Building Terminology

• MEMBER	Any structural part of a building such as beams, joists, posts etc.
  TRUSSES	A triangulated rigid framework of timber members, connected together with mechanical fasteners designed to support a structure, such as a roof.
  JACK STUD	Studs that are used to support horizontal lintel or beam, and are located on both sides of a door, window, or other opening.
  FRAMING	Timber members to which lining, cladding, flooring or decking is attached or which are depended upon for supporting the structure, or for resisting forces applied to it.  Usually identified accordingly as wall framing, floor framing etc.
  FOUNDATION	The parts of a building that transmit or distribute loads to the ground through a footing.
  SUBFLOOR	The area (usually framed) below the level of the ground floor.
  MIDFLOOR	The area (usually framed) between the ceiling of one level and the floor of the next level of a building.
  BEARER	A beam supported by jack studs, foundation walls, piles or piers which in turn supports joists, jack studs or subfloor framing.
  JOIST	A horizontal framing member to which is fixed flooring, decking or ceiling linings, and which is identified accordingly as a floor joist or ceiling joist.
  STUD	A vertical framing member, usually within a wall frame.
  DWANG/NOGGING	A short member fixed between framing members.
  CLADDING	The outside or exterior weather surface of a building.
  LINTEL	A  horizontal framing member that spans a wall opening.
  BOTTOM PLATE	A structural member placed under the bottom ends of studs.
  ROOF TRUSSES	Structural components to support roof and ceiling cladding, typically prefabricated using timber and nail plates.
  BRACING	The method or materials employed to provide lateral support to a building.
  CEILING BATTEN	A horizontal timber member fixed below rafters, ceiling joists or truss bottom chords to which the ceiling lining is attached.
  PURLIN/TILE BATTEN	A horizontal member laid to span across rafters or trusses and to which the roof cladding is attached.
  RAFTER	A framing timber normally parallel to the pitch of a roof and providing support for sarking, purlins or roof cladding.
  SARKING	Boarding or sheet material secured to rafters, trusses or purlins and which may also serve as the ceiling lining.
  RIDGE BEAM	The horizontal timber to which rafters are fixed at the upper ends.
  VALLEY	The area which is formed at the intersection of the lower end of two roof slopes.
  SOFFIT	The area which is formed between the end of a rafter and the outside line of the wall framing to which the eaves lining is attached.
  EAVE	The area between the edge of a roof and the vertical face of wall claddings.