Nbcp Terminology

7/25/2019 Nbcp Terminology

1/13

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

DEFENITION OF TERMS

Aa

Accessoria or Row HouseA house of not more than two stories, composed of arow of dwelling units entirely separated from oneanother by party wall or walls and with anindependent entrance for each dwelling unit.

Accessory BuildinA building subordinate to the main building on the samelot and used for purposes customarily incidental tothose of the main building, such as servants' quarters,garage, pump house, laundry, etc.

AlleyAny public space or thoroughfare which has been

dedicated or deeded to the public or of public useas a passageway.

Al!er or Al!era!ionAny change, addition, or modification inconstruction or occupancy.

A"ar!#en!A room, or suite of two or more rooms, designedand intended for, or occupied by one family forliving, sleeping, and cooking purposes.

A"ar!#en! House$Any building or portion thereof, which is designed, built,

rented, leased, let, or hired out to be occupied, orwhich is occupied as the home or residence of three ormore families living Independently of each other anddoing their own cooking in the said building, and shallinclude flats and apartments.

Arcade$Any portion of a building above the first floorprojecting over the sidewalk beyond the first-story wall used as protection for pedestriansagainst rain and sun.

AreaAn open subsurface adjacent to a building or lotline.

Asse#%ly Buildin or HallA building or a portion of a building used for thegathering together of fifty or more persons forsuch purposes as deliberation, worship,entertainment, amusement, or awaitingtransportation or of a hundred or more persons indrinking and dining establishments.

A!!ic S!ory

Any story situated wholly or part in a roof, sodesigned, arranged, or built as to be used forbusiness, storage, or habitation.

AwninA movable shelter supported entirely from theeterior wall of a building and of a type which beretracted, folded, or collapsedagainst the face of a supporting building.

B%

Bac&in!he surface or assembly to which veneer isattached.

BalconyA portion of the seating space of an assemblyroom, the lower part of which is raised ".#$meters %& feet or more above the level of themain floor.

Balcony' E(!erior E(i!A landing or porch projecting from the wall of a building,and which serves as a required means of egress. !helong si(e shall be at least )$ per cent open, and theopen area above the guardrail shall be so distributed asto prevent the accumulation of smoke or toic gases.

Bar%ecue

A stationary open hearth or bra(ier, either fuel-fired or electric, used for food preparation.

Base#en!A portion of a building between floor and ceiling whichis partly below and partly above grade but so locatedthat the vertical distance from grade to the floor belowis less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

Bay or )anel*ne of the intervals or spaces into which thebuilding front is divided by columns, buttresses,or division walls.

Boardin HouseA house with five or more sleeping rooms whereboarders are provided with lodging and meals for fiedsum paid by the month, or week, in accordance with theprevious arrangement.

Boiler Roo#Any room containing a steam or hot water boiler.

Builda%le Area


2/13

!he remaining space in a lot after deducting therequired minimum open spaces.

BuildinAny structure built for the support, shelter, orenclosure of persons, animals, chattels, orproperty of any kind.

Buildin' E(is!inA building erected prior to the adoption of this+ode or one for which a legal building permit hasbeen issued.

Buildin Hei*!!he vertical distance from the established gradeelevation to the highest point of the coping of aflat roof, to the average height of the highestgable of a pitch or hip roof, or to the top of theparapet if the roof is provided with a parapet. Incase of sloping ground, the average ground level

of the buildable area shall be considered theestablished grade elevation.

Buildin Len!*Its general linear dimension, usually measured inthe direction of the bearing wall for girders.

Buildin O++icial!he officer charged with the administration andenforcement of this +ode the +ity ngineer orthe +ity ublic /orks 0upervisor in the case ofchartered cities, and the 1unicipal ngineer, the2and and 3uilding *fficial, or the ublic /orksngineer in the case of provinces and

municipalities.

Buildin ,id!*Its shortest linear dimension, usually measuredin the direction of the floor, beams or joists.

Cc

Cellar!he portion of a building between floor andceiling which is wholly partly below grade and solocated that the vertical distance from grade tothe floor below is equal to or greater than the

vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

C*i#ney Classi+ica!ions-

(a) Residential Appliances TypeA factory-built or masonry chimney suitablefor removing products of combustion fromresidential type appliances producingcombustion gases not in ecess of )45+%"$$$6 measured at the appliance flue

outlet.

(b) Low-Heat Appliance TypeA factory-built, masonry or metal chimneysuitable for removing the products ofcombustion from fuel-burning low-heatappliances producing combustion gases notin ecess of )457+ %"$$$76 under normaloperating conditions but capable of producingcombustible gases of 89$7+ %"&$$76duringintermittent forced firing of period up to onehour. All temperatures are measured at theappliance flue outlet.

(c) Medium-Heat Appliance TypeA factory-built masonry or metalchimney suitable for removing theproducts of combustion from fuel-burning medium-heated appliancesproducing combustion gases not inecess of "$:47+ %#$$$76 measured atthe appliance flue outlet.

C*i#ney Connec!or!he pipe which connects a flue-burningappliance to a chimney.

C*i#ney' Fac!ory.Buil!!he listed chimney.

C*i#ney Liner!he lining material of fire clay or other approvedmaterial.

C*i#ney' Masonry!he chimney of solid masonry units, bricks,stones, listed hollow unit masonry units, or

reinforced concrete.

Ci!yA political subdivision usually governed by amayor and a council having local legislativeauthority with broad powers of self-governmentgranted to it by its charter.

Concre!e Bloc&A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit madefrom portland cement and suitable aggregatessuch as sand, gravel, crushed stone, bituminousor anthracite cinders, burned clay or shale,pumice, volcanic scoria, air-cooled or epandedblast furnace slags.

Co"in!he material or units used to form a cap of finishon top of a wall, pier, or pilaster.Corrosion.Resis!an!!he non-ferrous metal, or any metal having anunbroken surface of non-ferrous metal, or steelwith not less than "$ percent chromium or with


3/13

not less than $.#$ per cent copper.

Corrosion.Resis!an! Ma!erials1aterials that are inherently rust-resistant ormaterials to which an approved rust-resistivecoating has been applied either before or afterforming or fabrication.

CourseA continuous hori(ontal layer of masonry units.

Cour!An unoccupied space between building lines ; lotlines other than a yard free, open, ; unobstructedby appendages from the ground upward.

DdDis"ersal Area /Sa+e0

An area which will accommodate a number ofpersons equal to the total capacity of the standand building it serves, in such a manner that noperson within the area need be closer than ").$$meters %)$ feet from the stand or building.


4/13

period rating is the length of time a material canwithstand being burned and is usually classifiedas one-hour, two-hour, three-hour, four-hour, etc.

Fire.Re!ardan! Trea!ed ,ood2umber or plywood impregnated with chemicalsand when tested in accordance with accepted fire

standards for a period of 4$ minutes shall have aflame-spread of not over #) and show noevidence of progressive combustion. !he fireretardant properties shall not be consideredpermanent where eposed to the weather.

Firs! S!ory!he story the floor of which is at or above thelevel of the sidewalk or adjoining ground, theremaining stories being numbered in regularsuccession upward.


5/13

Floor Area!he area included within the surrounding eteriorwalls of a building or portion thereof, eclusive ofvent shafts and courts. !he floor area of abuilding or portion thereof, not providedwith surrounding eterior walls shall be theusable area under the hori(ontal projection of the

roof or floor above.

Foo!in!hat portion of the foundation of a structurewhich spreads and transmits loads directly to thesoil or the pile.

Founda!ionAll the portions of the building or structure belowthe footings, the earth upon which the structurerests.

G

GaraeA building or portion thereof in which a motorvehicle containing gasoline, distillate or othervolatile, flammable liquid in its tank, is stored,repaired, or kept.

Garae' Co##ercialA garage where automobiles and other motorvehicles are housed, cared for, equipped,repaired or kept for renumeration, hire or sale.

Garae' O"en )ar&inA structure of one or more tiers in height which isat least )$ per cent open on two or more sides

and is used eclusively for the parking or storageof passenger motor vehicles having a capacity ofnot more than nine persons per vehicle.*pen parking garages are further classified aseither ramp access or mechanical-access. >amp-access open parking garages are thoseemploying a series of continuously rising floorspermitting the movement of vehicles under theirown power from and to the street level.1echanical-access parking garages are thoseemploying parking machines, lifts, elevators, orother mechanical devices for vehicles movingfrom and to street and in which public occupancyis prohibited above the street level.

Garae' )ri2a!eA building or portion of a building in which onlymotor vehicles used by the tenants of the buildingor buildings on the premises are stored or kept.

Garae' )u%licAny garage other than a private garage

GirderA hori(ontal structural piece which supports theend of the floor beams or joists or walls overopenings.

Grade /Ad3acen! Ground Ele2a!ion0!he lowest point of elevation of the finishedsurface of the ground between the eterior wall ofa building and a point ".)$ meters %) feet distantfrom said wall, or the lowest point of elevation ofthe finished surface of the ground between theeterior wall of a building and the property line if itis less than ".)$ meters %) feet distant from saidwall. In case walls are parallel to and within ".)$meters %) feet of a public sidewalk, alley, orother public way, the grade shall be the elevationof the sidewalk, alley, or public way.

Ground Floor

!he story at or near the level of the grade. !heother stories, beginning with the second, for thefirst net above, shall be designated bysuccessive floor numbers counting upward.

Gues! Roo#Any or rooms used, or intended to be used by aguest for sleeping purposes. very :.4$ squaremeters %"$$ square feet of superficial floor areain a dormitory shall be considered to be a guestroom.

H*Ha%i!a%le Roo#

Any room meeting the requirements of this +odefor sleeping, living, cooking, or dining purposes,ecluding such enclosed spaces as closets,pantries, bath or toilet rooms, service rooms,connecting corridors, laundries, unfinished attics,storage spaces, cellars, utility rooms, and similarspace.

Hall Co##onA corridor or passageway used in common byall the occupants within a building.

Hall' S!airA hall which includes the stair, stair landings, andthose portions of the common halls throughwhich it is necessary to pass in going betweenthe entrance floor and the room.

Heli"or!An area of land or water or a structural surfacewhich is used, or intended for use, for the landingand takeoff of helicopters, and any appurtenant


6/13

areas which are used, or intended for use, forheliport buildings and other heliport facilities.


7/13

Helis!o"!he same as a heliport ecept that no refueling,maintenance, repairs, or storage of helicopters ispermitted.

Ho!elA building or part thereof with rooms occupied or

intended to be occupied for hire as temporaryaboding place of individuals with a generalkitchen and public dining room service, but noprovision for cooking in any individual suite orroom.

Ho!el A"ar!#en!An apartment house which may furnish diningroom service and other services for the eclusiveuse of its tenants.

Ii

Inco#%us!i%leAs applied to building construction material, amaterial which, in the form it is used, is either oneof the following?%a 1aterials of which no part will ignite and burn

when subjected to fire or%b 1aterial having a structural base of

incombustible material as defined in item %a,above, with a surfacing material not over 4.#millimeters %"@5 inch thick which has a flame-

spread rating of )$ or less. =Incombustible= doesnot apply to surface finish materials. 1aterialrequired to be incombustible for reduced clearances

to flues, heating appliances, or other materials shallrefer to material conforming to the provisions of this+ode. o material shall be classed as

incombustible which is subject to increasein combustibility or flame-spread rating beyond thelimits herein established, through the effects of age,

moisture, or other atmospheric condition.

Inco#%us!i%le Ma!erial/hen referred to as structural material, meansbrick, stone, terracotta, concrete, iron steel, sheetmetal, or tiles used either singly or incombination.

Inco#%us!i%le Roo+inA covering of not less than two thickness ofroofing felt and a good coat of tar and gravel oftin, corrugated iron, or other approved fire-

resisting material with standing seam or lap joint.

Inco#%us!i%le S!ud )ar!i!ionA partition plastered on both sides upon metallath or wire cloth for the full height, and fire-topped between the studs with incombustiblematerial, #$ centimeters %5 inches above thefloor and at the ceiling.

Ll

Line' Buildin!he line formed by the intersection of the outersurface of the inclosing wall of the building andthe surface of the ground.

Lin!el!he beam or girder placed over an opening in awall, which supports the wall construction above.

Load Dead!he weight of the permanent portions of abuilding or structure it includes the weight of thewalls, permanent partitions, framing, floors, roofs,and all other permanent and stationary fitures,mechanisms, and other construction enteringinto and becoming a part of a building orstructure.

Load' La!eral!hat load caused by winds, earthquakes, or other

dynamic forces.

Load' Li2e!he weight of the contents of a building orstructure it includes all loads ecept dead andlateral loads, and weight of temporary partitions,cases, counters, and similar equipment, andall loads imposed due to the occupancy of thebuilding or structure.

Load Occu"an!!he total number of persons that may occupy abuilding or portion thereof at any one time.

Lodin HouseAny building or portion thereof, containing notmore than five guest rooms which are used bynot more than five guests where rent is paid inmoney, goods, labor, or otherwise.

Lo!A parcel of land on which a principal building andits accessories are placed or may be placed togetherwith the required open spaces. A lot may or may not be

the land designated as lot on recorded plot.

Lo!' CornerA lot situated at the junction of two or morestreets forming an angle of not more than one hundredthirty-five degrees %"4)7

Lo!' De"!* o+


8/13

!he average hori(ontal distance between the front andthe rear lot lines.

Lo!' Fron!!he front boundary line of a lot bordering on thestreet and in the case of a corner lot, it may be eitherfrontage.

Lo!' InsideA lot fronting on but one street or public alley andthe remaining sides bounded by lot lines.

Lo! Line!he line of demarcation between either publicand private property.

Lo!' O"enA lot bounded on all sides by street lines.

Lo!' ,id!* o+the average hori(ontal distance between the side

lot lines.

M#Masonry

A form of construction composed of stone, brick,concrete, gypsum, hollow clay tile, concrete blockor tile, or other similar building units or materialsor combination of these materials laid up unit byunit and set in mortar.

Masonry' Solid

1asonry of solid units built without hollowspaces.

Masonry Uni!3rick, block, tile, stone, or other similar buildingunit or combination thereof, made to be bondedtogether by a cementitious agent.

Mar4ueeA permanent roofed structure above a doorattached to and supported by the building andprojecting over a walk or side walk.

Me11anine or Me11anine FloorA partial, intermediate floor in any story or roomof a building having an area not more than one-half of the area of the room or space in which it isconstructed.

NnNon.Con+or#in Buildin

A building which does not conform with theregulations of the district where it is situated as toheight, yard requirements, lot area andpercentage of occupancy.

Non.Con+or#in Use!he use of a building or land or any portion of

such building or land which does not conformwith the use regulation of the (one where it issituated.

OoOccu"ancy!he purpose for which a building shall alsoinclude the building or room housing such use.+hange of occupancy is not intended to includechange of tenants or proprietors.

OwnerAny person, company, or corporation owning theproperty or properties under consideration orreceivers, trustees, or other duly authori(edpersons.

)")anic Hardware

A bar which etends across at least one-half thewidth of each door leaf, which will open the doorif subjected to pressure.

)ar!i!ionsAn interior subdividing wall.

)ersonA natural person, his heirs, eecutors,administrators or assigns, and also includes afirm, partnership, or corporation, its or theirsuccessors or assigns or their agents.

)ierAn isolated mass of masonry forming support forarches columns, girders, lintels, trustees, andsimilar structural parts.

)ilas!erA portion of the wall which projects on one orboth sides and acts as a vertical beam, a column,or both.

)las!er' )or!land Ce#en!A miture of portland cement, or portland cementand lime, and aggregate and other approvedmaterials as specified in this +ode.


9/13

)las!ics' A""ro2edlastic materials which have a flame-spreadrating of ##) or less.

)la!+or#' EnclosedA partially enclosed portion of an assembly roomthe ceiling of which is not more than ".)$ meters

%) feet above the proscenium opening and whichis designed or used for the presentation of plays,demonstrations, or other entertainment whereinscenery, drops, decorations, of the effects maybe installed or used.


10/13

)u%lic ,ayA parcel of land unobstructed from the ground tothe sky, more than 4.$$ meters %"$ feet in width,appropriated to the free passage of the generalpublic.

RrRe"air!he reconstruction of renewal of any part of aneisting building for the purpose of itsmaintenance. !he word =>epairs= shall not applyto any change of construction.

Ss

S*a+!A vertical opening through a building forelevators, dumb-waiter, mechanical equipment,

or similar purposes.

S*ow ,indowA store window in which goods are displayed.

Si!e' Sani!ary' Hyienic or Sa+e0hall be understood to mean, among others?

%a 0urface condition of the site, such as beingswampy, improperly drained, or filled with refuse,garbage, or filthy materials

%b 0ubsurface condition of the site, such as when thesoil substrata will not support safely a construction

or inadequate filing of an ecavation or which aconstruction will be undertaken or

%c earness to certain ha(ardous places such as toconstitute a danger to the proposed site, such asairports, heliports, or volcanoes.

Slu#- Bli*!ed Area5 EyesoreAn area where the values of real estate tend todeteriorate because of the dilapidated,obsolescent, and insanitary condition of thebuilding within the area. An eyesore is a buildingor area which is markedly unpleasant to look at.

So++i!!he underside of a beam, lintel or reveal.

S!a%leAny structure designed and intended for theenclosure, shelter, or protection of any horse,carabao, or other cattle.

S!a%le' Co##ercial

A stable wherein the animals kept arefor business, racing, or breeding purposes.

S!aeA partially enclosed portion of an assembly

building which is designed or used for thepresentation of plays, demonstrations, or otherentertainment wherein scenery, drops or othereffects may be installed or used, and where thedistance between the top of the prosceniumopening and the ceiling above the stage is morethan ".)$ meters %) feet.

S!airway!wo or more risers shall constitute a stairway.

S!airway' )ri2a!eA stairway serving one tenant only.

S!ory!hat portion of a building included between theupper surface of any floor and the upper surfaceof the floor net above, ecept that the topmoststory shall be that portion of a building includedbetween the upper surface of the topmost floorand the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floorlevel directly above a basement, cellar or unusedunderfloor space is more than )$ per cent of thetotal perimeter or is more than 4.9$ meters %"#feet above grade as defined herein at any point,such basement, cellar or unused underfloorspace shall be considered as a story.

S!ory' Hei*! o+!he perpendicular distance from top to top of two

successive tiers of floors, floor beams, joists. !heclear height of a story or a room is distance fromthe floor to the ceiling. !he clear height ofbalconies is measured from the highest point ofthe sidewalk grade to the underside of thebalcony floor joists. If these joists are sealed, thisclear height is measured to the underside of thesealing.

S!ree!Any thoroughfare or public space which has beendedicated or deeded to the public for public use.

S!ruc!ure!hat which is built or constructed, an edifice orbuilding of any kind, or any piece of workartificially built up or composed of parts joinedtogether in some definite manner.

S!ruc!ural Fra#e!he framing system including the columns andthe girders, beams, trusses, and spandrels


11/13

having direct connections to the columns and allother members which are essential to the stabilityof the building as a whole. !he members of flooror roof panels which have no connection to thecolumns shall be considered secondary membersand not a part of the structural frame.


12/13

Su"or!ales!he vertical supports, such as posts orstanchions, as used in indigenous or traditionaltype of construction. !hese may be free-standingas stilts or integrated into the wall structure. Inthe case of the former, pie de gallos %kneebraces or crosettas %cross bracings are

sometimes used.

Sur+ace' E(!erior/eather-eposed surfaces.

Sur+aces$ In!erior0urfaces other than weather-eposed surfaces.

Sur+ace' ,ea!*er.E("osedAll surface of walls, ceilings, floors, roofs, soffits,and similar surfaces eposed to the weatherecepting the following?

%a +eiling and roof soffits enclosed by walls or by

beams which etend a minimum of 4$ centimeters%"# inches below such ceiling or roof soffits

%b /alls or portions of walls within an unenclosed roofarea, when located a hori(ontal distance from aneterior opening equal to twice the height of theopening and

%c +eiling and roof soffits beyond a hori(ontal distanceof 4.$$ meters %"$ feet from the outer edge of theceiling or roof soffits.

62

Balue or valuation of a 3uilding!he estimated cost to replace the building in kind,based on current replacement costs.

6aul!Any surface of underground construction coveredon top, or any fire-proof construction intended forthe storage of valuables.

6eneeronstructural facing of brick, concrete, stone, tile,metal, plastic, or other similar approved materialattached to a backing for the purpose ofornamentation, protection, or insulation.

6eneer' Ad*eredBeneer secured and supported through adhesionto an approved bonding material applied over anapproved backing.

6eneer' Anc*oredBeneer secured to and supported by approvedmechanical fasteners attached to and approved

backing.

6eneer' E(!eriorBeneer applied to weather-eposed surfaces.

6eneer' In!eriorBeneer applied to surfaces other than weather-eposed surfaces.

,w,all' Bearin

A wall which supports any load other than its own

weight.

,all' Cross

A term which may be used synonymously with apartition.

,all' Cur!ain!he inclosing wall of an iron or steel frameworkor the nonbearing portion of an inclosing wallbetween piers.

,all' DeadA wall without openings.

,all' E(!eriorAny wall or element of a wall or any number orgroup of members, which defines the eteriorboundaries or courts of a building.

,all' FacedA wall in which the facing and backing are sobonded together that they act as a compositeelement, and eert a common action under load.

,all' FireAny wall which subdivides a building so as toresist the spread of fire, by starting at thefoundation and etending continuously throughall stories to, or above, the roof. tension abovethe roof. is ".$$ meter %4 feet, 4 inches.

,all' Founda!ion!hat ortion of an inclosing wall below the firsttier of floor joists.

,all' Hei*! o+!he perpendicular distance measured from itsbase line either at the grade or at the top of thegirder to the top of the coping thereon.6oundation and retaining walls are measuredfrom the grade downward to the base of the


13/13

footing.

,all' Non%earinA wall which supports no lead other than its ownweight.

,all' )ara"e!!hat part of any wall entirely above the roofline.

,all' )ar!yA wall separating two or more buildings, andused or intended to be used in common by thesaid buildings.

,all' Re!aininAny wall used to resist the lateral displacement ofany material a subsurface wall built to resist thelateral pressure of adjoining earth, or enclosingwall to resist the lateral pressure of internal loads.

,all' T*ic&ness o+!he minimum thickness measured on the bed.

/indowAn opening through a wall of a building to theoutside air for the purpose of admitting naturallight and air.

,indow' OrielA projecting window similar to a bay window, butcarried on brackets or corbels. !he term =baywindow= may also be applied to an oriel windowprojecting over the street line.

,ire Bac&inCori(ontal strands of tautened wire attached tosurfaces vertical wood supports which, whencovered with building paper, provide a backing forportland cement plaster.

7y

7ard or )a!io!he vacant space left in a lot between thebuilding and the property line.

7ard' Rear!he yard lying between the side lot lines and thenearest lot line and the nearest building line.

7ard' Side!he yard lying between the side line and thenearest building line and between the front andthe rear yards.

Documents

Nbcp Terminology