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Please use our glossary to help become more familiar with the words, terms and phrases commonly found and used in the screens, windows and doors industry. You may either display the set of terms by A-Z or use our search form below to look for a particular term.
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| S -Value |
| Section Modulus of the cross section of a member about the neutral axis perpendicular to the loads. This section property is used to calculate the stress on a member under loads. It is directly proportional to the capacity of the member. (Higher S-values improve the member’s performance and reduce internal stress.) |
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| S.T.C. |
| Sound Transmission Class is a single number rating that measures the sound insulation value of a partition, door, or window. It is derived from a curve of its insulation value as a function of frequency. The higher the number, the more effective the sound insulation. |
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| S.T.L. |
| Sound Transmission Loss is a measure of the sound-insulation value of a partition. It is the amount, in decibels, by which the intensity of the sound is reduced in transmission through the partition. |
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| Santoprene |
| A modest-cost synthetic rubber having physical properties resembling those of natural rubber. It has good weather and temperature resistance, both heat and cold, with ultraviolet stability. |
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| Sash |
| The operating portion of a hung or horizontal sliding window. |
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| Sash Balance |
| A coiled spring or spiral system integrated into the jambs to ease the operation of hung sashes when opening and closing. They also allow the sashes to remain open in varied positions. |
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| Sash Cord |
| In double-hung windows, the rope or chain which attaches the sash to the counter balance. |
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| Sash Lift |
| A protruding handle screwed to the inside bottom rail of the lower sash on a double-hung window. |
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| Sash Lock |
| Generally, a lock applied to the interlocks or stiles of a sliding or hung window to secure the moving panel in place. |
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| Sash Stop |
| cover in jamb track that reduces sash travel on hung windows. |
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| Sash Weights |
| In older double-hung windows, the concealed cast-iron weights which are used to counterbalance the sash. |
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| SBC |
| Standard Building Code was first enacted by the Southern Building Code Congress International on November 16, 1945. Area of influence was Southeastern portion of the United States. Replaced by the ICC codes. |
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| Screens |
| Usually mounted on the window or door exterior, depending on sash, vent, or panel operation. Screens provide ventilation and transparency and are usually one of three types: insect screens to resist insects, protection screens to resist glass breakage and casual vandalism, or security screens to resist forced entry or escape. |
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| Screw Boss |
| A continuous screw track in an extrusion. The track is designed to accept a specific diameter sheet metal screw to provide a secure means of fastening extrusions without the use of reinforcement. |
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| Screw Boss Or Spline |
| A continuous screw track in an extrusion. The track is designed to accept a specific diameter sheet metal screw to provide a secure means of fastening extrusions without the use of reinforcement. |
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| Sealant |
| An elastomeric material with adhesive qualities used to seal joints or openings against the passage of air and water. |
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| Sealant Backing |
| A compressible material inserted into a joint prior to applying a sealant to limit the depth of the applied sealant. Also see Backer Rod. |
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| Seat Board |
| A flat board cut to fit the contour of a bow or bay window that's installed between the sills and the flat wall surface. They provide a seat or shelf space. |
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| Segmented Vault |
| Utilizing straight sections mitered together to create an arched or curved effect. |
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| Seismic Load |
| Building movement and forces caused by earthquake motion. |
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| Semi-Hollow Extrusion |
| An extruded shape where any part of the cross section partially encloses a void. The area of the void bears a fixed ratio to the square of the gap as shown in published tables developed by the Aluminum Association. |
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| Setting Block |
| A small piece of elastomeric material placed under glass in a frame to distribute the weight of the glass, to center the glass vertically within the frame and to prevent glass-to-metal contact. The recommended durometer for setting block material is 85±5 Shore A scale. Also see Shore A. |
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| SGCC |
| Safety Glazing Certification Council - administers tempered glass testing and certification program. |
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| Shade Screen |
| A specially fabricated screen of sheet material with small narrow louvers formed in place to intercept solar radiation striking a window; the louvers are so small that only extremely small insects can pass through. Also called Sun Screen. |
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| Shading Coefficient (SC) |
| A measure of the ability of a window or skylight to transmit solar heat, relative to that ability for 1/8-inch clear, double-strength, single glass. It is being phased out in favor of the solar heat gain coefficient - approximately equal to the SHGC multiplied by 1.15. It is expressed as a number without units between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient or shading coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater is its shading ability. |
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| Shear Block |
| A type of joinery that uses a clip (the shear block) attached to a vertical mullion. The horizontal member fits over the clip and is secured by screws driven into the shear block. |
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| Sheet Glass |
| A transparent, flat glass found in older windows, now largely replaced by float glass. |
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| Shim |
| A spacer of uniform thickness and varying sizes used to plumb and level frames. |
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| Shore A |
| Test used to measure the durometer (hardness) of elastomeric glazing gaskets and usually referred to as Shore A (Shore Instrument Company - Scale A). Also see Durometer. |
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| Short-Wave Infrared Radia |
| Invisible radiation, just beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (between 0.7 and 2.5 microns), emitted by hot surfaces and included in solar radiation. |
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| Side Load Window |
| A hung window in which the sash is removed by extending the jamb balance clips, raising the sash to full window height, supporting the sash weight, and moving the sash to one side to remove it from the master frame. A side load hung window cannot be a tilt window. |
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| Sidelight |
| The glazed frame or frames placed on one or both sides of a door. |
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| Silicone |
| A chemical used as a lubricant or as a sealant. |
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| Silk-Screened Glass |
| glass that has graphic images silk-screened on the surface to give the illusion of etched, textured or patterned glass. |
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| Sill |
| The lower horizontal member of a window frame. |
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| Sill Angle |
| Extrusion that, when applied below the window, permits the gap below the window sill and the opening sill to be closed after window installation. |
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| Sill Pan |
| A rigid flashing installed under doors or windows that has a purpose of collecting and draining residual water to the exterior. It can be formed out of sheet metal or extruded in one piece. It is designed to have an upstanding leg in the interior and each end. |
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| Sill Track |
| The track provided at the sill of a sliding glass door or window. Also, the sill member that incorporates such a track. |
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| Simulated Divided Lights |
| A window that has the appearance of a number of smaller panes of glass separated by muntins, but actually is a larger glazing unit with the muntins placed between or on the surfaces of the glass layers. |
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| Single Pitch |
| Design pertaining to a single slope of a roof on a skylight, solarium or sunroom, also known as a lean-to design. |
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| Single Strength Glass |
| (SSB) 3/32" thickness. |
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| Single-Acting Door |
| A door mounted to swing in one direction only from the plane of its frame. |
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| Single-Glazing |
| Single thickness of glass in a window or door. |
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| Single-Hung Window |
| A window consisting of two sashes of glass, the top one stationary and the bottom movable. |
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| Single-Strength Glass |
| Glass with thickness between 0.085" and 0.100" (2.162.57 mm). |
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| Skylight |
| A roof window that gives light and ventilation. |
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| Sliding Glass Door |
| A door in which the operating panel slides sideways within the master frame. Each operating panel has rollers to permit easy operation. Also called a patio door. Usually used in applications where passage to exterior patios is required, while providing weather resistance and security. Not to be confused with mall or entrance sliding doors which provide security, but little or no weather resistance. |
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| Sliding Panels |
| The moving panels in a bypass door. |
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| Sliding Window |
| A window in which the operating sash slide sideways within the master frame. Each operating sash has glides or rollers to permit easy operation. |
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| Slope Glazed |
| A glass and framing assembly that is sloped more than 15° from vertical. |
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| Smart Window |
| Generic term for windows with switchable coatings to control solar gain. |
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| Snowload |
| Loads imposed on slope glazed structures by the accumulation of snow. |
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| Soffit |
| The exposed undersurface of any overhead component of a building, such as an arch, balcony, beam, cornice, lintel, or vault. |
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| Solar Control Coatings |
| Thin film coatings on glass or plastic that absorb or reflect solar energy, thereby reducing solar gain. |
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| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) |
| The fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window or skylight, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently released inward. The solar heat gain coefficient has replaced the shading coefficient as the standard indicator of a window's shading ability. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater its shading ability. SHGC can be expressed in terms of the glass alone or the entire window assembly. |
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| Solar Radiation |
| The total radiant energy from the sun, including ultraviolet and infrared wave lengths as well as visible light. |
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| Solar Screen |
| A sun shading device, such as screens, panels, louvers, or blinds, installed to intercept solar radiation. |
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| Solar Spectrum |
| The intensity variation of sunlight across its spectral range. |
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| Solar Transmittance |
| The percentage of total solar energy that glazing transmits through a window – a standard clear dual pane has a solar transmittance of 71%. |
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| Solar-Tempered House |
| A dwelling that obtains a large part of its heat from the sun. |
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| Solarium |
| A thermally broken frame and insulated glass unit which makes a room addition to a home or business. Offers energy savings in the moderate price range. |
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| Sole Plate |
| The bottom horizontal piece in a frame wall, usually single or double 2x4's. The wall is nailed into the deck or rough floor through the sole plate. |
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| Solid Extrusion |
| An extruded shape other than a hollow or a semi-hollow extruded shape. Less costly to produce compared to semi or hollow shapes. |
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| Sound Transmission Class |
| The sound transmission loss rating of a material over a selected range of sound frequencies. The higher the number, the less sound transmitted. |
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| Span |
| Distance between centers of supports. |
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| Spandrel |
| Opaque glazing material most often used to conceal building elements between floors of a building, so they cannot be seen from the exterior. |
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| Spandrel Glass |
| Glass mounted between floors of a building. It is usually made opaque to hide building components. It should not be used where building occupants can see through the spandrel coating, as the coating will not completely stop daylight from being seen from inside the building. |
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| Spectrally Selective Coat |
| A coated or tinted glazing with optical properties that are transparent to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others. Typical spectrally selective coatings are transparent to visible light and reflect short-wave and long-wave infrared radiation. |
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| Speed Control |
| The mechanism that controls the rate of speed at which a door will operate. |
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| Splice |
| A longitudinal or latitudinal connection between the parts of a continuous member. |
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| Sputtered Coating |
| A coating deposited on glass or film atom-by-atom in a precise process inside a vacuum chamber. Softcoat low-E uses sputtered coatings. |
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| STC |
| Sound Transmission Class - describes acoustical control for interior panels, and, even though inadequate, is currently the only criteria for exterior windows. The higher the number, the better the product is at resisting typical sound frequencies excluding airplane and train noises. |
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| Steam Bath |
| an enclosure that is usually equipped with special plumbing to create steam. The enclosure itself either runs from the floor to the ceiling or has a top (Transom Panel) to contain the steam. |
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| Steel Reinforcing |
| A steel component placed within a vertical mullion to add stiffness and increase the windload capability of the system. Steel reinforcing may also be used to limit deadload deflection in intermediate horizontals. |
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| Stiffener |
| A reinforcing member which serves to limit the deflection of the member to which it is attached. |
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| Stile |
| A vertical member of a window or door, exclusive of applied glazing beads. Stiles are usually designated by function, such as lock stile, hinge stile or meeting stile. |
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| Stool |
| The narrow shelf fitted on the inside of a window which butts against the sill. |
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| Stop |
| The molding on the inside of a window frame against which the window sash closes; in the case of a double-hung window, the sash slides against the stop. Also used to describe a glazing bead. |
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| Storm Windows |
| A second set of windows installed on the outside or inside of the primary windows to provide additional insulation and wind protection. |
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| Straight Eave Lean-to |
| Describing the angular connection or transition between the vertical front wall and sloping roof of a solarium, sunroom or skylight. |
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| Strap Anchor |
| Usually made from galvanized steel, it attaches to the window frame and opening perimeter to be the main installation anchor to resist wind load. The window dead load is usually not supported with strap anchors. |
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| Strike |
| Typically the portion of the lock that engages the keeper in the jamb or mullion. |
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| Subframe |
| A supporting frame installed prior to installing a finished door frame. |
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| Subsill |
| Extrusions positioned to collect water leakage through mullions and products and drain it to the exterior. Used where high performance water resistance is required and for windows joined with mullions. It runs continuously across the opening width and can be spliced together to cover wide openings. The ends are sealed with end dams. |
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| Sun Control Film |
| A tinted or reflective film applied to the glazing surface to reduce visible, ultra-violet, or total transmission of solar radiation. Reduces solar heat gain in summer and glare. Some can be removed and reapplied with changing seasons. |
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| Sunroom |
| A thermally broken modular vertical panel wall system with double insulated performance glass, topped off with a 4"-6" thick insulated foam panel roof. Offers maximum ventilation in the moderate price range. |
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| Superwindow |
| A window with a very low U-factor, typically less than 0.15, achieved through the use of multiple glazings, low-E coatings, and gas fills. |
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| Sweep Strip Or Door Sweep |
| A weatherstrip mounted at the top or bottom edge of a swing door. |
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| Swing |
| The direction a swing door opens. Also see Hand of Door. |
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| Switchable Glazings |
| Glazings with optical properties that can be reversibly switched from clear to dark or reflective. |
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