Architectural and Engineering Glossary

V

V

1.Abbr. for volt.2.On drawings, abbr. for valve.3.On drawings, abbr. for “vacuum.”
 

V-beam

sheeting Similar to corrugated sheeting but formed of a series of angled flat surfaces instead of curved surfaces.

V-brick

Vertically perforated brick.

V-cut

1.Descriptive of lettering,inscribed in stone,in which the cuts are acutely triangular.2.Any saw cut or cut in wood which is V-shaped.

V-groove

See quirk 2.

V-gutter

A valley gutter.

V-joint, Vee-joint

A recessed masonry joint,formed in mortar by the use of a V-shaped metal tool.

V-notch

A notch,in the shape of the letter V,cut into a log or timber near one of its ends;forms a rigid joint when mated with another appropriately notched log or timber in logcabin or log house construction.
 

V-roof

A peaked roof,gable roof,or the like.

V-shaped Joint, V-joint, V-tooled Joint

1.A horizontal V-shaped mortar joint made with a steel jointing tool;very effective in resisting the penetration of rain.2.A joint formed by two adjacent wood boards,in the same plane,which have faces with chamfered edges.
 

V-tool

A gouge with a V-shaped cutting edge;see also parting tool.

V-tooled Joint

See V-shaped joint.

V1S

 Abbr. for “vee one side.”

VA

Symbol for “volt-ampere.”

Vacuum Breaker

 A backflow preventer which prevents a vacuum in a water supply system from causing backflow.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker

An electrical circuit breaker in which the contacts that perform switching and interrupting functions are enclosed in a vacuum.

Vacuum Concrete

Concrete from which water is extracted by a vacuum process before hardening occurs.

Vacuum Lifting

The lifting of an object, using  a vacuum as the method of attachment.

Vacuum Pump

A pump which produces a partial vacuum in an enclosed space; may be used to remove air or steam from a chamber or a system. 

Vacuum Relief Valve

An automatic valve that opens and closes a vent for relieving a vacuum within a hot water supply system.
 

Vagina

The upper part of the pedestal of a terminus, from which the bust or figure seems to arise. valance 1.A frame at the top of a window to conceal the tops of decorative draperies. 2.The draperies themselves.
 

Valance Lighting, Pelmet Lighting

Lighting furnished by light sources that are concealed and shielded by a panel parallel to the wall at the top of a window;may provide lighting in the upward and/or downward direction.
 

Valley

The trough or gutter formed by the intersection of two inclined planes of a roof.

Valley Board

In roofing, the board, nailed to the valley rafter, on which the metal gutter lies. 

Valley Flashing

The sheet metal used to line the valley on a roof.
 

Valley Gutter

The open gutter in a valley; has sloping sides and is exposed to view.

Valley Jack

A rafter, shorter than the common rafters, one end of which is fixed to the ridge, and the other end to a valley rafter. 

Valley Rafter

In a roof framing system, the rafter in the line of the valley; connects the ridge to the wall plate along the meeting line of two inclined sides of a roof which are perpendicular to each other. 

Valley Roof

Any pitched roof that has one or more valleys.

Valley Shingle

A shingle laid next to a valley and especially cut so that the grain is parallel to the valley.

Valley Tile

A special roof tile, shaped and laid to form a valley.

Vallum

In medieval fortifications, a defensive wall constructed of earth or stone; may be surmounted by a palisade.

Value Engineering

A discipline of engineering that studies the relative monetary values of various materials and construction techniques, including the initial cost,maintenance cost,energy usage cost, replacement cost, and life expectancy.
 

Valve

A device which regulates or closes off the flow of a fluid.

Valve Bag

A paper bag for cement, or the like, which is completely closed except for a self sealing paper valve through which the contents are introduced.

Valve Motor

In an air conditioning system, a pneumatic or electric device which is used to control a valve from a remote location.

Valve Seat

The stationary portion of a valve which, when in contact with the movable portion, stops flow completely.

Vamure, Vaimure, Vauntmure

1.In fortifications, a false wall; a work raised in front of the main wall. 2.The alure or walkway along ramparts behind the parapet.

Vanadium Steel

An alloy steel containing a small percentage of vanadium,which raises its elastic limit and ultimate strength.

Vandyke Brown, Cassel Brown

1.A very dark deep brown pigment; usually obtained from peat or lignite. 2.A synthetic pigment of similar color.

Vane

See weather vane.

Vane Ratio

The ratio of the depth of a vane, 2 to the minimum distance between adjacent vanes.

Vaneaxial Fan

1.A fan consisting of a disk type wheel within a cylinder, with a set of air guide vanes located either before or after the wheel; may be either belt driven or connected directly to a motor. 2.An axial flow fan which incorporates downstream guide vanes. It has a higher efficiency than any other type of axial flow fans.
 

Vaned Outlet

A register or grille which is equipped with vertical and horizontal adjustable vanes to regulate the direction of air flow.

Vanishing Point

In perspective,a point toward which a series of parallel lines seem to converge.

Vanity

In a bathroom, a combination lavatory and base cabinet.
 

VAP

On drawings,abbr. for “vapor.”

Vapor Barrier

See vapor retarder.

Vapor Heating System

A steam heating system which operates at or near atmospheric pressure and returns the condensate to the boiler or receiver by gravity.

Vapor Lock

The formation of vapor in a pipe carrying liquids;prevents normal fluid flow.