Window Installation

A

Air Chambers
Small honeycomb spaces within the sash and frame which help to insulate and strengthen the window

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.

B

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.

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.

C

Casement Window
A window with a side-hinged sash that opens outward for ventilation.

D

Dead-air space
The space between the panes of glass of an I.G. Unit.

Double Hung Window
A window that has two operable sash which slide vertically.

E

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

F

Fusion-welded
The process of joining materials by melting them together with extreme heat (over 500°F), resulting in the materials uniting into a one-piece unit.

G

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.

Glazing Bead
A strip of vinyl which surrounds the edge of the glass and holds it in place in conjunction with other sealants.

H

Head
The horizontal top portion of the main frame.

Head expander
A vinyl shape cut the width of a product and placed on the head, fitting over it snugly. This piece is used as a filler to expand or lengthen the unit from the head and take up the gap in the opening between the unit and the opening in the unit.

Hopper
A window with a bottom-hinged sash that opens inward for ventilation.

J

Jamb
Vertical sections of the main frame.

K

Keeper Rail
The horizontal section of the sash where the keeper is attached.

Keeper Stile
The vertical section of the sash where the keeper is attached.

L

Lift Handle
A handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Handle implies that the handhold is not continuous across the sash.

Lift Rail
A handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Rail implies that the handhold is continuous across the sash.

Lock Rail
The horizontal section of the sash where the cam lock is attached.

M

Main Frame
The head, sill and jambs sections of a window.

Mechanically Fastened Frame
Refers to frames fastened with screws.

N

Nailing Fin
An extrusion attached to the main frame of a window used to secure the unit to the rough opening.

P

Patio door
A glass door that slides opens and close on adjustable tandem rollers. Available in 2- or 3-lite configurations with the operable panel available in any position.

Picture Window
A window that has no moveable sash.

R

R-value
Resistance a material has to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance.

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.

S

Sash
The part of the window which contains the glass.

Sill
The horizontal, bottom section of the main frame.

T

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.

Tilt-in/lift-out sash
A sash that can be tilted to the interior and removed for cleaning and is manufactured by welding.

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.

U

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.

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.

V

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.

W

Weep Holes
Small openings designed to allow water to escape that might otherwise accumulate in a window’s sill.

Weep Slots
Slots or holes in the sill (bottom) member of the sash frame that provides an outdoor release of infiltrated rainwater.