| A |
|
| Air
Chambers |
Small honeycomb spaces within the sash and frame which
help to insulate and strengthen the window |
| Air
Infiltration |
The amount of air that passes between a window sash and
frame. In windows it is measured in terms of cubic feet
or air per minute, per square foot of area. The lower
the number, the less air the window lets pass through.
|
| Air
Latch |
Latch mechanism on the interior face of the sash that
retains the window in a partially open position for ventilation.
|
| Angled
Exterior |
A sloped extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing
dimension to the exterior of the window. |
| Argon
Gas |
An
odorless, colorless, tasteless, nontoxic gas which is
six times denser than air. It is used to replace air
between the glass panes to reduce temperature transfer.
|
| Awning
Window |
A top-hinged window that swings outward for ventilation.
|
|
| B |
|
| Balance
System |
Device
for holding vertically sliding sash in any desired position
through the use of a spring or weight to counterbalance
the weight of the sash. |
| Bay
Window |
An angled combination of three windows that project
out from the wall of the home. The windows are commonly
joined at 30- or 45-degree angles.
|
| Beveled
Exterior |
An
angled extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing
dimension to the exterior of the window. |
| Bow
Window |
An
angled combination of windows in 3-, 4- or 5-lite configurations.
The windows are attached at 10-degree angles to project
a more circular, arced appearance. |
| Butyl |
A rubber material that seals the glass to the spacer,
creating an airtight and watertight IG unit. Butyl has
the lowest gas permeability of all rubbers. |
|
| C |
|
| Cam
Lock and Keeper |
The
mechanisms which pull the sash together when placed in
the locked position. |
| Capillary
Tubes |
Small
hollow tubes which penetrate the spacer system of an insulating
glass unit. They allow pressure equalization between manufacturing
locations, shipping, and installation locations. Since
the insulating glass unit is not permanently sealed, the
air space cannot be filled with Argon gas. |
| Casement
Window |
A
window with a side-hinged sash that opens outward for
ventilation. |
| Center
of Glass U- and R-values |
The
U- and R-values measured from the center of the glass
to 2-1/2" from the frame. |
| Condensation
Resistance Factor |
A measure of the effectiveness of a window or glazing
system to reduce the potential for condensation. The
higher the condensation resistance factor, the more
efficient the window and glazing system. |
| Conduction |
Energy
transfer from one material to another by direct contact. |
| Convection |
Heat
transfer by currents that flow from a warm surface to
a colder one. |
| Coved
Exterior |
An
arced extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing
dimension to the exterior of the window. |
|
| D |
|
| Dead-air
space |
The
space between the panes of glass of an I.G. Unit. |
| Deadlite |
A
piece of glass or IGU with a sash profile around it; not
set within the main frame of a window unit. |
| Desiccant |
A
material used in insulating glass to absorb water vapor
which causes fogging. |
| Double
Hung Window |
A
window that has two operable sash which slide vertically. |
| Double-strength
Glass |
Glass
with a thickness of approximately 1/8". |
| Dry
glazing |
An
alternative method of placing glass in a door or window.
No glazing mastic is used. Dry glazing is recommended
whenever reflective coatings are glazed to first surface. |
| Dual-durometer |
An
elastomeric material with two different degrees of hardness. |
|
| E |
|
| Egress
Code |
The code that requires a minimum opening of a window
for persons to exit or firefighters to enter a building. |
| ENERGY
STAR® |
ENERGY
STAR® is an independent U.S. government program establishing
a standard set of guidelines to recognize the energy efficiency
of various products. ENERGY STAR® guidelines are used
in conjunction with a variety of building materials, including
windows and patio doors. Over the past ten years, ENERGY
STAR® guidelines have helped double the efficiency of
windows they endorse |
| Extruded
screen frame |
Different
from a Roll formed frame, this frame is pressed through
a form or die. |
|
| F |
|
| Fusion-welded |
The
process of joining materials by melting them together
with extreme heat (over 500ºF), resulting in the materials
uniting into a one-piece unit. |
|
| G |
|
| Geometric |
Specially
designed windows classified as either Straight line Geometrics
such as rectangles, triangles, trapezoid, octagons, pentagons,
etc., or Radius Geometrics which include half-rounds,
quarter-rounds, full-rounds, sectors, ellipses, eyebrows,
etc. |
| Glass |
An
inorganic transparent material composed of sand (silica),
soda (sodium bicarbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate)
with small quantities of alumina, boric or magnesia oxides.
Available Styles: Clear, Bronze, Grey and Tinted. · Glazing
- The process of sealing the glass to the sash. |
| Glazing
Bead |
A
strip of vinyl which surrounds the edge of the glass and
holds it in place in conjunction with other sealants. |
| Grids |
Decorative
horizontal or vertical bars installed between the glass
panes to create the appearance of the sash being dividing
into smaller lites of glass |
|
| H |
|
| Head |
The
horizontal top portion of the main frame. |
| Head
expander |
A
vinyl shape cut the width of a product and placed on the
head, fitting over it snugly. This piece is used as a
filler to expand or lengthen the unit from the head and
take up the gap in the opening between the unit and the
opening in the unit. |
| Hook
accessory |
Accessories
that snap to the hook frame and provide easy installation. |
| Hopper |
A
window with a bottom-hinged sash that opens inward for
ventilation. |
|
| I |
Back
to top |
| I.G.
Unit (Insulating Glass Unit) |
Two
or more lites of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically
sealed at the glass edges. |
|
| J |
|
| J-channel |
Integral extension on the outside of a new construction
window that eases installation on siding applications. |
|
Jamb |
Vertical
sections of the main frame. |
|
| K |
|
| Keeper
Rail |
The
horizontal section of the sash where the keeper is attached. |
| Keeper
Stile |
The
vertical section of the sash where the keeper is attached.
|
| Krypton
Gas |
An
inert, odorless, colorless, tasteless, nontoxic gas which
is about 12 times denser than air. It is used to replace
air between the glass panes to reduce temperature transfer
and deter convection. Used when a higher performance is
desired than that produced with Argon gas. |
|
| L |
|
| Laminated
Glass |
Two
or more pieces of glass bonded together over a plastic
interlayer. |
| Lift
Handle |
A
handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Handle implies
that the handhold is not continuous across the sash. |
| Lift
Rail |
A
handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Rail implies
that the handhold is continuous across the sash. |
| Lite |
A
unit of glass in a window. |
| Lock
Rail |
The
horizontal section of the sash where the cam lock is attached. |
| Lock
Stile |
The
vertical section of the sash where the cam lock is attached.
|
| Low
E (Emissivity) Glass |
Glass
with a transparent metallic oxide coating applied onto
or into a glass surface. The coating allows short-wave
energy to pass through but reflects long-wave infrared
energy which improves the U-value. |
|
| M |
|
| Main
Frame |
The
head, sill and jambs sections of a window. |
| Mechanically
Fastened Frame |
Refers
to frames fastened with screws. |
| Meeting
Rail |
The
horizontal sections of a pair of sash that meet when the
sash are closed. |
| Meeting
Stile |
The
vertical section of a pair of sash that meet when the
sash are closed. |
| Mesh |
Fabric
made of either fiberglass or aluminum, used in the making
of screens. |
| Mullion |
A
vertical or horizontal connecting unit between two or
more windows. |
|
| N |
|
| Nailing
Fin |
An
extrusion attached to the main frame of a window used
to secure the unit to the rough opening. |
|
| O |
|
| Obscure
Glass |
Glass
that has been made translucent instead of transparent. |
| Oriel |
A
window with the meeting rail located off center of the
frame. Most oriels have a 60/40 configuration. |
| Overlapping
and Interlocking Meeting Rail |
A
patented meeting rail which overlaps and interlocks both
sash. |
|
| P |
|
| Patio
door |
A
glass door that slides opens and close on adjustable tandem
rollers. Available in 2- or 3-lite configurations with
the operable panel available in any position. |
| Picture
Window |
A
window that has no moveable sash. |
| Pivot
Alignment System |
An
exclusive hinge-type system used on hung windows. This
system attaches the sash to the balance, creating perfect
alignment between the sash and frame, while allowing the
sash to tilt inward for cleaning. |
| Pull
Handle |
A
handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Handle implies
that the handhold is not continuous across the sash. |
| Pull
rail |
A
handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Rail implies
that the handhold is continuous across the sash. |
| Pull
Stile |
A
handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Stile implies
that the handhold is continuous across the sash. |
|
| R |
|
| R-value |
Resistance
a material has to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the
greater the resistance. |
| Radiation |
Wave
energy transmitted directly from one object to another
through the atmosphere or through transparent or translucent
materials. The energy radiated is transmitted, absorbed,
reflected or a combination of all three. |
| Rail |
The
horizontal sections of the sash. |
| Raised
Exterior |
An
angled extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically
pleasing dimension to the exterior of the window |
| Relative
Humidity Condensation Point |
The
relative humidity level at which visible water vapor or
other liquid vapor begins to form on the surface of the
sash or frame, based on an inside temperature of 70E F
and an outside temperature of 0E F. The higher the percentage,
the more moisture the air can hold before condensation
will occur. |
| Roll
formed Screen Frame |
A
method of fabrication in which a flat (usually metal)
material is placed on a machine where the material is
formed into shape using differently shaped rollers and
pressure. |
|
| S |
|
| Sash |
The
part of the window which contains the glass. |
| Sash
Alignment System |
An
exclusive hinge-type system used on hung windows. This
system attaches the sash to the balance, creating perfect
alignment between the sash and frame, while allowing the
sash to tilt inward for cleaning. |
| Shading
Coefficient |
The
ratio of solar heat that is transferred through a glazing
material relative to the solar heat transferred through
1/8" clear glass. The lower the number the more efficient
the window is at reducing solar heat gains. |
| Sill |
The
horizontal, bottom section of the main frame. |
| Sill
Extender |
An
extrusion that is attached to the bottom of the window
to cover the gap between the sill and the rough opening.
|
| Single
Hung |
A
window in which one sash slides vertically and the other
sash is fixed. |
| Single-strength
Glass |
Glass
with a thickness of approximately 3/32". |
| Slider
Window |
A
window in which the sash move horizontally. Sliders are
available in a 2- or 3-lite configuration, with the 3-lite
having operable end vents. |
| Sloped
sill |
The
sill of the window that has a downward slope to the outside.
This sill has sufficient degree of slope to aid in water
runoff. |
| Solar
Heat Gain |
The
percentage of heat gained from both direct sunlight and
absorbed heat. The smaller the number, the greater the
ability to reduce solar heat gain. |
| Spacer |
Material
placed between two or more pieces of glass in order to
maintain a uniform width between the glass, and prevent
sealant distortion. |
| Stepped
Sill |
An
exclusive triple-stepped, sloped sill design. |
| Stile |
The
vertical sections of the sash. |
| Stucco
Fin |
An
extrusion used in stucco home installations that is attached
to the main frame to create a smooth, finished look for
both the window and the stucco. |
|
| T |
|
| Tape
Glazing |
Two-sided
tape used to secure and seal the glass to the sash. |
| Tempered
Glass |
Glass
with a surface compression of not less than 10,000 psi,
or an edge compression of not less than 9,700 psi. When
broken, the glass breaks into pebbles instead of shards. |
| Tilt
Latch |
Mechanism
that unlocks the sash and allows it to tilt in from the
main frame. |
| Tilt-in/lift-out
sash |
A
sash that can be tilted to the interior and removed for
cleaning and is manufactured by welding. |
| Total
Unit U- and R-values |
The
U- and R-values of the window calculated from the average
of the center of glass, edge of glass and frame U- and
R-values. It is the reciprocal of the R-value. |
| Tri-durometer |
An
elastomeric material with three different degrees of hardness.
|
|
| U |
|
| U-value |
Amount
of heat transferred through a material. The lower the
U-value, the slower the rate of heat flow and the better
the insulating quality. |
| UV
Block |
The
percent of ultraviolet rays blocked from being transmitted
through the glass. The higher the number the lower the
percentage of ultraviolet rays transmitted through the
window. |
|
| V |
|
| Vent-lok |
Latch
mechanism on the interior face of the sash which retains
the window in a partially open position for ventilation. |
| Visible
Light Transmittance |
The
percentage of light that is transmitted through glass
in the visible light spectrum (380 to 720 nanometers).
The higher the number the higher the percentage of visible
light transmitted through the window. |
|
| W |
|
| Weather-stripping
|
Material used to form a weather-resistant seal around
operable sash. |
| Weep
flaps |
A
weep hole that is covered with vinyl flap that allows
water to escape, while keeping insects out. |
| Weep
Holes |
Small
openings designed to allow water to escape that might
otherwise accumulate in a window's sill. |
| Weep
Slots |
Slots
or holes in the sill (bottom) member of the sash frame
that provides an outdoor release of infiltrated rainwater.
|
| Wet
Glazing |
A
silicone-based substance used to secure and seal the glass
to the sash. |
| Wood
blocks |
Pieces
of plywood that come in different thickness, depending
on the depth of the hook of the frame. They are used to
make the window flush with the opening it is filling.
They are also used to assist in pre-mulling windows together
and give the screw more to bite into when joining the
windows. |
