Commonly used glass industry termonolgy

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Commonly used terms in the glass and mirror industry

BI-FOLD: a door that folds in the middle, usually having one end in a fixed position while the other runs along a guide track. A bi-fold is similar to a telephone booth door.

BUTTRESS: the raised portion of a shower curb that is on more than one level.

BYPASS: shower door consisting of two or more panels that run in parallel tracks.

CLEAR GLASS: glass that is transparent.

CURB or saddle): the threshold of a shower that the enclosure is placed on top of, usually made of tile, marble or fiberglass.

CURVED: glass that has been specially formed to fit into a circular floor plan.

CUSTOM ENCLOSURE: an shower enclosure that requires a special size of tempered glass and framework.

DRIP CAP SYSTEM: some shower doors come equipped with a device designed to prevent water from the door dripping onto the floor when the door is opened. This concept is the same as a gutter on a roof.

ETCHED GLASS: glass that has a design cut into its surface, usually by an acid treatment.

FIXED PANELS: the glass or plastic panels of an enclosure that are stationary.

FRAMED: a bath enclosure system that mounts all glass or plastic panels in a metal frame. This concept is the same as a picture frame.

FRAMELESS: a bath enclosure system that minimizes the amount of metal used to hold the system panels and door in place.

HEAVY GLASS: glass used in many European-style frameless enclosures. Usually 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch in thickness.

HINGED DOOR: a shower door that has a jointed metal hinge on the side of the door.

in-line panels: fixed panels that are ”in a line“ or parallel with the shower door.

LAMINATED GLASS: glass that has been made by uniting layers of glass with a plastic film in order to increase the strength of the glass so the glass meets safety glazing requirements.

NEO-ANGLE: a shower that consists of a center door with two fixed panels at a 22.5 degree angle on either side of the door.

OBSCURE: glass that lets light through, but is not totally transparent.

PATTERNED: glass that has a repeating shape embedded in the glass.

PIVOT DOOR: a shower door that rotates on two metal pins that pivot on the top and bottom of the door.

POWDER COAT: a technique for applying paint to aluminum shower door frames. The aluminum is covered with a powder of dry paint particles and is then baked in an oven. This causes the powder to melt and then harden into a tough, colorful finish.

REFLECTIVE GLASS: glass that bounces back at least some of the light that strikes it. This kind of glass is commonly called a one way mirror.

RETURN PANELS: fixed panels that are set at a 90° angle to the shower door.

SILK-SCREENED GLASS: glass that has graphic images painted on the surface to give the illusion of etched, textured or patterned glass.

SLIDING PANELS: The moving panels in a bypass door.

STEAM ENCLOSURE: an enclosure that is usually equipped with special plumbing to create steam. The door itself either runs from the floor to the ceiling or has a top with special seals to contain the steam.

TEMPERED GLASS: As with heat-strengthened glass, it is re-heated to just below the melting point, but suddenly cooled. When shattered it breaks into small pieces. It is approximately five times stronger than standard annealed glass. It must be used as safety glazing in patio doors, entrance doors, side lites, and other hazardous locations. It can't be re-cut after tempering. .

textured glass: glass that has been made with a texture on its surface that creates a translucent effect. This is the same concept as patterned glass.

tinted glass: glass that has a permanent color running through it.

ANNEALING: To heat above the critical or re-crystallization temperature, then controlled cooling metal, glass or other materials to eliminate the effects of cold-working, relieve internal stresses or improve strength, ductility or other properties.

ANODIZE: To provide an extremely hard non-corrosive oxide film on the surface of aluminum, by electrolytic action. The electrochemical process produces an anodic coating by conversion of aluminum into essentially aluminum oxide. Appearance depends upon both the alloy involved and the surface preparation.

CHANNEL: A three-sided, U-shaped opening in sash or frame to receive lite or panel, as with sash or frame units in which the lite or panel is retained by a removable stop. Contrasted to a rabbet, which is a two-sided L-shaped opening, as with face glazed window sash.

DOUBLE GLAZING: In general, any use of two thicknesses of glass, separated by an air space, within an opening, to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In factory-made double glazing units the air between the glass sheets is thoroughly dried and the space is sealed airtight, eliminating possible condensation and providing superior insulating properties.

EXTERIOR GLAZED: Glass set from the exterior of the building.

EXTRUSION: The process of producing aluminum shapes by forcing heated metal through an orifice in a die by means of a pressure ram. Also, any item made by this process.

FIXED WINDOW: 1. A window which is stationary, also known as a picture window. 2. The part of a sliding window or door which is non-moveable, also known as inactive.

FOGGING: A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of the sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures. Usually happens with failed SIG.

GASKET: A preformed shape of rubber or rubber-like composition used to fill and seal joints or openings either along or in conjunction with a supplemental application of a sealant.

GLAZIER: Buys glass and installs it on a "contractor" basis. Examples: Installing the Window system in large office buildings, shopping center malls, etc.

GLAZING: The work of installing glass in a frame

GLAZING BEAD: A molding or stop around the inside of a frame to hold the glass in place.

HEAD OR HEADER: Upper horizontal member of the master frame of a window, patio door, or entrance way.

STRENGTHENED GLASS: Glass which is reheated, after forming, just below melting point and then cooled. A compressed surface is formed which increases its strength. Used for spandrel glass.

INSULATING GLASS: Insulating glass refers to two pieces of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single-glazed unit with an air space between. Heat transmission through this type of glass may be as low as half that without such an air space. It is also called Double Glazing

INTERIOR GLAZED: Glass set from the interior of the building

JAMBS: In sash, the two vertical members of the perimeter of the sash

LITE: Another term for a pane of glass used in a window. Frequently spelled "light" in the industry, but spelled "lite" in this text to avoid confusion with light as in "visible light".

MASTIC: Descriptive of compounds that remain elastic and pliable with age

MOCK-UP: A model of a section of a wall or its parts, built to scale or at full size, for purposes of studying its construction details, judging its appearance, and/or testing its performance.

MULLION: An intermediate connecting member used to "marry" two or more windows or patio doors together in a single rough opening without sacrificing air or watertight performance. A mullion also can give added strength to the connection for structural stability.

PLATE GLASS: 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.

RETROFITTING: Adding or replacing items to existing buildings. Typical retrofit products are replacement doors and windows, insulation, storm windows, caulking, weather-stripping, vents landscaping

SASH: The portion of a window which includes the glass and the framing sections which are directly attached to the glass. Not to be confused with the master frame into which the sash sections are fitted.

SINGLE GLAZING: The use of single thickness of glass in a window or door (as opposed to sealed insulating glass which offers far superior insulating characteristics).

STOP: Either the stationary lip at the back of a rabbet, or the removable molding at the front of the rabbet, either or both serving to hold lite or panel in the sash or frame with the help of spacers. Also the part of a door frame against which the door closes.

THERMAL BREAK: An element of low conductivity placed between elements of higher conductivity in an effort to reduce the flow of heat and cold, i.e., insulation.

TINTED GLASS: A mineral admixture is incorporated in the glass, resulting an a degree of tinting. Any tinting reduces both visual and radiant transmittance.

WET GLAZING: A method of sealed glass in a frame by use of a knife or gun-applied glazing compound or sealant.

WIRE GLASS: Polished or clear glass, 1/4" thick. Wire mesh is embedded within the glass such that the glass will not shatter when broken. The wire pattern is available in many types. It is frequently used in skylights, overhead glazing, and locations where a fire-retardant glass is required

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions regarding this section or other glass and mirror related questions you may have.

ATM Mirror and Glass

3115 Albany Post Road

Buchanan, NY 10511

Ph: 914-941-4230 F: 914-941-4232 E: info@atmglass.com