- Anchor design
- Engineering analysis of the connection between a fabricated steel structure and the existing building (wall, slab, column). Specifies anchor type, size, count, embedment, and load capacity. For non-routine attachments (masonry, concrete edge), the anchor design is often more complex than the structure itself.
- B-deck
- 1.5" or 3" galvanized steel deck profile, used as composite structural decking. Combined with poured concrete, forms a composite slab where the steel deck and concrete act as a single structural element. Highest capacity per inch of depth.
- Bar-grate
- Welded steel grating with parallel load-bearing bars and perpendicular cross-bars. Open mesh permits sprinkler reach below, sheds water and snow, drainable. Default deck choice for pick mezzanines and outdoor stairs.
- CSA G164
- CSA standard for hot-dip galvanizing of structural steel. Specifies coating thickness, adhesion, and surface preparation.
- CSA S16-19
- Canadian Standards Association standard for the design of steel structures. Governs member sizing, connection design, and load combinations for steel buildings in Canada.
- CSA W59
- CSA standard for welded steel construction. Specifies welding procedures and joint design. Companion to CWB W47.1.
- CWB W47.1
- Canadian Welding Bureau certification standard (CSA W47.1) for fabricators of welded steel construction. Three divisions cover different classes of work — Division 1 (full structural welded steel), Division 2.1 (less critical structural classifications), and Division 2.2. Standard practice in Ontario for permit-bound structural welded steel work; the appropriate division depends on project scope.
- Cage ladder
- Vertical fixed steel ladder with a welded safety cage surrounding the climber from typically 7 ft above grade up. See cage ladders.
- Composite deck
- B-deck + concrete acting as a single structural element. Steel deck provides tension reinforcement; concrete provides compression. Used on storage mezzanines.
- Egress
- The means of leaving a building under emergency conditions. OBC §3.4 governs egress stairs, doors, and paths. "Code-required egress" means the stair, door, or path is part of the building's emergency exit system and must meet specific width, load, and detail requirements.
- Fall-arrest system
- Engineered fall protection using a harness, lanyard, and anchor point. Active protection (vs. passive guardrails). Used where a permanent guard isn't feasible. Ontario reference: O. Reg. 213/91 §26.1 (construction projects). Note: in some US OSHA contexts the abbreviation "PFAS" appears (Personal Fall Arrest System); in Ontario practice the term is written out to avoid confusion with the unrelated chemical-contaminant abbreviation.
- Galvanized
- Hot-dip zinc-coated steel; the standard exterior corrosion-protection finish for industrial structural steel. CSA G164 specifies the coating. Service life depends on exposure category — typical mild-rural / inland (ISO 9223 C2) installations can reach 40 – 50 years with no maintenance; industrial / urban / road-salt exposure (C3-C4) is shorter and may benefit from a duplex coating.
- Grip-strut
- Perforated, serrated steel sheet used as a tread or walking surface. Slip-resistant, drainable, light. Used on ship's ladders, low-traffic stairs, and machine-shop access where oil contamination is present.
- Guard / guardrail
- 42" (Ontario commercial / industrial; OBC §3.3.1.18) protective barrier at elevated edges. Prevents accidental falls. Top-rail, mid-rail, and 4" toe-plate combination is standard. Distinguished from a handrail (held by hand on a stair).
- IBC
- International Building Code. The US equivalent to OBC; sometimes referenced for cross-jurisdictional projects. Not the binding code in Ontario.
- Live load
- Weight of what gets put on a structure (vs. dead load = weight of the structure itself). For mezzanines, the published "psf" rating refers to live load. NBCC §4.1.5 sets minimums per occupancy.
- Mezzanine
- An intermediate floor level between two main floors of a building, typically not full-floor in extent. In OBC, "mezzanine" has specific definitions tied to floor area, ceiling height, and visibility — sometimes a structural mezzanine is technically a "second floor" under code.
- NBCC
- National Building Code of Canada. Provides referenced load values used by OBC §4.1. Sets the minimum live, dead, and concentrated loads for floors, stairs, guards, etc.
- OBC
- Ontario Building Code. The legally binding building code in Ontario. Currently OBC 2024 (Ontario Regulation 332/12 amended). Different jurisdictions have different codes; Ontario buildings must meet OBC.
- P.Eng.
- Professional Engineer; in Ontario, registered with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). Required to stamp structural drawings. Verify any P.Eng. licence at the PEO licence lookup.
- PEO
- Professional Engineers Ontario — the regulatory body for engineers practicing in Ontario.
- Pallet drop
- A counter-balanced gate or removable section in a mezzanine guard rail allowing forklift access to the deck for replenishment. Maintains 42" guard height when closed; opens to permit pallet placement.
- Psf
- Pounds per square foot. Live load rating for a floor or deck. A 250 psf mezzanine carries 250 lb evenly distributed across every square foot.
- Rack-supported platform
- An elevated platform that uses pallet racking as its structural frame, with a deck spanning across rack beams. Cheaper than a structural mezzanine but limited to light loads and not appropriate for occupied use. See comparison article.
- Riser
- The vertical part of a stair step. OBC §3.4.6.4 caps maximum riser at 200 mm for stairs in exits.
- Run / tread run
- The horizontal depth of a stair step. OBC §3.4.6.4 sets minimum tread run by use group; verify against the current code text for your project's occupancy.
- Ship's ladder
- Steep-pitch (50° – 70°) industrial steel access stair, permitted under OBC §3.4.6 only as an alternative-stair for limited equipment-access situations. Not permitted for general egress. See ship's ladders.
- Stamped drawing
- Structural drawing carrying the wet seal of a P.Eng. licensed in the jurisdiction. Required for permit-bound work in Ontario. See when do I need stamped drawings?.
- Switchback / scissor stair
- Stacked stair flights with a 180° turn at an intermediate landing. The most common interior egress and exterior fire-escape configuration when floor-to-floor exceeds a single flight.
- WSIB
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board — Ontario workplace insurance program. WSIB clearance is standard pre-engagement documentation for B2B work.