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A complete list of building science and construction terms. Many entries have illustrations provided and all are cross-referenced with other documents in the database.
Air Barrier by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/21
Air barriers are systems of materials designed and constructed to...
Air Barrier System by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/22
An air barrier system is an assembly of materials that together . . .
Air Barrier; Performance Requirements by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2006/12/05
Air barrier systems typically are assembled from materials incorporated in . . .
Air Retarder by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/21
Materials and assemblies that do not meet the performance requirements of...
Air-impermeable by Joeseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/21
A material or assembly having an air permeance equal to or less than...
Building Enclosure by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/22
A building enclosure is the component (typically comprised . . .
Commissioning by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2006/12/05
Prior to occupancy, testing and inspections should note any problems and they . . .
Conditioned Space by ASHRAE Standard 62.2 — last modified 2007/05/21
The part of the building that is designed to be thermally conditioned for the...
Diffusion by Joe Lstiburek — last modified 2006/06/11
The movement of individual molecules through a material...
Drainage Plane by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2007/05/21
Drainage planes are water repellent materials (building paper...
EIFS (external insulation finishing system) by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2006/12/05
A combination of insulation and stucco system cladding for . . .
Equivalent Leakage Area of a Building (EqLA or ELA) by Joe Lstiburek — last modified 2006/06/11
Quantitative expression of the airtightness of a building enclosure...
Expansion Joint by John Straube — last modified 2006/06/11
A structural separation between building elements . . .
Flashing by John Straube — last modified 2006/06/11
A waterproof material used to redirect or shed drained water, or occasionally to act as a capillary break . . .
Foundation, Water-managed by Joe Lstiburek — last modified 2006/06/11
Systems for at or below-grade enclosure assemblies...
Grade Beam by Joe Lstiburek — last modified 2006/06/11
A foundation wall that is cast at or just below the grade...
Habitable Space by ASHRAE Standard 62.2 — last modified 2007/05/21
Building space intended for continual human occupancy. Such space generally...
Housewrap by Joe Lstiburek — last modified 2006/06/11
Any of the numerous spun-fiber polyolefin rolled sheet goods...
Hydrophobic by Joseph W. Lstiburek — last modified 2006/12/05
Materials that do not change their permeability as a function of relative . . .
Hygroscopic by Building Science Corporation — last modified 2006/12/05
Materials that change their permeability characteristics as relative humidity . . .