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Area Building The area included within surrounding exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire
walls) exclusive of vent shafts and courts. Area of the building not provided with surrounding
walls shall be included in the building area if such areas are included within horizontal
projection of the roof or floor above.
Area of Refuge An area where persons unable to use stairways can remain temporarily to
await instructions or assistance during emergency evacuation.
Areaway A subsurface space adjacent to a building open at the top or protected at the top
by a grating or guard.
Atrium An opening connecting two or more stories other than enclosed stairways, elevators,
hoist ways, escalators, plumbing, electrical, air-conditioning or other equipment, which is
closed at the top and not defined as a mall. Stories as used in this definition, do not include
balconies within assembly groups or mezzanines that comply with section 505.
Automatic Fire-Extinguishing System An approved system of devices and equipment which
automatically detects a fire and discharges an approved Fire Extinguishing agent onto or in an
area of a fire.
Automatic Smoke Detection System A fire alarm system that has initiation devices that
utilize smoke detectors for protection of an area such as a room or space with detectors to
provide early warning of fire.
Automatic Sprinkler System An automatic Sprinkler System, for fire protection purposes is
an integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire
protection engineering standards. The system includes a suitable water supply. The portion of
the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping
installed in a structure or area, generally overhead and to which automatic sprinklers are
connected in a systematic pattern. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and
discharges water over the fire area.
, Automatic Water Mist System A system consisting of a water supply, a pressure source and
a distribution piping system with attached nozzles, which, at or above a minimum operating
pressure, defined by its listing, discharges water in fine droplets meeting the requirements of
NFPA 750 for the purpose of the control, suppression or extinguishment of a fire. Such systems
include wet-pipe, dry-pipe, and preaction types. The systems are designed as engineered, pre-
engineered, local-application or total flooding systems.
Awning An architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity, or decoration
and is partially or wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is
comprised of a lightweight frame structure over which a covering is attached.
Backing The wall or surface to which the veneer is secured.
Balanced Door A door equipped with double pivoted hardware so designed as to cause a
semi counter-balanced swing action when opening.
Ballast In roofing, ballast comes in the form of large stones or paver systems or light weight
interlocking paver systems and is used to provide uplift resistance for roofing systems that are
not adhered or mechanically attached to the roof deck.
Base Flood Flood having 1% chance of being equaled or exceeding any given year.
Base Flood Elevation The elevation of the base flood including wave height relative to the
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) or other
datum specified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
Bearing Wall Structure A building or other structure in which vertical loads from floors and
roofs are primarily supported by walls.
Bed Joint The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.