Fiber 0 likes

Long, thin, tapering wood cell, closed at both ends, in wood; also called a Tracheid

Additive such as cellulosic or glass fiber improving core flexibility and gypsum board integrity

Animal hair, manila, or glass fibers of suitable length included in plaster mortar to improve cohesiveness

Fiber Saturation Point 0 likes

Condition when the cell walls are saturated and cell cavities have no water during drying or wetting of wood; usually 23-30 percent moisture content, based on oven dry weight

Fiberboard1 like

A prefabricated sheet of compressed plant or wood fibers; bonding agents and other materials are sometimes added to enhance strength, moisture resistance, fire, decay, or another characteristic; also called Insulation Board

Fiberboard Insulation 0 likes

Insulation sheets made of cane or wood fibers

Fiberboard Panel 0 likes

Flat sheet wood material reduced to fibers and bonded to yield a specific density

Fiberboard Sheathing 0 likes

Outdoor sheathing produced from cane or wood fibers

Fiberboard Wall Sheathing 0 likes

Flat sheet of fiberboard fastened to the external side of exterior wall studs, employed for enhancing rigidity in the building structure and as a base for veneer or siding construction

Fibered Plaster 0 likes

Basecoat plaster that has animal, glass, or vegetable fiber

Fiberglass1 like

Glass in fibrous form employed in manufacturing textiles, thermal and acoustical insulation, and reinforcing plastics

Products containing glass fibers ranging from 5 – 600 hundred-thousandths of an inch in diameter

Fiberglass Insulation1 like

Insulation produced from glass fibers with the consistency of wool

Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe1 like

A pipe for gas or liquid, manufactured from glass fibers and resins to reinforce durability and add strength

Fiberglass Tank1 like

Sizeable fiberglass-reinforced plastic container employed for storing liquids

Fibrous Concrete 0 likes

Light concrete made from a fibrous aggregate for enhanced tensile strength and ease of nailing.

Fiddleback-Grained Woods 0 likes

Wood grain figure produced by a fine wavy grain commonly found in species of maple; traditionally employed in the back of violins

Fiduciary 0 likes

Person in a position or relationship of trust; a trusted supervisor

Fiduciary Relationship 0 likes

A relationship where trust and confidence exist between the principal and agent

Field 0 likes

Construction site; not including offices, factories, or work shops

Expanse or area of wall between corners and openings, composed mainly of stretcher units in brick masonry

Surface area of a piece of gypsum board

Field Concrete 0 likes

Concrete that is mixed, placed, and cured on the job site

Field Engineer 0 likes

An engineer working mainly at the jobsite; usually representing the owner and often making minor engineering decisions at the site to expedite construction

Field House 0 likes

Building where athletic activities take place

Field Measure 0 likes

To take measurements or articles in the home instead of using the blueprints

Field Order 0 likes

A written order that entails a minor change in the work to be performed; not involving any alteration in the contract sum or lengthening of the contract period

Field Painting 0 likes

Painting at the job site

Field Primed 0 likes

The first coat of paint utilized on a construction site

Field Report 0 likes

See Daily Construction Report

Field Tile 0 likes

Tiles covering a floor or wall; the field is surrounded by tile trim

Field Welded Truss 0 likes

A truss welded and manufactured at a job site

Field Work Order 0 likes

A written request to a subcontractor or vendor requesting services or materials, generally from the general contractor

Fiery Finish 0 likes

Wood finish such that the hard grain stands out; created with a blowtorch and a bristled brush

Fifty-Fifty 0 likes

Dry or damp equal parts portland cement and extra-fine sand mixture employed to fill the joints of mounted ceramic mosaic tiles to ensure they are evenly spaced during installation

Figure 0 likes

Pattern created in a wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots, uneven coloration, or divergences from the standard grain

Filament1 like

Conducting wire with a high melting point in an electric bulb that becomes luminous with the passage of an electric current

File 0 likes

A scraping device that removes burrs and rough edges, and shapes wood and metal objects

Filigree1 like

Decorative, delicate openwork made from thin twisted wire in silver, gold, or another metal

Fill 0 likes

An earth or broken rock structure or embankment

Soil without value except as bulk

Sand, gravel or other loose earth employed to raise the ground level around an existing structure

Fill, Gypsum 0 likes

Troweled on plaster material to level depressions

Filler Block 0 likes

Concrete masonry unit employed with concrete joists for concrete floor or roof production

Filler Metal 0 likes

The metal included in producing a welded, brazed, or soldered joint

Filler, Joint1 like

See Joint Filler

Filler, Wood1 like

See Wood Filler

Fillet Weld 0 likes

A weld at the inner intersection of two metal surfaces meeting at right angles in a lap joint, tee joint, or corner joint

Filling 0 likes

Cotton, jute, kraftcord or other yarns running across the fabric and employed with chain yarns to bind pile tufts to backing yarns in carpet making; see Weft

Filling In 0 likes

Laying brick or other masonry units between the face and the back of a wall, in the center

Film Build 0 likes

Dry thickness properties of a coat of paint

Film Former 0 likes

Substance forming skin or membrane when dried

Film Integrity 0 likes

The degree of continuity of film in paint

Film Thickness Gauge 0 likes

Device that measures film thickness above substrates in painting; available as dry or wet film thickness gauges

Filmogens 0 likes

Film-producing materials such as varnish resins and linseed oil

Filter1 like

Strainer; purifier; sieve

Air cleaning device accessory to remove visible particles, microscopic particles, bacteria, or odors

Apparatus for removing suspended particles from pool water

Filter Aid 0 likes

A powdery substance employed in coating a septum-type filter; also alum to support sand filtration

Filter Block 0 likes

Hollow, vitrified clay masonry item, occasionally salt-glazed for trickling filter floors in sewage disposal plants

Filter Cycle 0 likes

Filter operation duration between backwash processes; also called Filter Run

Filter Glass1 like

Glass, often colored, employed in goggles, helmets, and hand shields to prevent detrimental light rays

Filter Media 0 likes

Fine grained material that traps suspended materials as they pass through it

Filter Rate 0 likes

Rate of water flow through a filter during filtering in gallons per minute per square foot of effective filter area

Filter Rock 0 likes

Graded, round rock, or gravel that doesn’t deteriorate when exposed to pool chemicals to enhance filter media

Filter Run 0 likes

See Filter Cycle

Filter Sand1 like

Pool filter media consisting of hard sharp silica, quartz, or similar particles with suitable size and uniformity grading

Filter Septum 0 likes

Filter component where diatomaceous earth or similar filter media is left

Filter Waste Discharge Piping 0 likes

Piping conducting waste water from a filter to a drainage system; drainage system is connected via an air gap and various approved methods

Filter, Sand 0 likes

See Sand Filter

Filtration 0 likes

Separating solid particles from a liquid; after passing through a filter, the filtrate is separate from the residue

Final Acceptance 0 likes

Owner accepts the contractor’s work as complete in accordance with the contract requirements; final acceptance is confirmed by the owner with the final payment to the contractor

Final Inspection 0 likes

Final site review by the contractor, owner or an authorized representative before issuing the final request for payment

Final Payment 0 likes

Last payment of the unpaid balance of the contract amount by the owner to the contractor, may be adjusted by approved change orders; See Final Acceptance

Final Setting Time 0 likes

Time needed for fresh cement paste, mortar, or concrete to finally set

Financial Analysis 0 likes

Analysis includes comparison of current financial data with prior years, comparison of current financial data to the data of other businesses in the same industry, and ratio analysis

Financial Leverage 0 likes

Employing borrowed money to enhance the return on the owner’s investment

Financial Statement 0 likes

A balance sheet, income and expense statement, or other presentation of financial data

Fine Aggregate 0 likes

Concrete aggregate less than ¼ inch in diameter; sand

Fine Mineral Surfacing 0 likes

A water insoluble material, where more than 50 percent passes through a No. 35 sieve; may be employed on the surface of roofing material

Fine Textured Wood 0 likes

Wood with small, tightly packed pores

Fine-Graded Aggregate 0 likes

Aggregate with continuous grading in particle size from rough to fine particles, mostly fine

Fine-Grained Wood 0 likes

See Close-Grained Wood

Fineness Modulus 0 likes

An abstract number employed to compare particles or gradations of aggregate; determined by adding the cumulative percentages on six standard screens and dividing the sum by 100

Fineness of Grind 0 likes

Particle size or coarseness of liquid paint measure; amount of pigment dispersal in the binder

Fines 0 likes

Small aggregate particles that can pass through a #200 sieve

Finger joint 0 likes

Interlocking two short wood pieces to manufacture a longer piece of dimensional lumber or molding; commonly employed in jambs and casings and usually painted (not stained)

Fingers 0 likes

A broken spray pattern in airless spraying

Finial1 like

An architectural decoration finishing the top of a roof, tower, cupola, or canopy

Finish 0 likes

Wood products employed in joinery and other fine work to complete a structure, particularly the interior

Adding stains, filler, or other materials to protect, preserve and beautify a wood surface.

Finish Carpentry 0 likes

Installing wood finish and materials such as moldings, doors, and window trim to a structure

Finish Coat 0 likes

Final layer of any finishing material

Finish Coat Floating 0 likes

Bringing the aggregate to the surface to yield a uniform texture in plastering

Finish Date 0 likes

The date that an activity or project is finally complete

Finish Grade 0 likes

The final earth grade needed to meet the specifications

Finish Paving 0 likes

Finish coats of asphalt, concrete, or coated macadam on sidewalks, streets, and parking lots

Finish Plaster 0 likes

Final layer of plaster coating

Finish Plywood 0 likes

Best plywood grade

Finish Shotcrete 0 likes

Final coat of air-blown mortar

Finisher 0 likes

Skilled craftsman in finishing gypsum board joints

Finishing Brushes 0 likes

Brushes that apply water to a smooth lime finish coat during final troweling in plastering

Finishing Sheetrock 0 likes

Taping and sanding of sheetrock seams to prepare for painting or finish

Finishing Tools1 like

Knives, trowels and other special equipment needed to finish gypsum board joints

Fink Truss 0 likes

A three-triangle symmetrical truss, usually employed to support large sloping roofs

Fir Decking 0 likes

2 inch or thicker softwood sheathing material for floors and decks

Fir Floor 0 likes

A flooring system made of softwood

Fir Siding 0 likes

External wall covering boards made from softwood.

Fire Alarm1 like

A warning device activated to warn of fire threat

Fire Alarm Cable 0 likes

Specific electrical system cable carrying electric current to a warning bell, horn or light

Fire Block 0 likes

Short horizontal parts nailed between studs, commonly around halfway up a wall; see Fire Stop

Fire Blocking 0 likes

Intermittent solid cross-framing inhibiting the spread of flame within the framing cavity

Fire Box 0 likes

Inside of a furnace or fireplace, acting as combustion space

Fire Brick 0 likes

Refractory ceramic brick that resists high temperatures, employed in a fireplace and boiler

Fire Clay 0 likes

Stony or earthy mineral aggregate in commercial refractory products that can withstand immense heat employed for fire brick; also employed as mortar for laying fire brick

Fire Damper 0 likes

Damper that automatically shuts an opening or duct when fire is detected

Fire Decorating 0 likes

Firing metallic or ceramic decorations on a glazed ceramic’s surface

Fire Detection Annunciator 0 likes

Mechanical device announcing a warning audibly to alert a fire

Fire Division Wall 0 likes

Any wall subdividing a building to resist the spread of fire

Fire Door 0 likes

Rated door produced with specific materials to inhibit the spread of fire

Fire Endurance 0 likes

Assembly’s ability to meet certain fire test criteria

Fire Escape 0 likes

Continuous and unobstructed escape route from a structure in case of fire, usually exterior with stairs, ladders, and landings

Fire Extinguisher1 like

A small, portable device that ejects chemicals to extinguish fires

Fire Hydrant 0 likes

A discharge device with a valve and spout which can draw water from the mains of waterworks; employed mostly in fighting fires, also employed to service water mains and systems; also known as a Fire Plug

Fire Lines 0 likes

Complete wet standpipe system of buildings that includes the water service, roof manifold, standpipe, Siamese connections, and pumps

Fire Plug 0 likes

Fire Hydrant

Fire Rated Brick 0 likes

Brick tested for fire resistance and graded for specific construction operations

Fire Rated Door 0 likes

A door rated by how long it can withstand fire before failing

Fire Rated Frame 0 likes

A door frame rated by how long it can withstand fire before failing

Fire Rated Panel 0 likes

A panel rated by how long it can withstand fire before failing

Fire Resistance 0 likes

Ability of an assembly to maintain structural stability and prevent the transmission of heat for a specific time period

Fire Resistance Rating 0 likes

The time, in hours or increments of an hour that an assembly can resist exposure to fire

Fire Resistant 0 likes

Incombustible or slow to experience fire damage; creating a barrier to fire transmission

Fire Resistant Sheetrock 0 likes

Sheetrock produced with fire-resistant chemicals

Fire Retardant1 like

A chemical treatment reducing the flammability of the treated material and inhibits the spread of fire

Fire Retardant Chemical 0 likes

A chemical preparation that diminishes combustion or inhibits the spread of flames

Fire Retardant Paint 0 likes

Paint containing material that inhibits combustion of flammable material, or prevents material from supporting flame

Fire Retardant Roof 0 likes

Roofing material with fire retardant chemicals

Fire Retardant Treated Lumber 0 likes

Lumber treated to inhibit combustion

Fire Retardant Treated Plywood 0 likes

Plywood treated to slow combustion

Fire Separation Wall 0 likes

Specified wall under the building code that divides two sections of a building to deter the spread of fire; a fire wall

Fire Sprinkler Detector 0 likes

A water pressure actuated switch signaling when a sprinkler head has been triggered

Fire Sprinkler Head 0 likes

The water spray part of a fire sprinkling system

Fire Sprinkler System 0 likes

Arrangement of water pipes that sprays water through spaced heads triggered by heightened temperature

Fire Standpipe 0 likes

Lines and connections in buildings providing water sources for fire fighting

Fire Station 0 likes

A building that accommodates fire-fighting vehicles as well as fire fighters

Fire Stop 0 likes

Material or member sealing open construction to prevent the spread of fire

Projection of brickwork from walls between joists to stop fire from moving between the plaster and the brick wall

A solid, tight closure of a hidden space to stop the spread of fire and smoke through the space; retarding the spread of fire and smoke in the walls and ceiling behind the drywall; packing wire holes in the top and bottom plates with insulation, and mounting wooden blocks between the wall studs at the drop soffit line; necessary to pass a Rough Frame inspection; see Fire Block

Fire Stopping 0 likes

Sealing of adjacent framing cavities or areas to inhibit rapid spread of fire and smoke; see Fire Blocking

Fire Tapping 0 likes

Taping of gypsumboard joints without additional finishing coats, employed in attic, plenum or mechanical areas where beautification is un necessary

Fire-Resistive or Fire Rated 0 likes

Incombustible materials in ordinary fires and will withstand these fires for at least one hour; Drywall employed in garage and party walls are fire rated, 5/8 inch, Type X

Fire-Retardant Chemical 0 likes

Chemicals employed to lower the flammability of a material or inhibit the spread of flame

Fire-Trap 0 likes

Building without adequate provision for escape in the event of fire

Fire, Bisque 1 like

See Bisque Fire

Fire, Glost 1 like

See Glost Fire

Fire, Single 0 likes

See Single Fire

Firebox 0 likes

The part of a fireplace that contains the fire

Firebrick 0 likes

Brick resistant to high temperatures and chemical disintegration, employed as lining for furnaces, fireboxes, and chimneys

Firecut 0 likes

A sloping end cut on a wood beam or joist where it enters a masonry wall, enabling the wood part to rotate out of the wall without pulling it apart if the floor or roof burns during a fire

Fireplace1 like

A masonry chamber in a building structure that enables an open fire; a flue to allow smoke and fumes to escape

Fireplace Chase Flashing Pan 0 likes

A large sheet of metal mounted around and at right angles to the fireplace flue pipe confining the spread of fire and smoke to a small area

Fireproof Vault 0 likes

An enclosure or room intended for the storing of valuables, and has been constructed to withstand fire and heat.

Fireproofing 0 likes

Application of material to a building element insulating it against excessive temperatures in the event of fire

Firewall 0 likes

A wall constructed to inhibit the spread of fire

Firewall, Brick 0 likes

See Brick Firewall

Firing 0 likes

Controlled heat treatment of ceramics in a kiln or furnace to develop specific properties

Firing Range 0 likes

The range of firing temperature where a ceramic develops commercially useful properties

A practicing environment for shooting weapons

First Aid Kit1 like

Container of non-prescription medical supplies for emergency use

Fiscal Year 0 likes

Financial year; a 12-month accounting period

Fish Eyes 0 likes

A term for small flaws sometimes found in lime finish coats; approximately ¼ inch in diameter, due to lumpy lime

Fish Oil 0 likes

The only animal oil employed in paint; obtained from fish such as sardine, menhaden, and pilchard

Fish Tape1 like

A long steel tape employed by electricians to push through an electrical conduit and retrieve conductors

Fished 0 likes

Installation of electrical wiring in inaccessible hollow spaces in buildings with minimum damage to the building’s finish

Fished Joint 0 likes

An end butt splice reinforced by pieces nailed on the sides

Fishplate or Gusset 0 likes

A wood or plywood piece employed to fasten the ends of two parts at a butt joint with nails or bolts; also called a Gang Nail Plate

Fissure 0 likes

A thin, long, deep crack as a result of breaking or parting

Fitting 0 likes

A device that connects pipes

An accessory that performs a mechanical rather than an electrical function

Fitting Gain 0 likes

The space a pipe requires inside a fitting

Fixative 0 likes

A protective coating applied to drawings in media such as crayons, pastel, charcoal, and pencil, usually by spraying, to stop the designs from being erased

Fixed 0 likes

Fastened or made immovable by nails, screws, bolts, conduit, piping systems, or other means

Fixed Assets 0 likes

Assets of some permanent nature and useful for more than a year, such as fixtures, equipment, real estate, and vehicles

Fixed Displacement Pump 0 likes

A pump of which the displacement per cycle remains constant

Fixed Door 0 likes

The door of a pair that is kept closed

Fixed End Beam 0 likes

A beam fixed on a support that stops its rotating

Fixed Fee 0 likes

Set contract sum for labor, materials, equipment and services; includes contractors’ overhead and profit for the accomplishment of a specific scope of work

Fixed Liabilities 0 likes

Liabilities for more than a one year period, such as mortgage, vehicle, and equipment payments

Fixed Limit of Construction Costs 0 likes

Construction cost ceiling set between the owner and architect or engineer for the design of a specific project; See Budget

Fixed Price Contract 0 likes

A contract with a specific set price for the work involved; See Time and Materials Contract

Fixed Rate 0 likes

A loan where initial payments are based on a set interest rate for a stated period; the rate does not change during this period even if there are changes in the lender’s standard variable rate

Fixed Rate Mortgage 0 likes

A mortgage with an interest rate that does not change over time

Fixed Window 0 likes

Sash or glass that is mounted in a wall and cannot be moved

Fixture Branch 0 likes

A pipe connecting a water supply with some fixtures

Fixture Carrier 0 likes

A mounting frame installed in a wall for the purpose of supporting a plumbing fixture

Fixture Drain 0 likes

The drain pipe from a fixture’s trap to where it joins with another drain pipe

Fixture Unit 0 likes

Design factor that ascertains the load-producing value from a given fixture to ensure the drainage piping is big enough to convey the liquids and wastes; the unit flow rate from fixtures is assumed to be one cubic foot or 7.5 gallons of liquid per minute; fixtures are graded as multiples of this unit of flow

Fixture, Lighting 0 likes

See Lighting Fixture

Fixture, Plumbing 0 likes

See Plumbing Fixture.