Glossary Flashcards
AAMA
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION. A national trace association that establishes voluntary standards for the window, door, storefront, curtain wall, and skylight industries.
Air infiltration
The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
Air-leakage (air infiltration)
The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows, and doors.
Annealed glass
Standard sheet of float glass which has not been heat-treated.
Annealing
Heating above the critical or recrystallization temperature, then controlled cooling of metal, glass, or other materials to eliminate the effects of cold-working, relieve internal stresses, or improve strength, ductility, or other properties.
Argon
An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer.
Awning
Window similar to a casement except the sash is hinged at the top and always swings out.
Balance
A 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
An arrangement of three or more individual window units, attached so as to project from the building at various angles. In a three-unit bay, the center section is normally fixed, with the end panels operable as single-hung or casement windows.
Bottom rail
The bottom horizontal member of a window sash.
Bow window
A rounded bay window that projects from the wall in an arc shape, commonly consisting of five sashes.
Casement
A window sash that swings open on side hinges: in-swinging are French in origin; out-swinging are from England.
Casing
Exposed molding or framing around a window or door, on either the inside or outside, to cover the space between the window frame or jamb and the wall.
Caulking
A mastic compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air, commonly made of silicone, bituminous, acrylic, or rubber-based material.
Condensation
The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air.
Double glazing
In general, two thicknesses of glass separated by an air space within an opening to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In factory-made double glazing units, the air between the glass sheets is thoroughly dried and the space is sealed airtight, eliminating possible condensation and providing superior insulating properties.
Double-hung window
A window consisting of two sashes operating in a rectangular frame, in which both the upper and lower halves can be slid up and down. A counterbalance mechanism usually holds the sash in place.
Double-strength glass
Sheet glass between 0.115” and 0.133” (2.92–3.39 mm) thick.
Emergency exit window
Fire escape window (egress window) large enough for a person to climb out. In U.S. building codes, each bedroom must be provided with an exit window. The exact width, area, and height from the floor are specified in the building codes
Exterior stop
The removable glazing bead that holds the glass or panel in place when it is on the exterior side of the light or panel, in contrast to an interior stop located on the interior side of the glass.
Extrusion
The process of producing vinyl or aluminum shapes by forcing heated material through an orifice in a die. Also, any item made by this process.
Fixed light
A pane of glass installed directly into non-operating framing members; also, the opening or space for a pane of glass in a non-operating frame.
Fixed panel
An inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or slider window.
Fixed window
A window with no operating sashes.
Frame
The fixed frame of a window which holds the sash or casement as well as hardware.
Gas fill
A gas other than air, usually argon or krypton, placed between window or skylight glazing panes to reduce the U-factor by suppressing conduction and convection.
Glass
An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides.
Glazing
The glass or plastic panes in a window, door, or skylight.
Glazing bead
A molding or stop around the inside of a window frame to hold the glass in place.
Greenhouse window
A three-dimensional window that projects from the exterior wall and usually has glazing on all sides except the bottom, which serves as a shelf.
Header
The upper horizontal member of a window frame. Also called head.