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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AIRSPACE
The space in the cavity between two panes of glass in an insulating glass unit.
ARCH TOP
A window that incorporates curves.
ARGON GAS
An inert, nontoxic gas used to fill the airspace between insulating panes of glass to improve energy efficiency.
ASTRAGAL
The centre member of a double door which is attached to the fixed or inactive door panel.
AWNING WINDOW
A window unit, similar to a casement, hinged along the top, where the bottom of the sash swings outward.
TOP
BALANCE
A mechanical device used in single and double hung windows to offset the weight of the sash during opening and closing. Spiral balances as well as weights and pulleys are used.
BAY WINDOW
An arrangement of generally three windows, usually made up of a large centre unit and two flanking units at 30 or 45 degree angles to the wall.
BOW WINDOW
A combination of four or more window units in a radial or bow formation. Casements as well as Double or Single Hung units can be used.
BOTTOM RAIL
The bottom horizontal member of a window sash or door.
BRICKMOULD
An external trim piece that frames windows and doors.
TOP
CAM LOCK
A lever operated lock which is used to lock the sash into the frame.
CASEMENT
A window with a side hinged sash that opens outward, to the left or right.
CASING
Interior moulding or framing applied to the framework of doors and windows.
CHAMBERS
Hollow sections designed into uPVC frames to provide added structural strength, insulation and noise reduction.
CHECK RAIL (MEETING RAIL)
The horizontal members of a Tilt Double Hung sash that meet. Also includes the vertical members of a side slider sash which meet.
CLADDING
Refers to door jamb and brickmould which are covered with vinyl on the exterior side of the frame increasing durability with less maintenance.
CLERESTORY WINDOW
A venting or fixed window in the upper part of a high room that admits light to the centre of a room.
COLONIAL GRILL
An internal, rectangular grill bar used in a number of different grill designs.
CONDENSATION
The deposit of water droplets on the outside of the interior surface of the window caused by a cold surface temperature and high indoor humidity. (See Fogged Up - PDF)
CONDUCTION
Heat transfer through a material. Heat flows from a higher-temperature area to a lower-temperature area.
TOP
DAYLITE OPENING
The measurement denoting the width and height of visible glass in that order.
DIRECT-SET
Refers to a unit in which the glass is glazed directly into the frame, with no sash members. The unit is stationary.
DOUBLE DOOR SYSTEM
A frame with two operating door panels hinged on the side and inswinging or outswinging from the centre of the unit. An astragal and flush bolt is attached to the semi fixed door while the other panel operates.
DOUBLE-HUNG (Vertical Slider)
Windows having two vertically movable sash which operate independently of each other and are held in the open position with the use of balances.
DRIP CAP
An aluminum cap placed on the top of the head brickmold of a window frame, before the siding is installed, to assist with water drainage.
TOP
EGRESS WINDOW
A window large enough to allow for an emergency exit. Most building codes require a minimum square footage when the sash is open. Egress requirements are mandated by local building codes.
ELECTRIC OPERATOR
An electrically operated device which will open awning windows by using a switch. This is used in lieu of a roto gear crank or pole crank.
EMISSIVITY
The relative ability of a surface to reflect or emit heat by radiation. Emissivity factors range from 0.00 to 1.00 and are typically measured in U-Factor (or its inverse R-Factor). The lower the emissivity, the less heat that is emitted through a window system.
ENDVENT SLIDER
A window with a horizontally sliding sash on each end and a fixed unit in the centre. Generally the sliding units are quarter the width of the entire unit and the centre section is half the width.
EXTENSION JAMB
Wood or PVC pieces attached and extending from a window or door frame to accommodate different wall thickness.
EXTRUSION
A form produced by forcing heated material through a die.
TOP
FENESTRATION
Any opening in a building’s envelope including windows, doors and skylights.
FIRE DOOR
A steel door constructed with modifications in order to pass various fire and burn through certification testing.
FLANKER
A side or lateral window. Sometimes used to describe the sides of a 3-wide Picture window or Bay.
FRAME
The main supporting structure of a window or door. Made up of side & head jambs, and sill.
FRENCH DOOR (SEE DOUBLE DOOR)
FUSION WELDED
The process of joining uPVC materials by melting them together with extreme heat, resulting in the materials uniting or welding into a one-piece unit.
TOP
GARDEN DOOR
A double door system with one side fixed. The operating side can be hinged from the centre mullion, which is standard, or from the outside frame. A Garden Door also comes with a screen.
GLASS SIZE
The width and height measurement, in that order, of the actual glass. NOT the daylight opening.
GLAZING
Process of securing the glass to the sash in a window or door.
GLAZING BEAD OR STOP
A strip that keeps the glass in place on a door panel or window sash.
GRILL (INTERNAL)
Small bars that visually divide a window into panes. Comes in various sizes, colours and configurations. See also True Divided Lite.
GRILL (WOOD)
Removable wood dividers (interior only) made to simulate True Divided Lites.
TOP
HALF ROUND
A fixed picture window which is one half of a full circle.
HARDWARE
Handles, cranks, locks, tilt mechanisms, etc.
HEAD JAMB
The main horizontal piece that forms the top of a window or door frame. Also known as the head.
HEAD BOARD
A board applied to the top of a bay or bow window.
HUNG WINDOW (Vertical Slider)
Window style in which one or both sashes slide up and down.
TOP
INEX SPACER
Low conductance spacers (INEX) that reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glass units.
INSULATING GLASS
Two pieces of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically sealed together. Also known as a sealed or thermal unit or thermal pane.
TOP
JAMB
The main pieces that form the sides of a window or door frame.
JAMB EXTENSION
A frame member which is added onto the jamb of a door or window to extend the frame to match wall thickness. Can be wood or uPVC.
TOP
LITE
A pane of glass within a window or door or, in some cases, an entire glass unit.
LOCKSET
The complete lock system comprised of the lock mechanism together with knobs, keys, plates, strikes, and other accessories.
LOW-E GLASS
Low-E stands for low emissivity. Low-E glass reduces radiant heat transfer through the glass lowering home heating and cooling costs.
TOP
MASONRY OPENING
An opening dimension which is surrounded by brick, stone, precast concrete or block. The opening will receive a window or door unit including the outside brickmould.
MULL CASING
A casing covering the joint between two windows mulled (joined) together.
MULLED (MULLING)
Joining two or more window or door units together horizontally and/or vertically. The joint is then finished with a mull casing or mull trim.
MULLION
The vertical or horizontal pieces that join single windows in a window grouping.
MULTIPOINT LOCKSETS
Hardware designed to lock in multiple locations by using only one handle.
MUNTIN BARS
A narrow rabbeted, horizontal and/or vertical member in a true divided lite unit, separating individual lites of glass.
TOP
NAILING FLANGE
The vinyl fin of the exterior frame that is used for initially placing a window or door in its rough opening. This should NOT be used for final installation of a window only to help hold it in the opening. Final installation should be from the interior of the window and through the frame into alignment shims. Ask your dealer for proper instructions for installation.
TOP
OBSCURE GLASS
Glass formed by running molten glass through special rollers with a pattern on them causing the glass to become obscure. Most often used in bath rooms for privacy. Also known as frosted or privacy glass.
OCTAGON
An eight-sided window.
OFFSET HUNG
A Double or Single Hung window in which the two sash heights are unequal or offset from centre.
OPERATOR
An operating sash, panel or unit. The hardware used to make a Casement or Awning operate.
TOP
PANE (See Lite)
PANEL
A component of a sliding glass door, consisting of glass in a frame installed within the outer frame of the door.
PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT GAIN
Solar heat that passes through a material and is capturerd naturally, not by mechanical means.
PATIO DOOR (SEE SLIDING PATIO DOOR)
PERIMETER GRILL
A ROSS perimeter grill pattern aligned approximately 3 inches from the edge of the sash. Also known as a Border or Prairie grill. See Photo
PICTURE WINDOW
A window with no operating hardware. Can be Fixed Picture, which has a narrower frame with more glass area or a Fixed Casement, which has a wider frame to match the operating Casement and Awning windows.
TOP
QUARTER ROUND
A fixed picture window which is one quarter of a full circle.
TOP
R.S.O. (ROUGH STUD OPENING)
The opening in a building wall which allows for the window or door installation as well as enough room for shimming and insulation. Generally the frame size of a window would be 1" smaller in each direction than the RSO and a door would be 1" in width and 1/2" in height smaller than the RSO.
R-VALUE
The measure of a products ability to resist the transfer of thermal energy. A window with a high R-Value has greater resistance to heat flow and a higher insulating value than the one with a low R-Value.
RABBET
A groove along or near the edge of a piece of wood.
RAILS
The cross or horizontal members of the framework of a sash or door panel.
RELATIVE HEAT GAIN (RHG)
A calculated relationship of heat gain (through a window system) that accounts for center-of-glass U-Value and center-of-glass shading coefficient based on a standard inside and outside temperature.
ROSETTES
A decorative corner piece used with interior trim.
ROTO-GEAR
A term used to describe the steel drive worm and gears and crank device used for Casement and Awning Windows.
ROUND TOP
Generally an arch top window which can be used separately or stacked to another window or door. Available in quarter round, half round, half ellipses, ellipses, full circles, cambered and gothic arch tops.
TOP
SASH
The portion of a window which is separate from the frame and into which the glass is set. Can be either stationary or operating.
SASH LOCK
A lever-operated locking device which holds a window shut, such as a lock at the meeting rail of Hung or Slider windows or on the jambs of Casements and Awnings.
SASH OPENING
The width and height opening within a window frame to accept a sash.
SCREEN (FULL & HALF)
Screen material of fiberglass mesh attached to an aluminum surround. Screens inhibit entry of insects, yet permit light, air and vision. Double Hung, Double Slider, Casement and Awning utilize full screens; half screens are available on Single Hung and Single Slider units. They are not child resistant and cannot be used as a security feature.
SEAT BOARD
A board attached to the bottom of a bay or bow window, providing support and a flat surface.
SEGMENTED
A series of straight pieces joined together to create the appearance of a radius.
SHADING COEFFICIENT (SC)
The ratio of solar heat gain through the glass relative to that through 1/8" (3mm) clear glass under the same set of conditions. The smaller the number, the better the glass is at stopping solar heat gain.
SHIM
A wedge or strip of wood used to level a window or door in the rough opening.
SIDE JAMB
The vertical pieces of a window or door frame.
SIDELITE
A fixed unit installed on one or both sides of a doorframe, for decoration and light.
SILL
The horizontal member forming the bottom of a window or exterior door frame. The lowest member of the frame of a structure, resting on the foundation and supporting the frame.
SINGLE HUNG WINDOW (Vertical Slider)
A window very similar to a Double Hung, except that only the bottom sash moves vertically, the top sash is stationary and inoperable. A Single Hung has a screen over the lower operating portion of the window only.
SLIDER WINDOW (Horizontal Slider)
A window with either one or two operating sashes which slide horizontally. A Double Slider has a full screen while the Single Slider has a screen over the operating sash only. Double Sliders are also available with a tilt (or inswing) option if required.
SLIDING PATIO DOOR
Glass sliding door available in a Mechanical or Welded Sash design.
SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT (SHGC)
An NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) rating. Measures how well a product blocks heat caused by sunlight. Ratings range between 0 and 1. The lower the SHGC, the less heat is transmitted indoors. Generally, a lower SHGC is desirable in warm climates and a higher SHGC is desirable in cold ones.
SPACER BAR
Material placed between the two pieces of glass in an insulated glass unit. ROSS uses an aluminum spacer or a warm edge (Thermal Edge) spacer that increases energy efficiency and reduces condensation.
STATIONARY
A non-operating, fixed sash, panel or unit.
STILES
The upright or vertical members of a sash or door.
STOP
The moulding applied to the window frame that holds, positions, or separates window parts.
TOP
T-HANDLE
Used in place of a crank handle on Casements or Awnings to allow for interior blinds.
TEMPERED GLASS
Glass that has been through a special heat-treated tempering process that increases its strength. When shattered, the glass breaks into small pebble-like pieces to reduce injury. Note that glass must be cut to size before it is tempered.
THERMAL PERFORMANCE
The ability of a window to act as a barrier to the transfer of heat.
THRESHOLD
An aluminum or wood member, bevelled or tapered and used with exterior or interior door sills.
TRANSOM
A small window above another window or door. Usually used for additional light and more rarely for ventilation.
TRUE DIVIDED LITE
Individual lites of single or insulating glass separated by muntin bars.
TOP
U-Factor (U-VALUE)
A measure of heat transmission through a window. A lower value indicates less heat transference therefore better the insulating value which leads to better energy efficiency. The reciprocal of R-VALUE.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
Invisible rays produced by the sun that can cause fading of furniture fabrics, carpets and paint finishes.
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VINYL (or uPVC)
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride. The type of vinyl used in our windows.
VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE (VLT OR VT)
The percentage or fraction of the visible light spectrum that is transmitted through the glass of a window as reduced by the sash material and reflectance of the glass.
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WARM EDGE SPACER
Low conductance spacers (THERMAL EDGE) that reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glass units increasing energy efficiency and reducing moisture build-up along the edge of the glass in cold exterior temperatures.
WEATHER STRIPPING
A strip of resilient rubber or pile material designed to seal the sash and frame members in order to eliminate air and water infiltration.