Constructor Glossary

A

Abbreviations on building plans and drawings include:

• GL – Ground level
• CL – Ceiling level
• FL – Floor level
• AS – Australian standard
• BK – Brick
• BV – Brick veneer
• CW – Cavity wall
• Conc – Concrete
• D – Door
• G – Gas
• HW – Hot water unit
• AH – Overhead
• PG – Plate glass
• R – Roof
• VER – Veranda
• WBD – Wallboard
• W - Window
• FRR - Fire Resistance Rating

ABCB means the Australian Building Codes Board.

Above ground rainwater tank: A rainwater tank that is not in any way set into the ground.

Absorption: The ability of a material to accept within its body, quantities of vapour or liquid, such as moisture.

Abutment: The junction within the roof, where tiles meet a brick or timber structure.

Access way: A continuous accessible path of travel (as defined in AS 1428.1) to, into or within a building.

Acid Soil: Soil with a pH lower than 7.0.

Acre: A land measure totalling 4046.85 metres squared.

Acrylic Membranes: water-based membranes, are Dispersion Membranes DM and are air cured. 2-part acrylics are cementitious membranes with polymer modification

Active Water Flow: surface water flowing against a below ground wall

Additive Manufacturing: Also known as 3D printing, this method involves building components layer by layer using materials like plastics or cement. It’s a modern, innovative approach to creating custom parts for homes.

Adhesive: Proprietary bedding material other than sand/cement bedding mortar.

Adhesive, cement-based: An adhesive in which the principal bonding component is a hydraulic cement, e.g., Portland cement, modified by the inclusion of such other admixtures as may be necessary in order to achieve satisfactory bonding of ceramic tiles and mosaics.

Adhesive, organic-based: An adhesive, which may be supplied as either a one-part or a two-part mix, in which the principal bonding component is an organic material. The term includes only those organic adhesives capable of application by either the thin-bed or the thick-bed fixing technique.

Adhesive, thick-bed: Adhesive bedding exceeding 3 mm in thickness.

Adhesive, thin-bed Adhesive bedding not exceeding 3 mm in thickness.

Aerate: Loosening or puncturing the soil to increase water penetration.

Aging-in-Place Design: A design philosophy focused on creating homes that accommodate occupants throughout their lifetime, considering accessibility and mobility.

Aggressive soils: Soils where walls are expected to be attacked by salts in the groundwater.

Air Barriers: Control the unintended movement of air into and out of a building enclosure.

Air Change Rate: Abbreviated ACH (air changes per hour) or ac/h, it is a measure of the air volume added to or removed from a space (normally a room or house) divided by time (i.e., 2ACH = the volume of air in the room is fully exchanged by an equivalent volume of air coming into or out of the room in 30 minutes.

Air Leakage : Sometimes called infiltration and exfiltration, it is the unintentional or accidental introduction of air into a building assembly, typically through gaps in the building envelope.

Air-entraining agent: An admixture used to form discrete, non-coalescing, small air bubbles, up to 1 mm in diameter. In mortar, it is used to improve workability and thus allow a reduction in fine aggregate and/or water. NOTE: An air-entraining agent is not the same as ‘methylcellulose-based’ water thickener.

Air Layering: A plant propagation method involving cutting into the bark to induce new root formation.

Air Permeability: The unintended leakage of air through gaps and cracks in the external envelope of a building. It is measured as the volume of air leakage per hour per square metre of external building envelope (m3/h.m2 ) at a tested pressure of typically 50 pascals (Pa).

Airtight: Not permitting the passage of air or gas either inward or outward

AIW: Australian Institute of Waterproofing - LINK https://waterproof.org.au/

Alkaline Soil: Soil with a pH higher than 7.0.

Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP): Flat or profiled aluminium sheet material in composite with any type of materials.

Amenity: An attribute which contributes to the health, physical independence, comfort and well-being of people.

Anchor Bolt: A steel bolt used to secure structural elements to concrete, ensuring stability against forces like wind or earthquakes.

Annuals: Plants that complete their life cycle in one year, from seed to bloom to seed.

ANTIPONDING BOARD: Anti-ponding board ensures water drains away correctly and does not pool under the roof edge tiles. Anti-ponding boards sit underneath the sarking between the fascia boards and the rafters.

Anti-flap Pad: An accessory which minimises sarking from flapping or touching against the underside of the batten and tile.

Anti-Slip Finish: A surface treatment or coating applied to floors to increase traction and reduce slip hazards, especially in wet areas.

Apex: The intersecting point where all ascending hips meet a ridge or another elevated hip.

Appropriately qualified person: A person recognised by the appropriate authority as having qualifications and/or experience in the relevant discipline in question.

Aquatic Plants: Plants that grow in, live in, or live on water.

Articulated masonry: Masonry construction in which special provisions have been made for movement by articulation.

Articulation: Provision for movement in walls through incorporation of permanent control joints

Assembly Drawings: Assembly drawings provide precise, detailed information as to the construction of buildings, including matters such as the fixing of materials, components and elements.

Austenitic (Stainless Steel): When nickel (Ni) is added to stainless steel in sufficient quantities, the crystal structure changes from ferrite to austenite, hence the term austenitic stainless steels. The basic composition of austenitic stainless steels is 18% chromium (Cr) and 8% nickel (Ni). Austenitic grades are the most commonly used stainless steels accounting for more than 70% of production (304 is the most commonly specified grade by far).

Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC): The Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC) is a not-for-profit organisation referenced by the National Construction Code (NCC). It is the custodian of protocols and procedures for the energy rating of all fenestration products. It develops, administers, and approves methods and systems unique to Australia and ensures a uniform rating and labelling system for energy performance for windows, glazed doors, and skylights as well as attached products such as film and secondary glazing.

AS: Australian Standard.