This part of BS 6100 gives general information relevant to all parts of this vocabulary, background information, guidance on using the vocabulary, a list of all parts and an index of all the terms in BS 6100.

This vocabulary covers all topics that are the responsibility of the Sector Committee for Building and Civil Engineering. Some terms are included which do not have a special meaning for the building and civil engineering industry but are considered necessary to help readers understand the more specialized terms. Typically these include general physical properties and terms relating to testing and standardization.

Scottish terms and important regional terms are included, either in their own right or as accepted alternatives to preferred terms. Local terms, where included, are given as deprecated equivalents of preferred terms.