| 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. |
