Windows

  • Awning: Window hinged at the sill that swings outward from the bottom. Vents from the bottom.
  • Bay: Multiple windows mulled together and projects out beyond the exterior wall/facade. Typically, these systems consist of three (3) mulled windows.
  • Bi-fold (Folding): A top hung window that folds open like an accordion.
  • Bulls Eye: Another name for a circular window. A Bulls Eye window can be operable or fixed.
  • Casement: Window hinged at the jamb that swings open to the side.
  • Curtain wall: A non-load bearing exterior window wall spanning floor to ceiling or floor to floor.
  • Double-hung: Two vertically sliding frames that vent from the upper and lower sash.
  • Egress: A window typically required by building codes for emergency escape and/or rescue.
  • Fixed: Non-operable and non-venting window.
  • French (Double) Casement: Casement window with two (2) sashes hinged at either jamb.
  • Hopper: Window hinged at the head that swings outward from the top. Vents from the top.
  • Lift and Slide Window: A bottom loaded window that slides on dedicated carriages.
  • Sash: Refers to the operable/venting portion(s) of a window assembly. Comparable to a door panel.
  • Single-hung: One vertically sliding frame that vents from the lower sash while the upper panel remains inoperable.
  • Storefront: A non-residential curtain wall with integrated entrance systems.
  • Sidelight: A non-operable window installed on the side of a window or door.
  • Tilt and Turn Window: A dual-use window that features the operability of an awning window and an inswing single casement window.
  • Transom: An additional window positioned on top of another window or door.
  • Venting unit: An operable window.
  • Window Wall: A large non-load bearing wall assembly consisting of multiple windows which may, or may not, be of the same size, type, or operability.

Doors

  • Barn Door: A large, single panel top hung slider. Typically, barn doors have visible decorative tracks and bearings to emphasize the style of traditional barn doors. Since they do not offer water or air seals, these are used for interior applications.
  • Bi-fold (Folding): A top hung door that folds open like an accordion. Each leaf of the door is hinged together to create a large, unobstructed opening.
  • Fixed Door: One or more non-operable panels within a single frame.
  • French (Double) Door: Also called a “double casement door”, it consists of two (2) operable panels hinged at the jambs and opens from the center.
  • Leaf: Part of a side-hinged door assembly. Leaves can be fixed or operable.
  • Lift and Slide Door: Bottom loaded door that slides on dedicated carriages. The term ‘lift’ refers to the door lifting off its track when the user engages the handle to ‘slide’ the panel(s).
  • Panel: Refers to the operable portion(s) of a door assembly. Comparable to a window sash.
  • Pivot Door: Unlike a casement door, pivot door’s swing on a dedicated pivot point aligned on top and bottom.
  • Pocket Door: Typically used with sliding door configurations, this door type has one or more panels that sliding into a wall pocket.
  • Single Door: Also called a “single casement door”, it consists of one (1) operable panel hinged at the jamb and swings opens to the side.
  • Top Hung Slider: Unlike a lift and slide door, a top hung slider is top loaded and slides on an upper track instead of bottom mounted carriages.

Glass

  • Annealed Glass: Breaks into irregular, sharp pieces; critical for durability but not as strong as tempered glass.
  • Argon Gas: Used in the airspace of dual or triple pane Low-E glass to enhance insulating performance.
  • Cap Seal: A continuous bead of silicone between the glass and frame edge.
  • Capillary Tubes: Small tubes in insulating glass units to equalize pressure and accommodate elevation changes.
  • Desiccant: Absorbent material in IGUs preventing fogging.
  • Dry Glazing: Achieved using gaskets between glass and glazing bead.
  • Dual (Double) Pane Glass: Two panes of glass with an air-filled space between, sometimes filled with argon gas.
  • Fully Tempered Glass: Heated and rapidly cooled, shatters into tiny fragments, providing strength and safety.
  • Glazing Pocket (Glazing Channel): The frame channel where the glass is placed.
  • Glazing: The act of installing glass in a frame.
  • Heat Strengthened Glass: Heat treated to be stronger than annealed glass, not considered safety glass.
  • Impact-Resistant Glass: Engineered for protection against wind-borne debris.
  • Laminated Glass: Bonded by a plastic layer (PVB), prevents shattering.
  • Lite: Individual glass panes within a window sash or door panel.
  • Low Iron Glass: Clearer and color neutral due to low iron content.
  • Low-E Glass: Reduces heat loss, known as 'heat-reflecting' glass.
  • Monolithic Glass: Thick glass with no airspace.
  • Obscure Glass: Patterned or textured glass limiting visibility.
  • Safety Glass: Laminated or Tempered types.
  • Single Glazing: A single layer of glass pane.
  • Spandrel Glass: Non-transparent glass for concealing building elements.
  • Structural Silicone Glazing (SSG): Bonded to structures using sealants, typically in curtain walls.
  • Tinted Glass: Colored exterior pane, absorbs solar energy.
  • Triple Pane Glass: Three panes of glass with two air-filled spaces, possibly filled with argon gas.
  • Wet Glazing: Achieved with butyl tape and silicone sealant for a watertight seal.

Hardware

  • Astragal: Commonly used to close the clearance gap at the center of a double door for various purposes.
  • Cam Handle: A surface-mounted handle that locks the window sash.
  • Closer: Assists in closing a window or door automatically.
  • Drip Cap: Directs water away from windows or doors.
  • Electric Operator: Motorized device for remote operation of various systems.
  • Escutcheon Plate: Decorative plate mounted on a door lockbox.
  • Fusible Link: Melts at a specific temperature to close a window or trigger a sprinkler system.
  • Glazing Bead: Profiles securing the glass in the frame.
  • Grilles/Muntins/Dividers/Grids: Simulate division between individual glass pieces.
  • Hinge: Provides swing operability for windows and doors.
  • Insect Screen: Mesh that allows ventilation while keeping insects out.
  • Jamb: Frame members on the sides of a window or door.
  • Kick-Panel: Insulated area at the bottom of a door.
  • Lock: Keyed mechanism to secure windows and doors.
  • Mullion: Frame member between individual units.
  • Multi-Point Lock: Lock that engages the frame at multiple points.
  • Operator: Used to operate hinged windows.
  • Passage Lock: Engages the frame at one location, often used for interior doors.
  • Peg Stay: Metal bar that holds a window open in different positions.
  • Pivot Hinge: Allows a vent to rotate in the frame.
  • Rail: Horizontal frame member of a panel or sash.
  • Roto Operator: Rotary crank for outswing casement windows.
  • Setting Block: Glazing material between the frame and IGU.
  • Shim: Used to plumb or level the frame.
  • Sill: Forms the bottom of a window or door frame.
  • Stile: Vertical frame member of a panel or sash.
  • T-Handle: Small handle for a roto operator.
  • Threshold: Transitional sill material.
  • Track: Surface for sliding window and door carriages.
  • Weather-Stripping: Insulates and weather-proofs frames.
  • Weephole (Weep): Allows for water drainage from windows or doors.

Technical terminology

  • Adhesion Coefficient: Measures how long sealants stay adhered to a surface.
  • Coefficient of Expansion: Measures thermal energy conduction.
  • Concentrated Load: A measurable force applied to a fixed point.
  • Deflection: Displacement due to component or material flexure under load.
  • Design Pressure (DP): Load pressure the assembly must meet, typically specified in PSF and MPH.
  • Outdoor/Indoor Transmission Class (OITC): Standard for sound transmission rate.
  • Performance Grade (PG): Industry rating for air, water, structural, and force entry performance.
  • R-Factor: Used for insulation in building envelopes (walls, floors, roofs, etc.).
  • Shading Coefficient (SC): Equal to 1.15 times the SHGC.
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): Measures sun’s heat energy passing through assemblies.
  • Sound Transmission Class (STC): Rating of resistance to airborne sound transfer.
  • Tensile Strength: Force required to break a material.
  • Tolerance: The allowed variation limit in a dimension or value.
  • U-Factor: Measurement of heat transmission through a window or door assembly.
  • UV Protection: Percentage of blocked ultra-violet rays.
  • Visible Light Transmission (VLT): Measures daylight allowed through a glazing system.
  • Yield Strength: Force required to cause a material to yield (permanently deform).

Remaining terms

  • Anodize: A finishing process that increases corrosion resistance and allows for coloring.
  • Backer-Rod: A polyurethane foam product compressed into gaps behind caulking.
  • Building Envelope: The physical separators between the interior and exterior of a building.
  • Cladding: Covering attached to the exterior frame or wall surface.
  • Clear Opening (CO): The effective clear opening when a window or door is fully open.
  • Condensation: Water vapor that collects as droplets or fog on the glass or frame surface.
  • Corrosion: Deterioration of metal due to environmental chemical reactions.
  • Daylight Opening (DO): The visible, unobstructed glass area.
  • Extrusion: A process to produce objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile.
  • Fenestration: Construction, design, or existence of openings in a building.
  • Flashing: Water-resistant material directing water to a drainage system or exterior surface.
  • Girder: A main horizontal support beam in a building or structure.
  • Header / Lintel: A structural beam extended across the top of the rough opening.
  • Inactive Panel/Sash: A window sash or door panel that opens only after the active panel is opened.
  • Interior Casing: Typically made from wood, the interior trim around the window.
  • IRC: International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings.
  • NFRC: National Fenestration Rating Council providing energy performance ratings.
  • Powder Coating: A durable dry finish painting process using polymer resin systems.
  • Profile: The finished geometry of an extrusion process.
  • RAL: Standardized color matching system for powder coating and varnishes.
  • Rough Opening (RO): Total opening size, including installation clearances.
  • X, O, P Sliding Identification: ‘X’ for operable, ‘O’ for stationary, ‘P’ for pocketing.