Doors Entrance Systems glossary terms and meaning

A
AAMA—American Architectural Manufacturers Association. Provides education and sets standards for building fenestration.
Access Control—A typically automated approach for entrance system security. Such systems permit authorized access through various technologies that validate credentials.
Active (door or leaf)—In a pair of doors, the primary operating one or one with latching hardware.
ADA Compliance—The Americans with Disabilities Act has implications for doors that relate to such things as door weight, opening and closing force, and the size of the bottom rail.
Adjustable Bottom Brush—A Special-Lite patented mechanical bottom brush. Screw adjustment from the lock edge of the door, permit fine tuning for irregularities in final floor conditions.
AEC or A/E/C—Abbreviation for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry.
Affidavit Label—A label on a fire-rated door product on which the manufacturer states that the door meets specified test requirements.
AHJ—Authority Having Jurisdiction. The abbreviation is used frequently in regulatory and code compliance matters.
AMP—Acrylic Modified Polyester. A particular FRP composition of made-in-the-mold skins for Special-Lite models SL-18 and SL-19 doors.
Anchor—A device placed within a mullion, jamb, head, or sill and used to secure the frame to the floor, wall,
or ceiling. Numerous types exist.

Anodizing—
An electrochemical process that converts the
metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion- resistant, anodic oxide finish. Architectural Class I anodizing represents a 0.7 mil and thicker anodic coating. Architectural Class II represents a coating of 0.4 to 0.7 mils thick.
ANSI—American National Standards Institute. A non-profit organization that develops standards in the U.S. and coordinates these standards with international ones to ensure competitiveness of American businesses.
Anti-Ligature (Hardware and Doors)—Safety doors and hardware (handles and hinges) that have
been designed to reduce the ability of individuals to harm themselves by hanging (ligature strangulation). These products ensure patient safety in such institutions as psychiatric hospitals and behavioral healthcare units of standard healthcare facilities.

Applied Stop—A piece of moulding mounted to a
cased, open frame to form the door soffit and stop.
ASHRAE—American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers. Provides technical standards and guidelines for building systems, comfort levels, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainability.
ASTM—American Society for Testing and Materials. Doors are tested to various ASTM standards to ensure compliance.
Astragal—(a) A vertical molding usually attached to the edge of the inactive door of a double door installation. The Astragal closes the clearance
gap to ensure privacy, minimizes the passage of light, retards the passage of air, sound, smoke or flame, and provides additional security. Flat bar and T-shaped profiles are common. (b) The term may also refer to a component or combination of
components applied to a single door, the bottom edge of the flush transom panel, or the bottom of the top leaf of a Dutch door.

Authentic Divided Lites—Individually glazed pieces of glass between muntin bars. Also known as True Divided Lites. See also, Simulated Divided Lites.
Automatic Door—A self- opening door. It may be actuated by a push button switch or may be connected to motion sensors which can initiate the opening.
The type of door also closes automatically after a fixed time period or when sensors no longer detect motion.
Automatic doors are common in many buildings open to
the public and in healthcare facilities.
Automatic Drop Seal—See Drop Seal.
Automatic Swing Door Operator (Swing Door Operator)—An electromechanical hardware component of an automatic door that opens and closes the door. This device may be mounted on the door (in place of a closer) or may be mounted on the wall above the door opening.

B
Backset (Lock)—The distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lock cylinder.
Backset (Hinge)—The distance from the face of the door to the edge of the hinge.
Ballistic Resistant (Bullet Resistant)—Reinforced doors designed to resist the penetration of fire arm projectiles. Doors are tested to various standards such as UL 752, which describes 8 levels of protection, and NIJ-STD-0108.01 (from the National Institute of Justice).
Bar Pull—A specific style of door
pull with a long slender pull
section and two attachment points.
Stainless steel and aluminum bar pulls are common for non- residential doors. They may be
several inches long or run near the full length of the door. They are frequently chosen for narrow stile doors and on glass doors. When two are mirrored on both sides of the door they are referred to as a Ladder Pull.
Barn Door—A sliding door suspended from an overhead, surface-mount railing.
BasiX—A Special-Lite aluminum/FRP hybrid stock door designed for use as a replacement door or as a new construction substitute for hollow metal.
Bespoke Doors—A term used by some door companies to refer to doors that are tailor-made to meet individual requirements versus their “stock” doors. All Special-Lite doors, except for BasiX, are bespoke doors.
Billet—A semi-finished and solid block of aluminum (or other metal). See also Extrusion.
BIM—Building Information Modeling; A
3-D model methodology that provides AEC professionals the means to efficiently plan, design, build, and manage buildings.
Bite—See Glass Bite.
Blast Resistant—Doors designed to resist a specified series of impulse pressures of various Newtons (pounds-force). Blast tests involve a peak pressure (measured in psi) and impulse (measured in psi-msec).
Borrowed Lite—(a) An interior, glazed frame which enables light to be transmitted from one space to another. (b) An entrance system
component consisting of a glazed and fixed lite, similar to a Side-Lite but distinct from the entry door and frame.
Bottom Brush—An energy-efficient and weather- resistant weatherstripping system at the bottom of the door that forms a seal against air and
water infiltration between the door and the sill, threshold, or floor. Most are surface applied to the face of the door and are common on the exterior side of outswing doors. Also known as a Sweep or Door Bottom Sweep. See also Adjustable Bottom Brush.

BPM—Building Product Manufacturer; an abbreviation commonly used in building construction circles. Special-Lite is a building product manufacturer.
Bumper—A wall-, floor-, or door-mounted hardware device for cushioning the door opening. Prevents wall damage by the door handle. Also known as Door Stop.
Butt Hinge—(a) The discrete, multiple hinges secured to the abutting surfaces of the door and frame. Commercial ones are typically larger than those used in residential settings and have square corners versus rounded ones used in residential hinges. See also Hinge, Continuous Hinge, and Pivot. (b) Any hinge
secured to the abutting surfaces of the door and frame rather than the adjacent sides of the door and its frame.

C
Capping—A method of covering a damaged door or frame with aluminum to give protection and an updated appearance. See the Special-Lite Insert Frame and Capping System and Door Replacement Cap.
Cased Opening (Case Frame)—A frame profile
which lacks a soffit and stops. See Frame Profile.
Casing—Moulding placed around a door frame to
cover the joint between the frame and wall.
Center Mullion—A vertical framing member set in a double door opening that allows both doors to be active. Unlike a center post, a center mullion is
set behind the doors on the interior side and is not visible from the exterior side. It is often removable but may be fixed.
Center Post—A vertical framing member set between the doors of a pair, allowing both doors to be active. The post is always visible from both sides of the door. It is usually fixed but may be removable.
Class A, B, C—(a) A subjective quality rating for commercial buildings which indicates the competitive ability of each building to attract
similar types of tenants. A combination of factors including rent, building finishes, system standards and efficiency, building amenities, location, and market perception are used as relative measures.
(b) A reference to certain ASTM test results for doors and other products. Such tests include those related to fire-related flame spread and smoke development as well as other product characteristics.
Closed-cell Foam—A high-density foam characterized by non-interconnected pores. Closed-cell foams have higher dimensional stability, lower moisture absorption coefficients, and higher strength compared to open-cell- structured foams. A specially-formulated, polyurethane, closed-cell foam is used in the core of some Special-Lite doors to create a rigid, monolithic structure.
Closer—Door hardware, usually affixed to the top of the door and frame, designed to pull the door closed.
Closer Reinforcement—A metal plate or channel inside the door that provides additional strength for the attachment of the closer. Also known as Closer Block.
Colonial (Colonist) Door—
(a) A door characterized by recessed panels separated by stiles, rails or muntins.
(b) A door using molded skins to simulate recessed panels.
Composite—Doors

constructed of a variety of materials. Describes most Special-Lite doors.
Concealed Vertical Cable (CVC)—An alternative to concealed vertical rods used in exit devices. The cables attach to top and bottom latches similar to those used with rods. See also Panic Hardware.
Concealed Vertical Rod (CVR)—A component
of the Vertical Rod Exit Device wherein the rods are placed inside the door. Considered more aesthetically pleasing than surface-mounted rods.
Continuous Hinge—A flush-mounted type of
butt hinge that runs the full length of the door and frame. They
are used exclusively for non-residential doors. They offer improved weight distribution, door alignment, and security versus separate, multiple butt hinges. See also Hinge, Butt Hinge, and Pivot.
Continuous Sill— A sill used for a door and side-
lite system where the unit has full-width top
and bottom frame parts and an internal framing component separating side-lites from the door.
Contra-Swing Frame—A door frame designed to accommodate two doors swinging in opposite directions. The frame incorporates a fixed or removable mullion.
Coordinator—A hardware device that ensures that the leaves of a pair close in proper order (inactive door first).
Core—The inside of a flush door.
Crash Bar Exit Device—A type of panic hardware
designed to match the profile of glass doors. Depressing anywhere on the bar disengages
the lock to permit
egress. It is called
a crash bar because it only requires someone crashing into it to open the door. As such, it is often used in high traffic areas.
CRE—The Commercial Real Estate industry.
Cross Bore—For interior door prep, it is the cutout made from the lock edge of the door to intersect the main bore hole or cutout for the handles.
Accommodates the latch portion of the lockset.
CSI—Construction Specifications Institute. This body works with organizations around the globe to create and maintain the standards and formats that guide the construction industry’s communication and documentation. Manages the widely used MasterFormat®.
Cut-off Stop—A frame or mullion stop that terminates at a specified distance from the floor to facilitate floor cleaning. May be beveled or square cut. Also
known as Hospital Stop, Sanitary Stop, or Terminated Stop.
Cutout—A hole in or an area removed from the door to accommodate hardware, lites, louvers or other options.
Cylinder Lock—Lock hardware which mounts into a door which has been prepared with a cutout
through the face and into the edge.

D
Daylight Opening—The area (measured W x H) of visible glass in a finished lite. Abbreviated as DLO.
Dead Bolt—A locking mechanism that is moved into position by turning a knob or key rather than a spring action.
Deflection—The distance a door moves from its normal closed position, usually measured at the top, unsupported latch-side corner of the door. This temporary condition may be caused by wind pressure or other forces. The door returns to position when the force is removed. See also Thermal Bow.
DHI—An association serving door security and safety professionals, and the companies they represent, in the non-residential construction industry.
Divided Lites— Vision Lites with muntins. See also Authentic Divided Lites and Simulated Divided Lites.
Division 8—The major portion of the CSI MasterFormat
that deals with doors and windows.
DLO—Daylight Opening.
Door—A hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building or room.
Door Bottom Seal—See Drop Seal.
Door Holder—A piece of hardware designed to hold the door in an open position. Common types include magnetic, hook, and kick down. Building codes can restrict the type used, especially for fire door installations.
Door Opening (Nominal Door Size)—The framed door opening width by height. Door opening width is measured horizontally between the rabbets. Door opening height is measured vertically between the rabbet and the top of
the floor or bottom of the frame minus jamb
extensions. See also Rough Opening.
Door Operator—A general term for a variety of electromechanical devices for opening and closing automatic doors. See also Automatic Swing Door Operator.
Door Replacement Cap—In instances where a Special-Lite door would need to be trimmed in the field for height, this aluminum capping component can form a complete and new door bottom. The slang term, Blunder Cap, is sometimes used.
Door Schedule—A listing of project-specific door openings. It is normally provided by the architect or designer and found in project drawings and specifications.
Door Security & Safety Foundation—An advocacy and education initiative of DHI.
Door Size (Net or
Actual)—The largest width
(W) by height (H) of the manufactured door. It is equal to nominal door size minus design clearances. See also Rough Opening.

Door Size Expressions— Net Door Sizes are expressed in feet and inches with distinct oral style. For example, a door that measures 36 inches (3 feet) wide and 84 inches
(7 feet) high would be
orally referenced as “3-0 7-0” (three oh, seven oh). That is to say, 3 feet, 0 inches by 7 feet, 0 inches.
Door Stay—See Door Stop.
Door Stop—A wall-, floor-, or door-mounted hardware device for cushioning the door opening. Prevents wall damage by the door handle. Also known as a Bumper.
Door Sweep (Door Bottom Sweep)—An energy- efficient and weather-resistant weatherstripping system at the bottom of the door that forms a seal against air and water infiltration between the door and the sill, threshold, or floor. Most are surface applied to the face of the door and are common on the exterior side of outswing doors. Also known as Bottom Brush.
Double-Acting—Refers to a door designed to swing in both directions or a frame that accommodates such a door.
Double Egress Doors—A pair of doors that swing in opposite directions but on the same plane in the frame. No Center Post is used.
Drip (Drip Cap)—A piece of moulding mounted to the head of the door and designed to prevent rainwater infiltration at the top of door.
Drop Seal (Automatic Drop Seal, Door Bottom Seal)—A movable plunger, in the form of
a horizontal bar at the bottom of a door, which drops automatically when the door is closed.
When closed, a horizontal protruding operating rod strikes the jamb, actuating the plunger and sealing the sill, threshold, or floor. Offers similar advantages of a Bottom Brush and used for acoustical (noise reduction) applications.
Dummy Door Knob—A full-size door handle that has no latching mechanism.
Dutch Door—Double-hung or half doors divided in half horizontally so the bottom half can remain shut while the top half opens.
Dynamic Glass—A self-tinting glass that gradually darkens in relation to heat from the sun. Such glass uses electrochromic coatings to achieve
this capacity. In a darkened state, dynamic glass absorbs and re-radiates unwanted heat and glare. In a clear state, it maximizes available daylight and solar energy. Also known as Smart Glass.

E
Egress—(a) The act of coming out or going out of a room or building. (b) The exit. See also Ingress.
Electric Power Transfer (Door Loops)— Nomenclature used for various devices that permit the flow of electrical power between the door, frame and on to connected power. Accommodates such power applications as locks and proximity card readers. See also Wire Chase.
Elevation—A drawing or design that represents an object or structure as being projected geometrically on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides.
Entrance System—Interdependent architectural components that include, but are not limited to, the entry doors.
EPDM (rubber)—Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (M-class). A type of synthetic rubber. The M refers to its classification in ASTM standard D-1418. Used for glazing in doors and side-lites to hold the glass in place.
EPS—Expanded Polystyrene. A lightweight foam that is offered as an optional core on some doors.
Escutcheon—A decorative door handle plate attached to the stile directly behind the handle(s). Generally square or rectangular shaped.
Exit Device—See Panic Hardware.
Extrusion—A process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile and of varying lengths.
Many Special-Lite aluminum parts are formed in this manner. The aluminum billet is pushed through a die of the desired cross-section.

F
Face—(a; door) The exposed surface of the door, not including the vertical edges, top or bottom. (b; frame) The portion of the frame profile that is
visible on either side of the installed assembly. See
Frame Elements.
Face Sheet—The skin of certain composite doors
and aluminum doors.
FBC—(a) Florida Building Code. (b) Florida Building Commission. The Commission is responsible for maintaining the Code. Beyond conventional building standards, the Code sets high standards regarding windstorm events.
Fenestration—The design, construction, and presence of openings (windows and doors) on the elevations of a building.
Fiber Creel—The mechanical structure of bars and skewers designed to hold fiber roving rolls used in fiberglass product manufacturing.

Fiberglass—In raw form, fiberglass consists of fine fibers of glass. It may be used in mat or cloth form, for example, and mixed with a polymer resin and catalyst to begin its transformation into products. See also GRP.
Fire-rated (Fire Door)—A door with a fire- resistance rating, sometimes called a ‘fire protection rating for closures,’ and used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire and smoke between various parts of the building and to enable safe egress from it. Complies with NFPA 80 and other regulations.
Flush Bolt—A sliding bolt mortised into the edge of a door (usually the inactive door of a pair), so that it is flush with the edge. When engaged, the flush bolt keeps the inactive door closed by sliding into the frame head jamb and the sill, threshold, or floor.
Flush Door—A door that has both faces flat with the exception of hardware (no lites, louvers, or panels).
Frame (Framing)—Architectural components that surround a finished door and to which the door is attached. Includes jambs, header, sill, and related hardware. May also be used to describe similar elements for transoms, side-lites, windows, glass walls, and more.
Frame Elements—
Specific portions of a
frame.

Frame Profile—A visual description of the frame which typically references a cased opening, single rabbet, double rabbet, or double egress.

FRP—Fiber-Reinforced Polymer. A composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fiber. The polymer is usually an epoxy or polyester thermosetting plastic. The fibers are usually fiberglass. FRP appropriately describes many Special-Lite products including the face sheets of some doors as well as some entire doors and framing components.

G
GANA—Glass Association of North America. An association serving flat glass manufacturers, fabricators, and glazing contractors.
Gasketing—Material that is applied around the frame or door to create a tighter seal and minimize the passage of light, sound, smoke, or weather.
Glass Bite—The amount of glass that is secured inside the frame of a lite assembly. It is the distance measured from the edge of the glass to the edge
of the frame pocket and describes how deeply the glass is embedded into the frame. Correct glass bite is essential to safely retain the glass in the frame.
Glazing—(a) The act of installing glass into windows and doors. (b) The installed glass.
GREENGUARD—(a) The GREENGUARD
Environmental Institute was founded to improve indoor air quality and reduce chemical exposure. It is a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories). (b) The term also refers to product
certification programs developed and controlled by the Institute.
GRP—Glass Reinforced Plastic. An alternate designation for fiberglass.

H
Half Lite—A lite occupying almost the entire upper half of a door. A door so equipped is called a Half Lite Door.
Handle—An attached object or mechanism used to manually open or close and door.
Generally refers to any fixed or lever-operated latch device.
Handing—References the location of the door handle. See Left-Handed, Right-Handed, and Reverse Handing.
Hardware—Any of various items that make the door fully functional or decorative including handles, pulls, locksets, hinges, strike plates, door stops, sweeps, escutcheons, dead bolts, exit systems, and more.
Headbolt— A locking rod installed vertically in the stile or astragal of a door which can secure the door in a stationary position.
Header (Head)—A horizontal structural member that supports and redistributes the load from the top plate around a door opening.
Head Jamb— The top member of
a frame. The horizontal part of the door frame above the door. See also Jamb, Hinge Jamb, and Strike Jamb.
Hinge—A jointed or flexible device upon which a door turns. See also Butt Hinge, Continuous Hinge, and Pivot.
Hinge Edge—The vertical edge of the door to which the hinge, hinges, or pivots attach.
Hinge Jamb—The part of the door frame to which the hinge or hinges are attached. See also Jamb, Head Jamb, and Strike Jamb.
Hollow Metal—A metal door (commonly of the flush type), fabricated of sheet steel and reinforced by light metal channels; has a hollow core, sometimes filled with a light filler material.
Hospital Stop—See Cut-off Stop.
Hurricane-rated—Describes products designed for windstorm resistance and for use in windborne debris regions (see WBDR). Testing to various standards of the Florida Building Code and the Texas Department of Insurance, for example, ensures compliance.
HVHZ—High Velocity Hurricane Zone. A designation created by the Florida Building Commission to describe particular regions prone to extreme hurricane forces. These regions include Miami/Dade and Broward Counties as well as
the Coastal Palm Beach County. The associated requirements for doors and other products are in addition to the basic requirements of the Florida Building Code.
Hybrid—A type of composite door that references a Special-Lite market innovation. Some Special-Lite doors known as hybrids use an aluminum frame, FRP face sheets, closed-cell foam core, and tie-rod structural members. The SL-17 is a prime example.

I
IBC—International Building Code. Developed by the International Code Council, the IBC provides a model code that other jurisdictions can use
to establish regulations that safeguard public health and safety. The IBC is a resource for those who design, plan, review, inspect, and construct buildings.
Inactive (door or leaf)—In a pair of doors, the leaf which contains a strike to receive the latch or bolt of the active leaf. When closed, the inactive leaf is typically secured by top and bottom bolts.
Ingress—The act of entering a room or building. See also Egress.
Insert Frame & Capping System—A retrofit framing method developed by Special-Lite to enable door replacement without the expense of ripping out
the existing, damaged metal frame. Corroded and broken frames can remain in place, covered by
non-corroding aluminum or fiberglass components to create a new and fully functional frame.
Inswing—A hinged-door that swings to the inside (interior of building or room) when opened. See also Outswing.
IPD—Integrated Project Delivery. A project delivery approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction.
ISO—International Organization for Standardization. An independent, non- governmental, international organization with a membership of 162 national standards bodies.

J • K
Jamb—Each of the two upright parts of a door frame, on one of which the door is hung. Also known as Side Jamb. See also Hinge Jamb, Head Jamb, and Strike Jamb.
Kerfed Frame—A frame that has been especially formed to accept gasketing or seals.
Kick Plate—A metal or plastic plate attached to the bottom of door to protect the door from marring, blows, scratches, or other mistreatment.
Knock-down (KD) Door/Frame—Doors or frames that are machined for the lock and may include other hardware but are shipped in an unassembled fashion for field assembly. Special-Lite SLI doors, used in glass wall product lines, can be shipped as knock-down doors for field glazing and assembly as can Special-Lite aluminum and fiberglass framing.
Kynar 500®—A registered trademark of Arkema,
Inc. and a special grade of PVDF resin (a highly
non-reactive thermoplastic fluoropolymer) used by licensed manufacturers as the base resin in long- life coatings for aluminum. Special-Lite offers 20 such finish colors for aluminum doors and frames.

L
Ladder Pull—Two bar pulls mirrored on each side
of a door.
Lay-up (Laid-in-Place)—The process or stations of composite door assembly.
Laminated Glass—Glass formed by joining two or more layers of glass separated by a plastic interlayer (polyvinyl butyral or ethelene vinyl acetate).
This glass is used for safety (holds together when broken) or for security (intrusion resistance).
Latch—(a) A device that holds the door closed.
(b) Type of door lock that can be opened from the inside without a key but that requires a key to be opened from the outside.
Latchbar— See Push Bar Exit Device.
Leaf—A single door.
Left-handed (LH)—Describes the handle position in relation to the door. Door swing (see Inswing, Outswing) is also related and important in ordering the correct handing. To determine handing: (1) Imagine the door in an open position (consider Inswing or Outswing). (2) Now imagine standing in the doorway with your back to the jamb where the door hinges will be located. (3)
If the imaginary door is on your left, it is a left- handed door. See also Reverse Handing.

Lintel—A horizontal support of timber, stone, concrete, or steel across the top of a door or window.
Lite—(more properly, Vision Lite) The term used to describe a glazed opening in a door or a piece of
glass intended for this purpose. Sometimes spelled “light.”
Lite Kit—(more properly, Vision Lite Kit) The frame, glazing, and glazing tape needed to create a Vision Lite for field installation.
Lockdown Device—A hardware accessory of varying forms which can be used to barricade the door to prevent ingress. These devices are used in emergency situations, such as active shooter scenarios, to prevent intruder entrance. All are
designed to be temporary and put in place rapidly. However, many debate the wisdom of their use in light of code requirements and the need for free egress in other emergencies such as fire.
Lock Edge—The vertical edge of the door to which the lock hardware is attached.
Lockset—The hardware and components that make up the locking or latching mechanism of the door, including the handle(s).
Louvers—A series of narrow openings framed at their longer edges with slanting, overlapping fins or slats.
Permits the flow of air from one side of the door to the other. Most door louvers are vision proof.
Low-E Glass—(low emissivity) A glass coated with a microscopically thin coating that is designed to block
infrared and ultraviolet light energy. Thus, low-E glass helps to let the visible light in but keep the heat out lessening the cooling load in the space.
M
MasterFormat—A master list of numbers and titles classified by work results. It is primarily used to organize project manuals and detailed cost information, and to relate drawing notations to specifications. Basis of common
3-part specifications.
Mid-Rail—A horizontal member of the door construction placed between the top and bottom rails of some doors. Used for structural strength.
Mid-Panel—A Special-Lite exclusive mid-rail that adds a design accent to the center of monumental doors. This 12” tall panel features an aluminum frame, a poured-in-place urethane core, and two galvanized steel tie rods which add considerable strength and durability to the door. It is used for the handle, hidden access control devices, and branding.
Monumental Door—Stile and rail aluminum doors, such the Special-Lite SL-14 and SL-15, which create a lasting and distinctive entrance system. Usually used in educational, institutional, public, and commercial facilities subjected to high traffic.
Mortise—A rectangular cavity that has been cut out of the edge of a door.
Mortise Lock Exit Device—A type of push bar with
an integrated lock concealed within the mortise.
Mulling—The act of attaching two or more window or door units together.
Mullion—(a) A component used to structurally join two window or door units or that may occur between a door and a side-lite. (b) A vertical member set in a double door opening that allows both doors to be active. See also Center Post.
Muntin—Profile or moulding, either vertical or horizontal, used to separate glass in a sash into multiple lites. Generally, refers to components used to construct divided lite grids or grilles simulating a
divided lite look.
N • O
NAFS—North American Fenestration Standard. Developed jointly by AAMA, WDMA, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Governs widows, doors, and skylights and their energy performance.
NFPA—National Fire Protection Association.
A global non-profit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.
Creates codes and standards for products. NFPA 80 is the definitive standard for fire doors.
NFRC—National Fenestration Rating Council. A non-profit organization that establishes objective window, door, and skylight energy performance ratings to help compare products and make informed purchase decisions.
NGA—National Glass Association. A trade association serving the architectural glass, and window and door industries.
Operable Transom—A transom that can be opened for ventilation.
Operator—See Door Operator.
Outswing—A hinged door that swings to the outside (exterior of building or room) when opened. See also Inswing.
P
Paddle Latch—A door opening latch/handle with a short paddle-style interface. Some are actuated by pushing the paddle in, others by pulling it out. May or may not include a lock.
Pair—Two doors forming a single entry. Individual doors in a pair may be of equal or unequal size.
Panel—(a) The area on a stile and rail door that is surrounded by the stiles and rails (i.e. a 6-panel door). (b) Architectural panels used in entrance systems around the entry doors. (c) The faux panels on the Special-Lite SL-18 colonial flush door.
Panic Hardware (Exit Devices)—A life safety door latching system to facilitate easy egress in
emergency situations. They eliminate a crushing hazard by unlocking the door with a simple pressing action. The most common types are push bar devices (also known as touch bar) and crash bars (for glass doors). Vertical Rods are also used frequently.
Pebble Grain—A texture on some Special-Lite FRP face sheets that replicates the feel and appearance of small pebbles.
Pivot—A type of hinge that mounts into the floor and the top of the door frame. The door pivots on these. They are often selected for glass/aluminum and full glass doors. See also Hinge, Butt Hinge, and Continuous Hinge.
Plank—An antiquated style of door which places wide stiles side by side to form the door width. Instead of using wooden planks, newer stiles are made from aluminum and other materials.
Polypropylene—A thermoplastic polymer used in honeycomb form as a core option for Special-Lite the following Special-Lite doors: AF-200, AF-217, AF-219-1, and AF-220.
Polyurethane—A high density closed cell foam that forms the core on many Special-Lite doors. “SL” model doors used a poured-in-place polyurethane. “AF” models use a sheet form of polyurethane.
Also known as Urethane.
Pour and Debridge—A manufacturing process for creating a thermal break. (1) The aluminum profile is extruded with a channel (bridge) where the thermal break will occur. (2) A polymer is dispensed into the channel in liquid form (pour) and hardens into a strong insulating component.
(3) The aluminum channel is removed (debridge) leaving the insulating element to structurally join the “broken” aluminum.
Prep—Steps taken to prepare the door to receive hardware. Non-residential doors are frequently prepped in the factory to receive field hardware.
Privacy Door Handle—A handle that can be locked using a push or turn button from the inside and can be unlocked from the outside by an emergency key. They are common on interior doors where privacy is required (such as bathrooms).
Proximity Card Reader—An access control device and style of proximity sensor that can read access cards and permit entry to authorized users.
These devices are usually located on the door or elsewhere on the entrance system. Special-Lite hybrid doors can hide the card readers within the door for tamper-proof installation.
Proximity Sensor (Proximity Switch)—A type
of sensor that can detect the presence of nearby objects without physical contact. It can emit an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation and look for changes in the field or a return signal.
Pull—A specific style of door handle that is static
or non-movable on the pull side of the door. Surface mount and recessed pulls are common for non- residential doors.
Pull Side (of Door)—The door face that is opposite the frame stops.
Pultruded—Lineal
profiles of constant cross section manufactured by combining plastic resin and continuous glass fiber reinforcement. These thermally insulating and structural components are ideally suited for
applications where strength, thermal stability, and weather resistance are required.
Pultrusion—The process of pulling fiberglass, mixed with resin, through a heated die to form fully cured, FRP products. Special-Lite AF series doors and frames are created using this methodology.
Push Bar—A general term for various type of bars placed on the push side of the door. Types range from static to mechanical to electronic.
Push Bar Exit Device—The most common type of panic hardware. It consists of a spring-loaded metal bar which is fixed horizontally to a door
that swings in the direction of an exit. When the bar is depressed, it activates a mechanism which unlatches
the door, allowing occupants to quickly leave the building. They can also house
electronics associated with the alarm system. Also known as Touch Bar Panic Device or Latchbar.
Specific types include Rim Exit Device, Mortise Lock Exit Device, and Vertical Rod Exit Device.
Push Plate—A rectangular protective plate of metal, plastic, or other material applied vertically to the lock stile of a door.
Push Side (of Door)—The door face that contacts
the frame stops.

R
R-value—Resistance to thermal transfer or heat flow. Higher R-value numbers indicate greater insulating value. R-value is frequently used by the insulation industry and is the reciprocal of
U-factor, a value more useful in the door industry.
Rail—Horizontal member of the door framework.
Rabbet—A stepped groove on the edge of the jamb that creates the stop as an integral part of the jamb.
Reglet—A narrow strip used to
separate moldings or panels from
one another. On Special-Lite FRP doors, the reglet accommodates the FRP panel while providing a flush surface between the panel and the aluminum edging.
Return—On a frame profile, the portion that extends inward from the throat. See Frame Elements.
Reveal—(a) The width of the rabbet on a jamb where the door is positioned. (b) The distance from the face of the door to the face of the frame on the pull side.

Reverse Handing—Door handing is sometimes described only in reference to a position outside of the door (exterior of room or building). In this scenario, door swing is not considered. The resulting handing nomenclature includes Left
Hand, Right Hand, Left Hand Reverse, and Right Hand Reverse.

Right-handed (RH)— Describes the handle position in relation to the door. Door swing (see Inswing, Outswing) is also related and important in ordering the correct handing. To determine handing: (1) Imagine the door in an open position (consider inswing or outswing). (2) Now imagine standing in the doorway with your back to the frame where the door hinges will be located. (3) If the imaginary door is on your right, it is a right- handed door. See also Reverse Handing.
Rim Exit Device—This type of push bar is used on single doors or pairs of doors that have a Center Post or Center Mullion. The strike plate is surface mounted on the frame (or mullion). See also Mortise Lock Exit Device and Vertical Rod Exit Device.
Rough Opening—The size of the opening in the wall where the door frame will be installed.
Roving Roll—Rolled fiberglass used as raw material for production of FRP doors and frames.

S
Sandstone—A light, textured finish available on some Special-Lite FRP face sheets.
Sanitary Stop—See Cut-off Stop.
Sash—An assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass.
Schedule—See Door Schedule.
SecureLite—A Special-Lite brand name for lites constructed of either laminated glass or polycarbonate designed and manufactured to address security-related concerns (intrusion resistance).
Security Grille (Vandal Screen)—A metal mesh or perforated plate placed on either side (usually exterior) of a lite and intended for intrusion resistance.
Side Jamb—(more commonly, Jamb) Each of the two upright parts of a door frame, on one of which the door is hung. See also Hinge Jamb, Head Jamb, and Strike Jamb.
Side-lite (or Sidelite)—A window or lite panel on either or both sides of a door. A Side- Lite shares the door frame. See also Borrowed Lite.
Silencer—On frame
stops, a material that cushions the door closing.
Sill—(a) The bottom member of an exterior door frame that sits on the floor. (b) The horizontal member forming the bottom of a window or exterior door frame. (c) The lowest member of the frame of a structure, resting on the foundation and supporting the frame.
Simulated Divided Lites—Vision lites characterized by muntins that are adhered to the surface (interior and/or exterior) of the glass.
Size—See Door Size.
Skin—See Face Sheet.
Smart Glass—See Dynamic Glass.
Smoke Control Assembly—Consists of door and frame with gasketing; designed to resist smoke migration when the door is closed. The assembly is not necessarily fire-rated.
Soffit—The portion of a door frame that creates the stops and that lies between stops of a double rabbeted frame or between the stop and face of a single rabbeted frame. It may be molded in place or be applied to a case frame.
Soft Close/Open—Hardware designed to prevent the too abrupt opening or closing of sliding doors. While door opening or closing is initiated by hand pull, the automatic hardware takes over during the last few inches of travel.
Spat—On hollow metal framing, a protective covering placed at the bottom of the frame to mitigate frame damage, such as corrosion.
Specification—See 3-Part Specification.
SpecLite 3®—Represents Special-Lite FRP, pebble grain, face sheets in 12 standard through-molded colors.
Stack Effect—A phenomenon characterized by the movement of air in and out of buildings due to buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs when there is a difference in indoor-to-outdoor air density (warm air is less dense than cold air). The phenomenon
worsens in taller buildings. Implications for doors include pressure-related difficulty when opening and moisture build-up around entry doors.
Standard—A guideline established by an authorized body to ensure that products and services meet the requirements for which they were designed.
STC—Sound Transmission Class. A numeric value given to building partitions, including doors, representing how well the partition attenuates airborne sound. The value is determined by testing the product to the ASTM E90 standard.
Stile—A vertical frame member of a door.
Stile and Rail—Any door that has the stiles and rails visible on the face of the door. For example, see the Special-Lite SL-14 and SL-15 doors.
Stop—(a) The part of a door frame that the door hits when it closes. (b) The sides of the soffit. See also Applied Stop and Door Stop.
Strike Jamb—The side of the door frame on the lock side of the door. See also Jamb, Head Jamb, and Hinge Jamb.
Strike Plate—The metal plate attached to the door frame that the lock engages. Fixed and electric strikes are available.
SVR—Surface Vertical Rod. See Vertical Rod Exit Device.
Sweep—An energy-efficient and weather-resistant weatherstripping system at the bottom of the door that forms a seal against air and water infiltration between the door and the sill. Most are surface applied to the face of the door and are common on the exterior side of outswing doors. Also known as Bottom Brush.
Swing—The degree of door opening. See also,
Inswing, Outswing.
Swing Door Operator (Automatic Swing Door Operator)— An electromechanical hardware component of an automatic door that opens and closes the door. This device may be mounted on the door (in place of a closer) or may be mounted on the wall above the door opening.

T
T (Temper) Codes—These codes define the particular type of heat treatment performed on aluminum alloy (see Temper). Special-Lite
aluminum components are designated as T5 which means that they are cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process then artificially aged.
Takeoff—An activity performed by the contractor in the estimating phase of the bidding process.
The contractor estimates the type and quantity of doors (and other products) that will be needed to complete the project based on blueprints and other project information.
Temper—As a verb, it is the process used to improve the hardness and elasticity of a metal, such as aluminum.
Tempered Glass—Glass that is treated either thermally or chemically in a controlled environment to make it stronger than untreated glass. Tempered glass breaks into small, pebble- like fragments making it safer than normal glass.
Terminated Stop—See Cut-off Stop.
Thermal Bow—A temporary deformation of an exterior door due to internal-external temperature differential. This condition can affect door operation. The condition depends on the door construction, color, and environmental factors.
Thermal Break—A physical separation of metal between the inside and outside of a door or window to prevent the transmission of heat and resulting condensation.

Thermally Broken—A product, such as a framing element, that has a thermal break.
Thermal Strut—A thermally broken structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression.
Thermoset Plastic—A material that contains polymers that cross link during the cure process to form an irreversible chemical bond. The cross-link process eliminates the risk of the product re- melting when heat or chemicals are applied.
Threshold—A strip of metal, wood, or other material that is placed in a doorway to transition from one floor covering to another.
Throat—On a frame profile, the distance between the Returns.
Through Color (Through-molded Color)—References the nature of Special-Lite FRP face sheets (12 pebble grain and 9 sandstone- textured) to carry the sheet color entirely through the product
thickness as opposed to a surface-only finish. Through color face sheets mitigate the need for continual repainting that plagues painted doors due to scratches, surface corrosion, etc.
Tie-rod—A galvanized and threaded steel rod with nuts, serving as a structural tie within many Special-Lite doors. It is a key component of the strength of the door. Unlike rigid screwed or welded construction, the tie-rod offers flexural
strength that will give under pressure and return to position after this pressure is removed.
Toe (slang)—A bottom corner of the door. The expression, “the toes are out,” references a warped door.
Touch Bar Panic Device—See Push Bar
Exit Device.
Transom—Framed area above a door opening. It may contain glazing, panels, or an operable sash and is primarily used for additional light and aesthetic value.
Transom Mullion (Transom Bar)—A horizontal framing member that separates the door opening and transom.
True Divided Lites—Individually glazed pieces of glass between muntin bars. Also known as Authentic Divided Lites. See also, Simulated Divided Lites.

U • V
U-factor (U-value)—Rate of heat flow-value through a building component, from room air to outside air. The lower the U-factor, the better the insulating value. U-factor, a rating more generally used in the window and door industry, is the reciprocal of R-value.
Urethane—See Polyurethane.
USGBC—U.S. Green Building Council. An organization committed to promoting responsible building practices. Hosts the Greenbuild annual event and maintains the LEED building rating system and LEED professional accreditation.
Vandal Screen (Security Grille)— A metal mesh or perforated plate placed on either side of a lite (usually the exterior side) and intended for intrusion resistance.
Veil (Surfacing Veil)—In fiberglass product manufacturing, it is a super-thin layer of high-melt polyester used to form an ultra-smooth surface on the product.
Vertical Rod Exit Device—A type of the panic hardware consisting of
a push bar and
a vertically oriented steel or aluminum rod. The rod engages with the latch and extends into the head jamb and may also extend to the
sill, threshold, or flooring to keep the door secure. The rod may be surface-mounted or concealed within the door. It disengages when the associated push bar, touch bar, or crash bar is activated.
Vision Lite—A glazed opening in the door or entrance system or a reference to the glazing itself.
Vision Lite Kit—The
frame, glazing, and glazing tape needed to create a
Vision Lite for field installation.
Vision Proof— Louvers that permit the flow of air but do not permit line- of-sight viewing to the other side of the door.
W (XYZ)
Warp and Weft—Fabric terms applied to fiberglass. Warp references fibers in the longitudinal direction. Weft references fibers weaved over and under the warp fibers. Using fiberglass material that exhibits both warp and weft creates greater product stability that is less prone to bowing or warping.
WBDR—Wind-Borne Debris Region. Hurricane- prone areas with a basic wind speed of 110 mph that are within one mile of the coast. For Hawaii, all portions of all islands exist within the wind- borne debris region.
WDDA—Window & Door Dealers Alliance. Represents the interests of retail, wholesale, and installing dealers of new and replacement windows, doors, skylights, and related building products.
WDMA—Window & Door Manufacturers Association. An organization that defines the standards of excellence in the residential and commercial window, door and skylight industry.
Weatherstripping—(Also known as Weathering.) A material or device used to seal the openings, gaps, or cracks of venting window and door units to prevent water and air infiltration.
Wire Chase—Passageways made within the door for running power from the Electric Power Transfer devices through the door and to various powered devices such as locks and proximity sensors.
Wired Glass—An type of glass made by embedding wire into the glass while the glass is still in a molten state. The wire is intended to hold the glass when broken or to keep it from flying into
the space. While it was fire-rated, traditional wired glass presented its own safety concerns (embedding wire inherently weakens the glass). Newer and safer wired glass exists today. However, due to earlier concerns and legal actions, alternate glazing technologies are commonly chosen for applications requiring both fire and safety-rated glass.
Wood Expressions—A brand name of Special-Lite, Inc. for a decorative, applied finish to aluminum that replicates various wood finishes