332 Appendix 2
Stringer The inclined support member of a stair that supports the risers and treads.
Stucco A type of plaster made from Portland cement, sand, water, and a coloring agent that is ap-
plied to exterior walls.
Structural Frame The components or building system that supports the building’s nonvariable
forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or weights (live loads).
Stud A light vertical structure member, usually of wood or light structural steel, used as part of a wall
and for supporting moderate loads.
Subcontract Agreement between a prime contractor and a subcontractor for a portion of the work
at the site.
Subcontractor A person or entity who has a direct or indirect contract with a subcontractor to per-
form any of the work at the site.
Substitution A material, product or item of equipment offered in lieu of that specified.
Superintendent Contractor’s representative at the site who is responsible for continuous field su-
pervision, coordination, completion of the work and, unless another person is designated in writing by the
contractor to the owner and the architect, for the prevention of accidents.
Supervision Direction of the work by contractor’s personnel. Supervision is neither a duty nor a re-
sponsibility of the architect as part of professional services.
Surety Bond A legal instrument under which one party agrees to answer to another party for the
debt, default or failure to perform of a third party.
Survey Observations made by the field observer during a walk-through survey to obtain information
concerning the subject property’s readily accessible and easily visible components or systems.
Symbol Stylized graphical representation of commonly used component parts shown in a drawing.
System (a process) A combination of interacting or interdependent components assembled to carry
out one or more functions.
Tangent A straight line from one point to another, which passes over the edge of a curve.
T-Beam A beam which has a T-shaped cross section.
Tee A fitting, either cast or wrought, that has one side outlet at right angles to the run.
Temper To harden steel by heating and sudden cooling by immersion in oil, water, or other coolant.
Template A piece of thin material used as a true-scale guide or as a model for reproducing various
shapes.
Tensile Strength The maximum stretching of a piece of metal (rebar, etc.) before breaking; calcu-
lated in kps.
Termite Shield Sheet metal placed in or on a foundation wall to prevent intrusion.
Terrazzo A mixture of concrete, crushed stone, calcium shells, and/or glass, polished to a tile-like
finish.
Thermal Resistance (R) A unit used to measure a material’s resistance to heat transfer. The for-
mula for thermal resistance is: R _ Thickness (in inches)/k.
ThermostatAn automatic device controlling the operation of HVAC equipment.
Three-Phase Power A combination of three alternating currents in a circuit with their voltages dis-
placed at 120 degrees or one-third of a cycle.
Threshold The beveled member directly under a door.
Tie A soft metal wire that is twisted around a rebar or rod and chair to hold in place until concrete is
poured.
Timely Access Entry provided to the consultant at the time of the site visit.