In the construction trade, a nib is a short section of a wall that juts out from a building's framework. The projection is typically used in the building of brick walls. In some architectural designs, a jib is used to take the weight off of a wall in a building with more than one floor.
Many modern buildings are made with infill panels that are usually supported on a nib made of concrete. In some instances, the jib requires a support in the brickwork to anchor the infill panel and maintain the wall's integrity.
Flexible anchors, which are also sometimes referred to as expansion joints, are also used in the construction trade. These kinds of joints are made to relieve the stress on a building and its components over time. Changes in a building's framework can be caused by temperature changes, wind sway and seismic events, according to the Emseal Company. Emseal adds that joint systems restore a structure's assembly while anticipating expected movements within the framework of the design.
Brunswick Sales, a manufacturer and supplier of construction materials, supports the claim, explaining that expansion joints, also called articulation joints, cover structural expansion in addition to controlling contraction and foot movement.