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5-Star
Stars are a ranking system that has been given to indicate the energy efficiency of the building products and materials that make up a new home, from 0 to 5 stars. The more stars, the higher the energy rating. This is similar to the star ratings that are produced on white goods.

Awning Window
A window unit, hinged at the top, in which the bottom of the sash swings outward.

Bay Window
A composite of three windows, usually made up of a large center unit and two side (or wing) units at a 45-degree angle from the wall.

Bifold Door
A door unit made up of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 panels hinged together to open in various configurations to create a large open expanse.

Bifold Window
A window unit made up of 2, 3, or 4 panels hinged together to open in various configurations to create a large open expanse.

Bow Window
A composite of three or more window units in a radial or bow formation.

Building Code of Australia (BCA)
The Building Code of Australia outlines the standards, by law, which must be adhered to by the Australian building and construction industries.

Building Envelope
The building envelope refers to the walls, ceiling, windows, floors, skylights, and design features of a building. Refer to Building Fabric.

Building Fabric
The building fabric refers to the walls, ceiling, windows, floors, skylights, and design features of a building. Refer to Building Envelope.

Casement Window
A window unit, hinged at the side, in which the sash opens outward like a door.

Chair Rail
A fixed glazing rail or rigid push bar which provides protection from human impact.

Colonial Bar
Applies to any short or light bar, either vertical or horizontal, used to separate glass in a sash into multiple lights.

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Components
The various parts necessary to structure a complete unit.

Cup
A deviation from a straight line drawn side to side; a curvature across the face of the door.

Double Glazing
Glazing that incorporates two panels, separated with an air space, for the purpose of thermal insulation.

Double-Hung Window
A window unit, with two sashes which by-pass each other vertically in the frame.

Dowel
A small, round, wood unit with shaped ends, provided with a glue groove for joining together stiles and rails.

Finger Joint
A joint consisting of a series of fingers, precision-machined on the ends of two separate pieces of timber, which mesh and are firmly held together by an adhesive.

FirstRate
FirstRate is a software package that calculates the energy efficiency of the building products and materials that will make up a new home. The energy efficiency of these combined building products and materials result in a star energy rating - from 0 to 5 stars.

Fixed Window
A non-openable window unit

Fixing
Any item that is used to secure members of a window assembly to each other, to secure an item of hardware to a window member, or to secure a completed window assembly into the building structure.

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Flashing
An impervious membrane compatible with the framing materials, installed in such a manner as to prevent ingress of water into the building.

Frame
That part of a window assembly surrounding the sashes or fixed glazing.

Frame Size
The overall external dimensions of a window or door frame.

French Door
A particular design of swing door, all or a large part consisting of divided glass panes.

Glass
A hard, brittle, amorphous substance produced by fusion and usually consisting of mutually dissoved silica or silicates that also contain soda and lime. It may be transparent, translucent or opaque.

Glass Bead
A moulding to secure glass in a window or door.

Glazing
Fitting glass into a window or door.

Hardwood
Generally, one of the botanical groups of trees that have broad leaves, in contrast to the conifers. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood.

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Head
A transverse member forming the top of the window or door frame.

Jamb
The vertical side member of a frame. (see also Stiles)

Jambliner
A sash balance operating system used in a double hung window.

Laminated Glass
A composite material consisting of two or more sheets of glass permanently bonded together by a plastic interlayer material. Can be used to reduce noise transmission, as well as increase security.

Light
(See Window Light).

Lintel
A horizontal framing member placed across the top of the rough opening of a window or door opening to prevent the weight of the wall or roof from resting on the window frame.

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LOSP
LOSP stands for Light Organic Solvent Preservative. It is a chemical treatment used on timber to protect it from; fungi, mould, termites and other wood borers.

Low-E Glass
Low emissivity (Low-E) glass has a coating that reflects radiant heat back into a room, or to the outside of a dwelling, depending on the glass orientation.

Masonary Opening
The opening left in a masonary wall to receive a window or door unit.

Mortise
A slot or rectangular cavity cut into a piece of wood to receive another part.

Mortise and Tenon Joint
One in which a projection, machined on one piece, snugly fits into a rectangular-shaped, recessed opening machined in a second piece, and is secured under pressure with an adhesive. In a "through mortise" joint, the mortise and tenon extend through the full width of the material. In a "blind mortise" the end of the tenon is not visible.

Mullion
A vertical or upright member, between the head and the sill of a window, usually separating two panels.

Newton
The force which, when applied to a body having a mass of one kilogram, causes an acceleration of one metre per second squared in the direction of application of the force.

Pascal
The pressure or stress which arises when a force of one newton is applied uniformly over an area of one square metre.

PRIMEX
A finger-jointed, pre-primed, LOSP treated pine product with a high stress tolerance, suitable for window joinery.

Rails
Horizontal top and bottom members joining the stiles of a sash.

Rebate
The recess on adjoining edge and face of a member.

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Rough Opening
The opening left in a wall frame to receive a window or door unit. This is usually 20mm larger than the window or door frame dimensions.

R-Value
Resistance to thermal transfer or heat flow. The higher th R-value the greater the insulating properties.

Sash
The separate, lighter frame to a window, carrying the glass. It may be fixed or moveable.

Sash Cord
In double-hung windows, the rope or chain which attaches the sash to the counter balance.

Sash Lift
A protruding handle screwed to the inside bottom rail of the lower sash on a double-hung window. In taller windows they may be fitted to the top rail of the lower sash. (For ease of use).

Sash Weights
In older double-hung windows, the concealed weights which are used to counterbalance the sash.

Side Lights
(See Side Panel).

Side Panel
A panel (operable or inoperable) located adjacent to a doorway. It may or may not be in the same plane as the doorway.

Sill
The bottom horizontal member of a window or door frame.

Single Glazing
Use of single panes of glass in a window.

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Sliding Window
A window unit with two or more sashes where one slides past the other, horizontally within the frame.

Softwood
Generally, one of the botanical groups of trees that in most cases have needle or scale-like leaves; the conifers; also the wood produced by such trees. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood.

Stiles
The upright or vertical pieces of the framework of a door or window.

Stormmould
(See Windmould).

Tenon
A rectangular projection cut out of a piece of wood for insertion into a mortise.

Toughened Glass
Glass that has been strengthened and given modified fracture characteristics by heat treatment so that the residual stresses are relatively high.

Transom
A horizontal intermediate framing member.

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U-Value
The rate of heat loss, or gain through the window from the warm side to the cold side. The lower the U-value the better, especially in Winter.

Weatherseal
A material or device used to seal the openings, gaps or cracks of operable window and door units to prevent water and air penetration.

Wedges
Wood (or metal) wedges used to secure the window or door unit in the rough opening in a plumb, level and square position during and after installation.

Windmould
An external piece of timber, usually attached to the outside of a window, to suit different construction types. (By increasing the "depth" of the frame).

Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS)
A rating scheme which enables residential windows to be given a star rating as a guide to their energy performance. The rating certifies the windows winter and summer efficiency, as well as their ability to provide protection from fading. For each of these three categories, a number of stars from one to five is given - the more stars, the better the performance.

Window/Door Assembly
A complete unit comprising frame, couplings, sashes, glazing, infill panels and hardware.

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Window light
A single panel or glazing in a window assembly.

Window Rating
The level of performance for strength and weatherproofness of windows and doors as determined by test. Window ratings are expressed in design wind pressure terms.