Glossary of building terms

For many years the miscellaneous publication NZMP 4212 Glossary of building terminology has served as a reference book for those working in the building industry as well as for students in either trade or professional training. The document was revised last in 1998 after the introduction of the Building Act 1991 to incorporate the acceptance of new building methods and materials as well as revisions over the years to the Wiring rules or NZS 3000 Electrical installations. The impetus for this 2014 edition has been to test the market for referencing the building glossary in different electronic publication formats. The content of the glossary has not been revised extensively since the 1998 edition as the aim was to release an edition in another format that could be used alongside hard copies in different learning environments. Nevertheless, users will find that whilst the content has largely unchanged, it has been possible to introduce improved functionality for this edition. Users of this edition can highlight text, book mark important pages, jump between recently viewed pages, add notes and create quick reference cards. Terms continue to be presented in alphabetical order and offer simple descriptions to introduce their meaning. It is expected that those interested will still study other references to grow their understanding of the terms used in the building sector.