A window is an opening in a wall, door,

roof or vehicle that allows the passage of

light, sound, and sometimes air. Modern

windows are usually glazed or covered in

some other transparent or translucent

material, a sash set in a frame[1] in the

opening; the sash and frame are also

referred to as a window.

[2] Many glazed

windows may be opened, to allow

ventilation, or closed, to exclude inclement

weather. Windows often have a latch or

similar mechanism to lock the window

shut or to hold it open by various amounts.

Types include the eyebrow window, fixed

windows, single-hung and double-hung

sash windows, horizontal sliding sash

windows, casement windows, awning

windows, hopper windows, tilt and slide

windows (often door-sized), tilt and turn

windows, transom windows, sidelight

windows, jalousie or louvered windows,

clerestory windows, skylights, roofwindows, roof lanterns, bay windows, oriel

windows, thermal, or Diocletian, windows,

picture windows, emergency exit windows,

stained glass windows, French windows,

panel windows, and double - and triple

paned windows.

The Romans were the first known to use

glass for windows, a technology likely first

produced in Roman Egypt, in Alexandria

ca. 100 AD. Paper windows were

economical and widely used in ancient

China, Korea and Japan. In England, glass

became common in the windows of

ordinary homes only in the early 17th

century whereas windows made up ofCross

A cross-window is a rectangular window

usually divided into four lights by a mullion

and transom that form a Latin cross.

[6]

Eyebrow

The term eyebrow window is used in two

ways: a curved top window in a wall or in

an eyebrow dormer; and a row of small

windows usually under the front eaves

such as the James-Lorah House in

Pennsylvania.[7]

TypesDouble-hung sash

A sash window is the traditional style of

window in the United Kingdom, and many

other places that were formerly colonized

by the UK, with two parts (sashes) that

overlap slightly and slide up and down

inside the frame. The two parts are not

necessarily the same size; where the

upper sash is smaller (shorter) it is termeda cottage window. Currently most new

double-hung sash windows use spring

balances to support the sashes, but

traditionally, counterweights held in boxes

on either side of the window were used.

These were and are attached to the

sashes using pulleys of either braided cord

or, later, purpose-made chain. Three types

of spring balances are called a tape or

clock spring balance; channel or blockand-tackle balance; and a spiral or tube

balance.

Double-hung sash windows were

traditionally often fitted with shutters.

Sash windows can be fitted with simplexA foldup has two equal sashes similar to a

standard double hung, but folds upward

allowing air to pass through nearly the full

frame opening. The window is balanced

using either springs or counterbalances,

similar to a double hung. The sashes can

be either offset to simulate a double hung,

or in-line. The inline versions can be made

to fold inward or outward. The inward

swinging foldup windows can have fixed

screens, while the outward swinging ones

require movable screens. The windows are

typically used for screen rooms, kitchenHorizontal sliding sash

A horizontal sliding sash window has two

or more sashes that overlap slightly but

slide horizontally within the frame. In the

UK, these are sometimes called Yorkshire

sash windows, presumably because of

their traditional use in that county.

Casement

Casement windowA casement window is a window with a

hinged sash that swings in or out like a

door comprising either a side-hung, tophung (also called "awning window"; see

below), or occasionally bottom-hung sash

or a combination of these types,

sometimes with fixed panels on one or

more sides of the sash.[2] In the USA, these

are usually opened using a crank, but in

parts of Europe they tend to use projection

friction stays and espagnolette locking.

Formerly, plain hinges were used with a

casement stay. Handing applies to

casement windows to determine direction

of swing; a casement window may be lefthanded, right-handed, or double. Hopper

A hopper window is a bottom-pivoting

casement window that opens by tilting

vertically, typically to the inside.[10]

Pivot

A pivot window is a window hung on one

hinge on each of two opposite sides whichallows the window to revolve when

opened. The hinges may be mounted top

and bottom (Vertically Pivoted) or at each

jamb (Horizontally Pivoted). The window

will usually open initially to a restricted

position for ventilation and, once released,

fully reverse and lock again for safe

cleaning from inside. Modern pivot hinges

incorporate a friction device to hold the

window open against its own weight and

may have restriction and reversed locking

built in. In the UK, where this type of

window is most common, they were

extensively installed in high-riseTilt and slide

A tilt and slide window is a window (more

usually a door-sized window) where the

sash tilts inwards at the top and then

slides horizontally behind the fixed pane.

Tilt and turn

A tilt and turn window can both tilt inwards

at the top or open inwards from hinges at

the side. This is the most common type of

window in Germany, its country of origin. It

is also widespread in many other

European countries. In Europe it is usual

for these to be of the "turn first" type. i.e.

when the handle is turned to 90 degreesthe window opens in the side hung mode.

With the handle turned to 180 degrees the

window opens in bottom hung mode. Most

usually in the UK the windows will be "tilt

first" i.e. bottom hung at 90 degrees for

ventilation and side hung at 180 degrees

for cleaning the outer face of the glass

from inside the building.[11]

Transom

A window above a door; in an exterior door

the transom window is often fixed, in an

interior door it can open either by hinges at

top or bottom, or rotate on hinges. It

provided ventilation before forced airheating and cooling. A fan-shaped

transom is known as a fanlight, especially

in the British Isles.

Side light
Windows beside a door or window are

called side-, wing-, and margen-lights and

Roof lantern

A roof lantern is a multi-paned glass

structure, resembling a small building, built

on a roof for day or moon light.

Sometimes includes an additional

clerestory. May also be called a cupola.

Bay

A bay window is a multi-panel window,

with at least three panels set at differentangles to create a protrusion from the wall

line.[2]

Oriel
This form of bay window most often

appears in Tudor-style houses and

monasteries. It projects from the wall and

does not extend to the ground. Originally a

form of porch, they are often supported by

brackets or corbels.

Thermal

Thermal, or Diocletian, windows are large

semicircular windows (or niches) whichare usually divided into three lights

(window compartments) by two mullions.

The central compartment is often wider

than the two side lights on either side of it.

Picture

A picture window is a large fixed window

in a wall, typically without glazing bars, or

glazed with only perfunctory glazing bars

near the edge of the window. Picture

windows provide an unimpeded view, as ifA multi-lite window is a window glazed

with small panes of glass separated by

wooden or lead glazing bars, or muntins,

arranged in a decorative glazing pattern

often dictated by the building's

architectural style. Due to the historic

unavailability of large panes of glass, the

multi-lit (or lattice window) was the most

common window style until the beginning

of the 20th century, and is still used in

traditional architecture.

Emergency exit/egress

An emergency exit window is a window big

enough and low enough so that occupantscan escape through the opening in an

emergency, such as a fire. In many

countries, exact specifications for

emergency windows in bedrooms are

given in many building codes.

Specifications for such windows may also

allow for the entrance of emergency

rescuers. Vehicles, such as buses and

aircraft, frequently have emergency exit

Grids or muntins

These are the pieces of framing that

separate a larger window into smaller

panes. In older windows, large panes of

glass were quite expensive, so muntins let

smaller panes fill a larger space. In

modern windows, light-colored muntins

still provide a useful function by reflecting

some of the light going through the

window, making the window itself a source

of diffuse light (instead of just the

surfaces and objects illuminated withinthe room). By increasing the indirect

illumination of surfaces near the window,

muntins tend to brighten the area

immediately around a window and reduce

the contrast of shadows within the room.

Frame and sash construction

Frames and sashes can be made of the

Material

Thermal

good*

very low high medium

PVC and fiberglass frames perform

well in accelerated weathering tests.

Because PVC is not as strong as other

materials, some PVC frames are

reinforced with metal or composite

materials to improve their structural