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Term Definition
Vanity, Bath. see Bath Vanity.  
Vapor Barrier. 1. A material with a high resistance to vapor movement, such as foil, plastic film, or specially coated paper, that is used in combination with insulation to control condensation. 2. Any material that has a water vapor permeance (perm) rating of one or less. 3. A type of plastic sheeting that both eliminates drafts and keeps moisture from damaging a building or structure. 4. A waterproof membrane placed under concrete floor slabs that are on grade. 5. Material used to retard the movement of water vapor into walls, and prevent condensation in them; applied separately over the warm side of exposed walls or as a part of batt or blanket insulation. 6. Thin plastic or metal foil sheet used in air-conditioned structures to prevent water vapor from penetrating insulating material.  
Vapor Compression Refrigeration. A cooling process that transforms heat from one location to another; heat is forced to flow from a region of lower temperature to a region of higher temperature; similar to a refrigerator for cooling food.  
Vapor Degreasing. A cleaning process utilizing condensing solvent as the cleaning agent.  
Vapor Lock. Condition where liquid is trapped in line because of bend or improper installation; such vapor prevents liquid flow.  
Vapor Migration. The movement of water vapor from a region of high vapor pressure to a region of lower vapor pressure.  
Vapor Pressure Curve. Graphic presentation of various pressures produced by refrigerant under various temperatures.  
Vapor Pressure. Pressure imposed by either a vapor or gas.  
Vapor Retarder Felt. sealing material made of asphalt-saturated felt.  
Vapor Retarder. A layer of material intended to obstruct the passage of water vapor through a building assembly; also called a Vapor Barrier; sealing material placed between building components or materials to arrest movement of moisture within building enclosure assembly.  
Vapor, Saturated. see Saturated Vapor.  
Vapor. The gaseous state of any substance.  
Vaporization. Conversion from liquid or solid to a gaseous state.  
Variable Air Volume (VAV). An air handling system, unlike a single zone, terminal reheat, multi-zone, or dual duct, supplies air at a constant temperature and varies the air quantity supplied to each zone.  
Variable Pitch Pulley. Pulley which can be adjusted to provide different pulley drive ratios.  
Variable Rate Mortgage. A mortgage that allows the lender to raise or lower the interest rate from time to time as some specified index rises or falls.  
Variable. Changing; subject to change, not constant; indeterminate.  
Variance. A deviation in a building or zoning ordinance granted by an appeal authority upon relevant grounds being proven.  
Varnish. A thickened preparation of drying oil or drying oil and resin; when applied to a surface, it leaves a hard, glossy, transparent coating; may also be mixed with pigments to make enamels; clear varnish is a slightly yellow, semitransparent liquid.  
Varnishing. Application of varnish to a surface using a brush.  
Varnish-Stain. Interior varnish tinted with pigments or dyes.  
Vat Dyes. Dyes formed in fabrics by oxidation and precipitation of the original dye liquor, for example, indigo; vat dyeing refers to a kind of dye rather than a method of dyeing; raw stock dyeing, skein dyeing, or solution dyeing can be performed with vat dyes.  
Vault Door. A hinged, pivoted, or sliding member that permits passage to an enclosure built for safety or security.  
Vault. 1. An arched surface. 2. An arch translated along an axis normal to the plane of its centerline curve. 3. A room to store valuable items.  
VAV. Variable Air Volume.  
V-Belt. Type of belt commonly used in refrigeration work; it has a contact surface with the pulley which is in the shape of the letter V.  
VCP. Vitreous Clay Pipe.  
VDU. Video Display Unit.  
Vector. 1. A quantity having direction as well as magnitude; usually represented by a line in space with an arrowhead indicating direction and the scale of the line representing magnitude. 2. A carrier of disease, such as a roach, rat, or mouse.  
Vegetable Oils. Oils obtained from the seeds or nuts of vegetable growth, including linseed, soybean, perilla, tung, or castor.  

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