A
ABCB The Australian Building Code Board, responsible for managing the Building Code of Australia.
Active Door The door leaf that opens first and to which the lock is applied.
Air Infiltration The amount of air leaking in and out of a window or door through gaps in the framing or weather seals.
Annealed Glass The standard type of glass used for residential windows.
Anti-Lift Block
Architrave
AWA The Australian Window Association, an industry body dedicated to promoting the window industry.
Awning Window A style of window in which the top of the sash is hinged and the bottom swings outwards.
B
Bay Window A combination of three or more window units attached together to project outwards from the wall. It usually consists of a large fixed centre unit with two operating side units at 30°, 45° or 90° angles to the wall.
Bead The aluminium or PVC section used to retain the glass in a frame.
Bi-fold Activator
Bi-fold Door
BCA The Building Code of Australia, which outlines the building standards for the Australian construction industry.
Bottom Rail
Bow Window A combination of four or more adjoining window units which project 10-20° from the wall in a radial or bow formation.
Brick Veneer A form of construction in which the outside skin of the wall is brickwork and the inside is timber stud frame.
Built-in A built-in window or door frame is installed as the wall is being built.
C
Cam Lock A single point locking mechanism in which a cam action locks the window sash against the frame.
Casement Window A style of window in which the sash is hinged at the side and opens outwards like a door.
Caulking A compound used for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air.
Cavity Brick A form of construction in which both the outside and inside wall skins are brickwork.
Cavity Closer
Chair Rail A fixed horizontal rail fitted to a window or door to provide protection from human impact.
CKD A "completely knocked down" window or door, supplied in component parts.
Colonial Bar An applied bar which is adhered to the glass to recreate the early colonial style of windows and doors.
D
Daylight Opening The area of clear daylight visible through a glazed window pane.
Dead Lock
Die
Door Stop The part of a door frame against which the door closes.
Double Brick
Double Glazing
Double-Hung Window A style of window in which two moving sashes bypass each other vertically in the frame.
Drainage Valve
Dual-Arm Operator An opening mechanism for casement windows consisting of two arms, one of which pulls the sash while the other pushes.
Dual-Pull Operator An opening mechanism for awning windows which works in a scissor action, with two keepers.
E
Energy Rating An indication of the energy performance of a window or door, as determined by the energy efficiency of the framing, weather seals and glazing.
Extension Jamb A trim section which extends the window frame to the interior wall.
External Glazing Glazing carried out from the outside of the window or door.
Federation Window A window configured to recreate the early federation style.
Finish The surface appearance of aluminium extrusions or hardware.
Fixed Light A glass pane with no moving sash, intended solely for vision and admitting light. It is also known as a picture window.
Fixed Panel Any non-moving panel in a window or door.
Fixing
Fixing Lug The bracket used to fasten a window or door frame into the building.
Flashing A strip of metal or other material which is attached to the perimeter of the window or door frame to prevent water from penetrating to the inside wall of the building.
Flashing Fin A perimeter fin that is an integral part of the frame. Also know as reveal fin.
Float Glass
Flush Bolt A bolt which is morticed into the top and/or bottom edge of a door to hold the passive door of a set of double doors closed.
Frame The main structural components of a window or door, including the head, sill, jambs, mullions and transoms.
Frame Size The overall external dimensions of a frame.
French Door
Garden Window
Geometric Window
Glazing The process of fitting glass into a window or door.
Glazing Bead
Hand The direction in which a door or window panel opens.
Head The main horizontal section that forms the top of the frame.
Hinge
Hinge Stile The stile to which hinges are applied.
Individual Glazing
Insulating Glass Unit A sealed assembly of two panes of glass separated by a hermetically sealed airspace. This type of glazing offers high thermal insulation and improves acoustic performance.
Internal Glazing The process of glazing from the inside of a window or door.
Jamb One of the two main vertical sections forming the sides of a frame.
Keeper
Keyed Alike
Laminated Glass Two or more sheets of glass permanently bonded together by a plastic interlayer material. It reflects almost 99% of UV radiation and does not splinter when broken.
Lever Handle The horizontal handle which operates the bolts of a lock.
Lintel A structural component or beam above a window or door opening that supports the wall above.
Lite An individually framed pane of glass.
Lock Stile The stile to which the lock is applied.
Longreach Frame Extender
Louvres Fixed or adjustable slats of glass, timber or aluminium, which allow ventilation through a window or door opening.
Lowlight The window located below the transom.
Low-E Glass
Meeting Rails
Morticed Lock
Mullion A vertical coupling section used to structurally join two window or door units between head and sill.
Multipoint Lock A locking system in which one handle secures a window or door at two locking points.
Muntin A horizontal or vertical section used to separate the glass in a sash into multiple lights.
Nailing Fin An extension of a window or door frame which overlaps the conventional stud construction, allowing nails to be driven through to secure the frame.
Obscure Glass Glass which is textured (frosted, etched, etc.) to enhance privacy, light diffusion or appearance.
Operator The crank mechanism used to open and close a casement or awning window.
Operating Sash A sash which can be opened and closed.
Paddington Trim
Pane A piece of glass.
Panel Any frame containing a pane of glass.
Parliament Hinge A "H"-shaped hinge designed to allow a door or window to swing clear of the trim and lay flat against the wall.
Pascal
Pelmet
Pivot Door
Prepared Opening An opening in the wall which is made prior to installation of a window or door.
PVC
Rail A horizontal member of a door or window frame.
Rebate
Reflective Glass Glass which has been coated to reflect visible light and solar radiation.
Reveal
R-Value
Sash An assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass.
Sash Balance A spring device used to counterbalance the weight of double-hung window sashes.
Sash Cord The rope or chain which connects the sash and sash balance in a double-hung window.
Sash Lift A handle which is built into or attached to the lower sash of a double-hung window.
Sash Pulley A pulley morticed into the frame of a double-hung sash, over which the sash cord passes.
Setting Block Small pieces of vinyl or rubber which are fitted into the bottom rail to protect and support an insulating glass unit.
Sidelight A fixed window located on either side of an operating window or door.
Side Panel A window or door panel which is adjacent to a doorway.
Sill The main horizontal member which forms the bottom of a frame.
Sill Flap A vinyl seal fitted to the underside of a window or door to allow for building settlement.
Sill Track A track on the sill of a sliding window or door that guides the panel as it is opened and closed.
Single Glazing
Site Glazing The process of glazing a window or door after it has been installed into the building.
Sliding Door Two or more door panels that slide horizontally along a track.
Sliding Window Two or more window sashes that slide horizontally along a track.
Solar Control Glass Any type of glass designed to reduce the heat gain derived from solar radiation. This may be achieved via interlayers, tints, reflective coatings, etc.
Stiles The main vertical frame sections of an opening window or door sash.
Storm Mould A section which may be added externally to a window or door jamb to close off the cavity and take up any variations in brickwork.
Strike Plate A metal plate which is pierced or recessed to receive the latch when a door or window is locked. Also known as a keeper.
Sub-Sill A section which may be applied under a window or door sill to increase the sill depth and improve water resistance.
Sump Sill
Surface Hinge
Surface-Mounted Lock
Thermal Break
Tempered Glass
Thermal Conductivity The extent to which a material allows the transfer of heat or cold.
Thermal Expansion
Threshold A section which is fastened to the floor beneath a door to trim off the inside of the door sill and cover the joint where two different types of floor material meet.
Throw The maximum projection of a fully-extended dead bolt or latch bolt.
Tinted Glass
Toughened Glass Glass that has been strengthened by heat treatment.
Transom
Transom Window A window which is installed above a door or window for additional light and aesthetic value.
U-Value
Ventilation Lock
Weatherseal
Weather Flap
Weep Hole A small opening drilled into a window or door section, through which water can drain to the building exterior.
WERS The Window Energy Rating Scheme, a system which allows residential windows to be given a star rating as a guide to their energy performance.
Wind Load The maximum level of wind pressure that a window or door must be able to withstand, depending on its particular location and exposure.
Window Rating
Woolpile A woven pile weather seal used to seal sliding sashes.