Architectural and Engineering Glossary
A
A type of painted pavement used by the ancient Romans before their use of mosaic work.
Asbestos cement board and component wall systems,directly supported by wall framing,forming a wall or wall facing.
A product made by saturating felted asbestos with asphalt or other suitable binder,such as a synthetic elastomer.
An opening in the floor of a fire place or firebox through which ashes are swept to an ashpit below.
In colonial America,a small dependency for storing ashes that were used primarily for making soap.
A horizontal line at the exterior face of a masonry wall.
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A vertical stud between the floor beams and rafters of a garret.
A veneer wall constructed of ashlar masonry.
See ashlaring.
A metal receptacle beneath a grating for collection and removal of ashes.
A chamber located below the fireplace or firebox for the collection and removal of ashes.
A cast iron door providing access to an ashpit for ash removal.
Abbr.for “Architects and Surveyors Institute.”
A water closet which has its bowl nearly flush with the floor so that the user adopts a squatting position;widely used in some parts of Asia.
Abbr.for “American Society of Interior Designers.”
In Spanish Colonial architecture,a chapel usually having no permanent priest but relying on the part time assistance of visiting padres.
In Hispanic Colonial architecture,a contributing chapel.
The direction which a building faces with respect to the points of a compass.
A holy water stoup or font.
A paving block composed of a mixture of 88 to 92% crushed stone and the balance asphaltic cement.
Asphalt that is refined to meet specifications for paving,industrial,and special purposes;see asphaltic cement.
An asphalt surface treatment with a cover of mineral aggregate which has been selected to produce a desired color.
See breather type asphalt felt.
See asphalt joint filler.
filler An asphaltic product used for filling cracks and joints in pavement and other structures.
A laminate of sheet material,such as paper or felt,which uses asphalt as the adhesive.
One or more courses of asphalt construction on an existing pavement;generally includes an asphalt leveling course to correct the contour of the old pavement.
A liquid asphaltic product sometimes containing small amounts of other materials such as lampblack,aluminum flakes,and mineral pigments.
See premolded asphalt panel.
A paper sheet material that has been coated,saturated,or laminated with asphalt to increase its toughness and its resistance to water.
A pavement consisting of a surface course of mineral aggregate,coated and cemented together with asphalt cement on supporting courses.
A plank which is fabricated of a mixture of asphalt fiber and mineral filler,often reinforced with steel or fiberglass mesh;some times contains mineral grits to provide a sandpaper texture.
A pavement similar to macadam but having asphalt as the binder in place of tar.
A device which draws a stream of liquid or air through it by means of suction which is produced by the flow of a fluid through an orifice.
Abbr.for “automatic sprinkler riser.”
Any support for a structure which is enlarged beyond the size required for adequate strength;used to provide additional inertia to dissipate or alleviate the undesirable effects of vibration or impact.
A propeller fan used to exhaust the air within an upper space of a house (such as a garret).
Small pillars or pilasters decorating the exterior of an attic.
See attic.
An open tank which is installed above the highest plumbing fixture in a building (e.g. in the attic) and which supplies water to the fixtures by gravity;the filling of the tank is controlled by a float valve.
Said of a doorway having jambs which are inclined slightly inwards,so that the opening is wider at the threshold than at the top.
That part of a theater,school,or public building which is set aside for the audience for listening and viewing.
A plan,1 employed in church architecture where the plan of the sanctuary somewhat resembles a common plan of a modern auditorium.
Manufactured row chairs for stepped,level,or inclined floors in rooms or areas occupied by an audience.
In ancient churches,that part of the church where the people usually stood to be instructed in the gospel;now called the nave.
A bit having a square tang,fitted into and rotated by a brace;used for drilling holes in wood.
A concrete pile which is cast in place in a hole drilled by an auger;may be belled at the bottom;suitable in dry soil.
A building or temple dedicated to the deified Augustus.
In ancient architecture,a court or hall,esp.an open court attached to a house.
A small church or chapel.
