Glossary of Terms: B
- Balancing by dampers
- Design process for local exhaust systems using adjustable dampers to distribute airflow
- Balancing by static pressure
- Design process for local exhaust systems using selected duct diameters to generate static pressures to provide distributed airflow without dampers
- Bandwidth
- A range of frequencies defined by an upper band-edge frequency, f2, and a lower band-edge frequency, f1. The bandwidth is the difference between the two frequencies (f2
- f1 Hz).
- Barrier cream
- A cream designed to protect the hands and other parts of the skin from exposure to harmful agents. Also known as protective hand cream.
- Base
- A compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt. It is another term for alkali.
- BASEEFA
- British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres. UK Safety Certification
- Benign
- Not malignant. A benign tumor is one which does not metastasize or invade tissue. Benign tumors may still be lethal, due to pressure on vital organs.
- Bilateral work stoppage
- Stoppage of work under the direction of the worker certified member and the management certified member when both members have reason to believe that dangerous circumstances exist.
- Biohazard
- A combination of the words biological hazard. Organisms or products of organisms that present a risk to humans.
- Biological agent
- Any living organism (for example, virus or bacteria) that affects the body, a part of the body, or any of its functions. The effects may be beneficial or harmful.
- Biological monitoring
- The use of medical tests (for example, blood, urine, exhaled air) to determine whether a person has been or is being exposed to a substance.
- BMS
- Building Management System.
- Boiling point
- The temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapor. Also, the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals atmospheric pressure.
- Bonding
- The use of low-resistance material to connect two or more conductive objects that would likely undergo a build-up of static electricity. Bonding prevents the unwanted release of electrical energy, such as sparks. E.g., transferring of one flammable liquid from one container to another can release electrical energy if it is not bonded.
- Brake horsepower curve
- graphical representation of brake HP at different airflow rates for a fan
- Brake horsepower
- the power needed to spin the fan (neglecting motor/fan drive inefficiencies), 1 HP = 33,000 ft.-lb per min.
- Branch (or path) of greatest resistance
- Path from a hood to the fan (and exhaust stack if used) that causes the greatest pressure loss in duct system
- Breathing zone sample
- air samples collected in a worker’s breathing zone to assess inhalation exposure to airborne contaminants.
- Breathing zone
- The area surrounding the worker’s head. The make-up of air in this area is thought to be representative of the air that is actually breathed in by the worker. Used for toxic gas monitoring.
- Bridge circuit
- Wheatstone Bridge circuit used in catalytic detector design.
- Broadband
- Broadband measurements from a sound level meter refer to measurements made over the applicable frequency range of the instrument.
- Bump test
- Check of basic functionality by exposure to test gas, resulting in a gas indication or alarm condition.
- Byproduct
- The product formed or released by a material during use in a process. This is produced in addition to the principle product. A by-product may be toxic, flammable or explosive.