TIC
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Thermal imaging camera |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Business & Finance, Law & Legal |
TIC has three meanings. The most common are Thermal imaging camera (emergency services) and Tenancy in common (real estate & mortgage); it can also stand for Tenants in common.
Meanings of TIC at a glance
| # | TIC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thermal imaging camera | Government & Politics › Emergency Services |
| 2 | Tenancy in common | Business & Finance › Real Estate & Mortgage |
| 3 | Tenants in common | Law & Legal › Estate and Family Law |
1. Thermal imaging camera
Government & Politics · Emergency Services Abbreviations
Handheld or helmet-mounted camera that displays heat rather than visible light, letting firefighters see through smoke to find victims, hot spots and fire spread. TICs are standard equipment on many fire engines.
Example: The TIC showed heat in the wall void, so the crew opened the drywall.
Thermal imagers became affordable for fire departments in the late 1990s and 2000s. They cannot see through walls or glass but detect surface temperature differences. Police and search teams also use thermal cameras, often mounted on drones.
2. Tenancy in common
Business & Finance · Real Estate & Mortgage Abbreviations
Form of co-ownership in which two or more people each hold an undivided fractional interest in a property, which can be unequal and can be sold or inherited separately. There is no right of survivorship.
Example: Three friends bought the duplex as TIC owners, with shares of 50%, 25% and 25%.
TIC ownership is common in San Francisco, where it is used for multiunit buildings that cannot easily be converted to condos. TIC interests can also qualify as replacement property in a 1031 exchange.
3. Tenants in common
Law & Legal · Estate and Family Law Abbreviations
Form of co-ownership in which each owner holds a separate, undivided share of the property, which may be unequal, and can sell, mortgage or leave that share by will. On an owner's death, the share passes through the estate rather than to the other owners.
Example: The three siblings inherited the cabin as TIC, each owning one-third.
In most states, unmarried co-owners are presumed to be tenants in common unless the deed says otherwise. Any co-owner can generally force a sale or division through a partition action. TIC structures are also used for fractional real estate investments, including some 1031 exchange properties.
Related abbreviations
More emergency services abbreviations
- SCBA – Self-contained breathing apparatus
- SDS – Safety data sheet
- SOG – Standard operating guideline
- START – Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment
- UC – Unified command
- USAR – Urban search and rescue
- VFD – Volunteer fire department
- WEA – Wireless Emergency Alerts
See all 72 emergency services abbreviations →
More real estate & mortgage abbreviations
- SFR – Single-family residence
- SNDA – Subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreement
- STR – Short-term rental
- TI – Tenant improvements
- TRID – TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule
- UFMIP – Upfront mortgage insurance premium
- W/D – Washer/dryer
- WIC – Walk-in closet
See all 95 real estate & mortgage abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.