balance
a mechanical device, normally spring loaded, used in hung windows to counterbalance the weight of the sash during opening and closing.
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balance shoe
nylon hardware in a tilt hung window jamb that connects the balance with the pivot bar on the operating sash.
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barrel vault
an arched atrium roof structure, using a semi-circle or hoop to cover a long narrow area, e.g., the portico extending from the front hotel entrance for arriving guests to unload under cover.
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bead
a molding or stop placed around a window frame to hold glass in place by pressure.
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bending rafters
the structural main "rib" of a glazed structure, available in straight and bent.
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billet
the cylindrical form of aluminum just prior to the extruding process.
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bite
a glazing term referring to the dimension of the glazing leg which overlaps the edge of the glass.
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bolt locking system
the heavy duty flush lock mechanism which allows a top and bottom bolt to secure the folding glass wall at each panel, offering commercial locking protection to residential applications.
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