Plinth
Building regulation
In one line
The raised base of a building, between ground level and the ground floor.
The plinth lifts the ground floor clear of the ground for damp, drainage and dignity. Plinth area is the built-up area at that level and is what construction is usually costed on; plinth height is regulated, both as a minimum for drainage and a maximum so a plot cannot be raised to evade a height limit.
Related words
Built-up area
Carpet area plus the walls — what gets costed and what counts against FAR.
Stilt floor
An open ground level on columns, normally used for parking.