definition
strict definition
window frame material
The material forming the frames that hold a structure's windows in place or allow them to move.
The window frame material for any structure is the substance composing its window frames. This material holds windows in place or allows them to be moved according to the window type.
Selection of the window frame material depends on the budget as well as local climate conditions and the desire to use sustainable materials. Durability and energy savings are important factors in the long-term costs associated with window frames, and can offset initial price differences.
The frame material is distinct from the glazing it supports. Whether and how the window opens is described by its window type, while the same material can be used in different opening arrangements.
More specific definitions
5 sub-definitions-
aluminum
Window frames made of aluminum, with thermal performance affected by the metal and the frame design. -
fiberglass
Window frames made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers, combining a polymer matrix with fibrous reinforcement. -
steel
Window frames whose supporting members are made of steel, an iron alloy, rather than another frame material. -
vinyl
Window frames made of polyvinyl chloride, including unplasticized PVC, sometimes reinforced with metal. -
wood
Window frames made of milled wood, with their thermal performance and maintenance depending on the frame construction.
Related definitions
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architectural style
A classification of a structure's appearance in terms of design vocabulary and historical period. -
elevator type
The mechanical classification of vertical transport systems by the type of lift mechanism. -
entrance approach
The basic form in which a pedestrian main entrance of a building is reached from outside. -
facade color
Colors covering at least ten percent of a structure's facade, excluding windows and allowing distinct or combined patterns. -
facade material
The primary material(s) of a structure's exterior surface, except for windows. -
facade system
The arrangement of exterior cladding over at least ten percent of the facade, excluding thin surface coatings such as paint. -
feature
Special properties or facilities directly associated with a built object, including amenities and physical characteristics. -
flooring material
The substance and form applied to the floors throughout a structure or a module. -
foundation system
The type of structure which gives structural support to a building beneath its lowest floor or ground base. -
frame material
Materials forming a structure's load-bearing skeleton, distinct from finishes, removable partitions, and foundations. -
framing system
The principal structural framework resisting gravity and lateral loads above ground, distinct from the foundation system. -
heating type
The energy source and, where applicable, delivery system used to heat a building's main occupied areas. -
insulation material
Forms and substances used as thermal insulators in building walls, roofs, and facades. -
insulation position
The position of thermal insulation materials with respect to the structural perimeter walls or framework of a building. -
level
The position and form of an entity acting as a company within a corporate organization or partnership. -
lighting system
The basic format of electrical structure or appliance used to illuminate the interior of a building. -
perimeter form
The outline shape of a horizontal cross section at the majority of a building's floor levels. -
qualitative indicators
Predefined or subjective measurements of various qualitative aspects of properties. -
roof covering
The substance and layout of the material used to cover the upper surface of a building. -
roof form
The prevailing shape of a building's roof or top section, using the most prominent form where several occur. -
roof frame material
The material forming the structural framework that supports the outer covering of a building's roof. -
secondary facade material
Material used for the non-display side(s) of a structure, or used in less than 10% of its facade area. -
staircase material
The framing material which supports the steps and risers in an object's stairways. -
stairway configuration
The general path of a stairway, describing the directions of individual flights and the connections between flights. -
storage type
The basic arrangement of facilities for storing large quantities of items, commodities, or materials. -
tenancy design
The intended arrangement of a building's space for one or more tenants, including private and shared occupancy provisions. -
window type
The type used for a majority of a building's windows, indicating whether and how they open, and how they are divided.