, or area. |
Close
|
| VAV
|
Acronym for “Variable
Air Volume”; common HVAC air delivery system that varies the
amount of heated or cooled air delivered to different parts
of a building to maintain comfort. (See “HVAC”)
|
| VCT
|
Resilient flooring; abbreviation
for "Vinyl Composite Tile" . |
| Value
Engineering (VE) |
A collaborative process
that includes Berghammer, the owner, the architect, engineers
and sometimes subcontractors, in which better cost/value solutions
are brought into the design of a building; often done to bring
a project's cost into line with a client's budget constraints.
But may be done simply to maximize a project's overall
value, from a client's perspective, rather than just to reduce
overall cost. |
| Vapor
Barrier |
A building product installed on exterior walls
and ceilings under the drywall and on the warm side of the insulation.
It is used to retard the movement of water vapor into walls
and prevent condensation within them. Normally, polyethylene
plastic sheeting is used. |
| Veneer
|
Extremely thin sheets of wood. Also a thin
slice of wood or brick or stone covering a framed wall.
|
| Voltage
|
Unit of electrical potential;
Voltage = Watts / AMPs (See “Watts”, “AMP”) |
Close
|
| Watts
|
A unit if electrical
power; Watts = AMPs x Volts; for example, a 110 volt, 15AMP
circuit can deliver 1,650 watts of power. (See “Voltage”, “AMP”)
|
| WWF
|
Abbreviation for “Welded
Wire Fabric”, used in concrete slabs to added strength.
(See “Mesh”) |
Close
|
| Zone
|
The section of a building that is served by
one heating or cooling loop because it has noticeably distinct
heating or cooling needs. Also, the section of property that
will be watered from a lawn sprinkler system.
|
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