Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

"Unpassed," when used in an architectural context, often implies something that is inconsistent with the building code and has failed an inspection. The term "unpassed" is used because "failed" implies that the subject member has collapsed or is no longer functioning. An example might be using half-inch drywall between a residence and an attached garage when firewall spec (five-eighths) is required. It could also be an exterior sheathing that doesn't offer the required sheer strength or wasn't nailed with the proper nailing schedule. Sometimes these things aren't caught by the building official during the initial construction but appear later on home inspection reports when the property is in the middle of a sales transaction.