AA
Aluminum Association - is the trade association for producers of primary aluminum, recyclers and semi-fabricated aluminum products, as well as suppliers to the industry. AA developed the anodize finish designations, e.g., AAM10C22A41, which defines the mechanical and chemical coating properties, class (coating thickness), and coating color.
AAC
Aluminum Anodizers Council – is the trade association that provides valuable information about the metal finishing process of aluminum anodizing and its many inherent performance qualities including corrosion resistance and decorative options for coloring aluminum.
AAMA
American Architectural Manufacturers Association – is the window industry trade organization that establishes voluntary standards for windows, doors, and skylights, e.g., AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08. It also certifies to those standards. AAMA has developed a product designation, e.g., AW-PG45-H, which incorporates four well-accepted performance classes - R, LC, CW, and AW. These designations assist architects, specifiers, and building owners when defining the appropriate product performance required for each application.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act – is the Federal law which defines accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities, including maximum door sill heights, minimum door openings for egress, and maximum operating forces for windows and doors.
adjustment clip
hardware on hung tilt window jambs to align jambs after window installation.
AEC
Aluminum Extruders Council – is the trade association that provides valuable information about aluminum extrusions and the many benefits they provide.
AFPC
Authorization for Product Certification – issued by Associated Laboratories, Inc., the AAMA validator, to indicate certification with AAMA Voluntary Specifications. The AFPC is required before AAMA Gold Labels can be applied to certified windows. It is valid for four years from the test expiration date.
air infiltration rate
amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows, and doors. The lower the value, the better. It is usually expressed as cfm per square foot of window area.
annealed glass
glass that is not heat-treated, e.g., heat strengthened or tempered.
anodize
process that provides a hard, durable, oxide film on the surface of aluminum, by electrolytic action. The process results in a finish on aluminum that is very resistant to wear, e.g., entrance doors.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute – is the organization that coordinates the development and use of voluntary consensus standards in the United States.
ASCE
American Society of Civil Engineers – is the organization which set standards for many materials, e.g., ASCE 7-05 (formerly ANSI A58.1) "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures".
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials – is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world. ASTM is a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services, e.g., ASTM E 331-00 “Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference”.
astragal
extrusion that joins two operating sash or two operating door panels which are in the same plane.
awning window
window in which the operating vent move out (project out) from the master frame. Each vent is hinged on top horizontal axis to permit easy operation.
backer rod
foam rod used behind caulking to prevent caulking from falling away from the caulking joint.balance
mechanical device, normally spring loaded, used in hung windows to counterbalance the weight of the operating sash during opening and closing.
balance
mechanical device, normally spring loaded, used in hung windows to counterbalance the weight of the operating sash during opening and closing.
balance shoe
nylon hardware in a tilt hung window jamb that connects the balance with the pivot bar on the operating sash.
basement window
hopper (project in) window used for basement or cellar window openings. It usually consists of one, two, or three glass lites and may include exterior screens.
bay window
window or series of windows with at least three sides that project from the exterior wall.

bead
molding or stop placed around a window frame to hold glass in place by pressure.
billet
cylindrical form of aluminum just prior to the extruding process.
bite
glazing term referring to the dimension of the glazing leg which overlaps the edge of the glass.
blast window
window that has been tested to resist different levels of blasts. Blast windows are designed to protect building occupants. Also see ‘force protection window’.
bow window
semicircular bay window.
breakaway force
force required to start a sash or panel in motion from a fully-closed position.
breather tube
.125” inside diameter hollow metal tube which penetrates the spacer system of an insulating glass unit (IGU). It allows pressure equalization between manufacturing locations, shipping, and installation locations. It must be crimped shut or the IGU will fail (fog) quickly. It cannot be used with gas-filled IGU. Also see ‘capillary tube’.
cap bead
exposed sealant placed on product exterior between glass and glazing leg for watertightness.
capillary tube
.021” inside diameter hollow metal tube which penetrates the spacer system of an insulating glass unit (IGU). It allows pressure equalization between manufacturing locations, shipping, and installation locations. It can be crimped shut or left open. It cannot be used with gas-filled IGU. Also see ‘breather tube’.
casement window
window in which the operating vents move out (casement outswing) or in (casement inswing) from the master frame. Each vent is hinged on the vertical axis to permit easy operation.
caulk stop
accessory added to the exterior leg of a window frame or exterior panning leg to create a preferred parallel-sided caulking joint.
center-of-glass U value
somewhat misleading measurement of heat transmission, since it does not include the window frame effect on the total window performance. The U value is measured by the number of BTUs that will pass through each square foot of area per degree of temperature difference from one side of the glass to the other. The lower it is, the better. U value = the number 1 divided by the R value.
CFM
cubic feet per minute - unit of measure used in air infiltration testing, e.g., "maximum .10 cfm per square foot of window area."
channel/marine/wrap around glazing
U-channel of flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC) which is wrapped around the edge of the glass, cushioning the glass against the aluminum or vinyl sash. This process allows for unrestricted expansion and contraction, and watertightness. To reglaze the sash, it must first be removed from the master frame, and then disassembled.
clerestory window
window in a gable or in an outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof.
CMR
centerline of meeting rail - reference line used to locate integral mullions and/or to size oriel (unequal) sash, e.g., "the height of the lower sash shall be 22" from the frame sill to CMR."
condensation
when the air inside an enclosure is warmer than the air outside the enclosure, the moisture vapor in the interior air will condense on a colder surface, creating small water droplets at the intersection of dissimilar materials, e.g., aluminum and gaskets. An effective way to reduce condensation is to lower interior humidity.
continuous air spacer
air spacer within an insulating glass unit (IGU) that does not use corner keys to hold the spacer together, thereby eliminating the corner joint, the largest cause of seal failure.
CR
Condensation Resistance – indication of a window’s ability to resist condensation as simulated by NFRC 500-04 “Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Condensation Resistance Values”. The higher the CR, the better.
crack length
total outside perimeter of window sash or vent.
CRF
Condensation Resistance Factor - indication of a window's ability to resist condensation as tested by AAMA 1503-98 “Voluntary Test Method for Thermal Transmittance and Condensation Resistance of Windows, Doors, and Glazed Wall Sections”. The higher the CRF, the better.
CSA
Canadian Standards Association - not-for-profit membership-based association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada. It is the Canadian organization that helped AAMA to develop the new AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-05 guide specification.

CSI
Construction Specifications Institute - the organization of construction specifiers that conducts training and certification of specifiers, and standardizes construction documents including section numbers, e.g., “Section 085113 Aluminum Windows”.
curtain wall
exterior building wall which carries no roof or floor loads and consists of a combination of metal, glass, and other surfacing materials supported by a metal framework.
custodial lock
window hardware only operable with a tool or key.
dead load
vertical load due to the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building, such as windows, doors, walls, floors, roofs, and fixed service equipment.
debridge
process of cutting away the metal on the bottom of an aluminum thermal break cavity once the two-part polyurethane has reached full strength, thus creating a thermally broken extrusion.
deflection
displacement of a window or door member under an applied load.
desiccant
porous, crystalline substance used to absorb moisture and/or sealant solvents from within the sealed air space of an insulating glass unit (IGU) trapped during fabrication. Also see ‘integrated desiccant’.
design pressure
project’s wind load to be determined by the architect and expressed in psf, e.g., "the project design pressure shall be 38.7 psf, both positive and negative." It is also referred to as the project’s Design Load. Also see ‘wind load’.
Designation Number
created by AAMA. One for each window style, e.g., AW-PG45-H = AW [Performance Class – R, LC, CW, or AW] – PG [Performance Grade] 45 [product’s tested Design Pressure expressed in psf] - H [Type or operation, e.g., H = Hung, etc.].
die
perforated steel block through which aluminum or vinyl is extruded.
DOE
U.S. Department of Energy – is the Federal government department with a mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States, and to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission. Also see ‘Energy Star’.
double hung window
window in which both operating sash move up and down within the master frame. The weight of each operating sash is counterbalanced with balances to permit easy operation.
drip cap
horizontal exterior molding to divert water away from the window to reduce water infiltration.
dry glazing
method of securing glass in a window frame with a dry, preformed, resilient gasket, without the use of a glazing compound or sticky tape. It makes it easy to reglaze. Also see ‘wet glazing’.
DSB
double strength “B” quality glass - 1/8" thickness. An obsolete term used to describe sheet (vs. float) glass thickness.
dual action window
window in which the operating vent tilts in from the top for ventilation and swings in from the side for glass cleaning. Each window has one handle to perform both operations. It is also referred to as a tilt-turn window.
dual durometer bead
vinyl glazing bead with a softer flap against the glass and a harder section inserted into the sash member.
dual glazed
two single lites glazed into a split sash with an airspace, not hermetically sealed, between the two single lites.
dual sealed insulating glass
superior insulating glass unit (IGU) which greatly resists seal failure (internal moisture accumulation). It is made by combining two glass lites, an air spacer, a primary seal, e.g., butyl or polyisobutylene (PIB), for resistance to Moisture Vapor Transmission (MVT), and a secondary seal, e.g., silicone, for adhesive strength.
dual weather seals
pair of gaskets, running the perimeter of a glazed system, one towards the exterior and one towards the interior, acting as twice the barrier protection of a single weather seal.
dual window
two windows joined together, one in front of the other, to provide superior sound control. It is sometimes referred to as a “four sash window”, with two exterior and two interior sash.
egress/escape/rescue window
window with specific release hardware and minimum clear opening size to allow a firefighter with an air tank backpack to enter, or occupants to escape, through the window in case of fire. This window type is not to be used for ventilation.
egress code
definition of a minimum opening required for a firefighter with a air tank backpack to get into the window. A typical definition, subject to local code interpretation, is 20” wide by 24” high with 5.7 square feet clear area, as found in the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 101-06 “Code for Safety to Life from Fire in Buildings and Structures”.

elastomer
natural or synthetic elastic substance, e.g., butyl, rubber, or neoprene.
electrostatic
painting process by which the aluminum is grounded and the paint carries a positive electric current. This creates a magnetic attraction between the paint and the aluminum allowing for uniform paint coverage on extrusion surfaces that are exposed when the window is installed and closed.
end dam
used to close the ends of a subsill in the factory so the water will not leak out the ends. It makes the subsill a watertight water trough allowing it to collect excess water and drain it to the exterior through factory-fabricated weep slots.
Energy Star®
independent organization created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and measure a standard set of guidelines to recognize the energy efficiency of various products. These guidelines are used in conjunction with a variety of building materials, including windows.
EPDM
ethylene propylene diene monomer - modest-cost weather-resistant synthetic rubber compound from which many flexible gaskets for windows are made.
escape/egress/rescue window
window with specific release hardware and minimum clear opening size to allow a firefighter with an air tank backpack to enter, or occupants to escape, through the window in case of fire. This window type is not to be used for ventilation.
expansion mullion
self-mulling window frame jambs that, when slipped together, permit expansion and contraction while preserving strength and watertightness. This is particularly important on large horizontal runs of windows, since aluminum will expand or contract 1/8” in 8’ in a 100° F temperature difference. It is sometimes referred to as a “male-female” mullion.
exterior glazed
glass glazed from the exterior of the building. This is desired for glass replacement when the window interior is not accessible after construction is completed.
extrude
process of shaping aluminum or vinyl by forcing it through a die.
extrusion
finished form after pushing aluminum or vinyl through the die.
fenestration
the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows and doors in a building’s exterior.
FER
Forced Entry Resistant - requirement of some codes that a locked window or door meet certified tests that determine if the product is resistant to entry from the outside using normal hand tools. Also, that any attempt to enter the locked door or window will show definite signs of the attempt. FER does not mean "burglar proof"; any structure can be entered with enough time, privacy and effort.
fin seal
a form of pile weatherstrip that has a plastic Mylar® fin centered in the pile. This fin reduces air and water infiltration and ensures weatherstrip contact throughout the window's life.
flange frame
window frame with the head, jamb, and sill exterior perimeter leg longer than the interior perimeter leg. This frame option permits the window to be installed without separate panning to permit field trimming to allow for varying field opening perimeter conditions.
float glass
transparent glass with flat, parallel surfaces formed on the surface of a pool of molten tin. Float glass has virtually replaced sheet and plate glass because of its superior optical quality.
flush glazing
storefront system of installing glass in which the member that holds the glass in place (the glazing bead) is recessed within and flush with the edge of the frame. These systems are also called "pocket-glazed", “juggle set”, and "center-glazed" systems.
force protection window
window that has been tested to resist different levels of blasts. Force protection windows are designed to protect building occupants. Also see ‘blast window’.
fusion welded/heat fusion/welded
method to join PVC frame and/or sash members by heating the 45° miter cut ends, squeezing them together, allowing the assembly to cool, and trimming the weld excess.
galvanic action
when dissimilar metals, e.g., steel fasteners and aluminum extrusions, are in contact with each other in the presence of an electrolyte, e.g., moisture, a low level current flows resulting in galvanic action or corrosion. Applying a coating, e.g., paint or plating, will prevent this condition.
gasket
rubber or plastic pliable material used to separate glass and aluminum or vinyl.

glass surface numbers
numbering system to identify glass surfaces, always starting from the exterior. A typical insulating glass unit (IGU) has four surfaces: #1 = the outside surface of the exterior lite; #2 = the inside surface of the exterior lite; #3 = the outside surface of the interior lite; and #4 = the inside surface of the interior lite.
glazing
process of installing glass or panels into the sash or frame of the window.
glazing bead
molding around a window frame, sash, vent, or panel to hold the glass in place by pressure.
glazing block
small block of rubber-like material placed between the edge of an insulating glass unit (IGU) and the glazing pocket to cushion the glass. Two of these blocks are placed at the sill at the quarter points, and sometimes at the jambs and head. Also see ‘setting block’.
GBA
Green Building Alliance - is a non-profit organization devoted to helping western Pennsylvania find smart green-building solutions for the environment. Also see ‘USGBC’.
greenhouse window
three-dimensional window that projects from the exterior wall and usually has glazing on all sides except the bottom, which serves as a shelf.
gusset
concealed, strong, right-angled shape used to reinforce mitered corners in tubular extrusions.
handing
describing the way a sliding glass door or window opens (OX, XO, XX, OXO, XOX, OXXO) where the “X”  signifies the operating panel or sash. Also, describing the way a swing door or casement window opens (right hand, left hand) where the “hand” is the hand that moves when a person puts their back against the hinge jamb and moves their hand as the panel or vent would move when it is opened.
hard coat low E glass
transparent coating is sprayed on a glass surface while it is still hot. It is also known as pyrolitic low E glass. The coating separates long wave (furnace heat) energy and short wave (sun heat) energy. The long wave is reflected back to the heat source. The short wave is allowed to pass selectively through the coating. Also see ‘low E glass’ and ‘soft coat low E glass’.
head
upper horizontal member of a window frame.
head expander
U-shaped extrusion slipped over the frame head that, when pushed up, closes the gap between the frame head and the opening head after window installation.
heel bead
sealant placed between glass and frame before the glazing bead is applied, to improve watertightness.
heat-absorbing glass
window glass containing chemicals (with gray, bronze, or blue-green tint) which absorb light and heat radiation, and reduce glare and brightness. Also see ‘tinted glass’.
heat fusion/fusion welded/welded
method to join PVC frame and/or sash members by heating the 45° miter cut ends, squeezing them together, allowing the assembly to cool, and trimming the weld excess.
Heat Mirror®
| triple-ply insulating glass unit (IGU) utilizing a polyester internal film with a soft coat low E coating to reflect long wave heat, allow selectively short wave to be reflected, and allow light to pass through. Heat Mirror is a registered trademark of Southwall Technologies, Inc.
heat-strengthened glass
glass that has first been cut to size, then heated to a very high temperature and then rapidly brought back to room temperature. It is two times stronger than annealed glass. It will withstand punishment from a blunt object; however, any pointed object will break the glass instantly and the glass will crack like annealed glass. Typical applications include spandrel glass applications, since the broken glass has a tendency to remain in place and not fall to the street below.
heat treating
process where glass or aluminum extrusions are heated and cooled to make these materials harder and stronger.
hermetically sealed unit
insulating glass unit (IGU) that is sealed against moisture vapor. The unit is made up of two lites of glass, separated by a extruded butyl or roll-formed metal spacer on the IGU perimeter which contains a desiccant. The unit is then sealed, creating a moisture-free air space.
hollow extrusion
tubular extrusion having an enclosed cavity within it. It is usually stronger, although more costly, than a solid extrusion.
hopper window
window in which the operating vents move in (project in) from the master frame. Each vent is hinged on the bottom horizontal axis to permit easy operation.
horizontal sliding window
window in which the operating sash slide sideways within the master frame. Each operating sash has glides or rollers to permit easy operation. Also see ‘sliding window’.
hung window
window in which the operating sash move up and down within the master frame. The weight of each operating sash is counterbalanced with balances to permit easy operation.

IBC
International Building Code - published by the ICC. It is the successor to most older building codes, e.g., Uniform Building Code (UBC) and Model Building Code (MBC).
ICC
International Code Council - national organization that publishes model codes for adoption by states and other agencies. Codes include the International Building Code (IBC), the International Residential Code (IRC), and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
IECC
International Energy Conservation Code - published by the ICC. The successor to the Model Energy Code, which is cited in the 1992 U.S. Energy Policy Act as the baseline for residential Energy Codes in the United States.
IGCC
Insulating Glass Certification Council - directs a certification program of periodic accelerated laboratory testing and unannounced plant inspections to ensure sealed insulating glass unit (IGU) performance is in conformance with ASTM E 2190-02.
IGU
insulating glass unit - two pieces of glass separated with an air space and hermetically sealed (sealed against moisture vapor). IGU heat transmission may be as low as half that without such an air space.
impact window
window that has been tested to resist hurricanes, e.g., large missile, small missile, and cyclic wind. Laminated glass is required to resist penetration and maintain the window integrity during a hurricane. Impact windows are designed to protect buildings from hurricane wind and water damage.
inside snap trim
used to cover the inside gap between the new window and the existing opening.
integral mullion
frame member trapped within the master frame to separate vents or fixed glass.
integrated desiccant
dispersed in butyl air spacer to absorb trapped moisture. Also see ‘desiccant’.
interior glazed
glass glazed from the interior of the building.
interlock
design feature which enables sash to engage one another when closed.
intermediate jamb
vertical member in a sliding glass door, with three or more panels, that is located in the central area of the unit, and acts as a jamb to receive the operating panel when it is closed.

jalousie window
window composed of overlapping narrow glass, metal, or wooden louvers, operated with a crank handle for adjusting the louver angles.
jamb
vertical member of a window frame.

KD
Knocked Down - product components that are shipped unassembled, e.g., a sliding glass door frame.
keeper
hardware device into which a window locking latch engages for security.

laminated glass
two or more lites of glass bonded together under heat and pressure with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) inner layer. Typical applications include impact, blast, and sound control windows, and a car’s windshield.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – system used by building stakeholders as a guide for green and sustainable design to help save energy and the environment via awarding of points to obtain tax credits.
left or right
location information, always outside looking in, that can be used to specify direction, e.g., "the operating sash slides to the right."
single or monolithic glass pane.
low E glass
transparent coating applied to a glass surface to separate long wave (furnace heat) energy and short wave (sun heat) energy. The long wave is reflected back to the heat source. The short wave is allowed to pass selectively through the coating. Also see pyrolitic ‘hard coat low E glass’ and sputter ‘soft coat low E glass’.
marine/channel/wrap around glazing
U-channel of flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC) which is wrapped around the edge of the glass, cushioning the glass against the aluminum or vinyl sash. This process allows for unrestricted expansion and contraction, and watertightness. To reglaze the sash, it must first be removed from the master frame, and then disassembled.
meeting rail
part of a hung window where the two sash meet and create a weather barrier.