Construction 101

Demolition

Demolition is the process of dismantling a building. Several steps are taken including: surveying (the study of materials, construction methods, and existing conditions), removal of hazardous materials, development of a demolition plan, and implementation of proper safety measures.

Abatement

Abatement is a very important process in construction. It includes a set of procedures designed to remove and/or control the release of hazardous materials.

Erosion & Sediment Control

Construction erosion and sediment control is the process of reducing movement of sediment (broken down natural matter) from a site during construction through land management techniques or man-made structures.

Concrete Foundation

Concrete foundations are poured and reinforced with steel rebar for the construction of a new structure, providing necessary support.

Land Clearing

Land clearing is a process of removing trees, stumps, and other vegetation from wooded areas in order to achieve needed land use.

Site Access Roads

Site access roads are built to define a limited set of ingress and egress access points to construction sites.

Rough-In

Rough-in defines the stage of a construction project when mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) lines are brought in.

Structural Steel

Structural steel is a category of steel used for making rigidity and high strength to weight ratio construction materials, such as I-beams, used to form the building structure.

Surcharge

Surcharge is vertical pressure applied to any load over ground surface. This process is often used by soil engineers to improve weak compressible areas of land to withstand loading applied by the finished construction.

Slab

Slab refers to a molded layer of plain or reinforced flat concrete, of varying thickness, usually supported by beams, columns, walls, and other framework.

On Grade

On grade simply means at the foundation level of a structure. The term 'slab-on-grade' refers to a concrete floor poured at the grade or foundation level of the building.

MEP

MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering. These three systems are often designed together due to the high amount of interaction between them.

Elevator Pit

An elevator pit, consisting of a cast-in-place base slab and four walls, is a part of an elevator shaft that extends from the threshold level of the lowest landing door to the floor at the bottom of the shaft.

Shaking Out Steel

After casting has solidified in a mold, the casting is removed from the sand mold by a process called "shake-out". Typically the entire mold is vibrated to shake loose the sand from the metal casting.

Steel Joists

Steel joists are relatively light weight shop-manufactured steel trusses used in the direct support of floor or roof slabs or decks between walls, beams, and main structural members.

Knee Wall

A knee wall is a short wall used to support the rafters in roof construction.

CMU Block Wall

CMU stands for concrete masonry unit. These are concrete blocks made from a mixture cement, aggregates and water. A CMU block wall is simply a building wall made of these concrete blocks.

Duct Bank

A duct bank is a protected pathway for buried electrical and data cables. Cables are typically are housed in PVC pipes called conduits, which are then encased in steel reinforced concrete.

AVB

AVB stands for air-vapor barrier. These are designed to prevent air and moisture from entering the building envelope. This helps to regulate the indoor climate of the building.

Hat Channel

A hat channel, or furring hat channel, is a hat-shaped corrosion-resistant framing component used to furr, or level out, masonry walls and ceiling assemblies.

Girts & Purlins

A girt is a horizontal structural member in a framed wall that provides support to the wall panel. A purlin is a horizontal beam or bar used to provide structural support in roofing.

TPO Roofing

TPO stands for the chemical thermoplastic polyolefin. TPO roofing is a kind of single-ply roofing material that is heat-reflective and energy-efficient.

Parapet

A parapet is an extension of a wall at the edge of a roof, balcony, terrace, walkways, or structure. It is typically a short, vertical wall that runs the roofline of the building.

Lath

Lath refers to narrow strips of wood or metal fastened to the structural members of a building to provide a base for plaster, shingles, or slate.

Backfill

Backfilling is the process of reusing or replacing the soil that was removed during the excavation of foundations, ground slabs or other groundworks to support and strengthen a structure.

Ductwork

Ductwork refers to the system of metal or plastic tubes used to transport air from heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment throughout a building.

Under-slab Utilities

Under-slab utilities are electrical and gas services, and shallow water and sewer piping that are placed below the floor slab.

Metal Decking

Metal decking is corrugated metal sheeting used as a structural roof deck or composite floor deck. Its purpose is to support the insulating membrane of a roof or to create a composite metal floor deck.

Stud

A stud is a vertical framing member that forms part of a wall or partition. They are a fundamental component of the building frame.

Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a rigid wall constructed to retain or hold back soil and water. The structure provides lateral support to prevent the soil from sliding or eroding away when there is a slope in the terrain.

Sanitary Piping

Sanitary piping is a system of piping used to transport sewage and wastewater from a building to a sewage treatment plant or disposal.

Storefront

A storefront is a non-load-bearing assembly of commercial entrance systems and windows, usually spanning between the floor and the structure above, designed for high use and strength.

IMP

IMP stands for insulated metal panels. These are lightweight, exterior wall or roof panels with steel skins and an insulating foam core, installed to improve a building’s insulation.

Outrigger

An outrigger is a structural member in an interior lateral load resisting system. Outriggers increase the stiffness of a building by means of converting the lateral forces into compression and tension forces in the perimeter structures.

Grease Interceptor

A grease interceptor is a plumbing device designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system. This is also known as a “grease trap”.

RTU Curb

An RTU, or roof top unit, is a commercial-grade, high efficiency air conditioning unit. A curb is a raised metal frame designed for mounting structures, like an RTU, safely to a roof.

Grading

Grading is the process of adjusting the slope and soil elevation of an area to ensure it is level or at specified slope.

Sanitary Tie In

Sanitary tie in refers to the connection of a building or site’s sanitary sewage lines; which carry wastewater from bathrooms, sinks, and kitchens; to the county’s sewer system.

Caulking

Caulk is a flexible material used to seal air leaks through cracks, gaps, or joints less than 1-quarter-inch wide between stationary building components. Caulking is the process of applying this material.

Branch Wiring

Branch wiring refers to the system of wiring that originates from a branch circuit. A branch circuit supplies power to the light fixtures, appliances, and other electrical devices in the building.