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A |
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Air
Chambers |
Small
honeycomb spaces within the sash and frame which help to
insulate and strengthen the window |
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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.
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Air
Latch |
Latch
mechanism on the interior face of the sash that retains
the window in a partially open position for ventilation.
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Angled Exterior |
A
sloped extension from the frame that adds an
aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the
window. |
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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.
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Awning Window |
A
hinged window that swings outward for ventilation.
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B |
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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. |
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Beveled Exterior |
An
angled extension from the frame that adds an
aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the
window. |
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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.
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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.
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C |
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Casement Window |
A
window with a side-hinged sash that opens outward for
ventilation. |
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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. |
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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.
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Conduction |
Energy transfer from one material to another by direct
contact. |
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Convection |
Heat
transfer by currents that flow from a warm surface to a
colder one. |
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Capping |
An
extension from the frame that adds an
aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the
window. |
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D |
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Dead-air space |
The
space between the panes of glass of an I.G. Unit.
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Double Hung Window |
A
window that has two operable sash which slide
vertically. |
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Double-strength Glass |
Glass
with a thickness of approximately 1/8". |
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E |
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Egress Code |
The
code that requires a minimum opening of a window for
persons to exit or firefighters to enter a building. |
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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 |
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F |
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Fusion-welded |
The
process of joining materials by melting them together
with extreme heat (over 500F), resulting in the
materials uniting into a one-piece unit. |
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G |
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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. |
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Glazing Bead |
A
strip of vinyl which surrounds the edge of the glass and
holds it in place in conjunction with other sealants. |
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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 |
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H |
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Header |
The
horizontal top portion of the main frame. |
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Haze |
Haze is the
percentage of transmitted light which in passing through
the specimen deviates from the incident beam by forward
scattering. In essence, the higher the haze value, the
poorer the product is for clarity. The haze % for Low E2
is 0.14 as compared to anywhere from 0.74 up to 1
.40 for pyrolytic Mid-E coatings. |
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I |
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I.G.
Unit (Insulating Glass Unit) |
Two
or more lites of glass separated by a spacer and
hermetically sealed at the glass edges. |
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Interlocking Channel |
The
horizontal sections of a pair of sash that meet when the
sash are closed. |
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J |
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Jamb |
Vertical sections of the main frame. |
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K |
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Keeper Rail |
The
horizontal section of the sash where the keeper is
attached. |
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Keeper Stile |
The
vertical section of the sash where the keeper is
attached. |
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L |
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Laminated Glass |
Two
or more pieces of glass bonded together over a plastic
interlayer. |
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Lift
Rail |
A
handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Rail implies
that the handhold is continuous across the sash. |
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Lite |
A
unit of glass in a window. |
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Lock
Rail |
The
horizontal section of the sash where the cam lock is
attached. |
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Lock
Stile |
The
vertical section of the sash where the cam lock is
attached. |
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Lock and Keeper |
The
mechanisms which pull the sash together when placed in
the locked position. |
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Low E Glass |
Low E glass stands
for Low Emissivity Glass. This type of glass coating was
developed to provide improved solar heat gain
coefficient performance. |
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Low E2
Glass |
Low E squared was
developed to provide better summer daytime performance
with only a slight reduction in visible light
transmittance. Because of the excellent winter
nighttime and summer daytime performance of Low E2,
it is becoming the popular choice for many residential
window applications. |
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M |
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Main
Frame |
The
head, sill and jambs sections of a window. |
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Mechanically Fastened Frame |
Refers to frames fastened with screws. |
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Meeting Stile |
The
vertical section of a pair of sash that meet when the
sash are closed. |
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Mesh |
Fabric made of either fiberglass or aluminum, used in
the making of screens. |
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Mullion |
A
vertical or horizontal connecting unit between two or
more windows. |
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N |
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Nailing Fin |
An
extrusion attached to the main frame of a window used to
secure the unit to the rough opening. |
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O |
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Obscure Glass |
Glass
that has been made translucent instead of transparent. |
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Overlapping and Interlocking Meeting Rail |
A
patented meeting rail which overlaps and interlocks both
sash. |
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P |
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Patio
door |
A
glass door that slides opens and close on adjustable
brass rollers. Available in 2-3 or 4 lite configurations
with the operable panel available in any position. |
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Picture Window |
A
window that has no moveable sash. |
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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.
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Pull
Handle |
A
handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Handle
implies that the handhold is not continuous across the
sash. |
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Pull
rail |
A
handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Rail
implies that the handhold is continuous across the sash. |
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Pyrolytic Coatings
(Hard Coat) |
As the name implies,
these coatings are applied to hot glass. This type of
coating gives a “Mid-E” performance far from that of Low
E2. It provides rather poor optical quality
(color) and consistency of coating. Another disadvantage
of pyrolytic coatings is that they exhibit high haze
levels compared to that of Low E2. Most Low E
glass available today on the market is made this way. |
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R |
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R-value |
Resistance a material has to heat flow. The higher the
R-value, the greater the resistance. |
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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. |
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Rail |
The
horizontal sections of the sash. |
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Raised Exterior |
An
angled extension from the frame that adds an
aesthetically pleasing dimension to the exterior of the
window |
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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. |
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S |
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Sash |
The
part of the window which contains the glass. |
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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. |
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Sill |
The
horizontal, bottom section of the main frame. |
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Sill
Extender |
An
extrusion that is attached to the bottom of the window
to cover the gap between the sill and the rough opening.
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Single Hung |
A
window in which one sash slides vertically and the other
sash is fixed. |
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Single-strength Glass |
Glass with thickness between 0.085 and 0.100 inches. |
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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. |
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Solar Heat Gain
Coefficient (SHGC)
|
The fraction of
incident solar radiation which enters a building as
heat. It is based on the sum of the solar energy
transmittance plus inwardly flowing fraction of absorbed
solar energy on all lites of the glazing. It can be
expressed in terms of a window or the glazing alone. |
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Solar Energy
Transmittance |
In the solar
spectrum, the percentage of ultraviolet, visible and
near infrared energy from the sun that is transmitted
through the glazing. |
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Spacer |
Material placed between two or more pieces of glass in
order to maintain a uniform width between the glass, and
prevent sealant distortion. |
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Spiral Balance |
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. |
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Sputtered Coatings
(Soft Coat) |
This is how Low E2
is made. The advantage of this coating is that it
provides overall qualities of high visible light
transmission, neutral color, coating uniformity and low
emissivily. This combination provides a nearly invisible
coating with the highest level of performance possible. |
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Solar Energy
Reflectance |
In the solar spectrum
(300 to 2500 nanometers), the percentage of ultraviolet,
visible and near infrared energy from the sun that is
reflected from the glazing surface(s). |
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T |
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Tape
Glazing |
Two-sided tape used to secure and seal the glass to the
sash. |
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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. |
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Tilt
Latch |
Mechanism that unlocks the sash and allows it to tilt in
from the main frame. |
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Tilt-in/lift-out sash |
A
sash that can be tilted to the interior and removed for
cleaning and is manufactured by welding. |
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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. |
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Trapezoid |
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. |
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U |
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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. |
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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. |
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V |
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Vent-lock |
Latch
mechanism on the interior face of the sash which retains
the window in a partially open position for ventilation. |
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Vinyl |
Generic term for Polyvinylchloride or PVC, an extruded
material used for window and door framing. |
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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. |
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W |
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Weather-stripping |
Material used to form a weather-resistant seal around
operable sash. |
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Weep
flaps |
A
weep hole that is covered with vinyl flap that allows
water to escape, while keeping insects out. |
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Weep
Holes |
Small
openings designed to allow water to escape that might
otherwise accumulate in a window's sill. |
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Weep
Slots |
Slots
or holes in the sill (bottom) member of the sash frame
that provides an outdoor release of infiltrated
rainwater. |
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Wet
Glazing |
A
silicone-based substance used to secure and seal the
glass to the sash. |
