Glossary

adhesive

substance used to adhere one material to another.

anchor

bracket made of aluminium or steel and used to fasten aluminium frames to an adjoining structure.

arrised

type of edge work, where the edge of the glass is ground back approximately 1/16th of an inch at an angle.

awning window

window that is hinged at the top and swings out.

backlite

back window of a vehicle.

bevelled

type of edge work, where the edge of the glass is ground back from 1/2 to 1 inch at an angle.

polished

type of edge work, where glass is ground back to its natural state.

spandrel

non-vision window.

plumb

adjective: perpendicular to level. verb: install something perpendicular to level.

setting block

block made of rubber, neoprene, EPDM, or silicone and used to position and protect glass in a frame.

shear block

bracket made of aluminium or steel and used to fasten horizontal frame members to vertical frame members.

sash

frame holding the glass in a window and usually made to slide up and down in the grooves of a window aperture.

rubber pads

pieces of rubber used for carrying glass.

snap cover

outside finish of a curtain wall frame. Also called a “cap”.

specifications

written details of job descriptions.

edge work

process of sanding or grinding the cut edge of a glass to any of the following finishes: arrised, bevelled, furniture, polished, mitred, and ground.

fabricate

construct support structures using aluminium extrusions.

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets, as described in WHMIS legislation. See WHMIS.

etching

creating designs and patterns on glass surfaces using acids.

gasket

preformed rubber or vinyl substance used in the glazing industry.

skylite

any overhead glazing.

stock length

standard size length of an aluminium extrusion.

hang (set) a door

install a door into a door frame.

moulding

metal trim that covers windshield clips.

curtain wall

non-load-bearing wall constructed of aluminium and glass.

rough opening

opening into which a window or door frame is installed (wood, brick, steel).

stop

removable piece of material that holds glass in place (metal, wood, rubber).

pressure plate

screw-applied stop on curtain wall.

set (hang) a door

install a door into a door frame.

prefabricated

preassembled component.

preglazed

window frame that has the glass installed in it before installation of the frame takes place.

sealant

substance applied to a surface to make it impervious or resistant to water, dirt, stains, etc.

tape

preformed glazing tape.

sandblasting

carving glass surfaces using sandblasting equipment.

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Material Information System.

flashing

thin sheet of metal, formed to a specific shape.

suction cups

manual or power-assisted devices that lift glass using a vacuum.

laminated glass

glass that has been layered (laminated) at the factory with polyvinyl butyral between the layers.

electronically altered glass

specialty glass that can be electronically obscured.

tempered

glass that has been heat-treated in order to strengthen its breaking tolerance.

lite

single piece of glass.

glaze

install glass.

storefront

glass and aluminium enclosure on the main part of a building, complete with doors.

cap

outside finish of a curtain wall frame. Also called a “snap cover”.

Abbreviations