Are you looking for a term related to the building enclosure or curtain wall industry but have no idea what it means? Look no further. This comprehensive directory of building envelope industry terminologies can help.

American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is a national trade association that establishes voluntary standards for the window, door, and skylight industry.
ACTIVE SOLAR HEAT GAIN Solar heat that passes through a material and is captured by mechanical means
ACOUSTICS A science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound
ADHESION The property of a coating or sealant that measures its ability to adhere or bond to the surface to which it is applied.
ADHESION PEEL TEST The separation of a bond, whereby the material is pulled away from the surface at a 90-degree angle or a 180-degree angle to the plane to which it is adhered. Values are expressed in pounds/inch width. Failure is defined as adhesive or cohesive.
ADHESIVE FAILURE Failure of the bond between the sealant and the surface to which it is in contact. This is a bad failure.
ADHESIVE MATERIAL Provides the seal between the facing material and the surface to which it adheres.
AESTHETICS The science and philosophy of beauty
AIR AND WATER BARRIER Wall system layer(s) that limits the transfer of liquid water and air through the system. The barrier shall be adequate to withstand design wind load requirements, either independently or through a backup system. The terms “air and water barrier” and/or “air/water barrier” may also indicate a material that is also a vapor retarder.
AIR BARRIER The assembly of materials used in building construction to cut down on the passage of air in and out of the building.
AIR INFILTRATION The amount of air that passes between a window sash and frame, a door panel and frame, or the glazing system of fixed windows.
AIR LEAKAGE The flow of air that passes through fenestration products
AIR SEAL A continuous seal is put into the air gap area around the interior side, exterior side, or both sides of the fenestration perimeter to restrict infiltration or exfiltration of air past the fenestration product.
APRON A horizontal trim board under a window stool.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE/ CONDITIONS The temperature or conditions (humidity, air velocity, light exposure, etc.) that surround or encompass the area of concern, i.e., a test specimen, framing member, etc.
ANCHOR Any device used to secure a building part or component to adjoining construction or a supporting member. See also FLOOR ANCHOR and JAMB ANCHOR
ANCHORAGE The attachment of the individual products or mulled fenestration assembly to the rough opening regarding transferring load.
ANNEALED GLASS Raw glass is used as a glazing product. Further processing is required to transform annealed glass into safety glass.
ANODIC COATING/FINISHES Anodic coatings are composed of aluminum oxide and are an integral part of the aluminum substrate. Careful control is essential to the electrolytic anodizing process, and it provides a substantial improvement over the natural oxide film due to the greater thickness, density, and hardness of these factory-produced finishes. They may be clear (natural) or colored. Color is electrolytically deposited or integral. Pre-anodic chemical treatments clean and prepare the aluminum for the anodic finish.
ANODIZE To give an aluminum oxide coating by electrolytic action.
ANODIZING ALUMINUM Aluminum is treated by electrolysis to develop a finished surface (an extremely hard, non-corrosive oxide film). The electrochemical process produces an anodic coating by converting aluminum into aluminum oxide by electrolytic action. The resulting finish may be either clear or colored and is an integral part of the aluminum.
ANTI-WALK BLOCKS Elastomeric blocks limit glass from moving laterally in the glazing rabbet which may result from thermal, seismic, wind load effects, building movement, and other forces that may apply.
APPLIED COATING The process of applying an organic coating using various application methods on a prepared surface and curing it into a continuous film.
APPLIED MUNTIN A profile member applied to the exterior or interior of a lite of glass to simulate individual glass lites. The members may be tape applied, sandwiched with the glass and glazed in, or designed to be removable.
ARCHITECTURAL PROFILE DETAILS Fenestration details provided in architectural drawings, at concept or design-development stages, usually in small 1/16” = 1’-0” or 1/8” = 1’-0” scale, indicating fenestration external profiles only, without great detail in adjacent materials, and interfaces. These are typically generated as “views” of the overall building BIM model.
ARCHITECTURAL TERRACE DOOR A door primarily used for terrace access in high-rise applications/buildings. Architectural terrace doors consist of one or more glazed panels contained within one master frame. The operable panels will be hinged on either jamb and can swing either to the exterior or interior (not both). The door is not used as a primary entrance door because of the nature of the sill/threshold design used to meet performance requirements. Architectural terrace doors are not tested for limited water and meet the requirements of AAMA 910.
AREA Thermal performance characteristics of fenestration products are dependent on the vision area, spandrel area, center-of-glass area, edge-of-glass area, frame area, and total area.
ARGON GAS (ARGON FILLED) An inert, nontoxic gas placed between glass panes in insulated glass units in order to improve the insulating value of sealed glass units.
ASPECT RATIO The quotient of the long side of a glazing lite over the short side of that lite.
ASSEMBLED UNIT A unit, complete in its entirety, shipped with all parts and sub-assemblies in complete connection with each other and with no separate pieces. Screens, if offered, may be shipped separately.
ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS Drawings that show typical cross sections of the egress window system,
ASTM (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS) A group that develops test methods and materials standards that are widely used by the construction and building design industries. Considered one of the bases for acceptable testing levels of quality for materials used in construction.
AWNING WINDOW A window consisting of one or more sash hinged at the top or bottom which project outward or inward from the plane of the frame. An awning rotates about its top hinge(s) and projects outward. A hopper window rotates about its bottom hinge(s) and projects inward.
BACK CLOSURE Complementary member used in forming tube for side jamb
BACKER ROD A material placed into a joint, primarily to control the depth and shape of the sealant. Also serves as a bond breaker.
BALCONY An exterior floor that projects from the wall of a building is completely supported by the building structure and is enclosed by a parapet or railing.
BASELINE UNIT One test specimen representative of the product line under evaluation fabricated using standard construction for that product line with the highest conductivity glazing option for that product line. A baseline test specimen glazed with an insulating glass unit (IGU) shall be filled with air.
ASIC WIND SPEED The wind velocity used to calculate external pressures acting on a surface or structure. Basic Wind Speed is expressed in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (kph) and is based on wind speed maps included in building codes or other related standards.
BEAD A sealant after application in a joint irrespective of the method of application, such as sealant bead, etc. A strip of metal or wood is used around the periphery of a lite of glass to secure it in place (also referred to as a stop). A strip of sealant, glazing compound or putty.
BED OR BEDDING The bead of compound applied between two materials, normally the glass or panel and the stop or frame.
BETWEEN GLASS MUNTIN A small profile member is installed between the lites of glass, in a sealed insulating glass unit, to simulate individual glass lites.
BEVEL A sloped or canted surface contiguous with a vertical or horizontal one. SFM-1-87
BEVEL OF SEALANT BEAD In glazing, a bead of sealant is applied to provide a slanted top surface so that water will drain away from the glass or panel.
BITE The dimension by which the inner or outer edge of the frame or glazing stop overlaps the edge of the glazing.
BITE FAILURE Glazing or infill panel disengagement from the fenestration system that is attributed to an inadequate bite.
BLEEDING A migration of a liquid to the surface of a component or into/onto an adjacent material.
BLOCK A small piece of elastomeric or other suitable material used to support or position the glass in the frame
BRAKE SHAPE Sheet stock bent or “broken” to the desired shape, as required by the specific job, on a power or manual brake machine. This shape is often used to cover conditions that cannot be covered by stock shape.
BREAKOUT Individual fiberglass strands that are loose or frayed, typically near fabricated edges.
BREATHER (TUBE) UNITS An insulating glass unit where a tube or a hole is factory-placed into the unit’s spacer to accommodate the elevation of pressure differences encountered in shipping. These tubes or holes are to be sealed on the job site prior to unit installation.
BUCK A code-compliant framework built into a door or window opening in a concrete or masonry wall to which the door or window frame is secured. 200-12
BUILDING ENVELOPE The assembly or assemblies of materials and components that enclose building spaces and are exposed to exterior space or separate conditioned interior space from unconditioned interior space
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) An integrated construction project workflow and process, in which up-to-date, reliable information is used to coordinate design, manufacturing, and construction activities of all parties involved, with information kept in a single building model.
BUILDING SEISMIC SAFETY COUNCIL (BSSC) The Building Seismic Safety Council was established in 1979 under the auspices of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) for dealing with the complex regulatory, technical, social, and economic issues involved in developing and promulgating building earthquake hazard mitigation regulatory provisions that are national in scope.
BUTT GLAZING The installation of glass products where the vertical glass edges are without structural supporting mullions
BUTT JOINT A meeting of two members squarely end to end.
BUTTERING Application of sealant compound to the flat surface of some members before placing the member into position, such as the buttering of a removable stop before fastening the stop in place.
BUTYL A non-hardening compound formed by the copolymerization of isobutylene with isoprene.
CAPILLARY TUBE UNITS An insulating glass unit where a very small metal tube of specific length and inside diameter is factory-placed into the unit’s spacer to accommodate both the pressure differences to the point of installation and also the pressure differences encountered daily after installation. Capillary tubes are not sealed after installation.
CASEMENT WINDOW A window consisting of one or more sash hinged to open from the side (adjacent to the jambs), which project outward or inward from the plane of the window in the vertical plane.
CASING An exterior or interior trim molding
CAULK The application of a sealant to a joint, crack, or crevice.
CAVITY The hollow, channel, or void provided in the extruded framing member into which the liquid thermal break material is poured.
CENTER-OF-GLASS AREA (COG) For thermal transmittance, this includes all vision areas except the area within 64 mm (2.5 in.) of the primary sash or frame. For VT and SHGC determination, the center-ofglass area is taken to be the vision area.
CERTIFICATION A process that indicates a representative sample of a product line has been tested, that the product meets specified requirements, and that the product is subject to ongoing inspections by an outside certification agency.
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM A program sponsored by a HUD-approved organization concerned
with product evaluation. This organization maintains periodic testing, inspection, and listing of products that meet this standard.
CERTIFIED PRODUCT A product that meets all requirements of the certification program and is included in that listing
CHANGE ORDER These are additions or deletions from a contract after a project has been awarded. When a change in scope occurs that affects the dollar amount of a contract, this triggers a change order. These are typically produced by the Project Manager on the project.
CHANNEL A three-sided, U-shaped opening in a sash or frame to receive a lite or panel, as with sash or frame units in which the light or panel is retained by a removable stop. Contrasted with a rabbet, which is a two-sided L-shaped opening, as with a face-glazed window sash.
CHICKEN HEAD This is the lower half of a unitized horizontal stack and refers to the portion that fits snuggly into the upper half and creates the water-resistance leg of the system. This will have rabbets for weather gaskets.
CHIPS Minor damage to the pultruded or coated surface that removes material, but does not cause a crack or craze
CLASS I (A4) High-performance anodic finishes used in exterior applications receiving periodic maintenance such as curtain walls. Minimum coating thickness of 18 microns (0.7 mil).
CLASS II (A3) Commercial anodic coatings used in interior applications or exterior applications receiving regularly scheduled cleaning and maintenance such as storefronts. Minimum coating thickness of 10 microns (0.4 mil).
CLEAR GLASS Architectural clear glass is mostly of the soda-lime-silica type, and composition varies between manufacturers, but is generally 70 – 74 percent silica, 5 – 12 percent lime, and 12 – 16 percent soda, with small amounts of magnesium, aluminum, iron, and other elements
COATING A protective and/or decorative layer applied to a surface without the use of an adhesive.
COHESIVE FAILURE Failure is characterized by splitting within the sealant resulting from overextension. This is the type of failure we want to see.
COLUMN A supporting pillar.
COMPATIBILITY When materials maintain physical and functional properties when in direct contact or proximity to each other. The ability of two or more materials to exist in close association for an indefinite period with no adverse effect of one on the other.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS Window and door members that are comprised of two or more materials. They are structurally combined or connected to perform structurally as a singular material (e.g., poured and dibridged aluminum shapes, fiberglass, and man-made wood products).
COMPOSITE SECTION A framing member consisting of an interior and exterior extruded aluminum section, both of which are mechanically joined by a polyamide structural thermal barrier to improve the thermal performance of the assembly.
COMPRESSION Pressure is exerted on a sealant in a joint, such as by placing a light or panel in place against bedding or placing a stop in position against a bead of sealant.
COMPRESSION GASKET A gasket designed to function under compression
COMPRESSION STRENGTH The maximum compressive stress that a material is capable of sustaining. Compressive strength is calculated from the maximum load during a compression test and the original cross-sectional area of the specimen.
CONCENTRATED LOAD A force applied to a fixed-point load on a window, door, TDD, SSP, roof window, or unit skylight component.
CONDENSATION The deposition of moisture (liquid or frost) on the surface of an object caused by warm, moist air meeting a colder object.
CONDENSATION RESISTANCE FACTOR (CRF) A rating number obtained under standard test conditions as prescribed in AAMA 1503. The CRF is essentially the ratio of the difference between an average inside surface temperature and the outside air temperature, and the difference between the inside air temperature and the outside air temperature. The CRF allows for comparison of the relative performance of fenestration systems based on the point at which an objectionable amount of condensation occurs. The CRF is dimensionless and expressed as a number between 1 and 100. The higher the CRF, the higher the resistance to condensation
CONDITIONED Space within a building that is provided with a heating and/or cooling system
CONDUCTION The transfer of heat through matter, whether solid, liquid, or gas
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS Architectural drawings, specifications, shop drawings, manufacturing details, test reports or contracts, and building permits.
CONFORMITY Fulfillment by a product, process, or service of all requirements specified.
COPE A notch (an indentation or slit in a material) in an extrusion
CORROSION The deterioration of metal by chemical or electro-chemical reaction resulting from exposure to weathering, moisture, chemicals, or other agents or media.
CURB A wall or frame used to raise roof windows, skylights, or sloped glazing above the surface of the roof.
CURE TIME The period that a reacting thermosetting material is exposed to specific conditions to reach a specified property level. The time required for a poured and dibridged section to develop maximum physical properties.
CURING Chemical process of developing ultimate properties of a finish or other material over a specified period. Compare to Drying.
CURING AGENT Generally one part of a two-part sealant which, when added to the base, will cause the base to change its physical state by chemical reaction between the two parts.
CURTAIN WALL A non-load-bearing exterior wall cladding that is hung to the exterior of the building, usually spanning from floor to floor. Curtain wall vertical framing members run past the face of floor slabs, and provision for anchorage is typically made at vertical framing members only. In contrast to combination assemblies and composite units, non-residential curtain wall systems often need to meet additional performance requirements for inter-story differential movement, seismic drift, dynamic water infiltration, etc. Operating vents and entrance doors are provided as separate inserts.
CUT LIST A primary document used to manufacture products, which includes what needs to be cut at the saws
CUT SIZES – Glass cut to specified width and length.
DAYLIGHT OPENING Minimum clear opening of the pre-existing window frame after removal of sash, glass, and all sash components
DEAD LOAD Load from the permanent parts of a building or structure; loads on glass from twist or camber in framing members are dead loads.
DEFLECTION Displacement due to flexure of a member under an applied load.
DEFLECTION RESISTANCE The ability of the thermal break material to resist distortion due to wind loading, gasket pressure, fabrication, or handling which would exceed the deflection limits specified for the product
DESIGN DISPLACEMENT The portion of total vertical movement resulting from live load, system dead load, and/or column creep, unless otherwise specified, is defined to be 80% of the total vertical displacement (unless otherwise quantified through detailed calculations, and clearly called out in project specifications. Or The design earthquake lateral displacements, excluding additional displacement due to actual and accidental torsion. Numerically, this is the calculated elastic deflection multiplied by an appropriate deflection amplification factor that approximates the actual inelastic displacement.
DESIGN PRESSURE (DP) A rating that identifies the load, induced by wind and/or static snow, that a product is rated to withstand in its end-up application. Loads induced by static snow are applicable only to unit skylights, roof windows, and TDDs
DESIGN WIND LOAD The wind load pressure a product is required by the specifier to withstand in its end-use application.
DEW POINT TEMPERATURE The temperature at which water vapor in the air will condense at a given state of humidity and pressure.
DIE-PARTING LINE A lengthwise flash or depression on the surface of a pultruded part.
DIE Cut or molded metal extruded or drawn into a particular shape.
DIMENSIONS A measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.
DISTORTION The optical effect is due to the variation of sheet glass thickness.
DLO Daylight opening. This is the dimension between major interior frame members. This represents the glass opening when looking out from the inside. This term is a common term used on every project and helps us determine the glass sizes.
DRIP CAP A molding or flashing commonly installed over windows and doors to direct water away from the building in order to prevent seepage, also called drip molding.
DRIP MOLD A molding shaped for drip.
DRIFT Generally refers to horizontal displacement. Story drift (or inter-story drift) refers to lateral movement (displacement) of one level (story) of a structure with respect to the level (story) above or below due to the design lateral forces. Story drift is the calculated elastic drift that has been amplified by factors required by government regulations or codes.
DRY GLAZING A flexible seal made from rubber, vinyl, etc., or other acceptable material that does not have adhesive properties.
DRY SEAL Accomplishment of a weather seal between the glass and sash by use of elastomeric or other flexible material strips or gaskets
DURABILITY The capability of maintaining the serviceability of a product, component, assembly, or construction over time.
DUROMETER An instrument to measure the hardness of a material. (See SHORE HARDNESS.)
EDGE BLOCKS Continuous or short lengths of elastomeric materials located at both jambs of the frame for centering the glass in the framed opening and for preventing lateral “walking.” They also protect the glass edges from being nicked during installation.
EDGE CLEARANCE The dimension between the edge of the glass or panel and its surrounding frame measured normal to the edge in the plane of the glass or panel
EDGE-OF-GLASS AREA (EOG) For thermal transmittance, this area includes all vision area within 64 mm (2.5 in) of the primary sash or frame
EGRESS The act of leaving an enclosed space. In the window industry, the term refers to the dimensions of the opening of a window or door (the horizontal clear distance, vertical clear distance, and the area of the opening which are established by the building codes). The reason for establishing minimum egress dimensions is to ensure that a person attempting to leave a building in an emergency will have room to maneuver. Also, proper “egress” will allow a fireman to enter a home while wearing emergency equipment. In 1985, the minimum egress dimensions required by most codes were 22″ horizontally, 24″ vertically, and 5.7 square feet in area. Some areas of the country use different dimensions
EGRESS WINDOW A window providing egress
ELEVATION (building) Directional representation of the building from the exterior
ELEVATION (erector) Directional representation of bays in the building
END DAM Any means provided to stop the flow of water out of the ends of a sill, panning system, or sub-sill and into the wall cavity, such as sealant, upstands, plates, or gaskets. End dams shall be of a height equal to the height of the back dam or higher.
EXPANSION JOINT A separation between building elements that allows independent movement without damage to the assembly.
EXTERIOR Exposed surfaces are visible when viewed from the building exterior with operating sash, door, or ventilators in closed and locked positions.
EXTERIOR GLAZED Glazing infills set from the exterior of the building.
EXTERIOR PERIMETER SEAL Sealant that seals the joint between the building construction materials, such as masonry, and doors or windows.
EXTERIOR RAIN SCREEN An exterior cladding that allows venting to occur for the purpose of controlling water penetration through the system.
EXTRUDABILITY LIMITS A set of guidelines established by The Aluminum Association and the Aluminum Extruders Council that provides quality extrusions with standard tooling. Dimensional tolerances, gap-width ratios, extrusion factors, and inscribing circles are examples of these limits.
EXTRUDED Formed by forcing plastic material or metal through a shaped opening.
EXTRUSION The process, in which a heated material is forced through a die, used to produce aluminum, vinyl (PVC), and other profiles or components.
FAILED I.G. UNIT An installed unit failure exhibits permanent material obstruction of vision through the unit due to the accumulation of dust, moisture, or film on the internal surface of the glass. Surface numbers 2 or 3 in dual-pane units; surface numbers 2, 3, 4, or 5 on triple-pane units.
FASTENER A metal screw that connects to larger metal parts
FENESTRATION PRODUCT An assembly designed to be installed in a fenestration opening to permit or control the passage of air, water, light, and/or people
FENESTRATION SYSTEM Common types of commercial fenestration systems installed in commercial buildings include windows, curtain walls, window walls, storefronts, and doors.
FILM A layer of synthetic material is applied to the surface of the composite by means of an adhesive.
FINISH HARDWARE Hardware that is within sight
FLASHING Flexible sheet materials with water-resistive properties that are used to bridge the joint (gap) between exterior wall penetrations such as window and door framing members and adjacent water-resistive barriers or sealed drainage plane material. The purpose of flashing is to drain water away from the exterior wall penetration and help prevent intrusion of water into the wall assembly.
FOGGING A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures or failed seals.
FORCE A push or pull action that tends to change the shape of a deformable body or the state of motion of an object
FRAME The enclosing structure of a window, door, TDD, roof window, SSP, or unit skylight that fits into or attaches to the wall or roof opening and receives either glazing, sash, panels, leaves, or vents.
FRAME AREA This area includes the area of the framing that is in a plane parallel to the infill. This area can be calculated by multiplying the width of the framing system times its length
F.D. Frame Dimension and can be used instead of Window Dimension. Frame Dimension is preferred because it can be used universally with both window and curtain wall frames.
FRICTION SHOE/CLUTCH A component of a Type 1 balance that uses friction to resist the vertical movement of the sash and provides an engagement location for the pivot pin or pivot bar. The friction shoe/clutch is permitted to provide other functions not related to vertical sash counterbalancing and is available in assorted sizes that suit the pocket size of varied frame designs
FRUGAL Careful use of one’s money or resources (i.e. lack of waste)
FULLY TEMPERED GLASS Glass that has been heat treated to a high surface and/or edge compression to meet the requirements of ASTM C1048 (kind FT) or CAN/CGSB 12.1. Fully tempered glass, if broken, will fracture into many small pieces (dice) which are cubical. Fully tempered glass is approximately four times stronger than annealed glass of the same thickness when exposed to uniform static pressure loads.
GAS-FILLED UNITS Insulating glass units with a gas other than air in the air space to decrease the unit’s thermal conductivity U-value and to increase the unit’s sound insulating value.
GAS RETENTION The ability of a sealed insulating glazing unit to retain its original gas-filled composition. In the long term, diffusion through frame and edge-seal materials allows air to progressively replace the original gas(es).
GASKET Preformed shapes (strips, grommets, etc.) of rubber or rubber-like composition, used to fill and seal a joint or opening, either alone or in conjunction with a supplemental application of a sealant.
GATEWAY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS The requirements for minimum gateway test size, air leakage resistance, structural design load and overload testing, water penetration testing, forced-entry resistance, and auxiliary testing are the conditions permitting a product entry into a performance. They are specifically indicated for each product operator type in Table 12.2 of AAMA/WDMA/CSA
GATEWAY TEST SIZE The test specimen size specified to enter a performance class.
GEAR-TYPE ROTARY OPERATOR A mechanical operating device for opening and closing projected windows that are not skylights or roof windows. It consists basically of an operating handle turning an input shaft, which drives a gear mechanism that causes an arm or arms to pivot, operating a window.
GLASS A hard, brittle substance, usually transparent, made by fusing materials such as soda ash (NA2CO3), limestone (CaCO3), and sand under high temperatures.
GLASS STOP A glazing bead, which is either applied to or is an integral part of the frame.
GLAZE To install glass lights or infill material.
GLAZING (N) An infill material such as glass or plastic.
GLAZING (V) The process of installing an infill material into a prepared opening in windows, doors, TDDs, roof windows, SSPs or unit skylights
GLAZING GASKET A preformed elastomeric or plastic material applied between the face of the glass or panel and the framing to provide resilient support between the glass or panel and the framing and to prevent the passage of air and water. Gaskets are normally used alone but, in some installations, may be used in conjunction with a supplemental application of sealant.
GLAZING STOP Fixed or removable portion of the glazing channel which prevents inward outward movement of the glass edges.
HANDLE A component that enables the movement of a sash, leaf, or panel or activates a mechanism that locks or unlocks a sash, leaf, or panel.
HARDNESS Resistance to indentation as measured under specific conditions.
HARDWARE All the necessary equipment to retain, operate, and lock or unlock the sash, leaf, or panel within the frame.
HEAD The horizontal frame member that forms the top of a frame.
HEAD FLASHING Sheet material, integrated with the water-resistive barrier, that bridges and protects the joint (gap) between the window or door frame members at the head, and the adjacent construction for the purpose of preventing water penetration by draining water away from the window or door.
HEAT GAIN Instantaneous rate of heat gain at which heat enters and/or is generated within a space. Latent heat gain occurs when moisture is added to the space (from occupants or equipment). Sensible heat gain is added directly to the space by conduction, convection, and/or radiation.
HEAT LOSS The transfer of heat from inside to outside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a building.
HEAT RESISTANCE Measures the resistance to surface degradation such as blistering, cracking or delamination. The profile is exposed to a temperature well above the material’s heat distortion temperature in order to predict or accelerate potential surface imperfections that would not be evident otherwise
HEAT STRENGTHENED GLASS Glass that has been heat treated to a specific surface and/or edge compression range to meet the requirements of ASTM C1048 (kind HS). Heat-strengthened glass is approximately two times as strong as annealed glass of the same thickness when exposed to uniform static pressure loads. Heat-strengthened glass is not considered safety glass and will not completely fracture into many small pieces (dice) as with fully tempered glass
HINGE A hardware device by means of which a door is suspended in its frame, allowing it to swing.
HORIZONTAL The top or bottom frame member
HUMIDITY, ABSOLUTE The mass of water vapor per unit of volume.
HUMIDITY, RELATIVE The percentage of moisture in the air in relation to the amount of moisture the air could hold at that given temperature.
INCLUSION Any foreign matter or particles that are either encapsulated or embedded in the pultrusion.
INFILL Various material glazed into a framing system
INSTALLATION ACCESSORIES Components supplied by the fenestration manufacturer that are specifically designed to mate or “trim out” the product with various surrounding constructions.
INSTALLER For the purpose of this practice the installer, of fenestration products is a person or persons who do the installation labor and those who supervise such labor.
INSULATING GLASS Insulating glass refers to two or more pieces of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single-glazed unit with an air space between.
INSULATING GLASS UNIT (IG UNIT OR IGU) Two or more lites of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single unit with an air- or gas-filled space between each lite.
INTEGRAL FIN A permanent appendage protruding from the body of a window or door used as either an installation attachment feature or part of the weather-resistant barrier interface between the product and the wall, or both. The term “fin” is also known as “flange.”
INTEGRAL MULLION A horizontal or vertical member that is bound at either end or both ends by crossing frame members.
INTERIOR Exposed surfaces are visible when viewed from the building interior with operating sash, doors, or ventilators in the closed and locked position.
INTERLAYER A layer of material acting as an adhesive between layers of glazing.
ISO 9000 – (International Standards Organization 9000) – An international quality-process auditing program. Manufacturers that adhere to specified quality processes receive certification for complying with this standard.
JAMB(S) The upright or vertical members form the side of the frame.
JAMB ANCHOR A metal device inserted in the back of a metal frame to anchor the frame to the wall. A masonry anchor is used in a masonry wall and a stud anchor in a wall built with wood or metal studs.
JAMB FLASHING Sheet material, integrated with the weather-resistive barrier, that bridges and protects the joint (gap) between the window or door frame members at the jambs, and the adjacent construction for the purpose of preventing water penetration by draining water away from the window or door
JOINT The space or opening between two or more adjoining surfaces.
KNOCKED DOWN (KD) A product that is shipped in a disassembled condition and later assembled according to the instructions of the manufacturer utilizing all the components supplied or specified by the manufacturer.
KIT BREAK OUT The project is split into parts for manufacturing release by a “kit”
LAMINATED GLASS Two or more lites of glass permanently bonded together with one or more polymer interlayers.
LITE A pane of glass or an insulating glass (IG) unit used in a window, door, TDD, roof window, SSP, or unit skylight. Frequently spelled “lite” in industry literature to avoid confusion with visible light.
LIVE LOADS Loads from people and non-permanent parts of a building; loads from window washing and glazing rigs are live loads
LOCK The device on a window or door that secures it in a closed position.
LOW EMITTANCE (LOW-E) COATING A coating that has a reduced ability to radiate heat energy; when facing an airspace this property reduces the amount of heat transfer across the space.
LOUVER A slatted opening to provide ventilation but prevent rain from entering the room
MANUFACTURER A company that fabricates and/or assembles one or more parts, components, and/or accessories or supplies entire fenestration systems
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS) Data for evaluating hazards, toxicity, and proper handling of chemicals are furnished by thermal break suppliers in the form of an MSDS.
MEETING RAIL One of the two adjacent horizontal sash members that come together when in the closed position (also called Check Rail).
MILL FINISHES Uncoated aluminum that possesses a silvery, natural finish.
MITERED CORNERS Usually a 45-degree mitered joint is produced in some sash where vertical jamb members meet the horizontal head and sill members.
MOCK-UP A smaller version of a project or product line
MULTI-POINT HARDWARE A lock assembly featuring two or more locking points other than the combination of one latch bolt and one deadbolt. Multipoint hardware typically features one latch bolt, one deadbolt, and additional auxiliary locking points.
MULLION An intermediate connecting member used to “join” two or more fenestration products together in a single rough opening
MULLION STIFFENER An additional reinforcing member used in a reinforcing mullion. Mullion stiffeners carry the entire wind load or share the load with adjacent frame members.
MUNTINS A decorative profile that divides a lite of glass or panel into smaller sections. See also DIVIDER.
NAIL FLANGE – An extension of a fenestration product frame that generally laps over the conventional stud construction and through which fasteners are used to secure the frame in place.
NEGATIVE PRESSURE Pressure acting in the outward direction.
NOZZLE The tubular tip of a caulking gun through which the compound is extruded.
NOZZLE SETTING Adjustment to the filling machine to control the rate of flow of the thermal break material into the cavity and maintain the proper fluid head during filling.
OFFSET The shape of the strip in which the web of the strip is not aligned with the cavity and looks like the letter “C”
OPENING A breach or aperture in a wall or roof surface intended to accept a fenestration product or that is left open.
OPERABLE DOOR A door that is intended to be opened and closed.
OPERABLE WINDOW A window that is intended to be opened and closed.
OPERATING FORCE The force required to initiate or maintain a sash, leaf, or panel motion in either the opening or closing direction.
OUTDOOR-INDOOR TRANSMISSION CLASS (OITC) A single-number rating calculated in accordance with ASTM E1322, using values of outdoor-indoor transmission loss. It provides an estimate of the sound insulation performance of a façade or building elements. The frequency range used is typical of outdoor traffic noises.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS The external height and width of the product, are expressed in millimeters or inches.
OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE A party designated by the owner to act on his behalf.
PERFORMANCE The capability of a building product, component, construction, or assembly to perform the function(s)for which it was designed and constructed.
PERFORMANCE CLASS One of the five performance classes (R, LC, CW, AW, and SK) within the classification system that provides for several levels of performance. NOTE: This allows the purchaser or specifier to select the appropriate level of performance depending on climatic conditions, height of installation, type of building, etc
PERFORMANCE GRADE (GRADE or PG) A numeric designator that defines the performance of a product in accordance with this Standard/Specification. (Not to be confused with design pressure (DP) or Structural Test Pressure (STP)). Performance grade (PG) shall be achieved only on successful completion of all applicable tests specified in Clause 9 [of 101/I.S.2/A440-11].
PLUMB To make vertical.
POSITIVE PRESSURE Pressure acting in the inward direction.
POURED AND DEBRIDGED Framing system thermal break made by flowing a catalyzed liquid material with low thermal conductivity into a one-piece channel and then removing the base of the channel or bridge after solidification to form a thermally improved extrusion.
PRESSURE Differential force per unit area between the interior and exterior surfaces of the test specimen
PRESSURE PLATE Exterior member of a pressure wall system that is crew applied to the frame to retain the glass. These can be aluminum or fiberglass.
PRIMARY SEALANT A sealant applied to the inner shoulders of a spacer with its principal purpose of minimizing moisture, gas, and solvent migration into the unit’s air space.
PRIMER A coating specifically designed to enhance the adhesion of sealant systems to certain surfaces to form a barrier to prevent migration of components or to seal a porous substrate.
PRIMING Sealing of a porous surface so that a compound will not stain, lose elasticity shrink excessively, etc., because of loss of oil or vehicle into the surround. A sealant primer or surface conditioner may be used to promote the adhesion of a curing-type sealant to certain surfaces.
PRODUCT LINE A given series of fenestration products typically defined by operator type, frame type, and a set of basic frame profiles.
PRODUCT TYPE Each product type and class requires testing the largest size (maximum glazed area) for which compliance is desired for entry into the performance class
PULTRUSION As opposed to extrusion, which pushes the material, pultrusion pulls the material in manufacturing
PRODUCTION UNIT TESTING PROCEDURE Performance testing of a randomly selected production unit is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the certification program.
PROFILE Referring to the cross-sectional geometry or property of a frame, sash, or its components
PROJECTED WINDOW Projected windows have one or more sash hinged or pivoted at the top or bottom which project inward or outward from the plane of the window with or without fixed lites of glass
PROTOTYPE A unit built strictly for testing purposes.
PULL LIST What extrusion needs to be pulled from inventory to be cut (also known as the extrusion requirement list)
PUNCHED OPENING A discrete elevation of curtain wall, storefront, or sloped glazing that is surrounded in its entirety by another building wall system such as masonry, EIFS, panels or similar cladding systems
P.O. Purchase Order. This is a contract and could be from our customer to us or from us to a vendor. A PO from our customer will typically be a 1- or 2-page document that outlines what material we will furnish to them and it will reflect our proposal.
R-VALUE The resistance of conductive heat energy transfer in one hour through a one square foot area of a specific insulating glass unit assembly for each one-degree Fahrenheit temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air. It is the reciprocal of the U-value; R = 1/U.
REINFORCEMENT The material added to individual sash, leaf, panel, or frame members to increase strength and/or stiffness.
R.D. Reference Dimension is used when measuring points on a building such as column lines, floor lines, points on a curtain wall such as the inside face of the frame, etc….
ROUGH OPENING The opening in a wall or roof into which a window, door, TDD, roof window, or unit skylight is to be installed.
RFI Request for Information. This is s format used to request answers to questions we may have of the architect or contractor during the design process of a project.
SAFETY GLASS A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering, such as glass for doors, unit skylights, and some windows.
SAFETY GLAZING The use of safety glass and certain plastics in hazardous locations. Building codes require safety glazing in two broad types of hazardous conditions: (1) Glazing subject to accidental human impact, such as indoors, side lites, other glazing that extends to or near the floor or walking surface, and glazing in the walls and enclosures of bathing compartments; (2) Skylights or sloped glazing in walls and roofs greater than 15 degrees from the vertical. Laminated glass or certain plastics are required to reduce the possibility of any part of the glazing from vacating the glazed opening when broken.
SASH The members of a window, secondary storm product, or unit skylight that fit within a frame and are designed to accommodate the glazing
SASH WEIGHT (WGT) The total weight of the sash including the glazing material, framing members, latches, lock(s), and all other components and attachments.
SCREEN A product used with a window, door, secondary storm product, or unit skylight, consisting of mesh wire or plastic material used to keep out insects and is not for providing security or for the retention of objects or persons from the interior
SCOPE This refers to what material and services are included in a purchase order and/or project. This defines the parameters of the job.
SEALANT A compound used to fill and seal a joint or opening.
SEALANT BEAD A sealant or compound, such as caulking or glazing bead, etc., applied to a joint regardless of the method of application. Also, a molding or stop is used to hold glass or panels in position.
SEALED INSULATING GLASS UNITS A Unit constructed of two or more lites of glass separated and hermetically sealed to spacer frames at the glass edges with the enclosed air changer(s) dehydrated at the plant’s atmospheric pressure.
SHIP LOOSE Ship loose refers to loose cargo, also known as break bulk. These are items such as individual cartons that are stowed in the ship’s hold rather than being packed in a shipping container
SEISMIC LOAD Building movement and forces caused by earthquake motion.
SETTING Placement of lites or panels in sash or frames, and action of a sealant as it becomes firmer after application.
SETTING BLOCK A device or member that supports the weight of the glazing and is in direct contact with an edge of the glazing after final installation.
SETTING TIME A term used rather loosely to describe that period when a material has either dried sufficiently through solvent release or cured sufficiently through chemical reaction, to reach a specified condition
SHIM A thin, flat or wedge-shaped piece of suitable material used to level or plumb a fenestration product frame during installation. Lateral shims are placed at the jambs; setting shims are placed at the sill
SHORE “A” HARDNESS Measure of firmness of a compound by means of a Durometer Hardness Gauge (A hardness range of 20-25 is about the firmness of an art gum eraser. A hardness of 90 is about the firmness of a rubber heel).
SHORE D HARDNESS Provides a relative ranking of profile surface hardness.
SHORE HARDNESS Measure of the firmness of a material measured by means of a Durometer Hardness Gauge (a range of 20-25 is about the firmness of an art gum eraser; 90 is about the firmness of a rubber shoe heel).
SHRINKAGE A permanent loss of overall length due to material construction and/or relaxation from environmental and/or installation factors.
SIGHT LINE Imaginary line along the perimeter of lites or panels corresponding to the innermost edge of stationary and removable stops; the line to which sealants contacting the lite or panel are sometimes finished.
SILICONE SEALANT A sealant having as its chemical composition a backbone consisting of alternating silicon-oxygen atoms
SILL A lower horizontal member of a window or sliding door frame. The main cross or horizontal member forms the bottom of the frame.
SLAB EDGE Exterior face of a floor slab.
SLOPED GLAZING A glass and framing assembly that is sloped more than 15° from vertical and which forms essentially the entire roof of the structure. Generally, this is a single-slope construction. (Other than unit skylights.)
SLOPED GLAZING SYSTEM A glass and framing assembly that is sloped more than 15° from vertical and which forms essentially the entire roof of the structure; generally, this is a single slope construction
SLOT An elongated hole
SOV Schedule of values and breaks the dollars down on a project for billing purposes
SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT (SHGC) The ratio of solar heat gain entering the space through the glazing product to the incident solar radiation. Solar heat gain includes directly transmitted solar heat and absorbed solar radiation that is then re-radiated, conducted, or convected into the space.
SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASS (STC) A single-number rating calculated in accordance with ASTM E413 using sound transmission loss values. It provides an estimate of the sound insulation performance of an interior partition in certain common sound insulation problems. The frequency range used is typical of indoor office noises.
SPACER The linear material that separates and maintains the space between the glass surfaces of insulating glass units.
SPANDREL The opaque areas of a building envelope typically occur at locations of floor slabs, columns, and immediately below roof areas.
SPECIFICATION A written document often accompanying architectural drawings, giving such details as scope of work, materials to be used, installation method, required performance, and quality of workmanship for work under contract
SPRAY COATING The process of applying a resinous coating by atomizing it into a spray or mist and curing it into a continuous film.
SQUARE Two construction members that meet at a right (90-degree) angle. In fenestration, the condition in which the jambs are perpendicular to the head and sills.
STIFFENER A reinforcing member that serves to limit the deflection of the member to which it is attached
STOOL Horizontal interior trim at the base of a single-hung or double-hung window (often mistakenly called the sill). The flat, narrow shelf forms the top member of the interior trim at the bottom of a window.
STRIKE An opening or retaining device provided in the head, jamb or threshold of a door frame or in the edge of a stile of an inactive door to receive a lock or latch bolt. (Also referred to as a Keeper or Strike Plate). a) Box Strike – A strike consisting of a face plate with a rectangular opening and a box-like enclosure attached to the back of the plate and surrounding the opening. b) Dustproof Strike: A strike that is placed in the floor, sill, or threshold of an opening, to receive a flush bolt, and is equipped with a spring-loaded follower to cover the recess and prevent its filling with dirt. c) Electric Strike: A strike used with a latch lock and designed to be actuated by a remotely controlled electro-magnet, to permit the door to be opened without retracting the latch. d) Roller Strike: A strike for latch bolts, having a roller mounted in the tip to reduce friction.
STRIKING OFF The operation of smoothing excess sealant at the sight line.
STRUCTURAL GASKET A synthetic rubber gasket designed to engage the edge of glass or panel in a surrounding frame by forcing an interlocking filler strip into a grooved recess in the face of the gasket. Such gaskets are structurally capable of transmitting wind and dead loads from the glass or panel to the frame
STRUCTURAL GLAZING Glazing that is part of the structural design of the facade of a building.
STRUCTURAL GLAZING GASKETS Cured elastomeric channel-shaped extrusions are used in place of a conventional sash to install glass products onto structurally supporting sub-frames with the pressure of sealing exerted by the insert of separate lock strip wedging splines
STRUCTURAL SILICONE GLAZING A system in which the glass product is bonded to the framing members of a curtain wall utilizing a structural silicone adhesive/sealant without the presence of outdoor retainers or stops.
SUBSILL A separate framing member that, when installed on the underside of a sill, becomes an integral part of the sill.
SYSTEM The parts, components, hardware, and/or accessories that yield a complete, fully functional assembly.
TAPE SEALANT A sealant having a pre-formed shape and intended to be used in a joint under compression.
TECHNOFORM Is a non-metallic warm edge spacer at the perimeter of an insulated glass unit to maintain separation of the lights of glass
THERMAL BARRIER An element made of material with relatively low thermal conductivity, which is inserted between two members having high thermal conductivity, in order to reduce the heat transfer
THERMAL BRIDGE An entity that allows for large amounts of conductive heat flow (relative to the amount that would flow at that location if the entity were not present) between surfaces at different temperatures
THERMAL MOVEMENT Thermal movement is the expansion or contraction of the curtain wall elements due to the rise and fall of their temperature.
THERMAL RESISTANCE A property of a substance or construction which retards the flow of heat; one measure of this property is the R-value
THERMAL TRANSMITTANCE (U-FACTOR) A.K.A. U-VALUE A measure of the total heat transfer through a fenestration system including boundary air films, due to conduction, convection, and radiation under specific environmental conditions expressed in W/(m2·°C) [Btu/(ft2·h·°F)]. The lower the U-factor, the less heat will be transferred through the fenestration system. For fenestration systems, the overall U-factor is dependent on the area-weighted U-factors contributed by the center-of-glass, the edge-of-glass, and the frame.

TINTED GLASS Body-colored glass of specific batch ingredient formulation to produce light-reducing and/or heat-absorbing glass products.
TOOLING The operation of pressing in and striking a sealant in a joint, to press the sealant against the sides of a joint and secure good adhesion; the finishing off of the surface of a sealant in a joint so that it is flush with the surface.
TOTAL AREA This area is the area of the entire fenestration system being considered, vision area or spandrel area plus frame area.
TRIM Decorative covering framing the interior of the fenestration product after it’s installed.
TRUE DIVIDED LITE (TDL) A lite in which dividers (muntins) separate the glazing into individual smaller glazing lites.
TRUE MUNTINS A profile member used horizontally or vertically to divide a vision area into individual smaller lites of glass
Used in Fabrication (UIF) Components of an assembly that are attached in our shop
U-VALUE The overall coefficient of heat transfer; is a measure of the heat transfer through material or construction due to the difference in air temperature on the two sides.
UNIT Refers to complete or total assembly, such as for fenestration products including all frame, sash, glazing, door slabs, hardware, or other elements defining the complete fenestration product
UNITIZED refers to a curtain wall product that is assembled and glazed at FreMarq
VENTILATION Ventilation is the process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical means to and from any space. Such air may or may not be conditioned. Proper ventilation improves indoor air quality by allowing air changes within the indoor environment.
VERTICAL An upright (left or right) frame member (ex. Window jamb)
WARM EDGE Term is used to describe technology that uses insulating spacers to achieve better thermal performance of an insulating glass unit, particularly evident in the increase of edge surface temperatures on the indoor side in the winter.
WATER LEAKAGE The penetration of water that would continuously, or repeatedly wet parts of a building or components not designed to be wetted.
WATER PENETRATION Penetration of water beyond the plane intersecting the innermost projection of the test specimen, not including interior trim and hardware, under the specified conditions of air pressure difference across the specimen.
WEEP A drainage system for water to escape
WELDED When materials are fused by heat to become one when cooled.
WET GLAZING Glazing compounds (e.g., sealants and adhesives) that are applied to the exterior, interior, or both, that interface between the glass and sash or glazing.
WET SEAL A method of sealing, utilizing either gunnable sealant or preformed tape as the primary seal.
WIND LOAD Load on a structure and its components because of the wind.
WINDOW An operable or non-operable assembly that is installed in an opening with an exterior wall or roof intended to admit light or air to an enclosure, and is usually framed and glazed
WINDOW CLEANER ANCHOR An anchor, either single or double-headed, conforming to ASME A39.1, “Standard Safety Requirements for Window Cleaning”, that will allow a window cleaner to safely access across a window for cleaning. Also known as a Davit.
W.D. Window Dimension is the overall size of a window when measured at the widest and tallest points.
WINDOW UNIT The total window system, as produced by the window manufacturer, consists of the main frame, sash, jamb liners, sash balances, weatherstripping, and other elements. NOTE: The window manufacturer shall install balances according to the balance manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations. The window manufacturer bears the responsibility of correctly selecting, installing, and adjusting balances to ensure proper operation of the hung window with allowances for inherent friction characteristics of all other components.
WINDOW WALL A non-load-bearing fenestration system provided in combination assemblies and composite units, including transparent vision panels and/or opaque glass or metal panels, which span from the top of a floor slab to the underside of the next higher floor slab. NOTE: Window walls are available with separate or integral slab edge covers and can be fabricated from windows, curtain walls, or storefront systems. Primary provision for anchorage occurs at head and sill conditions. Receptor systems can be designed as a part of drainage and movement accommodation provisions

Building Envelope Terminology

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