Glossary of Terms
- Argon gas
- an inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer
- Balance covers
- a snap in covering that conceals the balance system within the window frame helping to keep dirt and dust our of the chamber
- Block and tackle balance system
- the block and tackle system utilizes a high-density nylon pulley which is attached to a moveable block that travels up and down within a metal chamber and the tension from a heavy duty coil spring at the top of the block creates the proper resistance necessary for smooth operation of the window sash
- Butyl
- a rubber material that seals the glass to the spacer creating an airtight and water-tight insulated glass unit
- Coved glazing bead
- a contoured piece of vinyl that holds the glass in place within the sash and adds an elegant finished look
- Fenestration
- the placement of window openings in a building wall as one of the most important elements in controlling the exterior appearance of a building
- Fixed lite
- a pane of glass installed directly into non-operating framing members
- Fixed panel
- an inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or sliding window
- Fusion-welded
- the process of joining materials by melting them together with extreme heat (in most cases over 500°F) resulting in the materials combining into a one-piece unit
- Glazing bead
- a molding or stop around the inside of a window frame to hold the glass in place
- Grids
- optional horizontal and/or vertical lineals manufactured in a window to maintain the architectural style of a home
- Jamb
- a vertical member at the side of a window frame or the horizontal member at the top of the window frame
- Krypton gas
- an inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating windows to reduce heat transfer
- Lift
- handle for raising or lowering the sashes in an operable window
- Low emissivity (low-E)
- metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window glazing surface primarily to reduce the u-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow
- Meeting rail
- the part of a sliding glass door, a sliding window or a hung window where two sashes meet and create a weather barrier
- R-value
- a measure of the resistance of a glazing material or fenestration assembly to heat flow
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
- the fraction of solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly
- Spacer
- an object placed between two or more pieces of glass which helps to maintain a uniform width between the glass and helps prevent sealant distortion
- u-Value (u-Factor)
- a measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly
- Weatherstripping
- material used to form weather-resistant seal around an operable sash
