Definitions taken directly from NFPA 5000 (2015 Edition) are in italics. Definitions taken from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary are underlined.
All-out evacuation strategy
An “all-out” evacuation can only be assumed if there is the ability to sound the alarm throughout all areas of the building using an “all-out” or “allcall” button at the main fire alarm panel. As most high rise buildings adopt a phased evacuation strategy, an all-out alarm would usually be activated manually by the fire department or building management
Cavity barrier or fireblocking
A material, a barrier, or construction installed in concealed spaces to prevent the extension of fire for an unspecified period of time. In some countries the cavity barrier of fireblock may be specified for a particular fire resistance period such as 15 minutes.
Combustible material
A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will ignite and burn; a material that does not meet the definition of non-combustible or limited-combustible.
Façade system
The assembly of framing and materials used to envelope a building. NFPA 5000 treats a façade system as a load bearing exterior wall or nonloadbearing exterior wall
Flame spread
The propagation of flame over a surface
Flame spread index
A comparative measure, expressed as a dimensionless number, derived from visual measurements of the spread of flame versus time for a material tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials or UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Material
Fire resistance
The time, in minutes or hours, that materials or assemblies have withstood a standard fire exposure as determined by standard testing to ASTM E119 or equivalent.
Ignition
The process or means of igniting fuel; the starting of a fire
Limited combustible material
A material shall be considered a limited-combustible material where both of the following conditions are met:
And
7.1.4.2.1 The material shall have a structural base of non-combustible material with a surfacing not exceeding a thickness of 3.2 mm where the surfacing exhibits a flame spread index not greater than 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or ANSI/UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.
or
The material shall be composed of materials that in the form and thickness used, neither exhibit a flame spread index greater than 25 nor evidence of continued progressive combustion when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 or ANSI/UL 723 and are of such composition that all surfaces that would be exposed by cutting through the material on any plane would neither exhibit a flame spread index greater than 25 nor exhibit evidence of continued progressive combustion when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 or ANSI/UL 723.
Or
A material that is classified as A2 by the EN 13501-1 test series.
Non-combustible material
A material that complies with any one of the following shall be considered a non-combustible material:
or
A material that is classified as A1 by the EN 13501-1 test series.
Perimeter fire stopping or perimeter fire barrier joint systems
A listed opening protective in the joint between the perimeter of a fire rated floor slab and the façade (exterior wall) of a building.
Smoke developed index
A comparative measure, expressed as a dimensionless number, derived from measurements of smoke obscuration versus time for a material tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials or UL723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.
Spandrel
A spandrel beam is the edge beam on the perimeter of a structure, spanning between adjacent perimeter columns. In this FRA tool, a spandrel is used to define the area of opaque façade system covering this structural beam and floor slab.
Stay-put evacuation strategy
A stay put (defend in place) evacuation strategy assumes that building occupants not affected by a fire directly in their apartment, remain in their apartment. Only the apartment affected by a fire/smoke would be in alarm and only these occupants would be expected to evacuate. If fire/smoke spreads then the smoke detector and fire alarm in further smoke affected units would be expected to automatically activate but there is no ability to simultaneously raise the alarm in all areas of the building. The fire alarm system is not networked to a main fire alarm control panel at the entry or other designated area in the building.
Substrate
The structural wall, frame and/or floor that the façade system is fixed to
Structural Insulated Panel
For the purposes of this guide a structural insulated panel (SIP) is two layers of metal (often steel) with a foam or mineral wool insulation layer between. These are also commonly called insulated metal panels or sandwich panels
Thermal barrier
A material, product, or assembly that prevents or delays ignition of an unexposed surface by limiting the temperature rise and by acting as a flame exposure barrier. NFPA 5000 and the International Building Code (IBC) would require this between a combustible façade system that achieves compliance with NFPA 285 and the interior of the building.