Term Description
Screeding

The process of striking off excess concrete to bring the top surface of the concrete to the proper finish and elevation.
Scrim

A woven, nonwoven or knitted fabric composed of continuous strands of material used for reinforcing or strengthening membranes.
Scupper

A drainage device in the form of an outlet through a wall, parapet wall or raised roof edge typically lined with a sheet-metal sleeve.
Scuttle

A hatch that provides access to the roof from the interior of the building; also called a "roof hatch."
SDI

Steel Deck Institute.
SDS

See ‚"safety data sheet (SDS).‚"
Sealant

(1) A material that has the adhesive and cohesive properties to form a seal; (2) a mixture of polymers, fillers and pigments used to fill and seal joints where moderate movement is expected; unlike caulk, it cures to a resilient solid.
Sealant foam

One- or two-component polyurethane foam applied as a bead and used to control air leakage; for example, at deck-to-wall transitions and/or as part of an air barrier system within the building envelope.
Sealer

A coating designed to prevent excessive absorption of finish coats into porous surfaces; a coating designed to prevent bleeding.
Seam

A joint formed by mating two separate sections of material. Seams can be made or sealed in a variety of ways, including adhesive bonding, hot-air welding, solvent welding, using adhesive tape and sealant.
Secondary drainage
Self-adhering

A term used to describe materials that have the ability to adhere to a variety of surfaces when contact is promoted by application of pressure but that require no substances to form the bond. See "pressure-sensitive.‚"
Self-adhering membrane

A membrane that can adhere to a substrate and to itself at overlaps without the use of an additional adhesive. The undersurface of a self-adhering membrane is protected by a release paper or film, which prevents the membrane from bonding to itself during shipping and handling.

Self-drying roof assembly

A term used for an existing low-slope roof assembly that tolerates small amounts of moisture vapor gain during times of vapor drive into the roof assembly from a building's interior and dries downward during times of vapor drive into the building's interior without noticeable harm to the roof assembly's components.
Self-flashing

The ability of a material to be applied around a penetration or at a roof transition without the need for other flashing materials.
Self-healing

Refers to bitumen that softens with the heat from the sun and flows to seal cracks that formed in the bitumen from other causes.
Self-tapping screw

A fastener that forms receiving threads when turned in a previously drilled hole.
Selvage

(1) An edge or edging that differs from the main part of a fabric, granule-surfaced roll roofing or cap sheet, or other material; (2) a specially defined edge of the material (lined for demarcation), which is designed for some special purpose, such as overlapping or seaming.
Semi-intensive (moderate depth) vegetative roof system

Vegetative roof system with a growth medium approximately 6 to 10 inches deep.
Separator layer

See "slip sheet."
Service life

(1) The period of time a building component or system will function successfully without replacement or excessive repair, assuming reasonable or expected periodic maintenance is performed; (2) the number of years of service a material, system or structure will provide before rehabilitation or replacement is required.
Shading

Slight differences in surfacing color, such as shingle granule coloring, that may occur as a result of manufacturing operations.
Shear strength

The resistance to forces that cause or tend to cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to their contact plane.
Shelf life

The maximum time interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition according to the material manufacturer; usually related to storage conditions.
Shingle

(1) A small unit of prepared roofing designed for installation with similar units in overlapping rows or courses on inclines normally exceeding 3:12 slope; (2) to cover with shingles; (3) to apply any sheet material in succeeding overlapping rows like shingles.

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