| ASHI New England Glossary |
| We've
all heard these terms before. Indeed, we use many of them
in our everyday speech. But, what do they mean in
the context of a home inspection? This glossary is
provided to facilitate your understanding of the Standards
of Practice subscribed to by your ASHI New England home
inspector.
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| Alarm
Systems |
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Warning devices, installed or free-standing, including but not
limited to: carbon monoxide detectors, flue gas and other spillage
detectors, security equipment, ejector pumps and smoke alarms.
top
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| Architectural
Service |
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Any
practice involving the art and science of building design for
construction of any structure or grouping of structures and
the use of space within and surrounding the structures or the
design for construction, including but not specifically limited
to, schematic design, design development, preparation of construction
contract documents, and administration of the construction contract.
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| Component |
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A
part of a system. top
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| Decorative |
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Ornamental;
not required for the operation of the essential systems and
components of a home. top
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| Describe |
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To
report a system or component by its type or other observed,
significant characteristics to distinguish it from other systems
or components. top
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Dismantle |
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To
take apart or remove any component, device or piece of equipment
that would not be taken apart or removed by a homeowner in the
course of normal and routine home owner maintenance. top
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| Engineering
Service |
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Any
professional service or creative work requiring engineering
education, training, and experience and the application of special
knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences
to such professional service or creative work as consultation,
investigation, evaluation, planning, design and supervision
of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with
the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures,
buildings, machines, equipment, works or processes. top
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| Further
Evaluation |
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Examination
and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman or service
technician beyond that provided by the home inspection. top
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| Home
Inspection |
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The process
by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible
systems and components of a home and which describes those systems
and components in accordance with these Standards of Practice.
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| Household
Appliances |
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Kitchen,
laundry, and similar appliances, whether installed or free-standing.
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| Inspect |
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To
examine readily accessible systems and components of a building
in accordance with these Standards of Practice, using normal
operating controls and opening readily openable access panels.
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| Inspector |
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A person
hired to examine any system or component of a building in accordance
with these Standards of Practice. top
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| Installed |
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Attached
such that removal requires tools. top
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| Normal
Operating Controls |
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Devices
such as thermostats, switches or valves intended to be operated
by the homeowner. top
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| Readily
Accessible |
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Available
for visual inspection without requiring moving of personal property,
dismantling, destructive measures, or any action which will
likely involve risk to persons or property. top
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| Readily
Openable Access Panel |
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A panel
provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance that is within
normal reach, can be removed by one person, and is not sealed
in place. top
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| Recreational
Facilities |
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Spas, saunas,
steam baths, swimming pools, exercise, entertainment, athletic,
playground or other similar equipment and associated accessories.
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| Report |
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To communicate
in writing. top
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| Representative
Number |
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One component
per room for multiple similar interior components such as windows
and electric outlets; one component on each side of the building
for multiple similar exterior components. top
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| Roof
Drainage Systems |
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Components
used to carry water off a roof and away from a building.top
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| Significantly
Deficient |
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Unsafe
or not functioning. top
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| Shut
Down |
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A state
in which a system or component cannot be operated by normal
operating controls. top
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| Solid
Fuel Burning Appliances |
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A hearth
and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may
be built and which is built in conjunction with a chimney; or
a listed assembly of a fire chamber, its chimney and related
factory-made parts designed for unit assembly without requiring
field construction. top
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| Structural
Component |
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A component
that supports non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and
variable forces or weights (live loads). top
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| System |
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A combination
of interacting or interdependent components, assembled to carry
out one or more functions. top
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| Technically
Exhaustive |
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An investigation
that involves dismantling, the extensive use of advanced techniques,
measurements, instruments, testing, calculations, or other means.
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| Under-floor
Crawl Space |
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The area
within the confines of the foundation and between the ground
and the underside of the floor. top
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| Unsafe |
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A condition
in a readily accessible, installed system or component which
is judged to be a significant risk of personal injury during
normal, day-to-day use. The risk may be due to damage, deterioration,
improper installation or a change in accepted residential construction
standards. top
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| Wiring
Methods |
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Identification
of electrical conductors or wires by their general type, such
as “nonmetallic sheathed cable” (“Romex”),
“armored cable” (“bx”) or “knob
and tube”, etc. top
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| The Glossary is published,
with permission, from the "The Standards of Practice and
Code of Ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors®"
of the national organization. |
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| © Copyright 2000
American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.® |
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