Glossary
Glass & Metal Fabrication Glossary
The materials, fittings and finishes that come up in a glass or metal quote, each in plain words: what it is, where it is used, and what to check before you pay for it.
A
- ACP fire-retardant (FR) coreAn FR-core ACP is an aluminium composite panel whose core between the two aluminium skins is heavily filled with mineral fire retardants instead of plain polyethylene, so it resists ignition and flame spread far better than a standard PE-core panel.
- Aluminium sectionsAluminium sections are extruded aluminium alloy profiles, most often alloy 6063 in a T5 or T6 temper, that form the frames of windows, sliding doors, partitions, louvres and facades, finished by anodising or powder coating.
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F
- Floor springA floor spring (floor machine, floor hinge) is a hydraulic door closer set into the floor beneath a door, which carries the door's weight on a spindle and closes it at a controlled speed.
- Fluted glassFluted glass is patterned glass with parallel vertical grooves or ribs pressed into one face, which blurs what is behind it while still letting light through.
- Frosted glassFrosted glass is glass whose surface has been made matt and translucent, usually by acid-etching or sandblasting, so it lets light through but hides what is behind it.
G
- Glass railing spigotsGlass railing spigots are short, heavy stainless steel posts, bolted to the floor or core-drilled into it, that clamp the bottom of each glass panel at two or more points so a railing looks almost frameless without a continuous base channel.
- Glass railing U-channelA glass railing U-channel (base shoe) is a continuous aluminium or steel channel fixed to the floor or slab edge that clamps the bottom of the glass panels, letting a balcony or stair railing stand without posts.
- Glass thickness guideA glass thickness guide matches common glass thicknesses, from 4mm to 12mm and laminated build-ups, to the uses each one typically suits, based on span, support and safety.
- Glass-to-glass hingeA glass-to-glass hinge is a hinge that clamps two glass panels together so a glass door can swing directly off a fixed glass panel, used mainly in frameless shower enclosures.
H
- Hot-dip galvanising (HDG)Hot-dip galvanising is the process of dipping cleaned steel into molten zinc at about 450°C so the zinc bonds to the steel as alloy layers, protecting it from rust both as a barrier and, where scratched, by corroding sacrificially in place of the steel.
- Hydraulic door closerA hydraulic door closer is a spring-and-oil device, usually mounted at the top of a door, that pulls the door shut after it is opened and uses oil flow to control the closing speed.
L
- Laminated glassLaminated glass is two or more glass panes permanently bonded with a plastic interlayer, usually PVB, so that the glass stays held together and in place when it breaks.
- LouvresLouvres are a series of angled horizontal or vertical slats, usually in aluminium, fixed or adjustable, that let air and filtered light through a facade, window, vent or pergola while blocking direct sun, rain and views.
- Low-E glassLow-E (low-emissivity) glass carries a microscopically thin metallic coating that reflects heat radiation while letting most visible light through, improving a window's insulation.
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P
- Patch fittingsPatch fittings are metal clamp fittings fixed to the corners of frameless glass doors and panels that connect the glass to the floor spring, top pivot, overhead glass and locks.
- Pleated mosquito meshA pleated mosquito mesh is an insect screen whose mesh is folded like an accordion and slides sideways in a slim aluminium frame, so it folds away when open and stays in place wherever it is left, without springs or a roller.
- Polycarbonate sheetPolycarbonate sheet is a tough, lightweight, transparent thermoplastic roofing and glazing material, sold as solid or multiwall sheet, that is far more impact-resistant than glass and lasts outdoors only when it carries a UV-protective layer on the sun side.
- Powder coatingPowder coating is a dry finish in which electrostatically charged polymer powder is sprayed onto pretreated metal and baked in an oven, forming a tough, even film that usually outlasts liquid paint on gates, railings, windows and grills.
S
- Spider fittingsSpider fittings are stainless steel brackets with one to four arms that hold glass panels at their corners through drilled holes, creating frameless point-fixed glass facades, canopies and walls.
- SS304 vs SS202SS304 and SS202 are two austenitic stainless steel grades: SS304 carries about 18% chromium and 8% nickel and resists rust well outdoors, while SS202 swaps much of the nickel for manganese, costs less and stains sooner in damp or polluted air.
- Structural siliconeStructural silicone is a high-strength silicone sealant engineered to bond glass to a supporting frame and carry wind and weight loads, used in structural glazing facades.
T
- Tinted glassTinted glass is glass coloured throughout its body, typically grey, bronze, green or blue, so that it cuts glare and absorbs part of the sun's heat.
- Toughened glassToughened (tempered) glass is float glass that has been heated and rapidly cooled so it is several times stronger than ordinary glass and breaks into small, blunt pieces instead of sharp shards.