AAMA
American Architectural Manufacturers Association. A national trade association that establishes voluntary standards for the window, door, storefront, curtain wall, and skylight industries. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is made up of window, door, skylight, curtain wall and storefront manufacturers, suppliers and test labs. These large and small companies represent both residential and commercial applications.
AAMA
Awning
Awning windows are hinged at the top and open from the bottom of the window with a hand-turned crank. Awning windows are popular on older homes, industrial buildings, and for basements. Awning windows allow the cooling breezes in, while keeping the rain out. Awning windows are often used on top of larger windows or patio doors for added light and ventilation.
Balance
A mechanical device (normally spring-loaded) used in single- and double-hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash during opening and closing.
Bay Windows
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees.
Bow Windows
A bow window is a curved bay window. Bow windows are designed to create space by projecting beyond the exterior wall of a building, and to provide a wider view of the garden or street outside and typically combine four or more casement windows, which join together to form an arch.
Casement Windows
A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame, in which case they are hinged on the outside.
Condensation
The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air.
Conduction
Heat transfer through a solid material by contact of one molecule to the next. Heat flows from a higher-temperature area to a lower-temperature one.
CRF
Condensation Resistance Factor. An indication of a window's ability to resist condensation. The higher the CRF, the less likely condensation is to occur. Based on AAMA standard.
Double Glazing (Double Pane)
In general, two panes of glass separated by a spacer and 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.
Awning windows are hinged at the top and open from the bottom of the window with a hand-turned crank. Awning windows are popular on older homes, industrial buildings, and for basements. Awning windows allow the cooling breezes in, while keeping the rain out. Awning windows are often used on top of larger windows or patio doors for added light and ventilation.
Balance
A mechanical device (normally spring-loaded) used in single- and double-hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash during opening and closing.
Bay Windows
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees.
Bow Windows
A bow window is a curved bay window. Bow windows are designed to create space by projecting beyond the exterior wall of a building, and to provide a wider view of the garden or street outside and typically combine four or more casement windows, which join together to form an arch.
Casement Windows
A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame, in which case they are hinged on the outside.
Condensation
The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air.
Conduction
Heat transfer through a solid material by contact of one molecule to the next. Heat flows from a higher-temperature area to a lower-temperature one.
CRF
Condensation Resistance Factor. An indication of a window's ability to resist condensation. The higher the CRF, the less likely condensation is to occur. Based on AAMA standard.
Double Glazing (Double Pane)
In general, two panes of glass separated by a spacer and 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.
Fixed Panel
The inoperable panel of a sliding window or slider glass door.
Fixed Window
A window with no operating sashes.
Glass
An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides.
Glaze
Any process or material applied to panes of glass.
Head
Refers to the upper boundary of the window and represents to top of the entire window.
Insulating Glass Unit
Two or more panes of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between.
Jamb
Supports the outer edge of the window (the left and right boundaries).
Operable Window
Window that can be opened for ventilation.
Pane
A single sheet of glass.
Picture Window
A picture window is a large, fixed window framed so that it is usually, but not always, longer horizontally than vertically to provide a panoramic view.
Replacement Window
The replacement window replaces most, but not all, elements of an existing window. The existing window's frame is retained, and the replacement window is fitted into this frame. Thus, the glass area of the replacement window will be slightly smaller than the existing window. Replacement windows typically are vinyl, with sealed glass.
Sash
The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border.
Screen
Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects.
Single & Double Hung
A single hung window consists of two sashes, one on the top that does not move and another one on the bottom that does move vertically. Contrast single-hung windows with fixed windows (consisting of one sash that does not move) or double-hung windows (consisting of two sashes, both of which move up and down).
Slider
A window that is composed of two windows, or sashes, that glide open and closed on a metal track. Both sashes slide horizontally in a double-sliding window. Only one sash slides in a single-sliding window. Ventilation area can vary from a small crack to an opening of one-half the total glass area. Screens can be placed on the exterior or interior of the window unit.
The inoperable panel of a sliding window or slider glass door.
Fixed Window
A window with no operating sashes.
Glass
An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides.
Glaze
Any process or material applied to panes of glass.
Head
Refers to the upper boundary of the window and represents to top of the entire window.
Insulating Glass Unit
Two or more panes of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between.
Jamb
Supports the outer edge of the window (the left and right boundaries).
Operable Window
Window that can be opened for ventilation.
Pane
A single sheet of glass.
Picture Window
A picture window is a large, fixed window framed so that it is usually, but not always, longer horizontally than vertically to provide a panoramic view.
Replacement Window
The replacement window replaces most, but not all, elements of an existing window. The existing window's frame is retained, and the replacement window is fitted into this frame. Thus, the glass area of the replacement window will be slightly smaller than the existing window. Replacement windows typically are vinyl, with sealed glass.
Sash
The operating or movable part of a window; the sash is made of window panes and their border.
Screen
Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects.
Single & Double Hung
A single hung window consists of two sashes, one on the top that does not move and another one on the bottom that does move vertically. Contrast single-hung windows with fixed windows (consisting of one sash that does not move) or double-hung windows (consisting of two sashes, both of which move up and down).
Slider
A window that is composed of two windows, or sashes, that glide open and closed on a metal track. Both sashes slide horizontally in a double-sliding window. Only one sash slides in a single-sliding window. Ventilation area can vary from a small crack to an opening of one-half the total glass area. Screens can be placed on the exterior or interior of the window unit.
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