Glossary of Terms

BBA

British Board of Agrément – certification provider.

BLP

Building Life Plans – BOPAS/Warranty provider.

BOPAS

Build offsite Property Assurance Scheme – providing assurance of mortgageability and a durability assessment.

BPM

Business Process Manual – outlines the processes and procedures followed.

BRE

Building Research Establishment – Test house.

Building Control Approved Inspector

Businesses which work in the private sector as an alternative to LABC.

Building Warranty

Comprehensive insurance policy for building works.

CICAIR

Construction Industry Council Approved Inspector Register. Lists providers of Building Regulations Approved Inspectors, who offer an alternative to Local Authority assessments.

Commercial bedspace

Refers to buildings such as hotels, care homes and student accommodation.

CRA

Condensation Risk Analysis, required to ensure there is no risk of condensation build up in the structure.

EA MLA

European Accreditation Multilateral Agreement – principles for testing carried out outside the UK to be used.

Fire Engineer

Person qualified at degree level in fire risk engineering and recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers.

Hygrothermal performance

Referenced in weathertightness hygrothermal refers to the movement of heat and moisture through buildings. Repeated wetting, drying, freezing and thawing of the fabric of a building can cause problems such as damp, condensation, mould growth and loss of thermal performance.

ISO

International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO certificates provide evidence of business conformity.

KIWA

Keuringsinstituut voor WaterleidingArtikelen – Certificate provider.

LABC

Local Authority Building Control.

Modular Systems

Combination of wall panels and floor cassettes used to form a three-dimensional unit/module.

NHBC

National House Building Council – Warranty provider.

Panelised Systems

Wall panels and floor cassettes used to form a structure.

Psi values

Denoted by the symbol), Psi values are a measure of heat loss along a meter of junction between two thermal elements of the structure.

SAP rating

Calculation that is required in order to produce a Predicted Energy Assessment and the Energy Performance Certificate.

SCI

Steel Construction Institute - Certificate provider, consultancy and technical information provider.

SFS Infill Systems

Use of studs as a replacement for the blockwork inner leaf of a wall. In infill systems the steel sits between the structural elements.

SFS Oversail Systems

Use of studs as in infill walls but where the steel is fixed to the face of the structural element.

UKAS

United Kingdom Accreditation Service which is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom, appointed by the government.

UKCA

UK Conformity Assessed – UK product marking that is used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain.

U Value

Used in thermal assessments are the rate of transfer of heat through a structure.