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The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
Standard sheet of float glass which has not been heat-treated.
An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer.
An astragal is a piece of hardware that is used on a pair of doors to seal the gap between the doors when they are closed. Astragals are different from a mullion because the astragal is fastened to the door itself. A mullion is attached to the frame and the doors stop against it..
Window similar to a casement except the sash is hinged at the top and always swings out.
An abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, the heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
A mechanical device (normally spiral, spring-loaded) used in single- and double-hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash during opening and closing. Other types include block and tackle, cords with weights, springs and coils.
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.
The bottom horizontal member of a window sash.
A rounded bay window that projects from the wall in an arc shape, usually consisting of 4 or more windows.
A standard milled wood trim piece that covers the gap between the window frame and masonry.
A single point locking mechanism that uses a cam action to lock and pull the window sash against the frame to form a tighter seal. Large windows may have more than one cam lock.
A window sash that swings open on side hinges.
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.
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.
A 2 panel patio door system with the operable panel hinged from the center of the door.
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.
A window in the upper part of a lofty room that admits light to the center of the room.
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.
Heat transfer through a solid material by contact of one molecule to the next. Heat flows from a higher-temperature area to a lower-temperature one.
A heat transfer process involving motion in a fluid (such as air) caused by the difference in density of the fluid and the action of gravity. Convection affects heat transfer from the glass surface to room air, and between two panes of glass.
The visible area of glass in a window or door.
The temperature at which water vapor in air will condense at a given state of humidity and pressure.
A window opening divided into smaller sections by a grid system on the interior or exterior of the glass, or between the glass panes.
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.
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.
Sheet glass between 0.115" and 0.133" (3-3.38 mm) thick.
Fire escape 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 building codes.
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.
Windows with a shallow arched head with the arch using only a section of a circle radius. These are different from an ellipse or a half-circle. Can be made with or without extended legs.
An inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or slider window.
A window with no operating sashes. See Picture Window.
Sheet metal or other material applied to seal and protect the joints formed by different materials or surfaces.
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.
A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures or failed seals.
The fixed frame of a window which holds the sash or casement as well as hardware.
A style of door in which 2 panels open to provide a clear opening almost as wide as the door frame.
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.
Windows of various shapes including: triangles, trapezoids, octagons, and pentagons.
An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides.
The glass or plastic panes in a window, door, or skylight.
A molding or stop around the inside of a window frame to hold the glass in place.
The upper horizontal member of a window frame. Also called head.
The transfer of heat from outside to inside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
The transfer of heat from inside to outside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
Window glass containing chemicals (with gray, bronze, or blue-green tint) which absorb light and heat radiation, and reduce glare and brightness. See also Tinted glass.
Windows (casement, awning, and hopper) with an operating sash that has hinges on one side. See also Projected window.
A window with a movable panel that slides horizontally.
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.
See U-factor.
