Regional Locations
📞 Colchester: 01206 237422 📞 Ipswich: 01473 943686 📞 Chelmsford: 01245 823423 📞 London: 020 3866 5553 [email protected]
Reference

Building Services Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the technical terms we use across electrical, mechanical, HVAC, building fabric and compliance work — so you know exactly what's involved before we start.

Electrical Mechanical HVAC Building Fabric Compliance & Safety

Electrical

EICR

Electrical Installation Condition Report

A formal inspection and testing report assessing the safety and condition of a building's fixed electrical installation.

Commercial EICR Testing in Essex →

Emergency Lighting

Backup lighting systems that activate automatically during a power failure to allow safe evacuation of a building.

Part of Electrical Services →

PAT Testing

Portable Appliance Testing

Routine visual inspection and electrical testing of portable electrical appliances to check they are safe to use.

Part of Electrical Services →

Fixed Wire Testing

Electrical Installation Condition Report Testing

Periodic testing of a building's fixed electrical wiring to verify it remains safe and compliant.

Part of Electrical Services →

Mechanical

Planned Preventive Maintenance

PPM

Scheduled, proactive servicing of building systems carried out at set intervals to prevent failures and maintain compliance.

Part of Mechanical Services →

Reactive Maintenance

Maintenance work carried out in response to a reported fault or breakdown, rather than on a fixed schedule.

Part of Mechanical Services →

HVAC

HVAC

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

The systems used to control indoor temperature, humidity and air quality in a building.

Part of HVAC Services →

TM44

TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection

A CIBSE-defined inspection of air conditioning systems required for energy performance compliance in the UK.

Part of HVAC Services →

Air Conditioning Maintenance

Regular servicing of air conditioning systems to maintain performance, efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Part of HVAC Services →

Building Fabric

Building Fabric

The structural and physical elements of a building, including roofing, cladding, glazing, flooring and internal fit-out.

Part of Building Fabric →

Commercial Refurbishment

The renovation or modernisation of an existing commercial building's fabric, services or layout.

Part of Building Fabric →

Fire Stopping

The sealing of gaps and penetrations in walls and floors to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between compartments.

Part of Building Fabric →

Compliance & Safety

Compliance Testing

Statutory inspection and testing carried out to demonstrate a building meets relevant safety and regulatory standards.

Part of Compliance & Safety →