Activate: To turn on, supply power, or enable systems, equipment, or devices to become active by normal control means. Examples include turning on the gas or water supply valves to the fixtures and appliances and activating electrical breakers or fuses.
Additional Inspection Services: Those services offered in addition to the home inspection as defined in these standards, including but not limited to the following examples; wood destroying insect-organism and environmental testing.
Adversely Affect: Constitute, or potentially constitute, a negative or destructive impact.
Appliance: A household device operated by use of electricity or gas. Not included in this definition are components covered under central heating, central cooling, or plumbing.
Detrimental Conditions: Any conditions that, in the opinion of the inspector, may likely be unsafe, unhealthy, or in any way harmful to the inspector or to components of the property.
Evaluate: To ascertain, judge, or form an opinion about an item or condition.
Foundation: The base upon which the structure or a wall rests; usually masonry, concrete, or stone, and generally partially underground.
Function: The action for which an item, component or system is specially fitted or used or for which an item, component or system exists; to be in action or perform a task.
Functional: Performing, or able to perform, a function.
Functional Drainage: A drain is functional when it empties in a reasonable amount of time and is not subject to overflow when one of its supply faucets is left on.
Functional Flow: Sufficient water flow to provide uninterrupted supply to the highest, unrestricted tap (faucet furthest from the source) when a single intermediate, unrestricted tap is operated simultaneously with uninterrupted flow.
Habitable: In a condition suitable for human habitation.
Habitable Spaces: Rooms or spaces used for sitting, sleeping, bathing, toilets, eating or cooking. Not considered habitable spaces by these Standards are closets, halls, storage spaces and utility areas.
Heat Source: A heat source may be a radiator, convector unit, radiant panel, heat pipe, ductwork, grille, register, or other device(s) from which heat is intended to be emitted.
Home Inspection: The process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home and operates those systems and components utilizing the Standards of Practice as a guideline.
Inspected Property: The readily accessible areas of the buildings, site, items, components, and systems included in the inspection.
Intended Function: Performing or able to perform the usual function for which an item is designed, or fitted; and be in a condition (state of repair) appropriate to this function, its age and location. [See Function]
Observe: To see through visual directed attention.
Operate: To cause equipment or systems that have been activated to perform their intended function(s), such as turning on a water faucet or turning up the thermostat on an activated heating system.
Readily Accessible: An item or component is readily accessible if, in the judgement of the inspector, it is capable of being safely observed without movement of obstacles, detachment or disengagement of connecting or securing devices, or other unsafe or difficult procedures to gain access.
Representative Number: A sufficient number to serve as a typical or characteristic example of the item(s) inspected.
Shut-down: A system or equipment is considered to be shut-down when its normal control device(s) will not cause it to become activated or operational. The Inspector is not required to activate or operate safety devices (fuses, breakers, etc.) in the "off" position. It is not the responsibility of the Inspector to put these controls in the "on" mode, nor to ensure that the equipment or systems to be tested are operable at the time of the inspection.
Slab on Grade: Structures that have no crawl space and are in direct contact with the soil. Slabs may or may not have supporting piers or pads.
Technically exhaustive: An inspection is technically exhaustive when it involves the use of measurements, instruments, testing calculations and other means to develop scientific or engineering findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Verify: To confirm or substantiate.
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| Updated: 07-May-2003 | copyright NAHI™ - reprinted by permission |