Configurations of louvers include horizontal louvers, with blades arranged horizontally, and vertical louvers with blades running vertically. They may have fixed blades or adjustable blades. Blades may be formed from steel or aluminum sheet or made of aluminum extrusions.
Most glass used in glazing today begins as float glass, so called because it is produced by floating molten glass onto molten tin. This primary glass may be clear or tinted and is produced in several standard thicknesses. The typical process for producing glass involves reheating and then slowly cooling the glass to reduce internal stresses. The result of that process is annealed glass. Annealed glass may be heated a second time followed by rapid cooling to produce heat treated (strengthened) or fully tempered glass.
Door hardware includes items essential to the operation, control, security, weather resistance and acoustical performance of doors.
Hinges and pivots support doors in their frames and are available in various sizes and types to accommodate the size and weight of the door, and the frequency and severity of its use. Traditional knuckle-types hinges include mortise or surface, plain or anti-friction bearing, swing-clear, and pivot-reinforced. Features include safety studs, hospital tips, and non-removable pins. Special types include electrified, concealed pocket-type, spring-assisted self-closing, and continuous hinges.
Unit skylights are standard factory assembled products ready for installation. They come complete with glazing, retainer caps, battens, trim, gutters, flashing, gaskets, sealants, and fasteners. Unit skylights may be either non-operable or operable to allow for ventilation. Unit skylights are typically used for areas where more natural light is desired than can be achieved with windows. They add drama to a space while reducing the need for artificial light.
Wood windows are the traditional favorite for residential and light commercial construction. Prospective home buyers value wood for its natural warmth and perceived quality. Wood, with its cellular structure, is a natural insulator, giving wood windows an advantage over windows made with other materials in terms of energy efficiency and resistance to condensation. The dimensional stability of wood makes for a strong and rigid frame.
By definition, a curtain wall is a building facade that carries only its own dead load, not any load that is transferred from the building, and transfers horizontal loads (wind loads) to the building structure through connections at floors or columns.
Aluminum-framed storefront systems are usually located on lower building floors. Their vertical span is often limited to a single story in height, with the system being installed between floor slabs, although there are systems that may span more than one story. They are often combined with entrance systems.
Wood doors may be classified as either flush or stile and rail construction. Wood doors may be installed as swinging, sliding or folding doors, and are available for interior locations or as exterior entrance and storm doors. There is a wood door for every budget, from the most economical flush hollow-core door, available from your local home improvement center, to custom-made stile and rail doors, produced with furniture-grade hardwoods and costing thousands of dollars.
Hollow metal doors and frames are rugged and long-lasting. They resist heat and humidity, which may adversely affect other door and frame products by causing problems such as warping and delaminating.
This topic includes information related to glazing surface films installed during construction. Glazing surface films are applied to a glass or glazed surface openings or storefronts. The application of the film modifies the performance and appearance of the glass. Film is used in a variety of applications for solar control, safety and security.
This topic includes information related to mirrors installed during construction. Mirrors are typically used in bathrooms for the purpose of grooming. Flat surface or plane mirrors can be framed or unframed glass or plastic material that provide a reflective surface.
This topic includes information related to access control hardware installed during construction. Access control hardware identifies and authorizes entry through an operable door, utilizing electro-mechanical hardware such as card key, keypad and biometric identity. This type of security hardware is common where access to spaces within a structure require additional security.
