GLOSSARY

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PLASTER

A powder mixed with sand and water and applied over a plaster base to form a hard finish surface on walls and ceilings; also, the surface itself.


PLASTER BOARD

Wallboard made of a core of gypsum sandwiched between surface coatings, usually paper. see _gypsum


PLASTIC FIRE

A fire involving polymers as a primary fuel, resulting in highly acid fire residues.


PLATE

In wood frame construction, a horizontal board or timber connecting the ends of studs, joists, rafters, usually at a 900 angle.


PLENUM

A main air duct serving one or more distribution ducts; the space between a suspended ceiling and the structure above it.


PLINTH

A square or rectangular base for a column, pilaster, or door frame; a solid base, often ornamented, to support a statue or memorial: the base courses of a building if treated so as to give the appearance of a platform.


PLUMB

Exactly vertical.


PLYWOOD

A composite wood product made up of three or more thin layers, or plies, lay with the grain of adjoining plies at right angles and bonded with adhesive resins.


PNEUMOCONIOSIS

A lung condition in which there is a permanent disposition of particulate matter and lung tissue to react. The reaction may result in the formation of anything from a relatively harmless form of iron oxide deposition, to destructive forms.


POCKET

A recess in masonry to receive the end of a beam or joist; any recess designed to hide sash weights, curtains, shutters, folding or sliding doors.