Window Glossary

Millet helps you understand technical terminology

ACOTHERM
The Acotherm label is only granted to products already certified with the NF CTBA or NF CSTB certification. It guarantees the AEV performance as well as compliance with noise reduction and thermal insulation performance levels.

AEV
The AEV classification defines the sealing characteristics of windows against Air, Water, and Wind.

ANODIZATION
The process of depositing a protective layer of alumina, in a natural or colored shade, through electrolytic treatment; also known as anodic oxidation. The procedures and characteristics of anodization are covered by the NF A 91-450 standard.

ARGON
This inert gas replaces the air between the two faces of the glazing. When associated with low-emissivity glazing, it improves the thermal performance of the joinery.

BACKER ROD
A foam band that supports the extruded sealant.

BAFFLE
The junction between two sashes of a sliding window.

BAY UNIT
Joinery and roller shutter box combined into a single unit.

BRUSH SEAL
Used on sliding windows and roller shutter tracks.

CARRIAGES FOR ALUMINUM SLIDING DOORS
There are 4 types of trolleys:
• Simple (1 wheel)
• Bogie (2 wheels)
• Adjustable
• Non-adjustable

CEKAL
This label concerns the quality of the glazing used in our joinery. CEKAL certification depends on various criteria, including the quality of assembly for laminated glass, resistance to moisture penetration in the assembly joints, and performance in acoustics, thermal insulation, or security.

CERTIFICATION
A quality mark granted to products that meet the technical specifications of the NF brand.

CERTIFICATION ACOTHERM
This certification is only granted to products already certified with NF CTBA or NF CSTB certification. It ensures AEV performance as well as compliance with noise reduction and thermal insulation performance levels. Acoustic performance is determined through testing by an accredited laboratory, while thermal performance is assessed based on the UW coefficients calculated for the specific joinery specifications.

CLADDING
Joinery element that provides the finish and aesthetic appearance of the work.

CLOSURE
Refers to any protective device for window and door openings against break-ins or exterior light: shutters, blinds, protective grilles, shop curtains, jalousies, which are considered closures in contrast to doors and windows themselves, which are openings.

COCHONNET
The part of the frame that remains visible from the outside of the building (excluding the sill and threshold).

CSTB
The CSTB, or Scientific and Technical Center for Building, is the organization that certifies PVC joinery, validating their compliance with French standards in terms of security, stability, thermal insulation, and air and water tightness.

DAYLIGHT OPENING
The visible part of the glazing, often referred to as the daylight opening.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The model was developed within a working group of the UFME (of which MILLET is a part). The calculation is based on the percentage improvement in energy consumption of a reference housing unit, assuming the replacement of a reference window unit (single glazing Uw = 4.9 W/m²/K, Sw = 0.70), which corresponds to the lowest class on the scale (Class G).

ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Includes the total energy resources (fuel, coal, etc.) needed to supply materials for processes (products, reagents, fuels, etc.) in extraction, production, distribution, and transport. This also covers fossil energy materials themselves and the energy needed for plant growth.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT
The certification for sustainable forest management or eco-certification pertains to both the management of forests themselves and the products derived from these forests, with a traceability process or control chain for the origin of the wood.

FALSE SASH
A piece placed on the frame used to compensate for the thickness of insulation.

FRAME
The external dimension between the finished wall or plaster that must be given for the width. For height, the dimension is given from the top of the rebated edge to the bottom of the lintel or masonry above.

FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international organization composed of representatives from environmental protection organizations, indigenous rights groups, foresters, and timber merchants.

FUNCTIONAL UNIT
In Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), this is the unit of measure used to evaluate the service provided by the product. Just like comparing the price of fruits by the kilo, to compare the environmental impacts of two products, the impacts must be related to a common unit of measure. LCA is calculated for a standard window type (C2 135htx120lg), and the impacts are related to 1 m² over a lifespan of 30 years.

FUSING
Fusing glazing requires a craft technique that creates effects of color and volume. Each piece is unique, made by master glassmakers.

GREENHOUSE GASES
Some gases are identified as contributing to the greenhouse effect. The environmental assessment of a product must include all these gases, whose impact on the greenhouse effect can be characterized using data provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This indicator is expressed in CO2 equivalent.

GLAZING BAR
The part that holds the glazing or panel in the rebates of the frame.

INSTALLATION PLAN
The surface of the masonry work where the joinery is fixed and sealed.

LARCH
LARCH is a naturally high-quality wood. Known as the best softwood in Europe, it provides strength and longevity for all outdoor joinery.

LINTEL
A reinforced part that supports the masonry and is located above an opening.

LINTEL BOX
In new construction, particularly in individual homes, this box is designed to be integrated into the thickness of the wall. Once finishing coatings are applied, it is no longer visible from the outside or inside.

MASONRY SILL
A masonry sill (the height of the wall on which the joinery rests) or a joinery sill (the height of the glazed or solid filling integrated into the joinery). Pay attention to standards and DTU regulations regarding sills.

MONOBLOCK
A PVC frame that integrates the false rebates (fausses tapées) as a single block for a given insulation thickness (100, 120, 140, 160).

MOVINGUI
MOVINGUI is a naturally durable and luminous wood that resembles light oak in its tone. Its slightly lower density compared to oak makes it a solid wood that doesn't require prior treatment. It presents a slight marbled effect and can be easily painted or varnished.

MULLION
A vertical member in the frame that divides a joinery element, such as a window or door, into separate sections.

MULTI-COLORING
The possibility of obtaining different color combinations for the interior and exterior of joinery in all color shades.

MULTI-MATERIALS
The possibility of obtaining combinations of materials for the interior (aluminum, wood, or PVC) with an aluminum exterior.

MULTI-POINT LOCKING SYSTEM
The locking mechanism of a window.

MUNTIN
A narrow crossbar or vertical member that divides the area of glazing in a window or door. Petit bois can be glued onto the glazing (wood, PVC) or incorporated inside the glazing (wood, PVC, and aluminum).

NAR
The New Acoustic Regulation (NRA), applicable to all new buildings with permits granted after January 1996, requires a minimum insulation of 30 dB against external noise on facades.

OAK
OAK is naturally the wood of choice for joiners. A noble wood by nature, it offers strength and high density for guaranteed solidity.

OPENING
An opening in a wall for a door or a window.

OPERATION
The mechanism that allows the opening and closing of a roller shutter curtain via a strap, rod, or electric operation.

PANIC-RESISTANT
Refers to locks or closures for public establishments that can be opened outwards with a simple push, without any need to operate handles or locks.

PEFC
The PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) label ensures that the wood material comes from forests managed sustainably according to specific rules defined region by region.

PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTION
Hinges screwed directly into the frame and the sash.

QUALICOAT
The Qualicoat label guarantees the highest quality level for powder coating aluminum profiles used in joinery.

QUALIMARINE
The Qualimarine label refers to the preparation of aluminum profile surfaces before coating, intended for installations near the sea.

RAL
An international system for defining the various color shades used in industry.

REBATE
A recessed angle in the masonry designed to house a frame, a fixed frame, or a shutter, etc. (In joinery: typically a recessed angle to accommodate and stop a movable element).

RECESS
Allows the sash to disappear behind the partition wall.

RECYCLING
Currently, the renovation market for exterior joinery represents nearly 7 million windows. The majority of these replaced windows are made of wood, and nearly all of them are not recycled but sent to landfills. This indicator shows the water impact linked to the landfilling of joinery. It measures the volume of water polluted by the joinery being landfilled and also shows the impact related to the recycling of the joinery.

RESOURCE DEPLETION
This indicator takes into account the consumption of both energy and non-energy resources. It is expressed in equivalent kilograms of antimony. The larger this indicator, the more the product "depletes" resources. When the indicator exceeds 1, the resource being consumed is rarer than antimony.

ROLLER SHUTTER AXLE
A galvanized steel axis of various diameters and shapes (round or octagonal), allowing the rolling of the shutter and adapting to all types of mechanisms in any type of box.

ROLLER SHUTTER BOX
A box where the roller shutter curtain rolls up and unrolls. Depending on the type of installation, the box may be visible or not.

RT 2012
The 2012 Thermal Regulation (RT 2012), which aims to limit the primary energy consumption of new buildings, includes three result requirements: the bioclimatic need, primary energy consumption, and summer comfort. An airtightness test performed at the completion of the work ensures compliance with RT 2012. For joinery, the glazed surface must be at least 1/6th of the habitable surface area.

SASHES
Vertical joinery pieces fixed on the outer face of the window to hold the shutters in place.

SEAL
A flexible or co-extruded seal that ensures the sealing function between the frame and the sash.

SEALANTS
Used for sealing joinery. They are packaged in cartridges and applied using an extrusion gun. There are two types of sealants used in joinery for sealing:

  1. Plastic sealants
  2. Elastomeric sealants
    Their characteristics and performance are governed by NF standards.

SETTING BLOCKS
Wedges placed between the sill and the window support piece, allowing for horizontal leveling. They also ensure that the sealing joint is not completely compressed and are made to the thickness specified by the different DTU (French standards for installation).

SLAT
The slat that makes up the curtain of a roller shutter, made of PVC, ALU, with or without insulating foam.

SLIDE
A piece with a groove that guides the curtain during the raising and lowering of the roller shutter.

STRIKE PLATE
A piece made of Zamac or ABS (PVC reinforced with fiberglass) fixed into the frame or on the semi-fixed sash of a two-sash joinery to receive the locking points of the locking mechanism and ensure the closure of the joinery.

Sw
Sw is the solar factor (value between 0 and 1). It represents the ability to allow sunlight into the building. The higher the Sw value, the greater the solar gain, reducing the need for heating (energy savings).

TECHNICAL APPROVAL
Issued by the CSTB (Scientific and Technical Center for Building), it validates the quality of design and extrusion of PVC and ALUMINUM profiles.

THERMAL BRIDGE BREAK
An insulating element, usually made from plastic, used to create a break between two parts of aluminum profiles to improve thermal performance.

TLw
TLw is the light transmission factor (value between 0 and 1). It represents the ability to let natural light into the interior. The higher the TLw value, the greater the light transmission, reducing the need for artificial lighting (electricity savings).

TRANSOM
A fixed or movable part, either solid or glazed, placed above a door.

TRIMMING
The operation of repairing the masonry work to ensure it conforms to the accepted tolerances of the window opening.

Ug
The Ug coefficient (glass) measures thermal exchange between the glass surfaces. The lower the Ug value, the less heat is lost to the outside, resulting in greater heating savings.

Uw
(Ud for entry doors)
Uw is the thermal transmittance factor. It represents the ability to retain indoor temperature. The lower the Uw value, the better the insulation of the window.

VOC EMISSIONS IN INDOOR AIR
In Europe, Article 2 of Directive 1999/13/EC from the European Council defines VOCs as "any organic compound having a vapor pressure of 0.01 kPa (kilopascal) or more at a temperature of 293.15 K (Kelvin), or having a corresponding volatility under specific use conditions" (paragraph 17). It also specifies that the term "organic compound" refers to "any compound containing at least carbon and one or more of the following elements: hydrogen, halogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, or nitrogen, excluding carbon oxides and inorganic carbonates and bicarbonates" (paragraph 16).

WATER DRAINAGE
A piece attached to the bottom crossbar of the sash to channel water away.

WATER TABLE
The raised edge at the back of a window sill where the support piece (bottom crossbar of the frame) rests.

WINDOW SILL
The lower part of a window opening where the frame or window unit rests.