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Insulation, Roofing & Weatherization Products Industry Acronyms

Insulation, Roofing & Weatherization Products Industry Acronyms

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This glossary explains technical, regulatory, safety, performance, and commercial terminology used across the Building Products & Construction Materials sector. It helps executives, manufacturers, contractors, and advisers working in the Insulation, Roofing & Weatherization Products Practice interpret commonly encountered industry acronyms.

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X

A
AB Air Barrier:
A material or assembly designed to restrict uncontrolled airflow through the building enclosure, reducing heat loss, moisture transport, and drafts.
ABAA Air Barrier Association of America:
A trade association that develops installer accreditation, quality-assurance programs, technical guidance, and specifications for air-barrier systems.
ACH Air Changes per Hour:
A measure of how many times the air volume within a space is replaced in one hour, used to assess ventilation and infiltration.
ACH50 Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pascals:
The standardized blower-door measure of enclosure leakage at a 50-pascal pressure difference; lower values generally indicate greater airtightness.
ACM Asbestos-Containing Material:
Material containing regulated quantities of asbestos that may require testing, containment, or abatement before insulation, roofing, or air-sealing work proceeds.
AECB Association for Environment Conscious Building:
A UK organization providing standards, training, and guidance related to low-energy construction, airtightness, insulation, and building performance.
ANSI American National Standards Institute:
The body that coordinates voluntary consensus standards in the United States, including standards governing roofing systems, fall protection, thermal performance, and building-envelope testing.
APF Assigned Protection Factor:
The expected reduction in airborne contaminant exposure provided by a properly selected and fitted respirator, important during spray-foam application and hazardous-material disturbance.
APP Atactic Polypropylene:
A thermoplastic modifier added to asphalt to improve heat resistance, flexibility, and weathering performance in modified-bitumen roofing membranes.
ARMA Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association:
A North American trade association that publishes technical guidance and represents manufacturers of asphalt shingles and low-slope asphalt roofing products.
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers:
A professional organization whose standards establish structural loads, including wind, snow, and rain loads used to design roof systems and attachments.
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers:
A standards organization whose requirements address energy efficiency, ventilation, moisture control, and thermal-envelope performance.
ASTM ASTM International:
A standards organization that publishes widely referenced test methods and product specifications for insulation, roofing membranes, shingles, coatings, vapor retarders, and air barriers.
ATTMA Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association:
A UK professional body that establishes testing protocols and certification requirements for measuring building-envelope air permeability.
AVB Air and Vapor Barrier:
A membrane or coating that limits both airflow and water-vapor diffusion through a roof or wall assembly.
AVCL Air and Vapour Control Layer:
A layer used primarily in UK and European construction to control air leakage and vapor movement on the warm side of an insulated assembly.
B
BBA British Board of Agrément:
A UK certification body that evaluates the fitness for purpose of construction products, including insulation, roofing, membranes, and weatherproofing systems.
BEopt Building Energy Optimization Tool:
Residential energy-modeling software used to compare retrofit packages, energy savings, and cost trade-offs for enclosure and equipment improvements.
BIBS Blown-In Blanket System:
A netted-cavity insulation method in which loose fibers are densely installed to form a continuous blanket around framing and obstructions.
BIPV Building-Integrated Photovoltaics:
Solar-generating components incorporated into roof coverings or other enclosure materials rather than mounted as separate equipment.
BPI Building Performance Institute:
A US standards and credentialing organization for home energy auditing, weatherization, diagnostic testing, and quality assurance.
BRE Building Research Establishment:
A UK research, testing, and certification organization active in building-envelope performance, fire safety, energy efficiency, and construction-product assessment.
BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method:
A building sustainability assessment method that can influence insulation and roofing specifications through energy, materials, health, and lifecycle-performance criteria.
BTU British Thermal Unit:
A unit of heat energy used in building-load calculations, fuel-consumption analysis, and estimates of weatherization savings.
BUR Built-Up Roofing:
A low-slope roof system assembled from multiple layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, usually finished with aggregate, a cap sheet, or a coating.
C
CAZ Combustion Appliance Zone:
The area containing fuel-burning equipment that is evaluated for pressure conditions, spillage, and carbon-monoxide risk during weatherization work.
ccSPF Closed-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam:
A dense, rigid foam that provides insulation and air control and may also function as a vapor retarder or water-resistant material at specified thicknesses.
CDD Cooling Degree Days:
A climate metric representing outdoor temperatures above a base temperature, used to normalize cooling demand and model retrofit savings.
CE Conformité Européenne:
A marking indicating that a product covered by applicable European legislation has been assessed against required health, safety, and performance provisions.
CFC Chlorofluorocarbon:
An ozone-depleting chemical formerly used as a foam blowing agent; its presence can affect legacy-product management and environmental reporting.
CFM Cubic Feet per Minute:
A volumetric airflow unit used to quantify ventilation, exhaust, and enclosure leakage during diagnostic testing.
CFM50 Cubic Feet per Minute at 50 Pascals:
The airflow required to maintain a 50-pascal pressure difference during a blower-door test, providing a standardized measure of building leakage.
CFR Code of Federal Regulations:
The codification of US federal rules, including requirements governing weatherization programs, worker safety, hazardous materials, and environmental compliance.
CGSB Canadian General Standards Board:
A Canadian standards-development organization whose specifications and test methods are referenced for some insulation and building-envelope products.
CI Continuous Insulation:
Insulation installed continuously across structural members, except at necessary penetrations, to reduce thermal bridging through the enclosure.
CIGA Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency:
A UK organization that provides guarantees for qualifying cavity-wall insulation installations and supports remediation of covered defects.
CIMA Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association:
A trade association representing cellulose insulation producers and providing technical, safety, and installation information.
CO Carbon Monoxide:
A colorless, odorless combustion gas that must be monitored when air sealing could alter appliance draft or building pressure relationships.
CRCA Canadian Roofing Contractors Association:
A national trade organization that publishes technical guidance and represents Canadian roofing contractors and industry suppliers.
CRRC Cool Roof Rating Council:
An independent organization that administers product ratings for roof surface solar reflectance and thermal emittance.
CSA Canadian Standards Association:
A standards and certification organization whose requirements apply to various insulation, roofing, air-barrier, and building-envelope products in Canada.
CSPE Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene:
A synthetic rubber historically used in single-ply roofing membranes because of its weathering, chemical, and ultraviolet resistance.
CWI Cavity Wall Insulation:
Insulation installed within the cavity of a masonry wall to reduce heat transfer, commonly as a retrofit measure in suitable buildings.
D
DEA Domestic Energy Assessor:
A qualified UK professional who surveys homes and produces energy-performance assessments used to identify efficiency improvements.
DFT Dry Film Thickness:
The thickness of a coating after curing, used to verify that liquid-applied roof membranes and protective coatings meet specification and warranty requirements.
DOE United States Department of Energy:
The federal department responsible for national energy-efficiency programs, research, product standards, and administration of the Weatherization Assistance Program.
DoP Declaration of Performance:
A manufacturer-issued document reporting the performance of a construction product against its declared essential characteristics under European or UK product rules.
E
EAD European Assessment Document:
A harmonized technical specification used to assess an innovative construction product when no suitable harmonized European standard exists.
ECM Energy Conservation Measure:
A defined improvement, such as air sealing or added insulation, evaluated for installation cost, energy savings, and operational benefit.
ECO Energy Company Obligation:
A UK energy-efficiency program requiring obligated energy suppliers to fund qualifying household improvements, including insulation and heating-related measures.
ELA Effective Leakage Area:
The calculated area of a single idealized opening that would produce the measured total enclosure leakage at a specified reference pressure.
EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency:
The federal regulator overseeing air emissions, chemicals, refrigerants, hazardous materials, indoor environmental issues, and lead-safe renovation requirements.
EPC Energy Performance Certificate:
A standardized rating document used in the UK and parts of Europe to communicate a building’s energy performance and recommended improvements.
EPD Environmental Product Declaration:
A verified document reporting lifecycle environmental impacts for a product according to defined calculation and disclosure rules.
EPDM Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer:
A durable synthetic rubber widely used for flexible single-ply roofing membranes on low-slope roofs.
EPR Extended Producer Responsibility:
A policy approach that assigns producers responsibility for product collection, recycling, or disposal after use, potentially affecting roofing and insulation waste streams.
EPS Expanded Polystyrene:
A lightweight rigid-foam insulation made by molding expanded beads, used in roof, wall, foundation, and structural insulated panel applications.
ERA EPDM Roofing Association:
A trade association representing manufacturers of synthetic-rubber roof membranes and related materials while publishing technical and sustainability guidance.
ESR Evaluation Service Report:
A technical report documenting how a product or system complies with specified building-code provisions, acceptance criteria, and installation conditions.
ETA European Technical Assessment:
A documented assessment of an innovative construction product’s performance based on the applicable European Assessment Document.
EWI External Wall Insulation:
A retrofit system that places insulation on the exterior of an existing wall and protects it with a compatible finish or cladding system.
F
FBC Florida Building Code:
The statewide construction code containing stringent wind, impact, roofing, waterproofing, and product-approval requirements for hurricane-prone conditions.
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency:
The US agency that publishes resilience and hazard-mitigation guidance for roofs and building enclosures exposed to wind, flood, and severe weather.
FM Factory Mutual Approvals:
A testing and certification framework widely used for commercial roof assemblies, including evaluations of wind uplift, fire, hail, and other property-loss risks.
FSI Flame Spread Index:
A comparative numerical rating of how rapidly flame travels across a material’s surface under a standardized test.
FSK Foil-Scrim-Kraft:
A reinforced facing used on insulation to provide a durable reflective surface and, when properly sealed, vapor-control capability.
G
GPS Graphite Polystyrene:
Expanded polystyrene insulation containing graphite particles that reduce radiant heat transfer and improve thermal resistance.
GRHC Green Roofs for Healthy Cities:
An industry organization providing training, technical resources, and professional programs for vegetative roofing and green infrastructure.
GWP Global Warming Potential:
A measure comparing a greenhouse gas’s heat-trapping effect with carbon dioxide over a specified period, particularly important when selecting foam blowing agents.
H
HAM Heat, Air, and Moisture:
A building-physics framework for evaluating the coupled movement of thermal energy, airflow, and moisture through enclosure assemblies.
HCFC Hydrochlorofluorocarbon:
A transitional ozone-depleting chemical formerly used in some foam blowing agents and now largely phased out under environmental rules.
HDD Heating Degree Days:
A climate metric representing outdoor temperatures below a base temperature, used to estimate heating demand and normalize energy savings.
HEP Home Energy Professional:
A US credentialing framework for energy auditors, quality-control inspectors, retrofit installers, and crew leaders working in residential weatherization.
HERS Home Energy Rating System:
A standardized methodology for modeling and rating residential energy performance, commonly used for code compliance, certifications, and retrofit analysis.
HFC Hydrofluorocarbon:
A class of high-global-warming-potential chemicals formerly common as blowing agents in certain foam insulation products.
HFO Hydrofluoroolefin:
A class of low-global-warming-potential chemicals increasingly used as blowing agents in closed-cell foam insulation.
HPwES Home Performance with ENERGY STAR:
A US program supporting whole-house assessment and qualified energy-efficiency improvements through participating contractors and sponsors.
HUD United States Department of Housing and Urban Development:
The federal department responsible for housing standards and programs that can affect manufactured homes, lead-safe work, rehabilitation, and energy improvements.
HVHZ High-Velocity Hurricane Zone:
A Florida code designation for areas subject to extreme hurricane winds, triggering enhanced roof-system testing, attachment, and product-approval requirements.
I
IAQ Indoor Air Quality:
The condition of indoor air with respect to pollutants, moisture, ventilation, and occupant health, all of which can be affected by air sealing and insulation work.
IBC International Building Code:
A model code governing commercial and multifamily construction, including roof assemblies, foam plastics, fire performance, energy-related interfaces, and weather protection.
IBHS Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety:
A research organization that develops hazard-resilience guidance and the FORTIFIED standards for roofs and buildings exposed to severe weather.
ICC International Code Council:
The organization that publishes widely adopted model building, residential, energy, and existing-building codes in the United States.
ICC-ES International Code Council Evaluation Service:
An independent service that evaluates construction products and systems for compliance with applicable codes and acceptance criteria.
ICF Insulated Concrete Form:
A stay-in-place form system, usually made from rigid foam, that combines concrete structure with continuous thermal insulation.
IECC International Energy Conservation Code:
A model energy code establishing requirements for insulation levels, air leakage, roof reflectance in applicable climates, and building-envelope performance.
IIBEC International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants:
A professional association for roofing, waterproofing, and exterior-wall consultants that provides education, technical resources, and credentials.
IPMVP International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol:
A framework for quantifying energy savings by comparing measured or modeled performance before and after efficiency improvements.
IRA Inflation Reduction Act:
US legislation that expanded incentives and funding for residential energy efficiency, insulation, air sealing, and related building upgrades.
IRC International Residential Code:
A model code covering one- and two-family dwellings, including insulation, air barriers, vapor retarders, roof coverings, ventilation, and weather protection.
IRMA Inverted Roof Membrane Assembly:
A protected roof configuration in which insulation is installed above the waterproofing membrane, shielding the membrane from temperature extremes and physical damage.
ISO International Organization for Standardization:
A global standards body publishing test, quality, environmental, and performance standards used by construction-product manufacturers and laboratories.
IWI Internal Wall Insulation:
An interior-side wall retrofit used where cavity or exterior insulation is impractical, requiring careful management of moisture and thermal bridging.
K
KEE Ketone Ethylene Ester:
A high-molecular-weight polymer used to enhance flexibility and chemical resistance in certain thermoplastic roofing membranes.
L
LBP Lead-Based Paint:
Regulated paint that may be disturbed during roof, wall, or weatherization work and therefore requires lead-safe procedures in covered buildings.
LCA Life Cycle Assessment:
A method for quantifying environmental impacts across a product’s raw-material, manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life stages.
LCIA Life Cycle Impact Assessment:
The stage of lifecycle analysis that translates inventory data into impact categories such as climate change, resource use, and acidification.
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design:
A green-building rating system whose energy, materials, heat-island, and emissions criteria can influence insulation and roofing specifications.
LIHEAP Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program:
A US federal assistance program that helps eligible households manage energy costs and may coordinate with state weatherization services.
LSW Lead-Safe Weatherization:
Work practices designed to prevent occupant and worker exposure when energy-efficiency measures disturb painted surfaces that may contain lead.
LTTR Long-Term Thermal Resistance:
A standardized estimate of rigid cellular insulation’s thermal resistance after aging, used to represent longer-term performance more accurately than initial values.
M
M&V Measurement and Verification:
The process of quantifying actual energy or performance improvements against an established baseline after retrofit measures are installed.
MB Modified Bitumen:
Asphalt roofing enhanced with polymers to improve flexibility, durability, and temperature performance in low-slope applications.
MC Moisture Content:
The quantity of water held in a material, commonly measured before enclosing roof decks, framing, or insulation to reduce decay and condensation risk.
MDI Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate:
A reactive chemical used to produce polyurethane products that requires controlled application, ventilation, and appropriate worker protection.
MEES Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards:
UK rules establishing minimum energy-performance levels for certain rented properties, helping drive demand for insulation and other efficiency upgrades.
MHEA Manufactured Home Energy Audit:
A US energy-audit tool designed to identify cost-effective weatherization measures for manufactured and mobile homes.
MRA Metal Roofing Alliance:
A trade organization promoting residential metal roofing and providing market, technical, and installer information.
MW Mineral Wool:
A fibrous insulation category made from molten mineral raw materials, valued for thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant properties.
N
NAIMA North American Insulation Manufacturers Association:
A trade association representing manufacturers of fiberglass, mineral wool, and slag wool insulation products.
NatHERS Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme:
Australia’s residential energy-rating framework for assessing thermal performance and supporting code compliance.
NBC National Building Code of Canada:
Canada’s model building code, containing requirements for thermal insulation, roofing, moisture control, air leakage, and fire safety.
NDL No Dollar Limit:
A commercial roofing warranty structure that does not state a predetermined monetary cap for covered repair obligations, subject to its terms and exclusions.
NEAT National Energy Audit Tool:
Audit software used by the US Weatherization Assistance Program to identify and rank cost-effective energy measures for site-built homes.
NECB National Energy Code for Buildings:
Canada’s model energy code for larger buildings, establishing requirements for enclosure thermal performance, air leakage, and energy use.
NESHAP National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
US federal standards controlling hazardous air emissions, including asbestos requirements that can affect roof removal and building renovation.
NFPA National Fire Protection Association:
A standards organization whose codes and tests address building fire safety, combustible insulation, exterior-wall assemblies, and roofing materials.
NFVA Net Free Ventilating Area:
The unobstructed airflow area provided by an attic or roof vent after accounting for screens, louvers, and other restrictions.
NIA National Insulation Association:
A North American trade association focused on commercial and industrial insulation systems, workforce development, technical education, and safety.
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
A US research agency that develops exposure recommendations and worker-protection guidance for chemicals, fibers, dust, and other installation hazards.
NLA Normalized Leakage Area:
An airtightness metric that adjusts effective leakage area for building size, enabling comparison among homes or enclosures of different dimensions.
NOA Notice of Acceptance:
A Miami-Dade County product approval documenting that a roofing or building-envelope product satisfies specified high-wind and impact requirements.
NRC Noise Reduction Coefficient:
A single-number rating of a material’s sound absorption, often used to describe the acoustic contribution of fibrous insulation products.
NRCA National Roofing Contractors Association:
A US trade association that publishes roofing manuals, technical bulletins, safety resources, and contractor education.
NRCan Natural Resources Canada:
The federal department responsible for Canadian energy-efficiency programs, research, building-energy tools, and consumer energy information.
NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
A US national laboratory that develops building-energy research, modeling tools, and analysis relevant to enclosure retrofits and efficiency programs.
O
ocSPF Open-Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam:
A low-density, vapor-permeable foam used primarily for interior thermal insulation and air sealing in above-grade assemblies.
ODP Ozone Depletion Potential:
A measure of a chemical’s capacity to damage the stratospheric ozone layer relative to a reference compound.
Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets:
Great Britain’s energy regulator, with responsibilities that include administration and oversight of supplier-funded energy-efficiency obligations.
ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory:
A US national laboratory conducting research on building envelopes, insulation, roofing, moisture, durability, and energy performance.
OSB Oriented Strand Board:
An engineered wood panel commonly used for roof and wall sheathing, where moisture condition and fastener capacity affect roof-system performance.
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration:
The US regulator responsible for workplace requirements covering fall protection, respiratory protection, chemical exposure, ladders, scaffolds, and hazard communication.
P
PAPR Powered Air-Purifying Respirator:
A motor-assisted respirator that draws contaminated air through filters or cartridges and may be required for certain spray-foam or hazardous-material tasks.
PAS 2030 Publicly Available Specification 2030:
A UK specification defining requirements for installing energy-efficiency measures in existing dwellings.
PAS 2035 Publicly Available Specification 2035:
A UK framework for assessing, designing, coordinating, and evaluating whole-house energy retrofits while managing moisture and performance risks.
PCF Pounds per Cubic Foot:
A density unit used to specify and verify insulation, cover-board, and spray-foam material properties.
PCR Post-Consumer Recycled:
Describes material recovered after consumer use and incorporated into a new product, an increasingly important specification and environmental-reporting attribute.
PCR Product Category Rule:
A set of calculation and reporting instructions that enables consistent environmental declarations for products within the same category.
PEL Permissible Exposure Limit:
A legally enforceable occupational exposure threshold for a hazardous substance, typically expressed as an airborne concentration over a defined period.
PF Phenolic Foam:
A rigid cellular insulation with low thermal conductivity and favorable fire characteristics, used in selected roof, wall, and building-services applications.
PFAS Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances:
A broad class of persistent fluorinated chemicals subject to increasing disclosure and regulatory scrutiny in coatings, membranes, and other construction-product formulations.
PFAS Personal Fall Arrest System:
A complete system of anchorage, connector, and body harness designed to stop a worker’s fall, essential for many roofing activities.
PIB Polyisobutylene:
A synthetic polymer used in certain flexible single-ply roofing and waterproofing membranes because of its weather and chemical resistance.
PIMA Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association:
A North American trade association representing manufacturers of rigid polyisocyanurate insulation and publishing technical and sustainability guidance.
PIR Polyisocyanurate:
A thermoset rigid-foam insulation widely used in commercial roofing and wall assemblies because of its high thermal resistance per unit thickness.
PMMA Polymethyl Methacrylate:
A fast-curing resin used in reinforced liquid-applied roofing and waterproofing systems, especially at complex transitions and penetrations.
PMR Protected Membrane Roof:
A roof assembly that places insulation and protective layers above the waterproofing membrane to reduce thermal cycling and physical damage.
PPE Personal Protective Equipment:
Protective clothing and equipment used to control installation hazards, including respirators, eye protection, gloves, hard hats, and fall-protection gear.
PSF Pounds per Square Foot:
A pressure or area-load unit used for wind uplift, snow load, ballast, insulation compressive loading, and roof-system design.
PSI Pounds per Square Inch:
A pressure or stress unit used to report compressive strength, adhesive performance, and other material properties.
PSK Polypropylene-Scrim-Kraft:
A reinforced insulation facing that provides durability, appearance, and varying degrees of vapor control depending on its construction.
PUR Polyurethane:
A polymer family used in spray foam, rigid insulation, adhesives, sealants, and protective coatings.
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride:
A thermoplastic polymer widely used in heat-welded single-ply roofing membranes because of its durability and chemical resistance.
PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride:
A fluoropolymer resin used in high-performance coatings for metal roofing, valued for color retention and weather resistance.
Q
QCI Quality Control Inspector:
A credentialed professional who independently verifies that federally funded weatherization work complies with approved standards and program requirements.
QII Quality Insulation Installation:
A verification protocol, notably used in California energy compliance, confirming that insulation is installed with proper coverage, alignment, and minimal defects.
R
RAS Recycled Asphalt Shingles:
Processed roofing-shingle material recovered from manufacturing scrap or tear-offs for use in products such as asphalt paving mixtures.
RBS Radiant Barrier System:
A low-emittance surface facing an air space that reduces radiant heat transfer, commonly installed beneath roofs or in attics.
RCMA Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association:
A trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of elastomeric coatings, liquid-applied membranes, cements, and related roof-maintenance products.
RdSAP Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure:
The UK methodology used to assess the energy performance of existing dwellings when complete construction data are unavailable.
REL Recommended Exposure Limit:
A nonregulatory occupational exposure recommendation used to guide controls for fibers, dusts, chemicals, and other workplace hazards.
RESNET Residential Energy Services Network:
A US standards and accreditation organization for home energy ratings, energy modeling, and verification of residential efficiency measures.
RH Relative Humidity:
The amount of water vapor in air relative to the maximum it can hold at that temperature, central to condensation, drying, and mold-risk analysis.
RIMA-I Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International:
A trade association representing reflective insulation, radiant barriers, and interior radiation-control coatings.
RRP Renovation, Repair and Painting:
The US lead-safety rule requiring certified firms and work practices when covered renovation activities disturb lead-based paint.
S
SA Self-Adhered:
Describes membranes or underlayments supplied with factory-applied adhesive for bonding to a prepared substrate without hot asphalt or torch application.
SAP Standard Assessment Procedure:
The UK government methodology for calculating and rating the energy performance of new dwellings.
SBEM Simplified Building Energy Model:
A UK calculation method used to assess energy performance and demonstrate regulatory compliance for many non-domestic buildings.
SBS Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene:
An elastomeric polymer used to modify asphalt, improving low-temperature flexibility and fatigue resistance in roofing membranes and shingles.
SDI Smoke Developed Index:
A comparative rating of smoke generated by a material during a standardized surface-burning test.
SDS Safety Data Sheet:
A standardized document describing chemical hazards, handling, storage, exposure controls, first aid, and emergency procedures for a product.
SEBS Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene:
A thermoplastic elastomer used in selected roof coatings, sealants, adhesives, and polymer-modified waterproofing products.
SIP Structural Insulated Panel:
A factory-made building panel consisting of an insulating core bonded between structural facings, providing structure and thermal enclosure in one component.
SIR Savings-to-Investment Ratio:
The present value of expected energy savings divided by the installed cost of a measure; values meeting program thresholds indicate cost-effectiveness.
SLA Specific Leakage Area:
An airtightness metric that divides effective leakage area by a building’s reference area to support comparison across different building sizes.
SMP Silicone-Modified Polyester:
A coil-coating resin used on metal roofing that offers a balance of cost, color retention, flexibility, and weatherability.
SPF Spray Polyurethane Foam:
A site-applied cellular plastic that expands and cures to provide thermal insulation, air sealing, or a monolithic sprayed roofing layer.
SPFA Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance:
A trade association providing technical guidance, safety resources, training, and installer certification for spray-foam applications.
SPRI Single Ply Roofing Industry:
A trade association that develops consensus standards and technical guidance for flexible roofing membranes, insulation, fasteners, edge systems, and related components.
SRI Solar Reflectance Index:
A calculated measure combining solar reflectance and thermal emittance to indicate how hot a roof surface is likely to become in sunlight.
SRL Self-Retracting Lifeline:
A fall-protection device that extends and retracts with worker movement and locks when sudden acceleration indicates a fall.
SSMR Standing-Seam Metal Roof:
A metal roof system with raised, interlocking vertical seams that conceal or minimize exposed fasteners and accommodate controlled thermal movement.
STC Sound Transmission Class:
A single-number rating of an assembly’s resistance to airborne sound transmission, often improved through cavity insulation and resilient construction.
SVOC Semi-Volatile Organic Compound:
An organic chemical with lower volatility than typical volatile compounds that may still migrate from construction products and affect material-health assessments.
T
TAS Testing Application Standard:
A Florida test protocol used to evaluate roof coverings, assemblies, and components for wind uplift, impact, and other high-wind-zone requirements.
TE Thermal Emittance:
The ability of a surface to release absorbed heat as infrared radiation, used with solar reflectance to evaluate cool-roof performance.
TPO Thermoplastic Polyolefin:
A heat-weldable single-ply roofing membrane commonly used on commercial low-slope roofs.
TREAT Targeted Retrofit Energy Analysis Tool:
Building-energy audit software used to model existing performance, compare efficiency measures, and estimate savings and cost-effectiveness.
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act:
The principal US law governing the evaluation and regulation of industrial chemicals, including substances used in or released from construction products.
U
UFFI Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation:
A site-foamed cavity insulation used historically in buildings and now primarily encountered during inspection, renovation, or indoor-air-quality assessment.
UKCA UK Conformity Assessed:
A product marking used in Great Britain to demonstrate conformity with applicable regulatory requirements for covered goods.
UL Underwriters Laboratories:
A safety science and certification organization whose fire, impact, uplift, and material test standards are widely referenced for roofing and insulation products.
ULC Underwriters Laboratories of Canada:
A Canadian standards and certification body whose fire and product-performance standards apply to insulation, roofing, and enclosure assemblies.
V
VCL Vapour Control Layer:
A material positioned within an assembly to limit water-vapor diffusion and reduce the risk of interstitial condensation.
VIP Vacuum Insulation Panel:
A high-performance insulation panel with a porous core enclosed in a gas-tight evacuated envelope, offering very low thermal conductivity but requiring careful handling.
VOC Volatile Organic Compound:
An organic chemical that readily enters the air and may be regulated in adhesives, sealants, coatings, foams, and other construction products.
VSH Very Severe Hail:
A high-level hail-resistance designation used in property-loss-prevention testing and specifications for roof assemblies in exposed regions.
W
WAP Weatherization Assistance Program:
A US federal program funding cost-effective energy improvements and health-and-safety measures for eligible low-income households.
WCD Worst-Case Depressurization:
A combustion-safety test that operates exhaust devices and closes interior doors to determine whether building pressure could cause appliance backdrafting or spillage.
WFT Wet Film Thickness:
The thickness of a coating immediately after application, measured to help ensure the cured membrane will reach its specified dry thickness.
WPN Weatherization Program Notice:
Formal guidance issued by the US Department of Energy to communicate policies, requirements, funding rules, and technical expectations to program grantees.
WRB Water-Resistive Barrier:
A drainage-plane material installed behind exterior finishes to prevent liquid water from reaching moisture-sensitive parts of the enclosure.
WUFI Wärme und Feuchte instationär:
A family of hygrothermal modeling tools used to simulate transient heat and moisture movement through building assemblies.
WVTR Water Vapor Transmission Rate:
The quantity of water vapor passing through a material over a specified area and time under defined test conditions.
Wx Weatherization:
A compact industry abbreviation for measures that improve enclosure efficiency, durability, comfort, and safety, especially in program documents and field records.
X
XPS Extruded Polystyrene:
A closed-cell rigid-foam insulation with relatively high compressive strength and moisture resistance, used in roofs, walls, foundations, and below-grade assemblies.