oq-gem

Glossary for gem taxonomy

Authors: Luke Allen, Andrew Charleson, Svetlana Brzev, and Charles Scawthorn

This online Glossary explains around 400 terms contained in the GEM Building Taxonomy v 2.0 and nearly 700 images.

The terms have been listed in alphabetical and numerical order. Text description of each term is accompanied by illustrations (photos and/or drawings) where possible.

We welcome contributions in the form of photographs or images, illustrating glossary terms. If you have any questions you can also contact us at buildingtaxonomy@globalquakemodel.org


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Category: terms
Hits: 366

The lateral load-resisting system material is unknown due to it being unclear which material is used. The material may be hidden, or information about it is unavailable.

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Category: terms
Hits: 403

Fibre cement or asbestos boards, and fibre-reinforced concrete (FCR) and glass reinforced concrete (GRC) panels.

EWCB_Canada_Brzev_1EWCB_Canada_Brzev_2

Exterior walls made of corrugated asbestos sheets, Canada (S. Brzev)

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Category: terms
Hits: 697

Reinforced concrete cast onto steel decking, supported by beams or load bearing walls. They are sometimes overlaid with light-weight roofing. This system is similar to the floor system called Composite Steel Floor Deck and Concrete Slab.

RME3_Canada_Brzev_2

Composite steel deck and concrete slab supported by steel trusses, Canada (S. Brzev)

RME3_Canada_Brzev_1

Steel trusses (Open Web Steel Joists) supported by precast concrete tilt-up walls, Canada (S. Brzev)

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Category: terms
Hits: 347

All types of metal cladding and wall materials. Includes aluminum planks, corrugated steel sheets (CGI) or aluminium sheets, aluminium composite sheets, copper sheets, wire mesh and perforated sheet metal.

EWME_Canada_BrzevS_1EWME_Canada_BrzevS_2

A building with exterior walls made of aluminum sheets, Vancouver, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWME_Canada_BrzevS_3EWME_Canada_BrzevS_4

Corrugated steel sheets, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWME_Kenya_Jaiswal_1

Exterior wall made of corrugated metal sheets, Kenya (K. Jaiswal)

EWME_India_Brzev_1

Corrugated metal sheets used as exterior cladding, India (S. Brzev)

EWME_Sweden_Scawthorn_1EWME_Sweden_Scawthorn_2

HSB Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden has aluminum exterior walls (C. Scawthorn)

EWME_USA_Scawthorn_1

Stainless steel exterior walls in a high-rise building, New York City, USA (C. Scawthorn)

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Category: terms
Hits: 510

Recording the range of height of ground floor level above grade is used where the exact height is uncertain but it is possible for the surveyor to determine a range, or where the height varies more than 1m and the maximum and minimum height can be recorded.

Units: metres

HFBET:a,b
where a= upper bound and b=lower bound  

Example: HFBET: 1.5,0.5  (height ranges between 1.5 m and 0.5 m)

  1. Temporary lodging [RES3]
  2. Metal floor beams supporting precast concrete slabs [FME2]
  3. Building occupancy class - general
  4. Rectangular, with an opening in plan [PLFRO]

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