None of the following should be interpreted as direct guidance for repair or maintenance of your home or building, without consulting with any “Authority having jurisdiction” (see definition below!) or an appropriate trade professional. Note that authoritative sources may not always be in agreement as to the meaning of a term used here… but we will try.
Our real intent here, is to give the home or building owner some understanding of how, and what, the terminology related to conservation and maintenance is used, the means and methods commonly used, and some of the more common materials and assemblies. The listings that follow will be a start, and this post will likely to be updated as more materials research and methodologies posts are added.
Almost all sources for architectural or building conservation and maintenance use similar terminology, and often there is a consistency in a given terms use or meaning… but not always. So here are a few terms and the meaning we intend to convey when used here. If the term is from a recognized source, we will reference the source of the term in brackets directly following the definition.
Today we will start with the A’s…
A
Access to exit means that part of a “means of egress” within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area. [NBCC 2005 subsection 1.4.1.2]
ACM – See Asbestos containing material.
Action effect means an effect of an environmental action on a building element that brings about physical, chemical, or biological changes leading to degradation. [CSA S478-19 2019:11]
Adaptation means changing a place to suit the existing use or a proposed use. [Australia ICOMOS 2013a:2]
Agent means a physical process or chemical or biological substance, including contaminants in the building materials themselves, that, alone or in combination, acts on a building or building element to cause degradation. [CSA S478-19 2019:11]
Air barrier system means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air. [NBCC 2005 subsection 1.4.1.2]
Anodized finish means an aluminum surface finish created by depositing an aluminum coating by electrolytic action. Anodized finishes may be clear, integral colour or electrolytically deposited colour.
As-constructed plans means, for the purposes of the Act and this Code, construction plans and specifications that show the building and the location of the building on the property as the building has been constructed. [OBC 1997 item 1.1.32]
As-indicated means the scope of work defined by illustrations.
As-specified means the scope of work is defined by specifications.
Asbestos containing material means any material containing more than one percent asbestos. Asbestos containing materials may be friable or non-friable.
Associations mean the connections that exist between people and a place. (Associations may include social or spiritual values and cultural responsibilities for a place.) [Australia ICOMOS 2013a:3]
Articulated wood modular system means a basic wood member is pre-milled to a specified profile, and used in a consistent and repetitive manner to facilitate construction, as in the rabbetted two-by-sixes used in the Strutt house.
Assembly means an arrangement of more than one materials or components to serve specific overall purpose. [CSA S478-19 2019:11] Examples of assemblies include the total building envelope or individual walls, roofs, or parapets. (CSA S478-95 1995:1. See also building element.]
Attributes (of a place) means its physical location, form, fabric and use, its planning methods, design (including colour schemes), construction systems and technical equipment, as well as its aesthetic qualities. [ICOMOS ISC_20C 2017:11]
Authenticity means the ability of a heritage place or site to express its cultural significance through its material attributes and intangible values in a truthful and credible manner. It depends on the type of cultural heritage place and its cultural context. [ICOMOS ISC_20C 2017:11]
Authority having jurisdiction means the governmental body responsible for the enforcement of any part of this [NBC] Code or the official or agency designated by that body to exercise such a function. [NBCC 2005 subsection 1.4.1.2] (Some examples: the Provincial Code, or Municipal Zoning in effect where your building is located)
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