A

Active Door: The door on a set of double doors which has the operating hardware and is used when a person enters or leaves a building. The other door is referred to as the INACTIVE DOOR.
Adjustable Threshold: A threshold that can be adjusted up and down to ensure a tight seal with the door panel. Creates a customized fit for changing weather conditions, i.e. humidity, cold, dry air, etc.
Air infiltration: The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
Annealing.: Heating above the critical or recrystallization temperature, then controlled cooling of metal, glass, or other materials to relieve internal stresses.
Argon: An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer.
Astragal: A metal or wood extension (strip) positioned between the two Panels of a Double Door. The Astragal is attached to the side (stile) of the Fixed Panel and is often equipped with weather-stripping on the inside face where the active panel meets the extension. The astragal serves as a door stop for the active panel and as a weather seal.
Atrium Door: A brand name that has become to mean a 2 or 3 panel hinged door with only one panel that opens.
Awning: Window similar to a casement except the sash is hinged at the top and always swings out.

B

Back set: The distance from the edge of the door to the center of the hardware hole. Two standard Backsets are 2-3/8 and 2-3/4 other backsets are available.
Balance Shoe: The balance shoe provides the connection between the sash and balancers and guides the sash up and down in the jamb channel.
Balance(s): Spring or weight systems designed as counter weights on a Double or Single Hung Window. Balances keep the sashes in a Double or Single Hung Window in position when raised or lowered.
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, double-hung awning or casement windows.
Brick molding: Most common exterior trim found on windows and doors. Normally measures 2 inches wide. Inside thickness is 1 inch, outside thickness is 1-3/16 inches thick.
Button cover: A small plastic cover used to close the holes where the installation screws are installed. These button covers complete the frame and seal the window from water and air coming in through the frame drain openings.
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.
Brick molding: A standard milled wood trim piece that covers the gap between the window frame and masonry.
Bug Flap: A thin strip of vinyl accross the top of a Double hung or the side of a slider screen to keep insects from crawling in past edge where the sash and screen meet.

C

Caming: Metal separator that holds individual pieces of decorative glass in place. Caming is typically brass with a variety of decorative finishes.
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.
Casting: A decorative molded metal (Aluminum) attachment for the frame.
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.
Check rail: The bottom horizontal member of the upper sash and the top horizontal member of the lower sash which meet at the middle of a double-hung window.
Clerestory: A window in the upper part of a lofty room that admits light to the center of the room.
Closure: A hydraulic tube like device attached to the Storm Door panel and to the Entry Door Jamb. The Closure is adjustable and controls the speed in which the Door panel closes.

D

Desiccant: An extremely porous crystalline substance used to absorb moisture from within the sealed air space of an insulating glass unit.
Dead Lite: Is a picture window made with common sash material all around to be installed in a pre-existing frame.
Divided light: A window with a number of smaller panes of glass separated and held in place by muntins.
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" (3.173 and 3.38 mm) thick.

E

Evacuated glazing.: Insulating glazing composed of two glass layers, hermetically sealed at the edges, with a vacuum between to eliminate convection and conduction. A spacer system is needed to keep the panes from touching.
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.
Eyebrow windows: Low, inward-opening windows with a bottom-hinged sash. These attic windows built into the top molding of the house are sometimes called "lie-on-your-stomach" or "slave" windows. Often found on Greek Revival and Italianate houses.
Expander: The expander is used on the bottom of a door to adjust the length of a door to fit an opening that is slighty over sized of out of plumb.

F

Fenestration: The placement of window openings in a building wall, one of the important elements in controlling the exterior appearance of a building. Also, a window, door, or skylight and its associated interior or exterior elements, such as shades or blinds.
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.
Flashing: Sheet metal or other material applied to seal and protect the joints formed by different materials or surfaces.
Float glass: Glass formed by a process of floating the material on a bed of molten metal. It produces a high-optical-quality glass with parallel surfaces, without polishing and grinding.
Fogging: A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures or failed seals.
Frame: The outside edge of the door unit surrounding the door panel. Composed of the jambs, head and sill. The frame creates the boundary of the door and works with the door panel to ensure a tight, weatherproofed home.
French Door: A patio door unit consisting of 2 door panels that hinge off both jambs, creating a large area for passage.
Frieze Glass: Is the glass panel that covers the frieze. In architecture the frieze is the wide central section of a wall panel and may be plain or decorated. In a Security Door it is the center part of the door between lock box and hinge jamb. This area may contain a casting or slot for mail or magazine or a combination of all.

G

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: Method of securing a piece of glass or Glass Unit into a window sash frame.
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.

H

Handing: Describes direction door opens and placement of the handle. When standing outside, look at the closed door.

If door swings in: Handle on right = left hand door Handle on left = right hand door

If door swings out:Handle on right = right hand door Handle on left = left hand door

Header: The upper horizontal member of a window or door frame.
Head Expander: A "C" channel shape used to capture the top of the window when installing.
Heat-absorbing glass: Window glass containing chemicals (with gray, bronze, or blue-green tint)which absorb light and heat radiation, and reduce glare and brightness.
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.
Heat-strengthened glass.: Glass that is reheated, after forming, to just below melting point, and then cooled, forming a compressed surface that increases its strength beyond that of typical annealed glass.
Hinged windows.: Windows (casement, awning, and hopper) with an operating sash that has hinges on one side. See also Projected window.
Hopper.: Window with sash hinged at the bottom.
Horizontal slider.: A window with a movable panel that slides horizontally.

I

Infiltration.: See air leakage.
Insulating glass(I.G.): Two or more pieces of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between. Also called double glazing.
Interlock ( Meeting Rail): U shaped channels attached to the upper and lower sashes. When in the closed position the channels from the two panels interlock to provide a weather (air and water) barrier.

J

Jamb.: A vertical member at the side of a window frame, or the horizontal member at the top of the window frame, as in head jamb.

K

Krypton.: An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating windows to reduce heat transfer.
Kerf: The gut or groove manufactured in a door or window frame or sash which houses weather-stripping. The kerf normally measures 3/8 inch deep by one eighth wide (saw blade width).

L

L Frame: The material that makes up the frame around a replacement entry door. Consisting of three pieces, hing-side, lock-side and header
Lift Rail.: Handle for raising the lower sash in a double-hung window. Also called sash lift.
Light.: A window; a pane of glass within a window. Double-hung windows are designated by the number of lights in upper and lower sash, as in six-over-six. Also spelled informally lite.
Lintel.: A horizontal member above a window or door opening that supports the structure above.
Low-conductance spacers.: An assembly of materials designed to reduce heat transfer at the edge of an insulating window. Spacers are placed between the panes of glass in a double- or triple-glazed window.
Low-emittance (Low-E) coating.: Microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce the U-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow. A typical type of low-E coating is transparent to the solar spectrum (visible light and short-wave infrared radiation) and reflective of long-wave infrared radiation.

M

Meeting rail.: The part of a sliding glass door, a sliding window, or a hung window where two panels meet and create a weather barrier.
Muntin.: A secondary framing member (horizontal,nal) to hold the window panes in the sash. This term is often confused with mullion.
Muntin (Grid): Vertical, horizontal or diagonal decorative strips used to give the appearance of individual panes.
Mullion: A major structural vertical or horizontal member between window units or sliding glass doors that joins them into one unit.
Mull Post: Structural post between the sidelite and the door. Provides structural integrity to the door unit.
Multi-Point Locking System: Locks in more than one location on the door and frame. Provides increased security and a weathertight seal.

N

Nailing fin.: An 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.

O

Obscure glass.: Any textured glass (frosted, etched, fluted, ground, etc.) used for privacy, light diffusion, or decorative effects.
Operable window.: Window that can be opened for ventilation.
Operator.: Crank-operated device for opening and closing casement or jalousie windows.
Oriel Window: A single hung window with one sash taller than the other. Can be a double hung or a picture window with muntin grid to make the offset in the size of the lights

P

Pane.: One of the compartments of a door or window consisting of a single sheet of glass in a frame; also, a sheet of glass.
Panel.: A major component of a sliding glass door, consisting of a light of glass in a frame installed within the main (or outer) frame of the door. A panel may be sliding or fixed.
Picture window.: A large, fixed window framed so that it is usually, but not always, longer horizontally than vertically to provide a panoramic view.
pivot bar: A pin that connects the sash to the frame, locks into the balance shoe and allows the sash to be tilted out (generaly for cleaning).
Plate glass.: A rolled, ground, and polished product with true flat parallel plane surfaces affording excellent vision. It has been replaced by float glass.
Polyvinylchloride (PVC).: An extruded or molded plastic material used for window framing and as a thermal barrier for aluminum windows.
Projected window.: A window fitted with one or more sashes opening on pivoted arms or hinges. Refers to casements, awnings, and hoppers.

R

Rail (window): Horizontal member of a window sash.
Rail(entry): Two horizontal areas on the door panel above and below the glass or embossing.
Reflective glass: Window glass coated to reflect radiation striking the surface of the glass.
Reinforcement Plate: Steel plates (or sheets) behind the locking system designed to increase the security factor of the door. The further the lockset is from the deadbolt, the greater the resistance to forced entry.
Retrofitting: Adding or replacing items on existing buildings. Typical retrofit products are replacement doors and windows, insulation, storm windows,caulking, weatherstripping, vents, landscaping.
Rough opening: An opening constructed to accomodate the outside dimensions of a door or window frame. It is usually made 1" wider and 3/4" higher then the outside dimensions of the door frame.

S

Safety glass: A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering.
Safety Chain or Storm Chain: Chain and spring combination that protects the door in high winds from over extending the hinges and closure if the door is blown open.
Sash: The portion of a window that includes the glass and the framing sections directly attached to the glass, not to be confused with the complete frame into which the sash sections are fitted.
Sash lock: Mechanism(s)made up of two parts the Lock and a keeper that are attached to master frame and/or sash used to secure window once in closed position.
Screen: Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects.
Sealant: A compressible plastic material used to seal any opening or junction of two parts, such as between the glass and a metal sash, commonly made of silicone, butyl tape, or polysulfide.
Sidelite: Glass decorative accessory placed next to a door for ornamentation and to allow light to pass through.
Sill: the lowest horizontal member in a door, window,or sash frame.
Simulated divided lights: A window that has the appearance of a number of smaller panes of glass separated by muntins, but actually is a larger glazing unit with the muntins placed between or on the surfaces of the glass layers.
Single glazing.: Single thickness of glass in a window or door.
Single-hung window: A window consisting of two sashes of glass, the top one stationary and the bottom movable.
Single-strength glass: Glass with thickness between 0.085" and 0.100" (2.162.57 mm).
Skylight: (operable or pivot) A roof window that gives light and ventilation.
Sliding window: A window fitted with one or more sashes opening by sliding horizontally or vertically in grooves provided by frame members. Vertical sliders may be single- or double-hung.
Stile: The upright or vertical edges of a door, window,or screen.
Stop: The molding on the inside of a window frame against which the window sash closes; in the case of a double-hung window, the sash slides against the stop.
Strikeplate: Protects the jamb from the hardware latch. Covers the latch and deadbolt.
Subsill: Area beneath the sill. Sometimes includes a weep system to drain water away from the home.
Sweep: The weatherseal on the bottom of the door panel that makes contact with the threshold.
Swing-in: Describes a door system which opens inward, toward the home, when in operation.
Swing-out: Describes a door system which opens outward, away from the home, when in operation.

T

Tempered: Type of safety glass that undergoes a special firing process. designed to break in tiny fragments of glass.
Thermal break: An element of low conductance placed between elements of higher conductance to reduce the flow of heat. Often used in aluminum windows.
Thermal expansion: Change in dimension of a material as a result of temperature change.
Threshold: The member that lies at the bottom of a sliding glass door or swinging door; the sill of a doorway.
Tilt window: A single- or double-hung window whose operable sash can be tilted into the room for interior washability.
Tilt latch: A lever that protrudes out from the top of the sash and holds the sash in the window main frame. The tilt latch can be retracted to allow the sash to be removed or tilted out of the main frame for cleaning.
Tilt latch Button: Is a small thumb button that is used in the tilt latch to retract the latches.
Tinted glass: Glass colored by incorporation of a mineral admixture. Any tinting reduces both visual and radiant transmittance.
Transom: A horizontal transverse beam or bar in a frame; a crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Also, a window above a door or other window, built on and commonly hinged to a transom.
Transom window: The window sash located above a door.
Triple glazing: Three panes of glass or plastic with two air spaces between.

V

Vent: The movable framework or sash in a glazed window that is hinged or pivoted to swing open.
Vinyl: Polyvinyl chloride material, which can be both rigid or flexible, used for window frames.

W

Warm-edge technology: The use of low-conductance spacers to reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glazing.
Weather stripping: Strip of resilient material for covering the joint between the window sash and frame in order to reduce air leaks and prevent water from entering the structure.
Weep hole: A small opening in a wall or window sill member through which water may drain to the building exterior.
Window: A glazed opening in an external wall of a building; an entire unit consisting of a frame sash and glazing, and any operable elements.
Window hardware: Various devices and mechanisms for the window including catches, fasteners and locks, hinges, pivots, lifts and pulls, pulleys and sash weights, sash balances, and stays.

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