Glossary of terms

the design, arrangement, and installation of glass components, windows, doors, and skylights, within a building's envelope. It manages light, ventilation, and energy efficiency, including systems like curtain walls, storefronts, and glazed facades. It balances aesthetics with performance (natural light, solar control)

Glass designed to block or reduce X-ray radiation, used in medical and industrial settings.

Material used to frame or install glass, providing structural support and aesthetic value.

Glass reinforced with wire mesh, providing enhanced safety and fire resistance.

Glass used in large window installations, often spanning multiple floors in modern buildings.

The fixed part of a window that holds the glass panes in place. It can be made from materials such as wood, aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass.

A thin laminate film that can be installed on the interior or exterior of glass surfaces to provide various benefits, such as UV filtration, heat reduction, and increased privacy.

Prefabricated glass units used in construction, simplifying installation and improving efficiency.

A measure of thermal transmittance through a material. Lower U-values indicate better insulating properties.

A window or door with three panes of glass separated by air or gas-filled spaces to provide superior insulation and energy efficiency.

Clear glass that allows light to pass through without obstruction, used in windows and display cases.

Glass that allows light to pass through but is not clear, providing privacy while maintaining light transmission.

Glass with a colored tint to reduce light transmission and glare, often used in buildings and vehicles.

A material of low thermal conductivity placed between materials of high thermal conductivity to reduce heat transfer.

Strengthened glass that is heat-treated to be more durable and resistant to impact, used in safety applications.

Also known as smart film or smart glass film, this is a technology that allows glass to change its appearance from clear to opaque with the application of an electrical current. This film can be applied to existing glass surfaces and is often used in windows, doors, partitions, and other glass applications where privacy control is desired. The switchable film consists of a liquid crystal layer that aligns to allow light through when electricity is applied, making the glass clear, and scatters light to create opacity when the current is turned off.

Glass systems suspended from structures, often used in atriums and other large spaces for dramatic visual effect.

Glass used as a structural element in buildings, capable of supporting loads and providing strength.

Material used in conjunction with glass installations, often found in architectural applications.

A material placed between the panes of glass in an IGU to maintain the proper distance and create an insulating air space.

A measure of how much solar radiation passes through a window. Lower SHGC values indicate better performance in blocking heat from the sun.

Glass doors used in display cases, providing visibility and access to showcased items.

Glass panels installed in roofs to allow natural light into buildings, enhancing illumination and reducing energy use.

A space within a bathroom that is specifically designed to contain a shower. It typically consists of walls or panels made of glass, plastic, or other waterproof materials, along with a door or curtain to keep water within the designated area. Shower enclosures come in various styles, such as frameless, semi-frameless, and framed, and can be custom-designed to fit different bathroom layouts.

Flat glass sheets used in a wide range of applications, from windows to picture frames.

The frame in which panes of glass are set in windows or doors, often movable to allow for ventilation.

Glass that is designed to reduce the risk of injury upon breakage, typically achieved through tempering or laminating processes.

Material used with glass for sealing and installation, providing flexibility and durability.

Glass made by rolling molten glass into flat sheets, used in various applications including windows and mirrors.

A measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. Higher R-values indicate better insulating properties.

Glass designed to provide protection, such as bulletproof glass and impact-resistant glass.

Glass that can refract light into a spectrum of colors, used in decorative applications and optical devices.

Polished plate glass is a rolled, ground and polished product with true flat parallel plane surfaces affording excellent vision. It has less surface polish than sheet glass and is available in thickness varying from 1/4" to 1-1/4". Now replaced by float glass.

Synthetic materials used in place of glass in certain applications, offering benefits such as impact resistance and flexibility.

Solar panels incorporated into glass, used to generate electricity from sunlight in building-integrated photovoltaics.

Presents uneven surfaces with different impressed patterns.

Glass dividers used to separate spaces, providing privacy while maintaining an open feel.

The pane of double-glazed unit which faces the exterior of a building.

Glass that does not allow light to pass through, used for privacy and decorative purposes.

Any type of glass with uneven surfaces which offers light diffusion and privacy.

A vertical or horizontal bar between adjacent window or door units that provides structural support and separates the glass panes.

Reflective glass surfaces used in a variety of applications, including household mirrors, decorative mirrors, and architectural installations.

Various metals used in glass installation and framing, including aluminum, steel, and brass.

Glass with a special coating that reflects infrared light, keeping heat inside during winter and outside during summer, improving energy efficiency.

Slatted glass used for ventilation and light control, often adjustable to regulate airflow and light entry.

Glass that contains lead, often used in stained glass windows and decorative art pieces.

Glass made by bonding layers together with an interlayer, providing enhanced strength and safety, often used in windshields and security applications.

Made up of horizontally mounted louvered glass that abut each other tightly when closed and extended outward when cranked open.

Used around the exterior of a window where the siding fits. It extends beyond the window to the outside edges of an adjoining j-channel.

Glass set from the interior of the building.

Glass used in interior partitions and walls, providing transparency and acoustic control within buildings.

Glass designed to provide thermal insulation, often used in double or triple-glazed windows.

A multi-pane window system consisting of two or more glass panes separated by a spacer and sealed to create an insulating air space.

Glass that absorbs heat to reduce heat transfer, improving energy efficiency in buildings.

A strip of wood, vinyl, or metal that holds the glass pane in place within a window or door frame.

Glass used for projecting images or videos, commonly found in modern presentation and entertainment systems.

Doors made entirely or partially of glass, used in residential and commercial settings for their aesthetic and functional benefits.

Glass that minimizes glare from sunlight or artificial light, improving visibility and comfort.

A frameless glass railing is a type of railing system used for balconies, staircases, decks, and other elevated areas that does not use traditional metal or wooden frames to support the glass panels. Instead, the glass panels are held in place using minimal hardware such as clamps or channels, providing an unobstructed and sleek appearance. Frameless glass railings offer a modern and elegant look, as well as safety and durability, while allowing for clear views.

A method of glazing wherein the surfaces of the glass retaining members (stops or beads) are in the same plane normal to the glass as the side faces of the frame members; often achieved by providing pockets in these faces.

Glass made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, typically tin. This process produces a high-quality, flat glass sheet used in windows and glazing.

Glass with a patterned surface created during the manufacturing process, used for decorative purposes and privacy.

Glass designed with environmental benefits, such as energy efficiency, by reducing heat transfer and improving insulation.

Glass used in entrance areas, including doors and hardware, enhancing the aesthetic and functional aspects of building entryways.

The ability of a material to emit energy as thermal radiation. Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings are applied to glass to improve energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer.

Glass that can change its properties, such as opacity or color, in response to environmental conditions or electronic controls.

A method of securing glass in a frame by use of a dry, preformed resilient gasket, without the use of a compound.

A window consisting of two sashes of glass operating in a rectangular frame, both the upper and lower halves can be slid up and down and usually use a counter balance mechanism to hold the sash in place.

A window or door in which two panes of glass are separated by a layer of air or gas to reduce heat transfer and improve insulation.

Components used in glass door installations, including hinges, handles, and locking mechanisms.

Glass doors used in various applications, from interior partitions to exterior entrances.

Glass used in the exterior walls of buildings, providing an architectural feature that allows natural light and views.

A non-structural outer covering of a building, often made of glass, that is attached to the building's structure and serves to keep out the weather.

Glass tinted with different colors, used in a variety of applications including stained glass windows and decorative items.

Glass used as a writing surface similar to a chalkboard, commonly found in educational and office settings.

Textured glass that allows light to pass through but is not fully transparent, often used in church windows and decorative panels.

A window unit in which the single sash cranks outward to the right or left.

Glass used in overhead structures for protection or decoration, providing shelter while allowing natural light.

A piece that connects with the keeper mechanism to keep the window sashes together when locked.

Glass supported by a cable net structure, offering a lightweight and transparent architectural solution.

A synthetic rubber that can be used both as a sealant and architectural glazing tape.

A bow window can be arranged with three or more equal width units. They can be fixed or operable or mixed in any combination. They are usually mulled together with a small angle such as 13 degrees.

A piece of neoprene, silicone, or other suitable material used to position glass in a frame.

The process by which an edge of glass is finished to an angle so that the edge is not perpendicular to either face of the glass.

Glass with edges cut at an angle to create a decorative effect, often used in windows and mirrors.

A glass curved through a special process.

An arrangement of three or more individual window units attached to each other. In a typical three-unit bay, a center section usually remains fixed while the two on either side act as individual casements.

The use of springs or weights to hold a vertical sash in any desired position.

Glass used in vehicles, including windshields, side windows, and rear windows.

Decorative glass used for artistic purposes, often found in windows, lamps, and other ornamental items.

A type of inert gas used between panes in double or triple glazing to improve insulation by reducing heat transfer.

Glass that has been cooled slowly to relieve internal stresses. This process makes the glass more stable but less strong compared to tempered glass.