Safety glass
See: Impact resistant glass.
Sash
An assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass. Used when referring to a movable portion of a window.
Sash balance
A system of weights, cords and/or coiled springs which assist in raising double-hung sash and tend to keep the sash in any placed position by counterbalancing the weight of the sash.
Sash cord
In
double-hung windows, the rope or chain that attaches the sash to the counter balance.
Sash lock
Generally, a cam-action type lock applied to the check rails of a
sliding window or at the open edges of a projecting window to pull the check rails tightly together or to seal the sash tightly to the frame, both for security and weather tightness.
Sash stop
A molding that covers the joint between window sash and the jamb.
Sash weights
In older
double-hung windows, the concealed cast-iron weights that are used to counterbalance the sash.
Screen
See: Insect screen.
Sealant
A compressible plastic material used to seal any opening or junction of two parts, such as between the glass and a metal sash, commonly made of silicone, butyl tape, or polysulfide.
Sealed double glass
Two panes separated by a sealed space. Also see:
Insulating glass.
Seat board
A flat board cut to fit the contour of a bow or
bay window and installed between the sills and the flat wall surface, providing a seat or shelf space.
Shatter proof glass
See:
Impact resistant glass.
Shims
A thin, waterproof piece of material used between the window/door unit and the rough opening to support the unit, center it within the rough opening, and adjust it to a plumb, level and square position. If tapered shims are used, they must be used in pairs with the tapers opposing each other to avoid tilting the unit or twisting the jambs.
Side light
(Margin light) - A fixed, often narrow, glass window next to a door opening (or window).
Silicone
(Silicone sealer) - An enduring sealing agent that resists water. See: Sealant.
Sill
(Sill plate) - (Inside sill) - (Outside sill) - The horizontal members at the bottom of the window frame; a masonry sill or sub-sill can be below the sill of the window unit.
Sill course (soldier course)
The row of brick, cement blocks or stones laid across the bottom of a masonry opening which lay under the outside edge of the window sill.
Simulated divided light
A method of constructing
windows and doors in which muntins are affixed to the inside and outside of a panel of insulating glass to simulate the look of true divided light.
Single glazing
Use of single panes of glass in a window or a door. Not as energy-efficient - double glazing.
Single-hung window
A window that is similar to a
double-hung window except that the top sash is stationary.
Slab
The actual door of a
French door or
Cabana door; also known as a Panel.
Slide bolt
see: Flush bolt.
Sliding sash
(Sliding windows) - A window which moves horizontally in grooves or tracks.
Slope glazing
Any glazed opening in a sloped roof or wall, such as a stationary skylight or
fully operable roof window.
S
Small missile impact
A product is declared small-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with 10 ball bearings
traveling at a speed of 80 feet per second (50 mph). The product is then subjected to wind loads for 9,000 cycles.
Solar Heat Gain (SHG)
The solar energy transmitted through a glazing plus the portion of solar radiation that is absorbed and either confected or reradiated toward the interior.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
tells you how well the window or door blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values typically range from 0.25 to 0.80.
Solar orientation
A building placed on a lot so that the long dimension faces south and a majority of the
windows and doors are south-facing.
Sole plate
The bottom horizontal member in a frame wall. Usually either single or double 2" x 4"s. It is nailed to the deck or rough floor and the studs are nailed into it.
Solid core door
A door with a solid interior made from different composites such as wood, fiberglass, wood staves, particleboard, or fire-rated mineral fiber.
Sound insulating glass
(Sound resistive glass) - Double glass fixed on resilient mountings and separated so as to reduce sound transmission.
Sound resistive glass
See: Sound insulating glass.
Spacer
The linear object that separates and maintains the space between the glass surfaces of insulating glass.
Spectrally Selective (SS)
The U.S.
Department of Energy defines spectrally selective glass as any glass with a Light to Solar Gain (LSG) ratio of 1.25 or better. LSG is a derivative of Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and Visible Light Transmission (VLT). Link to website
Spiral balance
See: Sash balance.
Spring bolt
A fastener for holding the sash in a fixed location by means of a spring-loaded bolt in the stile entering a hole in the jamb.
Stacked window units
A combined grouping of awning, hopper, casement, or non-operative windows to form a large glazed unit.
Stained glass window
A window with a painted scene or pattern that has been fired into the glass. Windows with plain colored glass set in lead are also called stained glass. See: Lead light.
Stationary sash
A fixed sash; also referred to as a picture, studio, vista, or view sash.
Stile
The vertical side member of a window sash or door panel.
Stool
A shelf-like board of the interior part of the window sill, against which the bottom rail of the sash closes.
Stop
A wood trim member nailed to the window frame to hold, position or separate window parts. The stop is often moulded into the jamb liners on sliding windows.
Stud
Vertical wood framing members which form a frame wall. In normal construction these are eight foot-long 2" x 4"s.
Sunburst light
See: Fan light.
Sweep lock
A sash fastener located at the meeting rails of a
double-hung window, which rotates and clamps the two rails closer together.
