Procedural Guide - Book - Page 6
Glossary
Angle of repose
The steepest angle to the horizontal that a heaped granular soil will stand in stated
condition. The safe angle that ground conditions can be excavated without mechanical
support or soil stabilisation with no risk of collapse.
Appointed person (AP)
The person nominated (typically by the employing organisation) to plan and to have
overall control of the lifting operations.
Appointment letter
A document that formally invites an individual to accept a specific position, in which
their roles and responsibilities are outlined.
Approval in principle
A document that outlines the concept for the design of a structure.
Audit
A systematic and independent examination to determine whether activities comply
with the defined process and intent of the temporary works procedure.
Axial force
Any force acting directly on the centre axis of an object, such as a beam or column.
May be in compression or tension.
Back propping
Propping installed at levels below the slab that supports the falsework, in order to
distribute the load on the uppermost slab to suitable supports, such as lower slabs or
foundations.
Backfill
Loose material, such as rocks, soil or aggregate, used to cover over a pipe in a trench
or fill an excavation.
Base plate
A rigid plate used for spreading the load in a standard, raker or other load-bearing
member over a greater area.
Beam bearer
A structural horizontal member that resists loads applied laterally to its axis,
transferring loads to vertical members, such as props and columns.
Blinding
A layer of lean concrete on soil to prevent local degradation and provide a clean
workplace for construction work.
Bracing
A component placed diagonally to strengthen a framework, generally providing lateral
stability.
British Standard
A specification of recommended procedure, quality of output, terminology, and other
details, in a particular field, drawn up and published by the British Standards
Institution (BSI). British Standards are not legislation and do not have to be complied
with. They might be regarded as examples of 'good practice' and can be used as
evidence in court, to say that by following a British Standard you are doing everything
reasonable.
Buildability
The extent to which the design of a building facilitates ease of construction, subject to
the overall requirements for the completed building.
Characteristic
A distinguishing quality of a thing.
Characteristic strength
The point at which a tested member will normally fail.
Checklist
A document that lists activities that need to be inspected and/or tested.
Client
The organisation or person for which/whom a construction project is carried out.
Cohesion
A measure of the shear strength of a (cohesive) soil. Its ability to ‘remain’ or ‘stick’
together.
Cohesive soil
Soil that exhibits cohesion, typically having a significant proportion of clayey materials.
Bonding between the very small particles results from their lamellar shape and being
densely packed, restricting the movement of air and water. Cohesive soils tend to lose
their internal strength following excavation.
Compaction
The packing together of particles of soil, by rolling, ramming or vibrating, which results
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