AAMA

Architectural Aluminum Manufacturers Association

addition

Newly conditioned spaces or previously unconditioned spaces after heating or cooling equipment has been installed

Air Economizer Systems

Ducting arrangements and automatic control systems that allow a cooling supply fan system to supply outdoor (outside) air to reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical refrigeration during mild or cold weather

ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-1989

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illumination Engineering Society Standard 90.1-1989

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illumination Engineering Society Standard 90.1-1999

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2001

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illumination Engineering Society Standard 90.1-2001

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illumination Engineering Society Standard 90.1-2004

automatic time-switch controls

Controls that automatically switch lights or equipment on and off

automatically operated control damper

A damper which automatically opens and closes

ballast

A device used to operate fluorescent and HID lamps.  The ballast provides the necessary starting voltage, while limiting and regulating the lamp current during operation

below-grade wall

Portions of the wall below grade

boiler

A pressurized system in which water is vaporized to steam by heat transferred from a source of higher temperature, usually the products of combustion from burning fuels.  Steam thus generated may be used directly as a heating medium, or as the working fluid in a prime mover to convert thermal energy to mechanical work, which in turn may be converted to electrical energy

building envelope

The elements of a building that enclose conditioned spaces through which thermal energy may be transferred to or from the exterior or to or from unconditioned spaces

cavity insulation

Insulation installed between structural members, including all blown insulation

ceiling

Those portions of the building envelope, including all opaque surfaces, fenestration, doors, and hatches, that are above conditioned space and are horizontal or titled at less than 60 degrees from horizontal

circulating water heater

Hot water continuously circulates through the distribution system

circulation pumps

Pumps that are used to keep hot water circulating through the distribution system

commercial building

Includes but is not limited to occupancies for assembly, business, education, institutions, merchants, and storage

compact fluorescents

Small fluorescent lamps that are often used as an alternative to incandescent lighting.  The lamp life is about 10 times longer than incandescent lamps and is 3-4 times more efficacious

concrete masonry unit walls

Concrete masonry unit walls may be insulated by filling the empty core with perlite, vermiculite, or some other insulative material.  In some cases, even with filled cores, these wall types require additional insulation

conditioned floor area

The horizontal projection of that portion of interior space which is contained within exterior walls and which is conditioned directly or indirectly by an energy-using system

conditioned space

A cooled or heated space, or an indirectly conditioned space

connected lighting load

The sum of all non-exempt interior lighting power, measured in watts

continuous insulation

Insulation that runs continuously over structural members and is free of significant thermal bridging, such as rigid foam insulation

cooled space

An enclosed space within a building that is cooled by a cooling system whose capacity (a) exceeds 6 Btu per hour per square foot or (b) is capable of maintaining a space dry-bulb temperature of 90 degrees F or less at design cooling conditions

display area

The area of a surface (shelf, wall, etc.) that is designed to hold or be covered by merchandise on display or the area created by arrangements of merchandise (racks, mannequins, etc.) that is on display.  This does not include circulation or walkway areas or structural/architectural surfaces not used for merchandise display. (NOTE that the additional lighting allowance for retail display only applies to lighting designed specifically for display purposes and not for general illumination)

domestic water heating system

DHW systems may be circulating or non-circulating

economizer

A ducting arrangement and automatic control system that allow a cooling supply fan system to supply outdoor air to reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical refrigeration during mild or cold weather

EER

The energy efficiency ratio is the ratio of net equipment cooling capacity in Btu/h to total rate of electric input in watts under designated operating conditions.  When consistent units are used, this ratio becomes equal to coefficient of performance

efficacy

A metric used to compare light output to energy consumption.  Efficacy is measured in lumens per watt.  Efficacy is similar to efficiency, but is expressed in dissimilar units.  For example, if a 100-watt source produces 9000 lumens, then the efficacy is 90 lumens per watt

electronic high-frequency ballasts

Electronic ballasts improve fluorescent system efficacy by converting the standard 60 Hz input frequency to a higher frequency, usually 25,000 to 40,000 Hz.  Lights operating on these frequencies produce about the same amount of light, while consuming up to 30% less power than a standard magnetic ballast

enclosed space

A volume substantially surrounded by solid surfaces such as walls, floors, roofs, and openable devices such as doors and operable windows.  Spaces not meeting these criteria for enclosure are considered to be exterior to the building for purposes of determining envelope requirements.  For example, most parking garages do not qualify as enclosed space

envelope components

The building assemblies that provide a barrier between conditioned space and unconditioned space.  This includes the floors, walls, and ceiling/roof assemblies of the building

factory-assembled

2004 IECC:  Fenestration products that are shipped to the field as factory-assembled units comprised of specified frame and glazing components including operable and fixed windows and skylights.

fan coil

A fan-coil terminal is essentially a small air-handling unit which serves a single space without a ducted distribution system.  One or more independent terminals are typically located in each room connected to a supply of hot and/or chilled water.  At each terminal, a fan in the unit draws room air (sometimes mixed with outside air) through a filter and blows it across a coil of hot water or chilled water and back into the room

fenestration

The terms \"fenestration\", \"window\", and \"glazing\" are often used interchangeably.  However, fenestration refers to the design and position of windows, doors and other structural openings in a building

floor

A horizontal exterior partition, or a horizontal demising partition, under conditioned space which separates conditioned space from unconditioned space

fluorescent lamps

A light source consisting of a tube filled with argon, along with krypton or other inert gas.  When electrical current is applied, the resulting arc emits ultraviolet radiation that excites the phosphors inside the lamp wall, causing them to radiate visible light

fuel-fired furnace

A self-contained, indirect-fired furnace that supplies heated air through ducts to spaces that require it

glazing

The terms \"fenestration\", \"window\", and \"glazing\" are often used interchangeably.  However, glazing is the transparent component of glass or plastic windows, doors, clerestories, or skylights

glazing U-factor

Based on the interior-surface area of the entire assembly, including glazing, sash, curbing, and other framing elements.  Center-of-glass U-factors cannot be used

gross wall area

Includes the opaque area of all above-grade exterior walls enclosing conditioned spaces (including above-grade portions of below-grade wall assemblies); the area of the band joist and subfloor between floors; and the area of all doors and windows

gross window area

Includes the rough-opening area of the window, not just the transparent-glass area

heat pump

One or more factory-made assemblies which include an indoor conditioning coil, compressor(s) and outdoor coil or refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, including means to provide both heating and cooling functions

heat rejection equipment

2003 IECC:  equipment used in comfort cooling systems such as air-cooled condensers, open cooling towers, closed-circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers.

heat traps

Devices or piping arrangements that effectively restrict the natural tendency of hot water to rise in vertical pipes during standby periods.  Examples are the U-shaped arrangement of elbows or a 360-degree loop of tubing

heated space

An enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating system whose output capacity (a) exceeds 10 Btu per hour per square foot and (b) is capable of maintaining a space dry-bulb temperature of 50 degrees F or more at design heating conditions.  (90.1-1999 definition: An enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating system whose output capacity relative to the floor area is greater than or equal to the criteria in Table 3-2 in the ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999

HID

High intensity discharge.  Generic term describing mercury vapor, metal halide, high pressure sodium, and (informally) low pressure sodium light sources and luminaires

high-pressure sodium lamps

High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps whose light is produced by radiation from sodium vapor (and mercury)

high-rise residential buildings

Hotels, motels, apartments, condominiums, dormitories, and other residential-type facilities that provide complete housekeeping or transient living quarters and are over three stories in height above grade.  Hotels, motels, and other buildings with itinerant occupancies are covered by the \"commercial\" code regardless of height

HVAC

Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning

HVAC system

The equipment, distribution network, and terminals that provide either collectively or individually the processes of heating, ventilating, or air conditioning to a building

ICAA

Insulation Contractors Association of America

ICC

International Code Council

IMC

International Mechanical Code

indirectly conditioned space

An enclosed space within a building that is not a heated or cooled space, whose area-weighted heat transfer coefficient to heated or cooled spaces exceeds that to the outdoors or to unconditioned spaces; or through which air from heated or cooled spaces is transferred at a rate exceeding three air changes per hour.  (Also see Heated Space, Cooled Space, and Unconditioned Space.)

insulation R-values

R-values are used to rate insulation and are a measurement of the insulation's resistance to heat flow.  The higher the R-value, the better the insulation

integrated-control economizers

Allows the cooling load of a building or space to be partially met by supplying outside air while the rest of the load is met by the refrigeration equipment within an HVAC system.  Field- and factory-installed economizers supplied by major equipment manufacturers include integrated controls

interior lighting power limits

The maximum total wattage for a building or space that can be installed to meet the provisions of the energy code

interior-lighting controls

Offer the ability for systems to be turned on and off either manually or automatically and include switches, time clocks, occupancy sensors and other devices that regulate a lighting system

liner system

A continuous vapor barrier liner installed below the purlins and uninterrupted by framing members

longitudinal seam

A duct seam that is parallel to the direction of air flow

luminaire

A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps, along with the parts designed to distribute the light, hold the lamps, and connect the lamps to a power source.  Also called a fixture.  2003 IECC:  A complete lighting unit consisting of at least one lamp and the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamp, to connect the lamp to the power supply and ballasting, when applicable.  Luminaires are commonly referred to as \"lighting fixtures.\"

mechanical system

The system and equipment used to provide heating, ventilating, and air conditioning functions as well as additional functions not related to space conditioning, such as, but not limited to, freeze protection in fire protection systems and water heating

metal building walls and roofs

Special attention to the design and construction of metal buildings is required to ensure these buildings meet the COMcheck-EZ requirements.  Two key elements exist in metal buildings that are not found in other building classes - thermally broken connections between the purlin and metal roof sheet and compression of insulation behind wall girths and roof purlins.  COMcheck-EZ includes requirements for metal building walls and roofs.  These requirements are specified in the \"Walls Framed - Metal Framing\" category and in the \"Roofs Metal Purlin\" category in the Prescriptive Packages.  There are two classes of metal building roofs.  One class uses traditional techniques that drape the insulation over the purlin and fasten the metal roof sheets through the insulation directly to the purlin.  The second class requires that a thermal block be placed between the metal roof sheet and purlin.  A thermal block consists of foam blocks or other materials/techniques that prevent heat from migrating from the purlin directly to the metal roof sheet.  Compressed fiberglass batt insulation does not qualify as a thermal block

metal halide lamps

A type of high intensity discharge (HID) lamp in which most of the light is produced by radiation of metal halide and mercury vapors in the arc tube.  Available in clear and phosphor-coated lamps

occupancy type

The type of activity occurring within a building

occupant-sensing device

A device that detects the presence or absence of people within an area and causes any combination of lighting, equipment, or appliances to be adjusted accordingly

on-site renewable energy

2012 IECC - energy derived from solar radiation, wind, waves, tides, landfull gas, biomass, or the internal heat of the earth.  The energy system providing on-site renewable energy shall be located on the project site.

packaged boiler

A self-contained unit that generally requires little maintenance

packaged terminal air conditioner

A factory-selected wall sleeve and separate unencased combination of heating and cooling components, assemblies, or sections (intended for mounting through the wall to serve a single room or zone).  It includes heating capability by hot water, steam, or electricity

packaged terminal heat pump

A packaged terminal air conditioner capable of using the refrigeration system in a reverse cycle or heat pump mode to provide heat

perm rating

The amount of water vapor that passes through an area in a certain period of time

permanently wired luminaires

Light fixtures physically attached to a surface (e.g. ceiling or wall) using a permanent mounting system and wired directly to a power source.  Examples include fluorescent fixtures located in a ceiling grid and wall sconces

photocell

A light sensing device used to control luminaires and dimmers in response to detected light levels

plenum

An enclosure that is part of the air-handling system and is distinguished by having a very low air velocity.  A plenum often is formed in part or in total by portions of the building

projection factor

The exterior horizontal shading projection depth divided by the sum of the height of the fenestration and the distance from the top of the fenestration to the bottom of the external shading projection in units consistent with the projection depth

R-value

Thermal resistance to heat flow.  A larger number means less heat flow

residential buildings

Detached one and two family dwellings.  A building containing multiple (i.e., three or more) dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, such as townhouses, row houses, apartment houses, convents, monasteries, rectories, fraternities and sororities, dormitories, and rooming houses, all of which are three stories or less in height above grade

roof

Those portions of the building envelope, including all opaque surfaces, fenestration, doors, and hatches, that are above conditioned space and are horizontal or tilted at less than 60 degrees from horizontal

semiheated space

90.1-1999 only:  An enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating system whose output capacity is greater than or equal to 3.4 Btu/h ft2 of floor area but is not a conditioned space; must be approved by the Building Official

service water heating

The supply of hot water for purposes other than comfort heating and process requirements

shading coefficient

The ratio of solar heat gain through fenestration, with or without integral shading devices, to that occurring through unshaded 1/8-in.-thick double-strength glass

SHGC

solar heat gain coefficient

single-zone, unitary HVAC systems

Unitary HVAC systems that serve a single zone.  Single zone systems can provide either heating or cooling, but provide supply air at the same volume and temperature to the entire zone which they serve

site-built

2004 IECC:  Fenestration products that are designed to be field glazed or field assembled units comprised of specified frame and glazing components including operable and fixed windows, curtain walls, window walls, storefronts, sloped glazing and skylights.

skylight

Glazing that is horizontal or tilted less than 60 degrees from horizontal.  2004/2006 IECC:  Glazing that is 15 degrees or more from vertical.

solar heat gain coefficient

The glazing's effectiveness in rejecting solar heat gain.  SHGC is part of a system for rating window performance used by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  SHGC is gradually replacing shading coefficient (SC) in product literature and design standards

split system

Split-system HVAC equipment has the indoor and outdoor coils within separate cabinets.  For a cooling only system, the outdoor cabinet would contain the condenser coil and the indoor cabinet would contain the evaporator coil

structural masonry wall

(not a wall type in 90.1-1999)  A wall construction category used with masonry, precast and poured-in-place concrete, and concrete masonry units.  You can select from among six specific types of masonry wall constructions by clicking the Ext. Wall button and selecting  Structural Masonry Wall or by clicking the Basement button

switched receptacles

The ability to turn power on and off to an electrical outlet by using a control switch

tandem wiring

Pairs of luminaires operating with lamps in each luminaire powered from a single ballast contained in one of the luminaires.  This reduces labor, materials, and energy costs

temperature reset controls

Controls that automatically reset supply water temperatures by representative building loads (including return water temperature) or by outside air temperature

thermostat

An automatic control device responsive to temperature

thermostat set back

Usually done at night to reduce the amount of conditioning provided at night by allowing the interior temperature to drift naturally to a marginal temperature during the night and then to recondition it to normal conditions in the morning

transverse seam

All duct seams other than the longitudinal seam (which runs parallel to the direction of air flow)

U-factor

The amount of heat in Btu that flows each hour through one square foot, when there is a 1 degree F temperature difference across the surface.  The smaller the number, the less heat flow

UL 181A

A test procedure for tapes and mastics used to seal ductwork

UL 181B

A test procedure for tapes and mastics used to seal ductwork

unconditioned space

An enclosed space within a building that is not a conditioned space

unitary-packaged

Each package is a standalone system which provides all of the heating and cooling requirements for the area of the building which it serves

vapor retarder

A component that retards water vapor diffusion, but does not totally prevent its transmission.  Vapor retarder material is usually a thin sheet or coating.  However, a construction of several materials, some perhaps of substantial thickness, could also constitute a vapor retarder system

variable-air volume (VAV) system

HVAC system that controls the dry-bulb temperature within a space by varying the volume of heated or cooled supply air to the space

variable-frequency drive

Changes the speed of the motor by changing the voltage and frequency of the electricity supplied to the motor based upon system requirements

ventilated mechanically

The process of supplying or removing air by mechanical means to or from any space.  Such air may or may not have been conditioned

ventilated naturally

The process of supplying or removing air by natural means to or from any space

visible light transmittance

The fraction of solar radiation in the visible light spectrum that passes through the fenestration

wall

Opaque portion of the building envelope

water heating

The process or system used to heat service water

water temperature reset

Temperature shall be reset by at least 25% of the design supply-to-return water temperature difference

WDMA

Window and Door Manufacturers Association

window

The terms \"fenestration\", \"window\", and \"glazing\" are often used interchangeably.  However, window actually describes a system of several components.  Window is the term given to an entire assembly comprised of the sash, glazing, and frame

window wall ratio

The gross window area divided by the gross wall area

zone

A space or group of spaces within a building with any combination of heating, cooling, or lighting requirements sufficiently similar so that desired conditions can be maintained throughout by a single controlling device