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Glossary
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AAMA
American Architectural Manufacturers Association, a national trade
association that establishes voluntary standards for the window,
door and skylight industry.
Acrylic
Thermoplastic glazing material.
Aerogel
A microporous, transparent silicate foam currently under development
for potential use as a glazing cavity fill material, offering very
high thermal performance.
Air infiltration
The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks
in walls, windows and doors.
Airspacer
Component placed at the perimeter of an insulated glass unit to
separate the two lites of glass.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute, a clearing house organization
for all types of standards and product specifications.
Annealed glass
Standard float glass.
Arch-top
One of several terms used for a variety of window units with one
or more curved frame members, often used over another window or
door opening. Also referred to as circle-heads, circle-tops, and
round-tops.
Argon
An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass to reduce heat transfer.
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning
Engineers, a national association that establishes standards for
building energy performance.
Astragal
The centre member of a double door, which is attached to the fixed
or inactive door panel.
ASTM International
Formerly, the American Society for Testing and Materials, a trade
association that establishes material standards (including glass)
and test methods. It has also produced a window installation standard.
Awning window
A window unit in which the bottom of the sash swings outward.
Backbedding
Material or compound used to seal the glass to a window sash.
Balance
Mechanical device (normally spring loaded) used in single and double
hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash
during opening and closing.
Bay window
A composite of three windows, usually made up of a large center
unit and two flanking units at 30 or 45 degree angles to the wall.
BETEC
Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council. Part of the National
Institute of Building Sciences, an organization representing government
and industry, BETEC is involved in communicating government policy
and influencing standards development within the industry.
BOCA
Building Officials and Code Administrators. One of the three model
code groups in the US now merging to form the International Code
Council.
Bottom rail
The bottom horizontal member of a window sash or door panel.
Bow window
A composite of four or more widow units in a radial or bow formation.
Box bay
A combination of window units which projects to the exterior. Usually
features a large center unit with two flanking units at 90°
angles to the wall.
Breather tube
Tube placed through air-spacer and seal for insulating glass which
allows unit to accommodate changes in pressure between time and
location of manufacture and time and location of installation, where
it is sealed. Usually used to accommodate changes in altitude between
plant and job site.
Brickmold
A type of external casing which frames windows and doors.
Caming
The metal used in the construction of decorative glass panels. Usually
zinc or brass, it is also applied to single glass lites to create
a decorative glass look.
Casement window
A window unit in which the single sash cranks outward, to the right
or left.
Casing
Molding of various widths, thicknesses and shapes applied to the
framework of window and door units.
Caulking
A compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage
of water and air.
Cellular PVC
Extruded polyvinyl chloride material used in window and door components
and trim. Unlike rigid (or hollow) vinyl, it features a foam or
cell-structure inside. It can often be nailed, sawn, and fabricated
like wood.
Cellulosic composite
Generally, a material combining an organic material, such as wood
fibre, extruded with plastic.
Circle-top
One of several terms used for a variety of window units with one
or more curved frame members, often used over another window or
door opening. Also referred to as arch-tops, circle-heads, and round-tops.
Circlehead
A generic term referring to any of a variety of window units with
one or more curved frame members, often used over another window
or door opening.
Clerestory window
A venting or fixed window above other windows or doors on an upper
outside wall of a room.
Combination door
A screen or storm door used in combination with a primary door.
Storm windows also are referred to as combination windows.
Composite
A term used for window or door components which consist of two or
more materials, such as wood and plastic. The term also is used
for windows and doors which combine two or more materials in the
frame or sash construction, such as a product with a wood interior
and a vinyl or aluminum exterior.
Condensation
Water vapor from the air deposited on any cold surface which has
a temperature below the dew point. Sometimes a problem on a cold
(and poorly insulated) window glass or framing that is exposed to
humid indoor air.
Corner cleaner
Machine which removes the bead of excess material formed in welding
vinyl window corners.
CRF
Condensation Resistance Factor. A rating of a window's ability to
resist condensation. The higher the CRF, the less likely condensation
will occur.
CRM
Customer Relationship Management, a computerized system for tracking
all contacts with customers and prospects.
Dade County
Florida county, including Miami, which has set numerous standards
and requirements for hurricane-resistant windows and doors.
Desiccant
A material used to absorb moisture from within the sealed airspace
of an insulating glass unit.
Design pressure (DP)
A measurement of the structural performance of a window or door.
Usually specified as one-and-half times greater than necessary based
on expected building wind and weather conditions.
Divided lites
Separately framed pieces or panes of glass. A double-hung window,
for instance, often has several lites divided by muntins in each
sash. These designs are often referred to as six-over-six, eight-over-one,
etc., to indicate the number of lites in each sash. Designs simulating
the appearance of separately-framed panes of glass are often referred
to as SDLs or simulated divided lites. Designs using actual separate
pieces of glass are sometime referred to as TDLs or true divided
lites.
Dormer
A space which protrudes from the roof of a house, usually including
one or more windows.
Double glazing
Use of two panes of glass in a window to increase energy efficiency
and provide other performance benefits, preferably as a sealed unit.
Double glazing panel (DGP)
A removable interior glass panel which creates an air space between
the exterior glazing and itself. It provides improved insulation
and condensation control and allows for between-glass shading options.
Double-hung window
A window unit that has two operable sashes which move vertically
in the frame.
Double-strength glass
Glass between 0.115 and 0.133 inches thick.
Drip cap
A molding placed on the top of the head brickmould or casing of
a window frame to divert water away from the unit below.
Dual durometer
A material that has two or more levels of flexibility or hardness.
Dual seal
Refers to sealed units manufactured with a primary and secondary
seal for longer sealed unit life.
Edge effect
Heat transfer at the edge of an insulating glass unit due to the
thermal properties of spacers and sealants.
Egress window
Window designed to be large enough for a firefighter to climb in
or a person to climb out in an emergency. US building codes require
each bedroom of a home to have and emergency exit window, with minimum
sizes specified.
Electrochromic glazing
Glass or other glazing material that can be switched from clear
to opaque electronically.
Energy star
A program sponsored by the US Department of Energy which establishes
minimum performance standards for window to be recognized as energy
efficient. Three different sets of standards for U-value and solar
heat gain have been established for three different climate zones
in the US.
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning, a computerized system that is use
to manage all aspects of a company's operations.
EuroWindoor
A consortium of European window, door, and curtainwall industry
associations involved in the development of common EU standards.
Extension jamb
A trim component which extends from the interior of the window frame
to the interior wall.
Extrusion
The process in which a heated material is pushed through a die,
used to produce aluminum, vinyl (PVC), and other profiles or components
used in the production of windows and doors. Term also is used to
refer to the profiles or lineals manufactured by this process and
used to make window and door components.
Fanlight
A half-circle window over a door or window with radiating bars.
Fogging
A deposit or film left on an interior surface of a sealed insulating
glass unit due to extreme conditions or failed seals.
Fenestration
Originally, an architectural term referring to the arrangement of
windows, doors, and other glazed areas in a wall. Has evolved to
become a standard industry term for windows, doors, skylights, and
other glazed building openings. From the Latin word, "fenestra,"
meaning window.
Fixed
Non-venting or non-operable.
Fixed panel
Non-operable door usually combined with operable door unit.
Flashing
A thin strip of metal or synthetic material that diverts water away
from a window or skylight.
Float glass
Glass produced by a process in which the ribbon is floated across
a bath of molten tin. The vast majority of flat glass is now produced
using this method. The terms "plate" glass and "sheet"
glass refer to older manufacturing methods still in limited use.
Flush door
Door produced using two skins or faces separated by a stile-and-rail
frame construction at the perimeter. Flush doors may be produced
with a hollow core or solid core.
Frame
The enclosure in which window sash or door panels are mounted.
Fusion-weld
A term used for a type of corner construction, used with vinyl and
other types of windows and doors, in which a small amount of material
on the ends of two pieces are melted or softened, then pushed together
to form a single piece. This is also referred to as a welded corner.
Glazing
Glass in a window or door; the act or process of fitting with glass.
Glazing stop
The part of the sash or door panel which holds the glass in place.
Glider
A window with a movable sash that slides horizontally. Also referred
to as a horizontal sliding window.
Hard-coat glass
A glass product that is coated during the manufacturing process
at the molten glass stage. Also known as a pyrolytic coating, this
type of coating offers a surface that is generally as durable as
an ordinary glass surface, and therefore requires no special handling
and does not need to be used in an insulating glass unit. The other
type of glass coating is a sputter-coat, which is applied in a secondary
process. Sometimes referred to as a soft-coat, these types of coatings
generally require some additional care in handling and fabrication
and must be used within an insulating glass unit.
Head
The main horizontal member forming the top of the window or door
frame.
Header
A horizontal framing member placed over the rough opening of a window
to prevent the weight of wall or roof from resting on the window
frame. Also known as lintel.
Heat gain
The transfer of heat from outside to inside by means of conduction,
convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
Heat loss
The transfer of heat from inside to outside by means of conduction,
convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
Hollow-core door
Flush door constructed with two skins or door faces separated by
stiles and rails at the perimeter. Generally, a honeycomb type support
is used inside the door between the two faces.
Hopper
A window unit in which the top of the sash swings inward.
Horizontal slider
A window with a movable sash that slides horizontally. Also referred
to as a gliding window.
IBC
International Building Code. Published by the International Code
Council, the IBC primarily covers nonresidential construction.
ICBO
International Council of Building Officials. One of the three model
code groups in the US now merging to form the International Code
Council.
IECC
International Energy Conservation Code. Published by the International
Council, the IEEC sets forth compliance methods for energy-efficient
construction of both residential and nonresidential construction.
Insulating glass (IG)
A combination of two or more panes of glass with a hermetically
sealed air space between the panes of glass. This space may or may
not be filled with an inert gas, such as argon.
IRC
International Residential Code. Published by the International Code
Council, the IRC primarily covers low-rise residential construction.
Jalousie
Window made up of horizontally-mounted glass louvers or slats that
abut each other tightly when closed and rotate outward when cranked
open.
Jamb
The main vertical members forming the sides of a window or door
frame.
Jamb debth
Width of a window or door from the interior to the exterior of the
frame.
Jamb liner
In a modern double-hung window, the track installed inside the jambs
on which the window sashes slide.
J-channel
Installed or built in to the side of a window or door, this channel
is designed to accommodate the ends of siding pieces to provide
a finished appearance.
Knocked down (KD)
Unassembled window or door unit.
Laminated glass
Two or more sheets of glass with an inner layer of transparent plastic
to which the glass adheres if broken. Used for enhanced safety and
security, as well as sound reduction.
Light
A separately framed piece of glass in a window or door. A traditional
double-hung window, for instance, often has several lights divided
by muntins in each sash. Such windows are described as six-over-six,
eight-over-one, twelve-over-twelve, etc., to indicate the number
of lights in each sash. Sometimes spelled 'lite'.
Lineal
A standard length profile or shape which is cut and processed to
make window and door components.
Lintel
A structural component or beam above a window or door opening that
supports the wall above. Also referred to as a header.
Lite
See "Light".
Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass
A special type of glass having a transparent material fused into
its surface which acts as a thermal mirror.
Masonry opening
The space in a masonry wall left open for windows or doors.
MEC
Model Energy Code, established by Energy Policy Act of 1992 to serve
as baseline for state energy codes. To be succeeded by International
Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
Mechanical window
A term for a product, usually vinyl or aluminum, in which the corners
are assembled using screws or other fastening mechanisms, such as
opposed to a welded corner construction. Also referred to as a mechanically-fastened
window.
Mullion
A wood or metal part used to structurally join two window or door
units.
Multipoint lock
A locking system operated with one handle, which secures a window
or door at two or more locking points.
Muntin bar
Applies to any short or light bar, either vertical or horizontal,
used give a divided light appearance to a sealed unit.
Nailing fin
An accessory component or integral extension of a window or patio
door frame which generally laps over the conventional stud construction
and through which nails are driven to secure the frame in place.
NFRC
National Fenestration Rating Council. A body which has established
methods for rating and certifying the energy performance of windows.
One-step distributor
An industry term for a wholesale company which buys building products
from a manufacturer and sells them to builders, contractors, and
homeowners. A wholesaler which buys building products from the manufacturer
and sells them to lumberyards and home centers, which in turn sell
to builders, contractors, and homeowners is referred to as a two-step
distributor.
Oriel
Window style in which the upper sash is larger than the lower sash.
Palladium window
A large, arch-top window flanked by smaller windows on each side.
Panel
Usually refers to the separate panel or panels in a door frame.
Panning
In replacement window work, the outside aluminum trim that can extend
around the perimeter of the window opening; used to cover up the
old window material.
Parting stop
A narrow moulding, either integral or applied, that holds a sash
or panel in position in a frame.
Picture window
Large, non-operating window. It is usually longer than it is wide
to provide a panoramic view.
Pleated shade
A shade of folded fabric which can be installed like regular shades
or between the panes of glass.
Pivot window
A unit with a sash that swings open or shut by revolving on pivots
at either side of the sash or at top and bottom.
Polycarbonate
A plastic material used for glazing.
Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB)
Plastic material used as the interlayer in the construction of some
types of laminated glass.
Plate glass
Flat glass produced by grinding and polishing to create parallel
plane surfaces affording excellent vision. Although the term is
still used commonly, most window glass is now produced using the
float glass process.
Pre-hanger
A company which buys doors, framing, hardware, glass lites, and
other components, and prepares (or pre-hangs) the unit for installation.
Prime window
A primary window, as opposed to a storm or combination unit added
on.
Projected window
A window in which the sash opens on hinges or pivots. Refers to
casements, awnings, and hoppers.
PVC
Polyvinylchloride. An extruded material used for window and door
framing.
Pyrolytic glass
A glass product that is coated, usually to provide low-emissivity
or solar control benefits, during manufacturing process at the molten
glass stage. Commonly referred to as a hard coat, this type of coating
offers a surface that is generally as durable as an ordinary glass
surface, and therefore requires no special handling and does not
need to be used in an insulating glass unit. The other type of glass
coating is a sputter-coat, which is applied in a secondary process.
Sometimes referred to as a soft-coat, these types of coatings generally
require some additional care in handling and fabrication and must
be used within an insulating glass unit.
Radiation
The transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves from one
separate surface to another. Low-E glass is designed to reduce this
type of heat transfer by reflecting electromagnetic waves.
Rail
The top and bottom horizontal members of the framework of a window
sash.
Reflective glass
Window glass coated to reflect visible light and solar radiation
striking the surface of the glass.
RESFEN
A computer program designed to calculate energy use based on window
selection in residential buildings.
RF
Radio Frequency. Technology used with bar code scanners and other
input devices in plant and warehouse tracking systems.
Roof window
An operable unit similar to a skylight placed in the sloping surface
of a roof.
Rough opening
The framed opening in a wall into which a window or door unit is
to be installed.
Round-top
One of several terms used for a variety of window units with one
or more curved frame members, often used over another window or
door opening. Also referred to as arch-tops, circle-tops, and circle-heads.
R-Value
Resistance to thermal transfer or heat flow. Higher R-value numbers
indicate greater insulating value. R-value is frequently used by
the insulation industry and is the reciprocal of U-value, a value
more generally used in the window industry.
Safety glass
A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage
or splintering and less likely to cause injury if broken. Law requires
glass in doors to be some type of safety glazing product, such as
tempered or laminated glass.
Sash
A single assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding
glass.
Sash lift
A protruding handle screwed to the inside bottom rail of the lower
sash on a double-hung window.
SBCCI
Southern Building Code Congress International. One of the three
model code groups in the US now merging to form the International
Code Council.
Self-cleaning glass
Glass treated with a special coating. Currently, commercially available
products feature a coating that uses the sun's UV rays to break
down organic dirt through what is called a photocatalytic effect.
The coating also provides a hydrophilic effect, which reduces the
surface tension of water to cause it to sheet down the surface easily
and wash dirt away.
Shading coefficient (SC)
A measure of a window's ability to transmit solar heat, relative
to that ability for 1/8-inch clear glass. The lower a unit's shading
coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater its
shading ability. It is being phased out in favour of the solar heat
gain coefficient.
Sheet glass
A transparent, flat glass found in older windows, now largely replaced
by floatglass.
Sidelights
Narrow fixed units mulled or joined to door units to give a more
open appearance.
Sill
The main horizontal member forming the bottom of the frame of a
window or door.
Simulated divided light
A method of constructing windows in which muntins are affixed to
the inside and outside of a panel of insulating glass to simulate
the look of true divided light.
Single glazing
Use of single lites of glass in a window. Not as energy-efficient
as double glazing.
Single-hung
A double-hung type of window in which the top sash is fixed or inoperable.
Single-strength glass
Glass with thickness between 0.085 and 0.100 inches.
Skin
A single piece of material used as the face of a door.
Slab
A term for a complete door panel that has not been prepared for
installation into a frame.
Smart window
Generic term, sometimes used for windows featuring switchable glass
to control solar gain.
Solar control glass
Glass produced with a coating or tint that absorbs or reflects solar
energy, thereby reducing solar gain.
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
A rating which is now generally replacing shading coefficient, measuring
a window's ability to transmit solar heat. It measures both the
solar radiation which is directly transmitted, as well as the solar
radiation absorbed by the glass and subsequently transmitted. The
lower a unit's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat
it transmits, and the greater is its shading ability. It is approximately
equal to the shading coefficient divided by 1.15. It is expressed
as a number without units between 0 and 1.
Solid-core door
Flush door produced with a solid material placed within the door
skins.
Soft-coat glass
A glass product that is coated in a secondary process known as sputter
coating, usually to offer low-emissivity or solar control benefits.
The term refers to the fact that these types of coatings generally
require some additional care in handling and fabrication and must
be used within an insulating glass unit. A hard-coat or pyrolytic
glass is coated during the manufacturing process at the molten glass
stage. This type of coating offers a surface that is generally as
durable as an ordinary glass surface, and therefore requires no
special handling and does not need to be used in an insulating glass
unit.
Sound transmission class (STC)
A rating measuring a window's acoustic properties or its ability
to reduce sound transmission. An SCT rating is determined by measuring
the sound transmission over a selected range of sound frequencies.
The higher the number, the less sound transmitted.
Spacer bar
A shape used to hold glass apart in a sealed unit.
Spectrally-selective glass
A coated or tinted glazing with optical properties that are transparent
to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others. Typically,
spectrally-selective coatings are designed to allow high levels
of visible light or daylight into a building and reflect short-wave
and long-wave infrared radiation.
Sputter-coating
A secondary manufacturing process in which a thin layer of materials,
usually designed to offer low-emissivity or solar control benefits,
is applied to glass. Sputter-coatings are commonly referred to as
soft-coats, as they generally require some additional care in handling
and fabrication and must be used within an insulating glass unit.
A hard-coat or pyrolytic glass is coated during the manufacturing
process at the molten glass stage. This type of coating offers a
surface that is generally as durable as an ordinary glass surface,
and therefore requires no special handling and does not need to
be used in an insulating glass unit.
Stile
The main vertical members of the framework of a sash.
Stool
An interior trim piece on a window which extends the sill and acts
as a narrow shelf.
Stop
A molding used to hold, position or separate window parts. Also
the moulding or component on the inside of a window frame against
which the window sash rests or closes. Also called a bead, side
stop, window stop, and parting stop.
Super window
A generic term for a window with a very low U-value. Typically,
it incorporates multiple glazings, low-E coatings, gas fills, and
an insulating spacer.
Tempered glass
Glass manufactured to withstand greater than normal forces on its
surface. When it breaks, it shatters into small pieces to reduce
hazard.
Thermal break
The addition of a thermal insulating material between two thermally
conductive materials.
Tilted window
A single or double hung window whose operable sash can be tilted
into a room to allow cleaning of the exterior surface on the inside.
Transom
A small window that fits over the top of a door or window, primarily
for additional light and aesthetic value.
Triple glazing
Use of three panes of glass or plastic with two airspaces between.
Generally refers to a sealed insulated unit.
Two-step distributor
An industry term for a wholesale company which buys building products
from the manufacturer and sells them to lumberyards and home centers,
which in turn sell to builders, contractors and homeowners. A wholesaler,
which buys building products from a manufacturer and sells them
to builders, contractors and homeowners is referred to as a one-step
distributor.
True divided light
A term which refers to windows in which multiple individual panes
of glass or lights are assembled in the sash using muntins.
Ultraviolet light (UV)
Invisible rays of solar radiation at the short-wavelength violet
end of the spectrum. Ultraviolet rays can cause fading of paint
finishes, carpets, and fabrics as well as deterioration of some
materials.
U-value
Rate of heat flow-value through the complete heat barrier, from
room air to outside air. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating
value. The reciprocal of R-value
Vent Unit
A window or door unit that opens or operates.
Vinyl
Generic term for polyvinylchloride or PVC, and extruded material
used for window and door framing.
Warm-edge
A type of insulating glass construction using an airspacer offering
lower thermal conductance than traditional aluminum spacer. Warm-edge
IG units typically offer higher resistance to condensation and an
incremental improvement in window energy performance.
Weatherstripping
A material or device used to seal the openings, gaps or cracks of
venting window and door units to prevent water and air infiltration.
Weep hole
A small opening in window or sill member through which water may
drain to the building exterior.
Weld
A term used for a type of corner construction, used with vinyl and
other types of windows and doors, in which a small amount of material
at the two pieces are melted or softened, then pushed together to
form a single piece. This also is referred to commonly as a fusion-weld.
Wildland/urban interface
An area where buildings are bounded by wild or natural areas, which
are a particular concern in regions where wild fires are a concern.
Some fire and code officials are looking at the establishment of
fire-resistance requirements for exterior building products in these
"interface" areas.
Windload
Force exerted on a surface by moving air.
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