Constructaquote Glossary of Terms - O

Glossary home

obscure glass

mainly used for decoration, diffusion, or privacy - the design is pressed into the glass during the rolling process.

ohmmeter

an instrument for measuring electrical resistance.

open cut

excavation in the open, not in tunnel.

open plan

a floor plan without subdivisions and interior walls.

outrigger

an extension of a rafter beyond a wall line, usually by means of a short piece, which laps the rafter and extends outward from the wall line.

overbreak

excavation beyond an intended limit line or surface.

overload

in structures, a weight greater than the structure is designed to carry - in electrical or mechanical terms, a load greater than the plant is designed for carrying.

overturning

tipping over - every structure, in its stability calculations, must be checked that it cannot turn over.

oxidation

the chemical combining of an element with oxygen.

oxy-acetylene flame

a flame obtained from compressed oxygen and acetylene in separate steel cylinders, used for cutting materials. Most often used by welders.