Glossary

A/C - Air conditioner, or, air conditioning

ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; rigid black plastic pipe used only for drain lines.

AFCI - An Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is an advanced circuit breaker that breaks the circuit when it detects a dangerous electric arc in the circuit it protects to prevent electrical fires.

Asbestos - A friable material which means that small fibres and clumps of fibres may be released into the air as dust. There are no significant health risks if the materials containing asbestos in your home or work are: 1. Tightly bound in the original product, and it is in good condition; 2. Sealed behind walls and floorboards; 3. Isolated in the attic; 4. Left undisturbed.

Asbestos is a hazard to health when the fibres are disturbed and become airborne. This means that asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air and then people breathe them into the lungs. Fibres can be released into the air through deterioration or when the material is cut or disturbed. For more information go to: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/asbestos/ or https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/hazards-exposures/asbestos

CO - Carbon Monoxide, a colourless, odourless, poisonous gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel.

Combustion Air - The ductwork installed to bring fresh outside air to the furnace and/or hot water heater.

Corrosion - A natural process and a gradual deterioration of metals or other materials by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion degrades the useful properties of materials and structures including strength, appearance and permeability to liquids and gases. Rusting is a well-known example of corrosion.

DIY - Do it yourself. The work was likely completed by the homeowner and not a professional trades person.

Double Tap - A double tap occurs when two conductors are connected under one screw inside a panel board. Most circuit breakers do not support double tapping and it can cause overheating and electrical arcing - it presents the risk of fire.

Efflorescence -  A white or greyish crystalline deposit of salts that can form when water is present in or on brick, concrete, stone, stucco, or other building surfaces. Efflorescence alone does not pose a major problem, but it can be an indication of past moisture intrusion, which may compromise the structural material. As water moves through porous materials salts can be drawn with it and efflorescence is left behind as the water evaporates.

ERV - Energy recovery ventilation, is an energy recovery ventilation system similar to an HRV but it also exchanges the humidity, either ERV or preserving the indoor humidity or ensure outdoor humidity does not enter the home. ERVs provide fresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing heating (and cooling) requirements.

GFCI - A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a safety device that protects a person from electrocution. Inside the outlet there is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to cut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault (ie. an appliance is accidentally dropped into water) within as little as 1/40 of a second, and possibly save a life.

HRV -  Heat recovery ventilation (HRV), also known as mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR), is an energy recovery ventilation system using equipment known as a heat recovery ventilator, heat exchanger, air exchanger, or air-to-air heat exchanger which employs a counter-flow heat exchanger (countercurrent heat exchange) between the inbound and outbound air ow. HRVs provide fresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing heating (and cooling) requirements.

HVAC - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

HWT - Hot water tank.

Kitec - Kitec plumbing consists of flexible aluminum pipe between an inner and outer layer of plastic pipe (PEX pipe) with brass fittings. Marketed as a more affordable and easy-to-install alternative to copper piping, Kitec was sold between 1995 and 2007 for potable water, in-floor, and hot-water heating systems. By 2005, Kitec plumbing had been recalled and was discontinued. A class action lawsuit was issued alleging that the Kitec® System “may be subject to premature failure and otherwise may not perform in accordance with the reasonable expectation of users.”

Knockouts - Partially stamped, quarter-size openings in the electrical boxes that service such things as outlets and switches. Once removed, a knockout allows electrical wires to be run in and out of the box.

Leak/Leaks/Leaking - Leaking, when referred anywhere within this report, implies that there is potential for damage to the interior structure of the home, finishes or personal property due to the ongoing exposure to water.

OSB - Oriented strand board is a type of engineered lumber similar to particle board, formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in specific orientations.

Parging - A decorative surface coating--usually concrete-based--applied to the foundation. It is cosmetic, and not part of the foundation system.

Poly-B - Polybutylene (plastic) piping.

PVC - Polyvinyl chloride; rigid grey plastic pipe that can be used for waste water and venting.

Qualified Professional - A person with experience and training in the pertinent discipline, and who is a qualified expert with expertise appropriate for the relevant critical area. In some cases there may be several types of professionals or trades who are qualified to assess or work on a particular system. 

R-value - In the context of home systems, the R-value is a measure of how well a two-dimensional barrier, such as a layer of insulation, a window or a complete wall or ceiling, resists the conductive flow of heat. The R-value is the building industry term for thermal resistance "per unit area." The higher the R-value the better the performance.

Safety - Safety, when referred to anywhere within this report, implies that the action and/or repair should be completed in order to prevent danger, risk, damage or injury to a person(s). All safety items should be completed upon possession.

Stucco - Stucco refers to all types of stucco installation including but not limited to, EIFS (Exterior Insulated Finished System), cement based finishes, acrylic finishes, synthetic finishes and rock dash stucco.  

Thermal Bridging - When different shading of finishes at the wall framing can become visible over time, showing a thermal bridge, or “ghost” image of the framing behind the stucco or drywall. Wall finish surfaces between studs are better insulated and are more shielded from interior heat during the heating season than ghosting stucco/drywall over studs. Therefore, the surfaces between the studs stay cooler and very small dust and soot particles in the air tend to stick more on the cooler surfaces and accumulate over time, showing a darker shade. Because the particles are very small they can be difficult to wash off completely.

TPR - Temperature pressure relief (valve). To prevent dangerous failures caused by excessive temperatures and pressure inside a hot water heater, water heaters are required to be protected for both excess temperature and pressure. Usually, the means of protection is a combination temperature-and-pressure-relief-valve (variously abbreviated as T&P, TPV, TPR, etc.). Most of these devices are set to operate at a water temperature above 200° F and/or a pressure above 150 psi. Do not attempt to test the TPR valve yourself! Most water heating systems should be serviced once a year as a part of an annual preventive maintenance inspection by a professional heating and cooling contractor.

Unconditioned Space - An area inside a building shell with no attempt at temperature or humidity control, such as a garage, crawlspace or attic. An unconditioned space is not heated or cooled so it's the same temperature (roughly) as outdoor air.

Vacuum Breaker - A safety valve on the cold water supply line (or built-into the interior) of a water heater that prevents the tank from being siphoned dry. It also prevents the tank from collapsing in a negative pressure situation.

Vermiculite - Vermiculite is a naturally occurring “mica-like” mineral that was mined and processed into attic insulation starting in the 1920s and ending in the early 1990s. Vermiculite is likely to contain asbestos.

Water Ingress - The process of water entering the home. Water ingress has the potential to cause damage to the structure, finishes and personal belongings inside the home.

Water Management - Ensuring all forms of water can flow properly and are directed away from the foundation and/or interior of the home. Improper management can cause water ingress or potential safety issues with water build-up around the home.

WDO - A wood destroying organism is any organism that damages or impacts the structural integrity of wood. These include termites, wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and funguses like dry rot or wet rot.

Wear & Tear - Damage or deterioration that naturally and inevitably occurs (to floors, walls, trim, doors, baseboard, flooring, cabinetry etc.) as a result of normal wear or aging. 

WETT - Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT Inc.) is a non-profit training and education association managed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by holders of valid WETT certificates. Through its administrative designate, WETT Inc. functions as the national registrar of the WETT program. Through professional training and public education, WETT Inc. promotes the safe and effective use of wood-burning systems in Canada.