Glossary of Terms
A comprehensive Glossary of Terms for building compliance, environmental planning and energy efficiency.
Parging
Parge Coating: Parging Parge coating or parging refers to the addition of a thin layer of mortar or cementitious material applied to the interior or exterior surface of a masonry wall. Its primary purpose is to improve the aesthetics of the wall surface, but it also offers several functional...
Reverberation
Echo Echo Echo: Reverberation Defined Reverberation refers to the persistence of sound in an enclosed space after the original sound source has stopped emitting sound. It's caused by sound waves reflecting off surfaces within the room, such as walls, floors, and ceilings, and then bouncing back...
Brownfield Site
Contaminated Land Development: Brownfield Sites A brownfield site refers to a parcel of land that was previously developed and used for industrial or commercial purposes, but is now abandoned, underused, or contaminated to some extent. These sites may have hazardous substances, pollutants, or...
Asbestos Containing Material (ACMs)
ACMs in Soils: Contaminated Land Asbestos-containing material (ACM) refers to any material that contains asbestos fibres. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral known for its heat resistance, strength, and insulating properties. Historically, it was widely used in various construction materials...
Frequency
The Composition of Sound Waves: Frequency Frequency is the rate of repetition of a sound wave. The subjective equivalent in music is pitch. The unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz), which is identical to cycles per second. A 1000Hz is often denoted as 1kHz, eg 2kHz = 2000Hz. Human hearing ranges...
Decibel (dB)
Introduction the the Decibel: Understanding Sound Measurement In the world of sound and acoustics, the decibel (dB) stands as a fundamental unit of measurement, serving as a yardstick for quantifying the intensity of sound. Whether it's the whisper of a breeze or the roar of a jet engine, the...
Carbon Emission Factor
Carbon Emission Factor - Measuring Environmental Impact The Carbon Emission Factor is a vital metric used to evaluate the environmental impact of various activities, products, or energy sources. It measures the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced per unit of a specific activity or...
Building Emission Rate (BER)
Building Emission Rate (BER) - Assessing Environmental Impact Building Emission Rate (BER) is a crucial metric for evaluating a building's carbon emissions. Learn how BER is calculated, its significance in sustainable construction, and its role in reducing the environmental impact of buildings....