Terms that start with S
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support workers, products and equipment in the construction or repair of buildings and other structures.
Screed
Layer of mortar laid in situ, directly onto a base, bonded or unbonded, or onto an intermediate layer or insulation layer, to obtain one or more purposes: to obtain a defined level, to carry the final flooring and/or to provide a wearing surface. (EN 13318).
Screed mortar
A mortar with which to carry out floor screeding.
Self-levelling
The capacity of a fresh mortar to spread out naturally to form a flat surface.
Self-smoothing
The capacity of a liquid fresh mortar to form a smooth surface itself.
Semi-finished factory-made mortar
Prebatched mortar or premixed lime-sand- mortar.
Service life
Period of time after installation during which a building or an assembled system meets or exceeds the technical and functional requirements.
Service Life Planning
The objective of service life planning is to assure, as far as possible, that the estimated service life of the building or component will be at least as long as its design life.
Setting time
The time after which the mortar begins to harden. After this time the mortar is normally stable in the presence of water. (EN 1015-4).
Shear strength
Strength determined by a force exerted in parallel. (EN 1322 – Dispersion and reaction resin adhesives). (EN 12615 – Concrete repair mortars).
Shelf life
The time of storage under stated conditions during which a mortar may be expected to retain its intended working properties. (EN 12004).
Shrinkage
Volume reduction of an unrestrained mortar during hardening. (EN 12808-4 – Grouts for tiles)
Shrinkage cracking
Cracking due to the shrinking of Portland Cement. This may be related to an excess of Portland Cement in the Mortar
Silicate render/plaster
Mineral render/plaster with potassium silicate as the principal binder. It hardens by evaporation of the water and solidifies under the action of carbon dioxide from the air.
Site-made mortar
A mortar composed of primary constituents (e.g. binder, aggregates, water) batched and mixed on the building site.
Slipperiness
Capacity of a floor wearing surface to provide friction to resist slipping by foot or wheeled traffic. (EN 13318).
Smoothing mortar
A designed mortar for the finishing of a substrate to obtain a plane and smooth surface. It is used for walls and ceilings.
Soffit
The exposed horizontal under surface of a part of a building. (EN 13499).
Substrate
Surface to which the mortar (mineral or organic renders or paint coatings) is applied.
Superplasticiser
Admixture which, without affecting the consistency, permits a high reduction in the water content of a mortar, or which, without affecting the water content, increases the flow or which produces both effects simultaneously. (EN 13318)
Support
Material used to support the render/plaster so that it is largely independent of the substrate. (For instance, a mesh fixed to a concrete substrate.)
Surface hardness
The resistance of the surface of a hardened mortar to indentation by a loaded steel ball.