IV. GLOSSARY of TERMS

*Note: All definitions apply to derivatives of these terms when italicized in the text.

Accessible: Can be approached or entered by the inspector safely without difficulty or damage to the system, structure, or component.
Appliance: See "Component."
Appropriate persons: An individual other than inspector herein, qualified by virtue of special knowledge, training or resources to further examine a system, structure, or component, as in the manner of a specialist.
Basic operation: The fundamental function of a component or appliance (e.g., the bake and broil elements of an oven), but not those ancillary to its use (e.g., an oven self-cleaning cycle or timer, thermostat or clock).
Building: The primary building subject of the inspection, designed and erected for the purpose of human occupancy or use (e.g. dwelling).
Built-in: See "Permanently installed."
Component: A permanently installed appliance, fixture, element, or part of a system.
Condition: The plainly visible and conspicuous state of being of a material object or thing.
Cross-connection: A connection between two otherwise separate systems, one of which is potable water and the other waste, sewage or other source of contamination.
Destructive: To demolish, damage, or probe any system, structure, or component, or to dismantle any system or component that would not be taken apart by an ordinary person in the course of normal maintenance.
Determine: To arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant to examination.
Disconnected: See "Shut down."
Dismantle: See "Destructive."
Functional Drainage: The emptying of a plumbing fixture in a reasonable amount of time, without overflow when another fixture is drained simultaneously.
Enter: See "Accessible."
Evaluate: To assess the systems, structures, or components of a building.
Evidence: Plainly visible and conspicuous material objects or other things presented to the senses that would tend to produce conviction in the mind of an ordinary person as to the existence or non-existence of a fact.
Examine: To visually look for and identify material defects in systems, structures, or components of a building through a non-invasive, physical inspection.
Fixture: See "Component."
Function: Performing its normal, proper and characteristic action.
Functional flow: A reasonable flow of water supply at the highest and farthest fixture from the building main when another fixture is operated simultaneously.
Further evaluation: A degree of examination beyond that of a typical and customary non-invasive physical examination.
Inspection: The act of performing a real estate inspection.
Inspector: One who performs a real estate inspection.
Intrusive: See "Destructive."
Malfunction: Failure to perform its normal, proper and characteristic action.
Material defect: (Refer to Section I, "Definitions and Scope" Paragraph B).
Normal user controls: Devices that would be operated by the ordinary occupants of a building, requiring no specialized skill or knowledge.
Operate: To cause systems or equipment to function with normal user controls.
Operational: Systems or components capable of being safely operated.
Permanently Installed: Fixed in place (e.g. screwed, bolted, or nailed), as distinct from components, systems, or appliances considered portable or freestanding.
Primary building: A building that an inspector has agreed to inspect, excluding all accessory buildings with the exception of the primary parking structure.
Primary parking structure: A building for the purpose of vehicle storage associated with the primary building.
Real Estate Inspection: (Refer to Section I, "Definitions and Scope" Paragraph A).
Report: The inspection report is a written document prepared for a fee and issued after a real estate inspection identifying and describing the inspected systems, structures, and components of the building and identifying material defects discovered therein.
Representative sampling: A small quantity of components of any system or structure enough like others in its class or kind to serve as an example of its class or kind.
Shut down: Turned off, inactive, not in-service, non-operational.
Special equipment: Any tools or devices other than those normally used by an inspector to perform a typical and customary non-invasive physical examination of the systems, structures, and components of a building, including, but not limited to: levels, probes, meters, video or audio devices and measuring devices.
Structure: An assemblage of various systems and components to function as a whole.
System: An assemblage of various components to function as a whole.
Technically exhaustive: A comprehensive and detailed examination beyond the scope of a real estate inspection which would include, but would not be limited to: specialized knowledge or training, special equipment, measurements, calculations, testing, research, or analysis.