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Summary: Building dictionary to explain building jargon and terminology from A - Z.
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Building dictionary for the letter P - Page 17
Polarity
The direction of electric current flow in a DC circuit.
Pole
(1) A long, usually round piece of wood, often a small diameter log with the bark removed, used to carry utility wires or for other purposes. A pole is often treated with preservative. (2) Either of two oppositely charged terminals, as in an electric cell or battery. (3) Either extremity of an axis of a sphere.
Pole plate
A horizontal board or timber that rests on the tie beams of a roof and supports the lower ends of the common rafters at the wall, and also raises the rafters above the top plate of the wall.
Pole-frame construction
A construction system using vertical poles or timbers.
Polish
(1) To give a sheen or gloss to a finish coat of plaster. (2) The operation in which fine abrasives are used to hone a finished surface to a desired smoothness.
Polished finish
A stonework finish so smooth that it forms a reflective surface, usually produced by mechanical buffing and chemical treatment of a surface with no voids.
Polycarbonate
A transparent thermoplastic with a high impact strength and a high modulus of elasticity. Its excellent insulating qualities make it ideal for many electrical applications.
Polychloroprene (neoprene)
An oil-resistant, synthetic rubber. In roofing, used for membranes and flashing. The generic name for polychloroprene is neoprene.
Polychromatic finish
(1) A finish obtained by blending a number of colors. (2) A finish obtained by using a paint containing metallic flakes on transparent pigments. The resulting effect is the appearance of a variety of colors when viewed from different angles.
Polyester resin
A synthetic resin that polymerizes during curing and has excellent adhesive properties, high strength, and good chemical resistance.
Polyethylene
A thermoplastic high-molecular-weight organic compound. In sheet form, polyethylene is used as a protective cover for concrete surfaces during the curing period, a temporary enclosure for construction operations, and as a vapor barrier. It is also commonly used for culvert pipes and in other piping systems.
Polyethylene vapor barrier
A plastic film attached to insulation to prevent the passage of vapor or moisture into areas where it could collect and do damage.
Polyisobutylene (PIB)
A synthetic rubber derived from the polymerization of isobutylene. In roofing, used for membranes and flashing.
Polyisocyanurate (polyiso)
A polymer with a high R-value commonly used as insulation in the form of rigid, glass fibre-reinforced foam boards, usually faced with a foil paper. Increasingly, polyiso board products are also being used for sheathing. Often specified for applications where increased fire resistance is desired.
Polymer
(1) The product of polymerization. Some polymers are elastomers, while others are plastics. (2) A rubber or resin consisting of large molecules formed by polymerization.
Polymeric liner
A synthetic liner used to contain liquids inside a surface berm or an excavated area.
Polymerization
The reaction in which two or more molecules of the same substance combine to form a compound containing the same elements, and in the same proportions, but of high molecular weight. The original substance can be generated from the compound, in some cases only with extreme difficulty.
Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA)
A transparent thermoplastic that offers good weather resistance and a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Polypropylene
A tough plastic with good resistance to heat and chemicals. Polypropylene is a polymer of propylene, and is found in everything from packaging to molded automobile parts.
Polystyrene foam
A low cost, foamed plastic weighing about 1 lb. per cu. ft., with good insulating properties and resistance to grease.
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