Glossary

Automatic Safety Controls
Devices designated and installed to protect systems and components from high or low pressures and temperatures, electrical current, loss of water, loss of ignition, fuel leaks, fire, freezing, or other unsafe conditions.

Central Air Conditioning
A system which uses ducts to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more than one room or uses pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchangers in more than one room, and that is not plugged into an electrical convenience outlet.

Client
A customer who contracts with a home inspector for a home inspection.

Component
A readily accessible and observable aspect of a system, such as a floor, or wall, but not individual pieces such as boards or nails where many similar pieces make up the system.

Cross Connection
Any physical connection or arrangement between potable water and any source of contamination. Dangerous or Adverse Situations: Situations which pose a threat of injury to the inspector, and those situations that require the use of special protective clothing or safety equipment.

Describe
Report in writing a system or component by its type, or other observed characteristics, to distinguish it from other components used for the same purpose.

Dismantle
To take apart or remove any component, device or piece of equipment that is bolted, screwed, or fastened by other means and that would not be taken apart or removed by a homeowner in the course of normal household maintenance.

Engineering
Any professional service or creative work requiring education, training, and experience and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences. Evaluation by Appropriate Persons: Examination and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman, or service technician beyond that provided by the home inspector. Functional Drainage: A drain is functional when it 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.

Immediate Major Repair
A major defect, which if not quickly addressed, will be likely to do any of the following:

1. worsen appreciably
2. cause further damage
3. be a serious hazard to health and/or personal safety

Inspector
A person certified as a home Inspector by the Arizona Board of Technical Registration.

Installed
Attached or connected such that the installed item requires tools for removal.

Major Defect
A system or component that is unsafe or not functioning.

Normal Operating Controls
Homeowner operated devices such as a thermostat, wall switch or safety switch.

Observe
The act of making a visual examination of a system or component and reporting on its condition.

On-site Water Supply Quality
Water quality is based on the bacterial, chemical, mineral and solids content of the water.

On-site Water Supply Quantity
Water quantity is the rate of flow of water. Primary Windows and Doors: Windows and/or exterior doors which are designed to remain in their respective openings year round.

Readily Accessible
Available for visual inspection without requiring moving of personal property, dismantling, destructive measures, or any action which will likely involve risk to persons or property.

Readily Openable Access Panel
A panel provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance that has removable or operable fasteners or latch devices in order to be lifted off, swung open, or otherwise removed by one person, and its edges and fasteners are not painted in place. Limited to those panels within normal reach or from a 4-foot stepladder, and which are 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, or athletic facilities.

Representative Number
For multiple identical components such as windows and electrical outlets, the inspection of one such component per room. For multiple identical exterior components, the inspection of one such component on each side of the building.

Roof Drainage Systems
Gutters, downspouts, leaders, splashblocks, and similar components used to carry water off a roof and away from a building.

Safety Glazing
Tempered glass, laminated glass, or rigid plastic.

Shut Down
A piece of equipment whose safety switch or circuit breaker is in the “off” position, or its fuse is missing or blown, or a system that cannot be operated by the device or control that a home owner should normally use to operate it.

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, woodstoves (room heaters), central furnaces, and combinations of these devices.

Structural Component
A component that supports nonvariable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or weights (live loads). For purposes of this definition, a dead load is the fixed weight of a structure or piece of equipment, such as a roof structure on bearing walls, and a live load is a moving variable weight added to the dead load or intrinsic weight of a structure.

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 use of measurements, instruments, testing, calculations, and other means to develop scientific or engineering findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Underfloor 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 to be a 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 adopted residential construction standards.