AAMA: American Architectural Manufacturers Association, a national trade association
that establishes voluntary standards for the window, door, and skylight industry.
Air Infiltration:
The amount of air leakage in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows, and doors. Airspacer: Component placed at the perimeter of an insulating glass unit to separate the two lites of glass.
Annealed Glass: Standard float glass. Argon: An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass to reduce heat transfer. Awning: Window with sash swinging outward from bottom. Balance:
Mechanical device used in single and double hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash during opening and closing. Bay:
A combination of window units, which projects to the exterior. Usually features a large center unit with two flanking units at 30 or 45 degree angles to the wall. Bottom Rail:
The bottom horizontal member of a window sash or door panel. Bow: A combination window, which projects to the exterior. Usually features four or more window units in a radial or bow formation. Casement:
Window with sash cranking outward, to the right or left. Casing: Exposed molding or profile around a window or door, on either the inside or outside, to cover the space between the window frame or door jamb and the wall. Caulking: A compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air. Condensation: Water vapor from the air deposited on any cold surface which has a temperature below the dew point.
CRF: Condensation Resistance Factor. A rating of a window's ability to resist condensation. The higher the CRF, the less likely condensation is to occur. Desiccant:
A material used to absorb moisture from within the sealed airspace of an insulating glass unit. Double-Strength Glass: Glass between 0.115 and 0.133 inches thick. Drip Cap:
Moulding placed on top of the header brickmold or casing of a window frame. Edge Effect: Heat transfer at the edge of an insulating glass unit due to the thermal properties of spacers and sealants. Energy Star:
A program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy which establishes minimum performance standards for windows to be recognized as energy efficient. Fogging:
A deposit or film left on an interior surface of a sealed insulating glass due to extreme conditions or failed seals. Fixed Lite: Non-venting or non-operable window. Flashing:
Strip of metal or other A thin material material that diverts water away from a window, door, or skylight. Float Glass: Glass produced by a process in which the ribbon is floated across a bath of molten tin. Fusion Weld:
A term used for a type of corner construction, used with vinyl and other types of windows and doors, in which a small amount of material on the ends of two pieces are melted or softened, then pushed together to form a single piece.
Glazing: Glass and other materials in a window or door. 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. Hollow-Core Door:
Flush door constructed with two skins or door faces separated by stiles and rails at the perimeter. Hopper: Window with sash that swings inward from the top. Insulating Glass (IG):
Two or more lites of glass with a hermetically sealed air space between the lites. The sealed space may contain air or be filled with an inert gas, such as argon. Laminated Glass:
Two or more sheets of glass with an inner layer of transparent plastic to which the glass adheres if broken. Used for enhanced safety and security, as well as sound reduction. Lite:
A piece of glass. In windows and doors, refers to separately framed panes of glass. Low-Emissivity (Low-E) glass: A coated glass to reduce heat transfer by reflecting electromagnetic waves. Mechanical Window:
A term for a product in which the corners are assembled using screws of other fastening mechanisms, as opposed to a welded corner construction. Mullion: A component used to structurally join two window or door units. Oriel:
Window style in which the upper sash is larger than the lower sash. Picture Window: Large, non-operating window. It is usually longer than it is wide to provide a panoramic view. Radiation:
the transfer of heat in the form of surface to another. Reflective Glass: Window glass coated to reflect visible light and solar radiation stiking the surface of the glass. Rough Opening:
Framed opening in a wall which a window or door unit is to be installed. R-Value: resistance to thermal transfer or heat flow. Higher R-value numbers indicate greater insulating value. Safety Glass:
A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering and less likely to cause injury if broken. Sash: An assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass. Shading Coefficient (SC):
A window's ability to transmit solar heat. The lower a unit's shading coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater the shading ability. Side Lites:
Narrow fixed units mulled or joined to operating door units to give a more open appearance. Single Glazing: Use of single lite of glass in a window. Not as energy efficient as insulating glass or other forms of double glazing.
Single Hung: A window resembling a double hung or vertically sliding window, with a fixed top sash. Single-Strength Glass: Glass with thickness between 0.085-0.100 inches. Solar Control Glass:
Glass produced with a coating or tint that absorbs or reflects solar energy reducing solar gain. Solid-Core Door: Flush door produced with a solid material placed within the door skins. Stile
: The main vertical frame members of a sash or door. Stop: A moulding used to hold, position, or separate window or door parts. Super Window: A generic term for a window with a very low U-value. Tempered Glass:
Glass heat treated to withstand greater than normal forces on its surface. When it breaks, it shatters into small pieces to reduce hazard. Transom:
Window used over top of a door or window, primarily for additional light and atheistic value. U-Value:
Rate of heat flow-value through a building component, from room air to outside air. The lower the U-Value the better the insulating value.
Glossary of Common Window & Door Terms
©2002 Salem Glass and Mirror, Inc.
Salem Glass and Mirror, Inc.
339 S. Broadway Avenue • Salem, OH 44460
Phone: (330) 337-3781 • Fax: (330) 337-1253
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8-5 • Sat: 9- Noon
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339 South Broadway Avenue, Salem, OH 44460 Phone: 330.337.3781 Fax: 330.337.1253