Terminology

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Home Inspection Terms

A-C

Term	Definition
Accessible	in the opinion of the inspector, can be approached or entered safely, without difficulty, fear or danger.
Activate	to turn on, supply power, or enable systems, equipment or devices to become active by normal operating controls.
Adversely Affect	to constitute, or potentially constitute, a negative or destructive impact.
Alarm Systems	installed or freestanding warning devices including, but not limited to, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flue gas and other spillage detectors and security equipment.
Appliance	a household device operated by the use of electricity or gas. Not included in this definition are components covered under central heating, central cooling or plumbing.
Architectural Service	any practice involving the art and science of building design for construction of any structure or grouping of structures, and the use of space within and surrounding the structures or the design, design development, preparation of construction contract documents, and administration of the construction contract.
Central Air Conditioning	a system that uses either ducts to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more than one room of a residential building or pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchanges in more than one room in a residential building, and which is not plugged into an electrical convenience outlet.
Component	a permanently installed or attached fixture, element or part of a system.
Condition	the visible and conspicuous state of being of an object.
Correction	something that is substituted or proposed for what is incorrect, deficient, unsafe, or a defect.
Cosmetic Defect	an irregularity or imperfection in something, which could be corrected, but is not required.
Crawlspace	the area within the confines of the foundation and between the ground and the underside of the lowest floor's structural component.

D-F

Dangerous or Adverse Situations	situations that pose a threat of injury to the home inspector including, but not limited to, those situations in which the home inspector is required to use special protective clothing or other safety equipment.
Decorative	ornamental; not required for the operation of essential systems or components of a home.
Describe	to report in writing a system or component by its type or other observed characteristics in order to distinguish it from other components used for the same purpose.
Determine	to arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant to examination.
Dismantle	to open, take apart or remove any component, device or piece that would not typically be opened, taken apart or removed by an ordinary occupant.
Engineering Service	any professional service or creative work requiring engineering education, training and experience, and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences to such professional service or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design and supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures, buildings, machines, equipment, works and/or processes.
Engineering Study	a study requiring engineering services.
Engineering, Practice of	as that term is defined in Education Law, title VIII, Article 145, Section 7201.
Enter	to go into an area to observe visible components.
Evaluate	to assess the systems, structures and/or components of a property.
Evidence	that which tends to prove or disprove something; something that makes plain or clear; grounds for belief; proof.
Examine	to visually look (see inspect).
Foundation	the base upon which the structure or wall rests, usually masonry, concrete or stone, and generally partially underground.
Function	the action for which an item, component or system is specially fitted or used, or for which an item, component or system exists; to be in action or perform a task.
Functional	performing, or able to perform, a function.
Functional Defect	a lack of or an abnormality in something that is necessary for normal and proper functioning and operation, and, therefore, requires further evaluation and correction.
Functional Drainage	the operation of a drain whereby a drain empties in a reasonable amount of time and does not overflow when another fixture is drained simultaneously.
Functional Flow	a reasonable flow at the highest fixture in a dwelling when another fixture is operated simultaneously.
Further Evaluation	the examination and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman, or service technician beyond that provided by the home inspection.

G-I

Home Inspection	the process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home and operates those systems and components utilizing Standards of Practice as a guideline.
Household Appliances	kitchen and laundry appliances, room air conditioners, and similar appliances.
Identify	to notice and report.
Indication	that which serves to point out, show, or make known the present existence of something under certain conditions.
Inspect	to visually examine any system or component of a building in accordance with the Standards of Practice, using normal operating controls and opening readily operable access panels.
Inspected Property	the readily accessible areas of the buildings, site, items, components and systems included in the inspection.
Inspection Report	a written communication (possibly including images) of any material defects observed during the inspection.
Inspector	one who performs a real estate inspection.
Installed	attached or connected such that the installed item requires tools for removal.

J-L

Home Inspection	the process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home and operates those systems and components utilizing Standards of Practice as a guideline.
Household Appliances	kitchen and laundry appliances, room air conditioners, and similar appliances.

M-O

Material Defect	a specific issue with a system or component of a residential property that may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or that poses an unreasonable risk to people. The fact that a system or component is near, at, or beyond the end of its normal, useful life is not, in itself, a material defect.
Mold-like substance	it appears to have the characteristics of mold, but only a qualified mold assessor can actually determine if something is mold or "mold-like".
Normal Operating Controls	describes the method by which certain devices (such as thermostats) can be operated by ordinary occupants, as they require no specialized skill or knowledge.
Observable	able to be observed at the time of the inspection without the removal of covering, fixed, finished and or stored materials.
Observe	the act of making a visual examination.
On-site Water Supply Quantity	the volume of water that is available for domestic use.
Operate	to cause systems to function or turn on with normal operating controls.

P-R

Primary Windows and Doors	windows and exterior doors that are designed to remain in their respective openings year-round.
Qualified Contractor	one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
Readily Accessible	available for visual inspection without requiring the home inspector to remove or dismantle any personal property, use destructive measures, or take any action which will likely involve risk to persons or property.
Readily Operable Access Panel	a panel provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance, which has removable or operable fasteners or latch devices in order to be lifted, swung open, or otherwise removed by one person, and its edges and fasteners are not painted in place. The panel must be within normal reach and not blocked by stored items, furniture or building components.
Recreational Facilities	spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools, tennis courts, playground equipment, and other exercise, entertainment and athletic facilities.
Report	a written document setting forth findings of home inspection unless otherwise specified in NYS regulations; to express, communicate or provide information in writing; give a written account of (verb)
Representative Number	a number sufficient to serve as a typical or characteristic example of the item(s) inspected.
Residential Property	four or fewer residential units.
Residential Unit	a home; a single unit providing complete and independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
Roof Drainage Systems	gutters, down spouts, leaders, splash blocks, and similar components used to carry water off a roof and away from a building.

S-U

Safe Access	access free of any encumbrances, hazardous materials, health and safety hazards such as climbing and/or standing on other than the ground and/or floor which may jeopardize the inspector.
Safety Glazing	tempered glass, laminated glass or rigid plastic.
Shut Down	turned off, unplugged, inactive, not in service, not operational, etc.
Solid Fuel Heating Device	any wood, coal, or other similar organic fuel burning device including, but not limited to, fireplaces whether masonry or factory built, fireplace inserts and stoves, wood stoves (room heaters), central furnaces, and any combination of these devices.
Structural Component	a component that supports non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or weights (live loads).
System	a combination of interacting or interdependent components, assembled to carry out one or more functions.
Technically Exhaustive	an inspection is technically exhaustive when it involves the extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing, calculations, and other to develop scientific or engineering findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Under Floor Crawl Space	the area within the confines of the foundation and between the ground and the underside of the lowest floor structural component.
Unsafe	a condition in a readily accessible, installed system or component, which is judged by the Home Inspector to be of significant risk of personal injury during normal, day to day use. The risk may be due to damage, deterioration, improper installation or a change in the accepted residential construction standard.

V-Z

Verify	to confirm or substantiate.
Water Supply Quality	the quality of a residential building's water supply based on the bacterial, chemical, mineral, and solids content of the water.