Term | Definition |
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U of C | University of California, an independent fire-testing laboratory. |
U Value | Coefficient of heat transfer, "U" equals 1 divided by (hence, the reciprocal of) the total of the resistances of the various materials, air spaces and surface air films in an assembly. See Thermal Resistance. |
UBC | Uniform Building Code - document promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials. |
UL | Underwriters Laboratories Inc., founded by NBFU, and now operated in affiliation with American Insurance Assn. UL is a not for profit laboratory operated for the purpose of testing devices, systems and materials as to their relation to life, fire and casualty hazard in the interest of public safety. |
Ultimate Strength | The maximum stress, such as tensile, compressive, or shear, that a material can withstand. |
Ultimate Tensile Strength | The maximum tensile stress of a material up to the point of rupture. |
Ultrasonic Testing | A method of non-destructive testing of materials that uses high frequency sound vibrations to find defects in the material. |
Under-Carpet Wiring | A flat, insulated electric wire that is run under the carpet. |
Underlayment | Sheet material, such as hardboard, that is laid over the subfloor to provide a smooth, stiff surface for the finish flooring. |
Underpinning | Placing a new foundation below the existing foundation. |
Unfibered Gypsum | A neat gypsum. It has no additives. |
Uniform Load | Any load that is spread out evenly over a large area. |
Unreinforced Concrete | Concrete placed without steel-reinforcing bars or welded-wire fabric. |
USASI | United States of America Standards Institute, now American National Standards Institute. |