Hello, welcome to the fourth part of our series. Today we would like to 
continue our little ABC for builders and simultaneously make curious to 
the next edition.
There we will talk about building and living in harmony with nature. Our 
theme is the thousands of years old oriental sciences of “Vastu” and 
“Feng Shui”.


Laboratorio de control de calidad = Laboratory for quality control 

The laboratory proves the characteristics of materials incorporated in the 
construction, above all materials which are not baled or certificated from 
producer (for example concrete), to verify the required quality.

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Licencia de obra / Permiso de obra = Building license 
Town hall issues the building license after examination of building petition 
in written form. 

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Nota simple informativa = Title insurance
Extract to prove if there exist any charges, mortgages or similar on the 
property.

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Número de plantas = Admitted number of floors 

This number shows you how many floors are allowed for your construction.

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Ocupación máxima de parcela = Floor space index
Is the ratio of the total floor area of buildings on a certain location to the 
size of the land of that location, or the limit imposed on such a ratio.

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Oficina de control de calidad = Office for quality control
These are authorized offices which control building plans and execution in 
relation with the 10 year’s insurance 

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Parcela mínima = Minimum size of plot

May be different for each planning area. 

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Presupuesto = Estimate

The builder does an estimate of a work according to the measurement of 
architect’s plans.

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Proyectista (Coordinador general) = Projector

Projector, general coordinator, usually an architect.

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Registro de la propiedad = Titles registry

It is an official public register of land, in this, ownership and associated 
with the property rights and encumbrances recorded.

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Separación a calle = Separation to street

Town hall fixes this distance. It is the distance between the outside of the 
external wall and the limit to the street.

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Separación a los lindes = Separation to neighbor
Town hall fixes this distance. It is the distance between the outside of the 
external wall and the limit to the neighbor’s plot.

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Subcontratista / Suministrador = Sub-contractor / provider

Building Sub-contractor / provider

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Suelo no urbanizable = Land without services (gas, water, electricity) 
                                  free from constructions

Usually protected landscape, land used for agriculture or similar, where 
it is not allowed to build anything. 

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Suelo rústico = Land for agriculture

Land assigned for cultivation. Town hall will inform you about possible 
building conditions.

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Suelo urbano = Urban area

Area where you can construct according to master plan. Can dispose from 
all or partial services.

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Superficie útil = Living surface

Surface without thickness of walls.

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Volumen edificable = Construction volume

Relation between surface of the plot and volume of the building.

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Zona verde = Green area

Green area free from any construction.


We are pleased if our information again has been useful to you. We say 
goodbye now until the next edition and we thank you very much for your 
interest. Until then we wish you a whale of time.

Your team of architects, the consultants for 
everything that is connected to building construction.