Industry Terms

Find the definition for terms used within the Dawson website and throughout the industry.

 

3M LIQUID WELD

very flexible, fast-setting, two-part epoxy adhesive that provides a strong, permanent bond even under vibration and impact

 

ACCESSIBLE

design of products, devices, services, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities

 

ADA

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public

 

Air Pressure

the force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air

 

Aluminum

a silver-white light metallic material that is easily worked, conducts electricity well, resists weather, and is the most plentiful metal on Earth

 

Anodized

of metal, coated with a protective oxide layer by an electrolytic process in which the metal forms the anode

 

Astragal

the vertical piece that runs between a set of double doors

 

AWS Certification

certification test examines and documents a welder’s ability to create welds of acceptable quality following a well-defined welding procedure

 

Balanced Door

a door where the panel rotates around a rolling pivot in an elliptical path to provide the widest possible opening with the smallest arc, balanced so that wind and stack pressures aid in the door opening

 

Butt Joint

a joint formed by two surfaces abutting at right angles

 

Caliper

an instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in-turned or out-turned points

 

Cellular Manufacturing

a process of manufacturing which is a subsection of just-in-time manufacturing and lean manufacturing encompassing group technology. The goal of cellular manufacturing is to move quickly while making as little waste as possible

 

Center Hung

a configuration where a door is supported by and swings on a pivot that is recessed in the floor at a point located on the centerline of the door’s thickness; may be either single-swing or double-acting

 

clad

refers to the covering (dressing up) of the exterior door unit

 

Close Tolerance

a precision CNC machining process designed to ensure a part or component is produced to precise specifications

 

CNC Turret

punch machining controlled by automatic positioning of the metal sheet beneath the tool and programmed selection of a variety of tools

 

Coining

a form of precision stamping in which a workplace is subjected to sufficiently high stress to induce plastic flow on the surface of the material

 

Continuous Hinge

these run the entire length of the door, providing maximum, uniform support for the heaviest of doors

 

Corrosion Resistant

the ability to prevent environmental deterioration by the chemical or electrochemical reaction

 

Counterbore

a cylindrical flat-bottomed hole that enlarges another coaxial hole, or the tool used to create that feature

 

Countersink

a conical hole cut into a manufactured object, or the cutter to cut such a hole

 

Cross Rails

the horizontal structural member

 

die

a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material mostly using a press

 

Door Jamb

side of the door frame that runs vertically

 

door-sill

the very bottom part of the door frame that rests on the floor

 

Door Sweep

a piece of weather stripping at the bottom of the door that is weather-resistant and forms a seal between the door sill and the door frame- increasing energy efficiency

 

Electromechanical

combines processes and procedures drawn from electrical engineering and mechanical engineering

 

emboss

carve, mold, or stamp a design on a surface or object so that it stands out in relief

 

Extrusions

a definitive fixed cross-sectional profile

 

fabrication

creation of structures by cutting, bending, and assembling processes

 

Fiber Laser

a laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth elements

 

flange

a projecting flat rim, collar, or rib on an object, serving to strengthen or attach to maintain position on a rail

 

gauge

the thickness, size, or capacity of something

 

glass stops

a glazing bead that holds the lower end of a glazing bar, preventing the pane from sliding down

 

glazing stops

the piece of millwork that butts up against the glass to hold it in place and comes in different profiles to achieve architectural detail appropriate for the style

 

grille

a grating or screen of metal bars or wires, placed in front of something as protection or to allow ventilation or discreet observation

 

inertia

a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless that state is changed by an external force

 

ISO

International organization for standardization that develops and publishes international standards

 

load bearing

supporting much of the weight of the overlying parts of a building or other structure

 

louver

each of a set of angled slats or flat strips fixed or hung

 

micrometer

a gauge that measures small distances or thicknesses between its two faces, one of which can be moved away from or toward the other by turning a screw with a fine thread

 

miter joint

a joint made between two pieces of material at an angle of 90“, such that the line of junction bisects this angle

 

mitered

joined with a miter joint or seam

 

monolithic

formed of a single large block of stone

 

muntin

a bar or rigid supporting strip between adjacent panes of glass

 

offset pivot

a pivot that allows a door to swing clear of the inside frame

 

panic hardware

designed to provide fast and easy egress to allow building occupants to exit safely in an emergency

 

pivot arms

a short shaft or pin supporting something that turns

 

powder coating

a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. It is used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint

 

press brake

a machine pressing tool for bending sheet and plate material, most commonly sheet metal

 

return miter

an outside corner that results in a finished and professional look

 

rivet

a permanent mechanical fastener

 

sidelite

fixed glass panels attached to both or either side of the door, outside the frame. The tall narrow windows allow more light to enter

 

solar radiation

the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun that can be captured and turned into useful forms of energy

 

Stainless Steel

a form of steel containing chromium, resistant to tarnishing and rust

 

stile

the vertical piece in a frame of a paneled door or sash window

 

strike plate

placed on the door jamb where the hole for the bolt of the door and the bolt meet

 

tempered glass

a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength

 

thermal break

a thermal break is the result of a material with low thermal conductivity being placed between two high thermally conductive materials to prevent thermal bridging

 

threshold

a strip of material forming the bottom of a doorway and crossed in entering a house or room

 

transom

the horizontal beam that separates the door from the fanlight or window above it

 

weldments

a part created from an assembly of smaller components that are joined by welding