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Construction deterioration & building durability glossary


Article & glossary hosted by A. Sebastian Engineering and Investigation Services


FACE
1. The exposed surface of a wall or masonry unit.
2. The surface of a unit designed to be exposed in the finished masonry.

Faceshell bedding - In concrete block masonry construction - application of mortar to all vertical and horizontal edges of the face shells of hollow masonry units.

fail·ure/'fA(&)l-y&r/
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of earlier failer, from Anglo-French, from Old French "faillir" to fail
Date: 17th century
1. a: a state of inability to perform a normal function ; b: a fracturing or giving way under stress
2. deterioration or decay, especially of qualities such as strength, etc. "The failure of the roof membrane made its retirement necessary"

Fan pressurization. Most buildings rely on some form of ventilation system to exhaust contaminated air. This system may run continuously, or may be operated automatically or manually. Ventilation systems can be of three types: a) exhaust only, resulting in a lower air pressure inside a building relative to the outside and increased infiltration; b) supply only, raising the pressure inside a building and increasing exfiltration, and c) balanced, with both supply and exhaust being operated by fans (Figure 3). Even in a balanced system, the amount of air may be increased or decreased relative to the amount being exhausted, increasing or decreasing the inside pressure accordingly.

FIELD
The expanse of wall between openings, corners, etc., principally composed of stretchers.

FILTER BLOCK
A hollow, vitrified clay masonry unit, sometimes salt-glazed, designed for trickling filter floors in sewage disposal plants. See ASTM Specification C 159.

FIRE CLAY
A clay which is highly resistant to heat without deforming and used for making brick.

FIRE RESISTIVE MATERIAL
Non-combustible Material.

FIREPROOFING
Any material or combination protecting structural members to increase their fire resistance.

flashing
1. A thin impervious material placed in the mortar joints and through air spaces in masonry to provide water drainage and / or prevent water penetration.
2. Manufacturing method used to produce specific color tones.

Formaldehyde offgassing
APA trademarked structural wood panels, such as plywood and oriented strand board, are made with phenol formaldehyde adhseives, which should not be confused with urea formaldehyde adhesvies. Formaldehyde-related problems have been associated with certain urea formaldehyde adhesives but not with the phenol formaldehyde adhesives. In fact, because formaldehyde levels associated with phenolic resin-bonded products are so low, these products are exempted from the Department of Housing and Urban Development testing and certification requirements.
See APA's "Structural Wood Panels and Formaldehyde", Form No. SPE-1040B.

FROG
A depression in the bed surface of a brick. Sometimes called a panel.

furring
Method of finishing the interior face of a concrete or masonry wall: it consist of wood strips which provide space for insulation, allow space for measures to prevent moisture transmittance, and provide a flat, level substrate for finishing.


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