Selvage

That portion of roll roofing overlapped by the succeeding course to obtain double coverage.

Semi-Circular Roof

A type of curved roof that is often used on farm houses.

Sensible Heat

Heat that causes a change in the temperature of an object or location.

Sensible Heat Transfer

The heat absorbed or evolved by a substance during a change of temperature that is not accompanied by a change of state.

Sensing Element

A device or component that measures the value of a variable.

Separation Gasket

Gasket used to separate a two or more pass chiller between the inlet and discharge of the chiller.

Set Point

The value on the controller scale at which the controller is set (e.g., the desired room temperature set on a thermostat). The desired control point.

Setback Thermostat

A state-of-the-art electronic thermostat with a built-in memory that can be programmed for different temperature settings at different times of the day.

Setscrew

Headless screw used to hold two metal parts together, such as a pulley on a shaft, a handle on some faucets of a socket on a light fixture.

Shade Screen

A specially fabricated screen of sheet material with small narrow louvers formed in place to intercept solar radiation striking a window the louvers are so small that only extremely small insects can pass through. Also called sun screen. Also, an awning with fixed louvers of metal or wood.

Shading

Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.

Shading Coefficient (SC)

A measure of the ability of a window or skylight to transmit solar heat, relative to that ability for 1/8-inch clear, double- strength, single glass. It is being phased out in favor of the solar heat gain coefficient, and is approximately equal to the SHGC multiplied by 1.15. It is expressed as a number without units between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient or shading coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater is its shading ability.

Shake

A hand-split shingle that is usually edge-grained.

Shearwall

A specially designed wall section which resists lateral forces resulting from wind loading of the structure.

Sheathing

Exterior grade plywood or tongue-and-groove boards used as a roof deck. The structural covering, usually wood boards or plywood, over a building's exterior studs or rafters.

Shed Roof

A roof containing only one sloping plane. Has no hips, ridges, valleys or gables.

Sheet Glass

A transparent, flat glass found in older windows, now largely replaced by float glass.

Shim

Small, thin piece of wood, cardboard, or metal use these pieces to adjust level, plumb or alignment.

Shingles

A surfacing material used on roofs or walls and composed of thin, small sheets of waterproof material, e.g., asphalt, wood, slate, tile.

Short-Wave Infrared Radiation

Invisible radiation, just beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (between 0.7 and 2.5 microns), emitted by hot surfaces and included in solar radiation.

Shut Down

A piece of equipment of a system is shut down when it cannot be operated by the device or control, which a home owner should normally use to operate it. If a safety switch or circuit breaker is in the off position, or its fuse is missing or blown, the inspector is not required to re-establish the circuit for the purpose of operating the equipment or system.

Shut-Off Valve

Device that controls flow of water or gas to an individual fixture or appliance or to the entire system.

Sick Building Syndrome (Sbs)

A collective term sometimes used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects (such as headaches, eye/skin irritation, shortness of breath and nausea) that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be spread throughout the building.

Side

A longitudinal wall of structure.

Side Jamb

A piece of finish material that is laid vertically on the interior sides of a floor or window to shape the opening.

Siding

The finished covering on the outside wall of a building.  CHS Services, Inc. Uses some of the finest vinyl siding available.

Sill

The lowest piece on which a window or exterior door rests usually slanted downward slightly to provide for rainwater runoff. The lowest horizontal member in a door, window, or sash frame.

Sill Plate

The lowest member of the house framing resting on top of the foundation wall. Also called mud sill.

Sill Track

The track provided at the sill of a sliding glass door. Also, the sill member incorporating such a track.

Simulated Divided Lights

A window that has the appearance of a number of smaller panes of glass separated by muntins, but actually is a larger glazing unit with the muntins placed between or on the surfaces of the glass layers.

Single Coverage

Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck.

Single Glazing

Single thickness of glass in a window or door.

Single Package

A year-round heating and air conditioning system that has all the components completely encased in one unit outside the home.

Single Pitch Roof

A single-plane roof with a pitch of more than 20 degrees.

Single-Hung Window

A window consisting of two sashes of glass, the top one stationary and the bottom movable.

Single-Strength Glass

Glass with thickness between 0.085" and 0.100" (2.162.57 mm).

Site

This includes the latitude, longitude, average ground reflectance as well as an index to the exposure of a specific location. Site information forms part of the problem configuration. Climatic patterns are taken from one or several climate databases, which are representative of particular regions.

Skylight (Operable Or Pivot)

A roof window that gives light and ventilation. Window located in a ceiling/roof.

Slab Floor

Floor constructed on grade normally concrete.

Sliding Glass Door

A door fitted with one or more panels that move horizontally on a track and/or in grooves. Moving action is usually of rolling type (rather than sliding type). Also called gliding door, rolling glass door, and patio sliding door.

Sliding Window

A window fitted with one or more sashes opening by sliding horizontally or vertically in grooves provided by frame members. Vertical sliders may be single- or double-hung.