We have put together probably one of the most comprehensive pole building glossaries found on the internet today. And if you are like most people, if you can't see it, you still don't understand it very well.

If there is any pole building term you still don't understand, or one not yet listed here, please use the Contact Us page to email us. We will be glad to send drawings or pictures for illustration.

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C
C Exposure:	Open terrain with scattered obstructions, including surface undulations or other irregularities, having heights generally less than 30 feet extending more than 1,500 feet from the building in any quadrant. This exposure shall also apply to any building located within Exposure B type terrain in any quadrant for a distance of more than 600 feet. This category includes flat open country, grasslands and shorelines in hurricane-prone regions.
Camber:	A predetermined curvature designed into a structural member to offset the anticipated deflection when loads are applied.
Canopy:	An architectural projection providing weather protection, identity or decoration and is supported by the building to which it is attached and at the other end by not less than one stanchion (or pole). A canopy is composed of a rigid structure over which a ceiling is attached.
Cantilever:	A beam or column supported only at one end. A sidewall column of a roof only structure is a cantilevered pole. The portion of a roof purlin extending beyond the gable endwall of a building to support an endwall overhang is cantilevered.
Cantilevered Column System:	A structural system relying upon column elements that cantilever from a fixed base and have minimal rotational resistance capacity at the top with lateral forces applied essentially at the top and are used for lateral resistance. A roof only "hay shed" would be an example.
Capillary Action:	The action which causes movement of liquids when in contact with two adjacent surfaces such as panel side laps.
CCA:	Chromated Copper Arsenate - a preservative treatment normally used on easily treated wood specie such as Hem-Fir or Ponderosa Pine.
Ceiling Joists:	A secondary horizontal framing member attached between the bottom chords of trusses. Serves as a structural member to which gypsum wallboard or other ceiling finishing materials may be attached.
Check:	Separation of the wood usually extending across the annual growth rings (I.E., a split perpendicular-to-growth rings). Commonly results from stresses built up in wood during seasoning.
Chords (or Bottom Chord or Top Chord):	An inclined or horizontal member establishing the top or bottom of a roof truss.
Cladding or "building skin":	Refers to the exterior building covering.
Clear Height:	Vertical distance between the finished floor and the lowest part of a truss, rafter, girder. NOT the same as eave height.
Clear Span:	Clear distance between adjacent supports of a horizontal or inclined member. Horizontal distance between the facing surfaces of adjacent supports.
Closure Strip:	A resilient strip; formed to the contour of ribbed panels and used to close openings created by metal panels joining other components. Typically used underneath ridge caps.
Cold Forming:	The process of using press brakes or rolling mills to shape steel into desired cross sections at room temperature.
Collateral Load:	All additional dead loads other than the weight of the building system, such as sprinklers, mechanical and electrical systems, and ceilings.
Column:	A rectangular primary structural member, sawn on four sides before treatment, is generally uniform in cross section along its length. May be either sawn or laminated dimensional lumber. It is the primary structural element of the building side and end walls. They are a vertical structural member used in a building to transfer loads from main roof beams, rafters and/or trusses to the foundation. Usually also supports a horizontal wind load. Generally partly embedded in the soil to provide lateral and vertical support for the structure.
Commercial Girts:	Horizontal wall framing placed narrow face to wind between wall columns and blocked at each end. Allows for increased resistance against wind loads. Provides an insulation cavity and, when properly sized, allows for interior finishes (such as gypsum wallboard) to be installed without columns protruding into building. Commercial girts are laid flat, like shelves.
Components and Cladding:	Elements of the building envelope not qualifying as part of the main-force resisting system. In post-frame buildings, this generally includes individual purlins and girts, and cladding.
Concentrated Truss Loads:	A point load, in excess of normal roof loading, supported by one or more roof trusses. Examples would include hanging game (e.g. deer, elk), pulling a vehicle engine or supporting a hoist or crane.
Concrete Collar:	Concrete placed into the pre-bored hole around a structural building column. The concrete may only fill a portion of the bottom of the hole, as individually determined for each engineered building. Compacted soil is then placed on top of the concrete to fill up the rest of the hole. The engineer of record specifies the depth of the concrete collar. In some localities, or due to high wind and/or snow loads, the concrete may entirely fill the hole. The collar provides superior resistance to wind uplift forces.
Condensation Control Blanket:	A thin layer of insulation glued to a vinyl facing. When installed between framing and steel roofing or siding, it helps to prevent condensation from forming inside the building. Generally has a fairly low "R" value.
Conditioning:	Steaming, air or kiln drying or lumber or timber, normally prior to pressure treatment.
Constrained:	The use of a rigid floor or concrete slab on grade. When a post frame building is properly tied in to either of these, it can help to reduce column embedment depth and/or column hole diameters.
Continuity:	The terminology given to a structural system denoting the transfer of loads and stresses from member to member as if there were no connections.
Contractor [from RCW 18.27.010(1)]:	Any person, firm, or corporation, who or which, in the pursuit of an independent business undertakes to, or offers to undertake, or submits a bid to, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish, for another, any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate or to do any part thereof including the installation of carpeting or other floor covering, the erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith or who installs or repairs roofing or siding; or, who, to do similar work upon his or her own property, employs members of more than one trade upon a single job or project or under a single building permit except as otherwise provided by RCW. "Contractor" includes any person, firm, or corporation covered by this subsection, whether or not registered as required under RCW Chapter 18.
Corbel (or Bearing Block):	A dimensional lumber block placed beneath roof trusses, rafters or beams and nailed and/or bolted to a support column to provide extra support for vertical loads.
Corner Post:	An end wall column located at the corner of the building.
Covering:	The exterior metal roof and wall panel of a post frame building.
Crook:	The greatest point of bow or crook on a piece of lumber. The opposite of cupping.
Crown:	The greatest point of bow or crook on a piece of lumber. The opposite of cupping.
Cup:	Deviation, in the wide face of a piece of lumber, from a straight line drawn from edge to edge of the piece.