"C" Section
A member formed from steel sheet in the shape of a block "C", that may be used either
singularly or back to back.
Cab-Operated Crane
A crane controlled by an operator in a cab supported on the bridge or trolley.
Camber
Curvature of a flexural member in the plane of its web before loading.
Canopy
A projecting roof system that is supported and restrained at one end only.
Cantilever Beam
A beam supported only at one end having a free end and a fixed end.
Capillary Action
That action which causes movement of liquids when in contact with two adjacent
surfaces such as panel sidelaps.
Cap Plate
A plate located at the top of a column or end of a beam for capping the exposed end of
the member.
Capacity
The maximum load (usually stated in tons) that a crane is designed to support.
Cathodic
With regard to metal and galvanic response, cathodic metals are lower (and more
noble) in the galvanic series. (May be protected from oxidation by more anodic
metals). (See “Anodic”).
Caulk
See "Sealant".
Caulking
Filling the joints, seams or voids between adjacent units with a sealant in order to
make them weathertight.
Channel, Hot Rolled
A C-shaped member formed while in a semi-molten state at the steel mill to a shape
having standard dimensions and properties.
Cladding
The exterior metal roof and wall paneling of a Metal Building System. See also
"Components and Cladding".
Cleat
A sheet metal strip used in concealed fashion to secure panels or flashing that permits
some limited degree of thermal response.
Clip
A plate or angle used to fasten two or more members together.
Closure Strip
A resilient strip, formed to the contour of ribbed panels and used to close openings
created by ribbed panels joining other components.
CMRC
Cool Metal Roofing Coalition.
Coil Coating
The application of a finish to a coil of metal sheet using a continuous mechanical
coating process.
Cold Forming
The process of using press brakes or rolling mills to shape steel into desired cross
sections at room temperature.
Cold Rolled
The process of forming sheet steel into desired shapes on a series of rollers at ambient
room temperatures.
Collateral Loads
The weight of additional permanent materials required by the contract, other than the
Building System, such as sprinklers, mechanical and electrical systems, partitions and
ceilings.
Column
A main member used in a vertical position on a building to transfer loads from main
roof beams, trusses, or rafters to the foundation.
Component
A part used in a Metal Building System. See also "Components and Cladding".
Components and Cladding
For wind load considerations, members that do not qualify as part of a Main Wind
Force Resisting System. They include girts, joists, purlins, studs, wall and roof panels,
fasteners, end wall columns and end wall rafters of bearing end frames, roof overhang
beams, canopy beams, and masonry walls when acting as other than shear walls.
Concealed Clip
A hold down clip used with a wall or roof panel system to connect the panel to the
supporting structure without exposing the fasteners on the exterior surface.
Conditioned Space
1. Cooled space: an enclosed space within a building that is cooled by a cooling
system whose sensible output capacity is greater than or equal to 5 Btu/h·ft2 of
floor area.
2. Heated space: an enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating
system whose output capacity is greater than or equal to 5 Btu/h·ft2 of floor area.
3. Semi-heated space: an enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating
system whose output capacity is greater than or equal to 3.4 Btu/h·ft2 of floor area
but is not a conditioned space.
Conduction
The transfer of heat through a material or construction.
Conductor Head
A transition component between a through-wall scupper and downspout used to collect
and direct run-off water.
Connection
The means of attachment of one structural member to another.
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.
Continuous Beam
A beam of variable geometry passing over two supports with overhang on one end or
passing over three supports.
Contract Documents
The Documents that define the material and work to be provided by a Contractor or the
General Contractor for a Construction Project.
Convection
The heating of the air that passes over a hot surface.
Cooling Degree Day (CDD)
The difference in temperature between the outdoor mean temperature over a 24-hour
period and a given base temperature. For example, using a base temperature of 65° F a
day with 85° F mean temperature has 20 CDD (85-65=20). The annual Cooling
Degree Days are the sum of the degree days over a calendar year.
Cool Roof Color
The color coating on or self color of the roofing material that gives it a high solar
reflectance and a high thermal Emittance.
Coped Flashing
A sheet metal flashing, cut or formed to the contour of ribbed panels and used to close
openings created by ribbed panels joining other components.

Coping
The covering piece on top of an exposed wall or parapet usually made of metal,
masonry or stone. It is often sloped to shed water back onto the roof.
Copper
A natural weathering metal used in architectural metal roofing; typically used in 16 or
20 oz. per square foot thickness (4.87 or 6.10 kg/square meter)
Cornice
A decorative finish or flashing that accents the top of a wall, or the juncture of a roof
and wall.
Counterflashing
Formed metal or elastomeric flashing secured on or into a wall, curb, pipe, rooftop
unit, or other surface, to cover and protect the upper edge of the base flashing and its
associated fasteners from exposure to the weather.
Covering
See "Cladding."
Crane
A machine designed to move material by means of a hoist.
Crane Aisle
That portion of a building aisle in which a crane operates, defined by the crane span
and the uninterrupted length of crane runway.
Crane Girder
The principal horizontal beams of the crane bridge which supports the trolley and is
supported by the end tracks.
Crane Rail
A track supporting and guiding the wheels of a bridge crane or trolley system. On
underhung cranes, the crane rail also acts as the runway beam.
Crane Runway Beam
The member that supports a crane rail and is supported by columns or rafters
depending on the type of crane system. On underhung bridge cranes, the runway beam
also acts as the crane rail.
Crane Span
The horizontal distance center-to-center of runway beams.
Crane Stop
A device to limit travel of a trolley or crane bridge. This device normally is attached to
a fixed structure and normally does not have energy-absorbing ability.
Crane Support Column
A separate column that supports the runway beam of a top-running crane.
CRRC
Cool Roof Rating Council.
Curb
A raised edge on a concrete floor slab.
Curb, Roof
An element used to raise a wall, flashing or accessory item above the drainage plane of
a roof.
Curtain Wall
Perimeter wall panels that carry only their own weight and wind load.