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Backflow preventer
A device such as an anti- siphon
device or vacuum breaker that
prevents water from being siphoned from the supply system into the DWV
system.
Backflow preventer
A device such as an anti- siphon
device or vacuum breaker that
prevents water from being siphoned from the supply system into the DWV
system.
Balancing duct damper
A damper located in the branch
supply ducts that equalizes the
flow of warm air from the furnace to the house.
Balcony
A platform protruding from the house that
is not supported by the ground.
Balcony
A platform protruding into the living
space with no visible connection to the floor
below.
Balloon framing
A construction method where long vertical
studs and corner posts run from
the foundation to the roof and the floors are hung on the wall frame.
Balusters
The vertical poles that support the
railing of a staircase.
Balusters
The vertical poles that support the
railing of a staircase.
Barometric damper
A hinged plate located in the
smoke pipe above an oil-fired heating
system which swings open or closed to regulate drafts.
Baseboard
A trim piece used at the intersection of
the wall and floor.
Battens
Narrow strips of wood placed over joints
in vertical wood plank siding to seal the
joints.
Batts
Pre-cut lengths of fibrous insulation
manufactured to fit between studs and joists,
made of fiberglass or rock wool.
Bay windows
Three windows set at angles with each
other in a bay that protrudes from
the structure.
Bead board
Rigid board polystyrene insulation
produced by expanding and fusing granular
pellets.
Beams
See Girders.
Below grade
Below the surface of the ground.
Bending
In terms of structure, the movement of a
structural member out of its original
position without shearing as a result of forces applied to the member.
Beveled
Clapboards that are tapered planks rather
than perfectly rectangular in cut.
Bifold door
A 2-section door hinged in the middle to
allow one section to fold back on the
other before the door is swung to the side.
Bi-metallic vent damper
A damper in a smoke pipe that
expands open when exhaust
gases heat up and contracts closed when gases cool.
Bitumen
Petroleum asphalt or coal tar.
Blankets
Continuous rolls of fibrous insulation
manufactured to fit between studs and joists,
made of fiberglass or rock wool.
Blast tube
The component of an oil burner that holds
the nozzle and ignition electrodes and
extends into the combustion chamber.
Bleeder
Piping that runs from exterior drain tile
under the footings to interior tile and to the
sump pump.
Blocking
A bracing method using a brace of wood
between joists that is the same depth as
the joists giving stiffness to the joists.
Boiler
A heating unit that heats the home with
hot water or steam distributed through pipes.
Bonding
Electrically connecting two or more
conductive items together and to the grounding
system.
Bow
A vertical curve in a wall, where the
wall has an outward curve from top to bottom.
Bow windows
More than three windows set at angles
with each other in a bay that
protrudes from the structure.
Box bay
Bay windows where the windows are
set in a bay at right angles to each other.
Branch circuit wiring
That portion of the electrical
system that runs from the electrical
panel to outlets, switches, and fixtures in the home.
Branch lines
Water supply pipes that carry water from
risers to fixtures and faucets in the
house.
Branch lines
Water supply pipes that carry water from
risers to fixtures and faucets in the
house.
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc.
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc.
Brazed
The use of silver solder in the soldering
process.
Brazed
The use of silver solder in the soldering
process. Centrifugal pump A motorized
pump that lifts water from a well by means of a paddle wheel driven by a
motor. Used in jet
and submersible pumps.
Breaker
See Circuit
breaker.
Brick ties
Accordion-style metal fasteners used to
attach a brick veneer to the wood
framework of a house.
Brick ties
Accordion-style metal fasteners used to
attached a brick veneer to the wood
framework of a home.
Brick veneer
A wall construction method in which an
outer layer of bricks is attached to the
wood framework of the house using brick ties.
Brick veneer
A wall construction method in which an
outer layer of bricks is attached to
the wood framework of the house using brick ties.
Bridging
A bracing method using a 2 x 4 brace of
wood between joists giving stiffness to the
joists. Cross bridging uses diagonal 1 x 3's between joists.
British Thermal Unit
A unit of measure of heat
output, representing the amount of heat
required to raise or lower the temperature of 1 pound of water 1°
Fahrenheit. Abbreviation
BTU.
British Thermal Unit
A unit of measure of heat
output. Abbreviation BTU.
Building paper
A paper installed between plank sheathing
and wall cladding that acts as a
water repellent and air barrier.
Built-in gutters
A trough built as part of the roof at the
rafter ends, normally made of
wood lined with metal.
Built-up roofing
Alternating layers of impregnated felt
and hot bitumen topped with a
weather resistant coat of bitumen, used as a roof covering. Usually
topped with gravel, slag,
or a layer of roll roofing.
Bulge
A combination of both bow and sweep in a
wall.
Busbar
A conductor bar that provides connections
and power for fuses and breakers and
thus to circuits.
Butterfly roof
A roof style with two opposite slopes
sloping inward toward the center of
the roof.
BX cable
A metal armored cable used in branch
circuit wiring which carried only a hot and
neutral wire until the 1950's, but since also carries a ground wire. |