Construction Terminology

An explanation of some industry terms

Select a letter from the alphabet above to view the definition for the terms we currently have in our database. You can also search the database for a particular term, or if you want submit terminology which isn't in the database at present.

Terms beginning with 'B' - 1 to 6 of 6

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Batter

The facing angle created by segmental retaining wall unit setback, measured from a vertical line drawn from the toe of the wall, expressed in degrees.

BBA

British Board of Agrement. The British Board of Agrement is an organisation partnered with Government Board includes representation on behalf of The Department for communities and local government. The BBA is the UK member of the European Union of Agrement (UEAtc), represents the UK in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals, and is responsible for the issue of European Technical Approvals in this country, enabling products - manufactured under an appropriate Attestation of Conformity procedure - to achieve the commercially vital CE marking.

bitumen

A viscous liquid or solid material black or dark brown in colour, having adhesive properties, consisting essentially of hydrocarbons, derived from petroleum for occurring in natural asphalt and soluble in carbon disulphide. Straight run bitumen - obtained after the final stage of distillation of crude oil of a suitable type. Normal grades used - 50 pen (hard) to 300 pen (soft). Cut-back bitumen - bitumen whose viscosity has been reduced by the addition of a suitable volatile dilutant or flux. Normal grades used - 50, 100, 200 secs.

Blinding

Fine stone and dust mixture.

block

An individual unit of material. May be concrete or masonry.

Bulging

Bulging - in respect of a segmental retaining wall face, occurs when a segmental retaining wall unit does not maintain its relative position with respect to the units above and below it.


Term
Description