Roll Up Doors, Commercial Door, Garage Door, OverHead Steel Door, Roll Up Shed Door and Roll Up Barn Door.
Garage Door, Roll Up Door and Commercial Door Glossary
A
Angle Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using a full height continuous angle. (Commercial garage door application)
Anodize An electrolytic method of coating aluminum with a protective or decorative film, which is generally clear in color.
ASHRAE Acronym for American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
Astragal: Weather-stripping added to bottom section of the garage door to seal the opening along the floor.
B
Back Hangs The vertical supports for the horizontal track, cross-braced to prevent lateral movement and track spread.
Backroom The required clearance from the face of the header to any obstruction to the rear of the horizontal track.
Bead A metal, vinyl or rubber strip used to secure glass around the periphery of a pane. (Commercial garage door application)
Bottom Bracket A structural support located on the bottom section of the garage door that provides for attachment of the lifting cables on the sectional garage doors. Also referred to as "Bottom Corner Bracket." (Note: Track rollers may have a separate door attachment in some garage door designs.)
Bracket Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using angle brackets. Also referred to as "Mounted or Track Bracket."
Break-Away Track Vertical track assembly that steps back from the jamb used for high lift and vertical lift track to permit outside lock handle projection to clear the lintel. (Commercial garage door application)
Bumpers, Spring A leaf spring installed at the end of the horizontal track. Especially useful on lift clearance or full vertical manually operated garage doors, acting as a cushion and stop. (Commercial garage door application)
C
Cable Drums Grooved drums on the torsion spring shaft that lifting cables wind around when the garage door opens. Designed to allow cable to be accumulated or dispensed in an orderly manner and to prevent lapping or cable chafing.
Cable Safety Device A safety bottom fixture specifically designed to prevent a garage door from falling if a cable breaks.
Cable Sleeve A manufactured device used to form a loop of cable, the size of which is determined by the cable diameter.
Cable Stop A swagged fitting at the end of the cable to prevent slippage through a slot in a drum.
Cables Multistrand wire used to attach the garage door, via bottom brackets, to the counterbalance mechanism.
Carry-Away Post See "Removable Post." (Commercial garage door application)
Center Bearing Plate See "Center Support Bearing."
Center Hinge Flat hinge located on all intermediate stiles to allow for garage door sections to turn the track radius as the door opens.
Center Lift Cable Additional cable assembly, which is secured to the outside of the garage door at points toward the center of the door. Used to provide extra lifting support for extremely wide or heavy doors. (Commercial garage door application)
Center Post See "Mullion." (Commercial garage door application)
Center Stile/Mutt Vertical members of a garage door section that provide structural rigidity and location for center hinge attachment. (Commercial garage door application)
Center Support Bearing Bearing and mounting plate installed at approximately half the door width above the garage door, which acts as a support for the spring shaft. Can be mounted in various locations, not necessarily in the center, depending on size of the springs.
Chain Hoist Adds mechanical advantage to manually-operated garage doors. Couples to one end of the solid torsion shaft. (Commercial garage door application)
Clearances The amount of sideroom, headroom, and backroom required to properly install a sectional garage door.
Coupling Adjustable two-part cast iron connector for torsion solid shafts on wide garage doors. Eases installation and allows adjustment in cable lengths so that doors will operate smoothly without cocking.
Curtain The part of the sheet door that actually rolls up and down or slides side to side. Manufactured of corrugated sheets seamed together.
Cycle One complete cycle of begins with the garage door in the closed position. The door is then opened and closed again. Note: Torsion spring operated garage doors with higher-than-normal cycle life requirements may be specified with 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 cycle springs.
D
Dead Load A static-applied load. A load without movement.
Door Frame The frame into which the garage door fits, consisting of a door header and two upright members called doorjambs.
Door Size Always specify the width first and the height second: for instance 8' 6" (2591 mm) wide by 7' 3" (2210 mm) high. Refer to "Opening Size."
Double-Thick Glass Lighter than plate glass, about 1/8" (3.18 mm) thick, often termed double-strength glass. See "Glass Type."
Drums Circular stamped metal parts attached at various locations along the tubular shaft that allows the sheet door curtain to coil up when the garage door opens.
Duplex Spring A combination of two torsion springs.
E
End Stiles Stile located at each end of a garage door section that provides for attachment of end hinges.
Escutcheon A plate surrounding the lock mechanism that acts as a bearing surface for the lock shaft; one of the parts of a lock set, usually held in place by small screws known as escutcheon screws.
Exhaust Ports Orifices put in the bottom section of a garage door for release of carbon monoxide fumes when tubed from an automobile exhaust system. (Commercial garage door application)
Extension Springs Counterbalance springs that provide lifting force by stretching. Commonly called stretch springs. Extension springs are mounted to each of the rear track hangers and attached to a pulley at the other end of the spring.
Exterior Lock Keyed lock that can be operated on exterior of the garage door.
Extrusion Fabricated aluminum or plastic shapes made by forcing hot aluminum or plastic billets through an extrusion press die.
F
Flag Bracket L-shaped bracket used to facilitate the union between vertical and horizontal tracks.
Flush Design Refers to garage door sections unbroken by roll-formed ribs. The face of the complete garage door presents an even surface.
Follow-the-Roof Track Designed to place the back track on the roof incline, and as close as practical to the roof. Can be used with standard lift or lift clearance track. (Commercial garage door application)
Front-Mounted Low Headroom Low headroom hardware where springs mount on torsion shaft above opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Full Vertical Track Assembly An assembly designed from a piece of vertical track and a piece of continuous angle or jamb brackets. Used to secure the track to the jamb. (Commercial garage door application)
Full Vision Section A totally glazed section with various types of glass or clear plastic. The section is formed of aluminum extrusions that combine with steel sections above and below. See "Glass Type." (Commercial garage door application)
G
Galvanizing Zinc coating to protect steel against corrosion.
Glass, Insulated Two pieces of glass spaced approximately 1/4" (12.7 mm) apart and hermetically sealed to form a single-glazed unit with an air space between. Heat transmission through this type of glass can be as low as half that of non-insulated glass.
Glass, Tempered Reheated to just below the melting point and suddenly cooled. When shattered it breaks into small pieces. (Commercial garage door application)
Glass, Wire Polished or rough glass, 1/4" (6.35 mm) thick. Wire mesh is embedded within the glass so that the glass will not shatter when broken. Many types of wire patterns are available. (Commercial garage door application)
Glazed, Glazing Section windows or lites in place of a steel or aluminum panel. See "Glass Type."
H
Headplate Structural bracket used to secure vertical and horizontal track, as well as counterbalance systems.
Headroom A measurement from the top of the garage door opening upward to the lowest building obstruction on the inside of the header wall. Use this measurement for vertical clearance all the way back to the end of the horizontal track.
High Cycle Springs Special counterbalance springs with increased life cycle capability for high usage garage doors.
High-Lift See "Lift Clearance." (Commercial garage door application.)
Hinges To make the independent sections to act as a complete garage door, the sections must be hinged together. Hinges are found on the end stiles and center stiles at the meeting rails. All hinges perform two basic functions within a garage door system: 1. They join the sections together with bolts or screws. 2. They allow the sections to break, independent of each other, as the garage door travels up and down.
Hinges on the end stiles perform two additional tasks: 1. They are designed to support the roller on which the the garage door travels. 2. They are offset to provide a flush fit to the garage door itself when in the closed position.
Horizontal Track An assembly usually made up of a section of track and reinforced with an angle that is used to both guide and support the garage door in the horizontal position. Furnished with an integral section of curved track. See "Radius."
I
Incline To slope, to slant. To follow roof pitch. (Commercial garage door application)
Inclined Track Tapered vertical track and a graduated height of edge hinges that assure a weathertight fit between the garage door and jamb.
Inside Lock Spring loaded, sliding deadbolt lock operable only from the interior of the garage door.
Insulation Material that has the ability to reduce heat or cold transmission.
Insulation Terms: BTU Amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water, one degree Fahrenheit.
K-value (Thermal Conductivity) Laboratory-determined value of the thermal conductance of a material.
R-value (Thermal Resistance) Ability of a material to retard the transmission of heat. The higher the R-value, the better the garage door insulation performance.
U-Factor (Heat Transmission Coefficient) Amount of heat, in BTU, transmitted through one square foot of material (the garage door) in one hour at a temperature difference of 1° Fahrenheit from one side to the other. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating material.
J
Jamb Seal Weather-stripping attached to the garage door jamb to provide a seal along the jambs.
Jambs The upright framing on each side of the garage door opening. When wood jambs are specified, the vertical track is mounted to the inside surface of the jamb and the stop molding is nailed to the side surface within the opening. For steel garage door jambs, see "Reverse Angle Mounting." For wood or masonry jambs, see "Bracket Mounted Track" and "Angle Mounted Track."
L
Lift Clearance Refers to track hardware that causes the garage door to rise vertically some distance before leveling out into a horizontal position. Also known as "High Lift Track," Lift-Clearance is the distance above the top of the garage door opening to the underside of horizontal tracks.
Lift-Handle A handle, normally on the bottom section of the garage door, to assist in manually lifting the sectional door.
Lites Frames glazed with glass or clear plastic. The number of panels in a section limits the quantity of lites that can be installed. May be double glazed for insulation value. See "Full Vision Section."
Low Headroom Track hardware accessories to improve garage door installation with minimum headroom conditions.
M
Master Keying Arrangements whereby cylinder locks, although fitted with different keyed cylinders, can be opened or locked by one master key. In new buildings, the hardware supplier has responsibility for the lock cylinder and the locking device has to be coordinated with the hardware supplier. Cylinder may be furnished by this supplier and changed in the field. (Commercial garage door application)
Meeting Rail The top or bottom horizontal rail in any section that meets and joins with an adjacent garage door section in horizontal rail.
Mounting Plates Flat steel or wood members placed on the wall to accommodate spring support, spring shaft bearings, chain hoists and mountings for operators.
Movable Center Post A lightweight extruded aluminum post/track assembly, which substitutes for the jamb between two adjacent garage doors and can be released and carried from the opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Mullion A slender dividing bar between two garage doors. Usually designed to carry horizontal (wind) load but not vertical load. (Commercial garage door application)
Muntin A bar member supporting and separating panes of glass within a sash or door.
N
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Established to provide standards for electrical components. Number designation refers to motor operator and controls to meet the ambient requirements.
O
Opening Size Frequently called daylight opening or finished opening. Dimensions are taken between masonry or wood walls or between steel jambs.
Opening Width Distance between jambs of the garage door opening.
Outside Hook-up Bottom fixture with an arm that bends around vertical track to receive lifting cables. Generally used with low headroom hardware.
P
Padding Refers to the wood framing at jambs and header to which the garage door track is mounted. Usually furnished by general contractor. See "Jambs."
Pane The area between vertical stiles in a garage door section.
Pass Door Sometimes called wicket door or access door. It is a small swing door built into the larger upward acting garage door allowing people to walk in and out without opening the large door. Cannot be used as a legal exit. (Commercial garage door application)
Pedestrian Door Access door adjacent to the upward acting garage doors. Avoids the use of a sectional door as a legal egress. (Commercial garage door application)
Perimeter Seal Complete weather-stripping package for sectional garage doors, consisting of astragral, jamb seal and header seal.
Perimeter Wearstrip Vinyl or felt attached to corrugated sheet door curtain to prevent rubbing. Located at the ends or drum locations.
R
Rabbeted Joint Joint formed by connecting rails with grooves cut out in opposing edges to permit overlapping weathertight meeting of sections. See "Shiplap Joint" and "Tongue-and-Groove."
Radius The curved portion of the track, which allows the door to move from vertical to horizontal (and vice versa). The curve is measured in inches, thus determining headroom requirements. See "Headroom."
Rain or Water Stop A step at the edge of the garage floor, approximately 1" (25.4 mm) higher than the outside finish. The garage door sits between the two.
Rear Track Hangers Often constructed of punched angle iron, laterally braced, these hangers attach the end of the horizontal track to the garage ceiling. See "Back Hangs."
Removable Post Designed to allow the use of two or more garage doors in a single opening with center posts that can be removed when doors are raised. Especially desirable where small openings are required normally, but occasionally the entire clear opening is necessary. (Commercial garage door application)
Reverse Angle Mounting An exceptionally sturdy method of track mounting used on all steel jambs and wood jambs at the architect's direction. See "Angle Mounted Track." (Commercial garage door application)
Roller Assembly The combination of a wheel and axle that is used to guide a garage door through the track system, either 2" (50.8 mm) or 3" (76.2 mm) diameter, depending on track size. Available as short or long stem.
Rollers Steel, ball-bearing wheels or nylon rolelrs that allow sections to roll freely along garage door tracks.
RSLO/LSLO Right side looking out/left side looking out. Used to indicate hand of chain hoist or electric operation or lite or exhaust port location. (Commercial garage door application)
S
Safety Spring Containment An extra cable used with garage door extension springs to prevent it from causing damage or injury if the spring breaks. The cable is threaded through the center of the spring and is secured on both ends of the horizontal track.
Sectional Joint Meeting Rail Seal An integral weather-strip with the section at the joints between garage door sections.
Sectional Garage Doors Garage doors made of two or more horizontal sections hinged together to provide a door large enough to close the entire opening. Sectional doors are guided into the horizontal or open position by a system of vertical or horizontal tracks. May be fabricated of continuous roll-formed steel with reinforcing ribs or flush sections of steel or aluminum.
Shaft Bearings Type of bearing that adequately supports the radial forces dictated by the weight of the counterbalance assembly and door weight, and the lateral forces exerted. See "Center Support Bearing."
Shafts, Tubular and Solid A tubular or solid steel counterbalance shaft transmits the lifting force of the torsion springs to the cable drums and lifting cables.
Sheave A pulley with integral ball bearings designed to handle a cable. Used to control the movements of the cables employed in the garage door counterbalance system. Various types are stud or clevis.
Shiplap Joint The configuration of the meeting rails. When closed, the shiplap prevents rain, wind, and light from infiltrating the garage door between the door sections. See "Tongue-and-Groove."
Sideroom A horizontal measurement from each side of the garage door opening outward along the wall to the nearest obstruction within the building.
Spring Anchor Plates Designed to transmit torque from the stationary end of a torsion spring to the building structure and, at the same time, support the weight of the torsion shaft in a level attitude. The anchor plate is able to withstand the lateral forces exerted by a torsion spring. Usually supplied by the general contractor. See "Center Support Bearing."
Spring Assembly Hardware used to make up the garage door counterbalance assembly.
Spring Bumper Small spring-cushioning bumper attached to the horizontal track, which stops the door at the full open position. (Commercial garage door application)
Spring Fittings The sleeves or cones that are used to affix the torsion springs to the torsion shaft. One piece is a stationary sleeve or spring retainer, and the second piece is an adjusting cone or winding sleeve.
Steel Jamb Mounting Continuous angle attached to vertical track and fastened to the jamb by welding, self-tappers, or bolts. (Commercial garage door application)
Steel Jambs Door framing made from either channel or angle iron.
Stop Molding Seals the perimeter of the garage door against weather and light infiltration. Stop molding is nailed to the jamb, outside the door, and is incorporated as one of the final steps in the installation process. Sometimes called doorstop, it is usually wooden or plastic.
Stop Bars Bars or brackets mounted at the top of guides to prevent bottom bar from traveling out of the guides when the sheet door curtain is fully raised. (Commercial door application)
Straight Incline Track Vertical track assembly that extends from floor to twice the height of the opening without break-away feature. See "Break-Away Track." (Commercial garage door application)
Struts L-shaped metal reinforcement members attached horizontally to the inside of the garage door section to add strength and rigidity. Struts are necessary on wide heavy garage doors to help prevent sagging and bowing and to provide additional reinforcement to comply with the required windloading. Also called trusses.
Swing-Up Post See "Removable Post."
T
Tongue-and-Groove The configuration of the meeting rails that differs from shiplap in having matching channel groove and protrusion on the longitudinal edges of the abutting meeting rails for wind and weather protection.
Top Fixture Adjustable brackets that carry track rollers mounted on the top corners of the garage door's top section.
Top Header Seal Flat weatherstrip fastened along the full width of top door section as a seal along the header.
Top Rail The horizontal rail forming the top horizontal member of a garage door as distinguished from the meeting rails and bottom rail.
Top Seal Weatherstripping that fastens to the top of the garage door generatoing a seal along the top of the opening.
Torque The turning effect of a tangential force acting at a distance from the axis of rotation or twist; torsion springs apply such effect to spring shafts.
Torsion Shaft The shaft of a torsion spring assembly that transmits the lifting force of the torsion springs to cable drums and lifting cables.
Torsion Spring Counterbalance Assembly Designed and constructed to provide a safe and durable conversion of spring torque to lifting force by balancing the weight of a sectional overhead garage door.
Torsion Springs Mounts above the garage door opening. The springs are manually wound, or charged, then set to a shaft that runs through the spring. The spring turns the shaft, which raises or lowers the door via the cables winding on drums.
Track Provides a guide for the roller wheels. The vertical track is mounted to the jambs with brackets on each side of the garage door opening. The horizontal track contains a curved end called the radius (See "Radius"). In the closed position, the garage doors rest in the vertical track. In the open position, the garage doors suspend from the horizontal track. Sectional door track usually consists of two vertical pieces and two horizontal pieces.
Trajectory The arc of travel, or sweep of the top section, as the garage door is raised from closed to open position. Determining the trajectory is important when planning the location of pipes, light fixtures, etc.
V
Vertical Lift A hardware design that allows a sectional garage door to open vertically along the wall above the door opening without turning back inside the building. (Commercial garage door application)
W
Wicket Door Hollow-metal pedestrian door installed adjacent to the sheet door that shares the same building opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Winding Bars Used by garage door installers to set initial tension on torsion springs at the winding cones.
Winding Cone Part that fits into a torsion spring, permitting winding of the torsion spring and tension adjustment.
Winding Sleeves Designed to safely allow the application of torque from a torsion spring. The winding sleeves' design properly retains a torsion spring when fully wound or unwound and withstands the radial and lateral forces exerted by the torsion spring.
Windload The lateral force that the wind exerts upon a garage door as it stands in a closed position.
Wood Jamb Mounted Regular method of mounting vertical track to wood jambs.
Wood Jambs Upright wooden piece forming the side of the garage door opening.
Roll Up Doors Glossary
A
A-Frame Support member used to fasten torsion spring assembly of a vertical lift door to the wall above the door opening.
Adjusting Cone (Winding Sleeve, Winding Cone) Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and tension adjustment.
Angle-Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using a fully adjustable continuous angle.
Astragal Weather-strip attached to the bottom of the door to seal it against the floor.
B
Backroom The distance from the door opening into the building to the first obstruction at the required headroom. Barrel The core of the roll up door which totally encloses the drums, springs and axle. Reduces door sag, eliminates drum dents and improves operation due to an even support of the curtain for the entire width.
Booster Spring Additional spring provided to compensate for weakened counterbalance. (Usually extension spring.) Bottom Bar Roll formed clear acrylic coated galvanized steel, reinforced with a 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” 11 gauge full width galvanized angle that extends fully into the guides. The PVC bulb astragal provides positive contact with floor.
Bottom Fixture (Bottom Corner Bracket) A structural support located on the bottom section, which hold track rollers and provide for attachment of the lifting cables on the sectional doors.
Bracket Mounted Method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using jamb brackets.
C
Cable Clamps A manufactured device used to secure two pieces of cable to each other. Size of clamp is determined by the cable diameter.
Cable Drums Grooved drums fitted on torsion spring shaft onto which lifting cable is wound when door is opened.
Cable Safety Device A safety bottom fixture specifically designed to prevent a door from falling in the event of cable breakage.
Carry-Away Post A lightweight extruded aluminum post/track assembly which substitutes for door jamb in multiple door installations where a clear span is required. Can be released and carried from opening.
Center Hinge Flat hinge located on all intermediate stiles to allow for section break as door operates.
Center Lift Cable An additional lifting cable attached to the exterior of the door to provide support for extra wide or heavy doors.
Center Stile/Stile/Mullion/ Mutt Vertical members of a door section which provide structural rigidity and location for center hinge attachment.
Chain Hoist Refers to sprocket or pocket wheel attached to shaft with chain operation giving varying mechanical advantage in various ratios.
Contour Track Special horizontal track with more than one radius used in specialty applications.
Corner Bracket See Bottom Fixture.
Counterweight Refers to design of door mechanisms using weights instead of springs to counterbalance door weight.
Cycle One full opening and closing operation of a sectional door. D
DASMA Door and Access System Manufacturing Association. International manufacturing trade association with 5 divisions: residential & commercial sectional doors; rolling doors; operator & electronics; specialty; and association division. Dead Axle A coiling door barrel that remains still while the door rotates around it. Allows for a straighter travel path of the door curtain in the guides.
Dead Load A static applied load. A load without movement.
Double Car (DC) Door section width > 10' 1".
Double Low Headroom Track Special horizontal track with a pair of tracks used to reduce the high point of travel of the top section of a door to permit installation in a low headroom application. Double Shaft Double torsion spring shaft used when additional space is required to accommodate counterbalance spring wire. Drive End End of drum where operation of door is performed.
Duplex Spring A combination of two torsion springs of different diameters telescoped within common spring plugs. E
Edge Hinge (Roller Hinge) Graduated hinge, which is attached to end stile of the door sections to carry track rollers and allows for section breaks as a garage door operates.
Electric Interlock Interlock to prevent door operation by electric motor under specific circumstances.
Electric Opener Electric motorized device to control door cycling.
Electrical Operation Kit (EO Kit) A device which equips the door for wall mounted jackshaft electric operators. End Stile Stile located at each end of a door section, which provides for attachment of edge hinges. These stiles carry the total section load and should be of superior strength to provide structural integrity.
Extension Spring Counterbalance springs, which provide lifting power by stretching. Generally mounted above horizontal tracks.
Exterior Lock Keyed lock, which can be operated on exterior of the door.
F
Ferrules A metal ring or cap that is affixed to a cable so as to form a bottom or loop on the end of the cable. Finished Opening The size of the actual finished opening after framed and trimmed.
G
GDO's Garage Door Openers
Graduated Seal Design of tapered vertical track and a graduated height of edge hinges, which assure a weathertight, fit between door and jamb. Guides The steel bars which are mounted and have the door curtain fed into when installing a door. Janus universal mount galvanized steel guides require no pre-installation modifications for wood, steel, concrete or masonry block applications. They are fitted with dual polyethylene wear strips to reduce friction and muffle door noises.
H
Head Stops Galvanized, guide mounted steel slots which prevent curtain over travel when raising the door. Headroom The distance above the top of the door opening to the nearest obstruction.
Headplate Special plate attached to front of horizontal tracks for limited sideroom application.
Header Seal Weather-stripping which fastens to the top of the door to seal the door along the top of the opening.
High Lift See Lift Clearance.
High Cycle Springs Special counterbalance springs with increased cycle lift capability for high usage doors.
Horizontal Track Assembly An assembly made up of a piece of track and which can be reinforced with a piece of angle that is used to both guide and support the door in the horizontal position. I
IDA International Door Association The dealer/installer trade association.
Inclined Track A horizontal track that follows the slope or slant of a building roof line.
Inside Lock Spring loaded, sliding deadbolt lock operated only from interior of the door. Insulation An extra layer affixed to the door steel which is a foil backed, dual layer of heavy-duty polyethylene air-bubble insulation secured in place with a strong adhesive and joined by mylar film to provide an R value of 4. J
Jackshaft Opener Electric operator which mounts on the wall or ceiling and directly drives torsion spring shaft.
Jamb Either of the two vertical pieces framing the doorway. Jamb Angle (Jamb Bracket) "L" shaped bracket used to fasten vertical tracks to doorjambs.
Jamb Seal Weather-stripping attached to doorjambs to help seal door along the jambs.
Joint Seal Weather-stripping attached to door section meeting edges to seal door between sections. K L
Lap Jamb Condition where door sections lap the door opening one inch on each jamb.
Lateral Force A force applied from or toward the side.
Lift Clearance The distance above the top of the door opening to the centerline of the horizontal track. This term is often confused with the term "headroom."
Lite Term for windows in sectional doors.
Low Headroom Hardware accessories to provide for door installation with minimum headroom conditions. Usually less than 16" headroom.
M
Metallurgist Report A report of document that describes the composition of a material.
Mill Certification A report or document from the producing mill that provides all pertinent data relative to the composition, structure, heat, etc. of a given material. Mounting Brackets Steel structures which attach to the guides. Engineered and designed with deep embossing for strength, and are independently tested to withstand more than 2,700 pounds per pair. Janus installation-friendly mounting brackets feature safe rounded edges and slots that allow for easy vertical adjustments as well as various installation preferences. Mounting Plates Used for steel mounting application.
Mullion A slender dividing bar fixed or removable between two doors. Usually designed to carry wind load and not vertical load.
N
Normal Headroom Hardware standard to provide for door installation with standard headroom conditions. Usually 16" to 24" of headroom. O
One Piece Door Also known as Shin-busters. A door that operates as one-piece, rather than a door made of mutliple sections.
Open Back Door Hollow door with no insulation or back.
Opening Area of the garage exterior where a garage door will hang for closure.
Opening Height Distance from garage floor to the top of an opening.
Opening Width Distance between left and right jambs of an opening.
Opener / Operator A device used to control the up and down motion of a door.
Outside Hook-Up Bottom fixture with an arm that bends around vertical track to receive lifting cables. Generally used with low headroom hardware. P
Panel The area between stiles in a door section. The "look" of a door is considered the "panel style." Pawl The small “latch” on the ratchet tensioner that lifts in order to change door tension; when closed it locks the selected tension in place.
Pass Door Entry person door which is built-in to a sectional door.
Perimeter Seal Complete weatherstripping package for sectional doors consisting of astragal, jamb seal and header seal. Plumb Leveling of vertical guides/jambs.
Pocket Wheel A wheel or drum machined in a way to receive the individual links of a chain. Used to transmit direct power.
Push Down Spring Bumper Spring-activated push rods mounted on horizontal tracks to force door down during closing portion of door cycle. Generally used with jackshaft type operator or manual chain hoist with standard lift. Push Up Operation Manual opening/closing of door. Q
R
Radial Force A force generated from the center of an object toward the outside. Ratchet Tensioning Device Simpler mechanism to adjust tension while more accurately fine tuning all the springs on the door at the same time. Reduced Drive Chain Hoist (RDCH) Modifies door operation from manual to reduced drive chain hoist operation-- requires 3-3/4" of additional side room in the header. Reverse Coil When door is mounted on the outside of the building and color of the curtain needs to be on the inside of the coil to be seen in the down position
Rollers Steel and nylon, usually with ball-bearing wheels that allow sections to roll freely along door tracks.
R-Value R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a garage door, or how well the garage door insulates. The higher the R-value, the increased thermal efficiency of a garage door. Be aware that manufacturer’s R-value calculations may vary. To compare R-value, make sure manufacturers follow the DASMA (Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association) guidelines by stating Calculated door section R-value is in accordance with DASMA TDS- 163. S
Sandwich Door Triple-Layer: Steel + Insulation + Steel Interior. Classica 3000 and Stratford 3000 (residential) and Models 2700, 1380, 1350, & 1000 (commercial).
Section Individual components of a garage door. Garage doors are made up of multiple sections to fill the appropriate height of a garage opening. 7' tall doors are typically comprised of 4 sections spanning the width of an opening. 7' tall doors in the Amarr Classica Collection are made with 3 sections to provide a more vertical, authentic carriage house door look.
Shaft Bearings A free rolling, cylindrical, ball bearing that is used to guide the torsion shaft, maintain alignment, and reduce friction.
Sheaves A pulley with a ball bearing built into it that is designed to handle a cable and used to control the movement of the cables employed in door counter balance system.
Side Bearing Plate (End Bearing Plate) A bracket that attaches to the horizontal supports and possibly the wall to provide a bearing surface for the torsion shaft near the ends. Side Draft Stop 2-1/4" black neoprene stripping with a return for affixing directly to the guides, this seal provides a barrier against the elements. Select a length greater than or equal to your door height. The price covers two strips for your door height, one per side.
Sideroom Distance from each doorjamb to the nearest obstruction.
Single Car (SC) Door section width < 10'
Spring Assembly Hardware used to make up door counter-balance assembly.
Spring Bumper Small spring-cushioned bumper attached to horizontal track to stop door at full open position.
Spring Pad (Center Bearing Plate) Plate or bracket which is located on the wall above door opening to receive torsion spring assembly support brackets.
Spring Fittings The sleeves or cones that are used to adapt the torsion springs to the torsion shaft. Torsion springs usually have two fittings or cones. One is a stationary sleeve or spring retainer, while the second piece is an adjusting cone or winding sleeve.
Spring Tension Adjusting the tension to make sure the door opens easily; not too loosely or with too much force. Stationary Sleeves (Spring Retainers) Part that fits into the end of a torsion spring permitting the spring to be anchored to the spring anchor plate.
Steel Gauge Steel gauge is the thickness of the steel material used in garage doors. The lower the steel gauge number the thicker the steel. Real steel gauge is the true thickness of the steel material. Nominal steel gauge is the average thickness of the steel material used in production due to a plus/minus tolerance level. Real steel gauge is the minimum gauge of steel material used in production.
Stiles Vertical members of a door section which provide structural rigidity and a location for hinge attachment. Generic term.
Strut Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a door, as well as reduce deflection of a door section in the horizontal position.
Super Durable Polyester Paint Long lasting paint system used only by Janus International which has greater strength and durability. Backed by a 40 year film integrity and 25 year no-fade limited paint warranty. Swing-Up Post An extruded aluminum post which substitutes for doorjambs in multiple door installations where a clear span is required. Operated by a hand winch or electric operator, it swings up parallel to header.
T
Tapered Vertical Track Refers to the graduated spacing of the vertical track away from the jamb permitting weather-tight closing of door against jamb. Tensioner – see Ratchet Tensioning Device Top Draft Stop 2-1/4" black neoprene stripping with a return for affixing directly to the door curtain where it meets the top of the opening, this seal provides a barrier against the elements. Select a length greater than or equal to your door width. Top Fixture Adjustable brackets, which usually carry track rollers, mounted on the top corners of the top section of the sectional door.
Torsion Shaft The shaft of a torsion spring assembly, which transmits lifting power of the torsion springs to cable drums and lifting cables.
Torsion Springs Counterbalance springs which provide balancing power by winding and unwinding through door cycle.
Track Channel shaped metal bars that guide rollers on sectional garage doors.
Trajectory The arc of travel or sweep of the top section as the door is raised from closed to open position.
Trolley Operator Electric operator, which mounts above the door in the horizontal position and lifts door by pulling, and pushing the top section. Specifically designed for normal headroom and low headroom doors.
Truss (Struts) Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a door as well as reduce deflection of the door sections in the horizontal position. U
Upper Vertical Track Horizontal track assembly on a vertical lift door.
V
Vertical Lift Refers to a hardware design that causes doors to open vertically, no horizontal tracks required. This hardware is normally operated with spring counterbalance, but also possible with weight counterbalance.
Vertical Track Track assembly mounted to door opening jambs to guide and support a sectional door in the "closed" or "vertical" position. Vision Panels A small 5”x17” window which provide outside visibility and allows light entry into a roll up door. Constructed of a translucent polycarbonate panel inside a glossy white 20 gauge frame, the panels create no interference with the operation of the door. The location and number of vision panels are limited by door size. W Wind Load The amount of force (in PSF) exerted by the wind along the face of the door as it stands in the opening.
Winding Sleeve (Adjusting Cone) Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and tension adjustment. X Y
Z
Angle Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using a full height continuous angle. (Commercial garage door application)
Anodize An electrolytic method of coating aluminum with a protective or decorative film, which is generally clear in color.
ASHRAE Acronym for American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
Astragal: Weather-stripping added to bottom section of the garage door to seal the opening along the floor.
B
Back Hangs The vertical supports for the horizontal track, cross-braced to prevent lateral movement and track spread.
Backroom The required clearance from the face of the header to any obstruction to the rear of the horizontal track.
Bead A metal, vinyl or rubber strip used to secure glass around the periphery of a pane. (Commercial garage door application)
Bottom Bracket A structural support located on the bottom section of the garage door that provides for attachment of the lifting cables on the sectional garage doors. Also referred to as "Bottom Corner Bracket." (Note: Track rollers may have a separate door attachment in some garage door designs.)
Bracket Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using angle brackets. Also referred to as "Mounted or Track Bracket."
Break-Away Track Vertical track assembly that steps back from the jamb used for high lift and vertical lift track to permit outside lock handle projection to clear the lintel. (Commercial garage door application)
Bumpers, Spring A leaf spring installed at the end of the horizontal track. Especially useful on lift clearance or full vertical manually operated garage doors, acting as a cushion and stop. (Commercial garage door application)
C
Cable Drums Grooved drums on the torsion spring shaft that lifting cables wind around when the garage door opens. Designed to allow cable to be accumulated or dispensed in an orderly manner and to prevent lapping or cable chafing.
Cable Safety Device A safety bottom fixture specifically designed to prevent a garage door from falling if a cable breaks.
Cable Sleeve A manufactured device used to form a loop of cable, the size of which is determined by the cable diameter.
Cable Stop A swagged fitting at the end of the cable to prevent slippage through a slot in a drum.
Cables Multistrand wire used to attach the garage door, via bottom brackets, to the counterbalance mechanism.
Carry-Away Post See "Removable Post." (Commercial garage door application)
Center Bearing Plate See "Center Support Bearing."
Center Hinge Flat hinge located on all intermediate stiles to allow for garage door sections to turn the track radius as the door opens.
Center Lift Cable Additional cable assembly, which is secured to the outside of the garage door at points toward the center of the door. Used to provide extra lifting support for extremely wide or heavy doors. (Commercial garage door application)
Center Post See "Mullion." (Commercial garage door application)
Center Stile/Mutt Vertical members of a garage door section that provide structural rigidity and location for center hinge attachment. (Commercial garage door application)
Center Support Bearing Bearing and mounting plate installed at approximately half the door width above the garage door, which acts as a support for the spring shaft. Can be mounted in various locations, not necessarily in the center, depending on size of the springs.
Chain Hoist Adds mechanical advantage to manually-operated garage doors. Couples to one end of the solid torsion shaft. (Commercial garage door application)
Clearances The amount of sideroom, headroom, and backroom required to properly install a sectional garage door.
Coupling Adjustable two-part cast iron connector for torsion solid shafts on wide garage doors. Eases installation and allows adjustment in cable lengths so that doors will operate smoothly without cocking.
Curtain The part of the sheet door that actually rolls up and down or slides side to side. Manufactured of corrugated sheets seamed together.
Cycle One complete cycle of begins with the garage door in the closed position. The door is then opened and closed again. Note: Torsion spring operated garage doors with higher-than-normal cycle life requirements may be specified with 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 cycle springs.
D
Dead Load A static-applied load. A load without movement.
Door Frame The frame into which the garage door fits, consisting of a door header and two upright members called doorjambs.
Door Size Always specify the width first and the height second: for instance 8' 6" (2591 mm) wide by 7' 3" (2210 mm) high. Refer to "Opening Size."
Double-Thick Glass Lighter than plate glass, about 1/8" (3.18 mm) thick, often termed double-strength glass. See "Glass Type."
Drums Circular stamped metal parts attached at various locations along the tubular shaft that allows the sheet door curtain to coil up when the garage door opens.
Duplex Spring A combination of two torsion springs.
E
End Stiles Stile located at each end of a garage door section that provides for attachment of end hinges.
Escutcheon A plate surrounding the lock mechanism that acts as a bearing surface for the lock shaft; one of the parts of a lock set, usually held in place by small screws known as escutcheon screws.
Exhaust Ports Orifices put in the bottom section of a garage door for release of carbon monoxide fumes when tubed from an automobile exhaust system. (Commercial garage door application)
Extension Springs Counterbalance springs that provide lifting force by stretching. Commonly called stretch springs. Extension springs are mounted to each of the rear track hangers and attached to a pulley at the other end of the spring.
Exterior Lock Keyed lock that can be operated on exterior of the garage door.
Extrusion Fabricated aluminum or plastic shapes made by forcing hot aluminum or plastic billets through an extrusion press die.
F
Flag Bracket L-shaped bracket used to facilitate the union between vertical and horizontal tracks.
Flush Design Refers to garage door sections unbroken by roll-formed ribs. The face of the complete garage door presents an even surface.
Follow-the-Roof Track Designed to place the back track on the roof incline, and as close as practical to the roof. Can be used with standard lift or lift clearance track. (Commercial garage door application)
Front-Mounted Low Headroom Low headroom hardware where springs mount on torsion shaft above opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Full Vertical Track Assembly An assembly designed from a piece of vertical track and a piece of continuous angle or jamb brackets. Used to secure the track to the jamb. (Commercial garage door application)
Full Vision Section A totally glazed section with various types of glass or clear plastic. The section is formed of aluminum extrusions that combine with steel sections above and below. See "Glass Type." (Commercial garage door application)
G
Galvanizing Zinc coating to protect steel against corrosion.
Glass, Insulated Two pieces of glass spaced approximately 1/4" (12.7 mm) apart and hermetically sealed to form a single-glazed unit with an air space between. Heat transmission through this type of glass can be as low as half that of non-insulated glass.
Glass, Tempered Reheated to just below the melting point and suddenly cooled. When shattered it breaks into small pieces. (Commercial garage door application)
Glass, Wire Polished or rough glass, 1/4" (6.35 mm) thick. Wire mesh is embedded within the glass so that the glass will not shatter when broken. Many types of wire patterns are available. (Commercial garage door application)
Glazed, Glazing Section windows or lites in place of a steel or aluminum panel. See "Glass Type."
H
Headplate Structural bracket used to secure vertical and horizontal track, as well as counterbalance systems.
Headroom A measurement from the top of the garage door opening upward to the lowest building obstruction on the inside of the header wall. Use this measurement for vertical clearance all the way back to the end of the horizontal track.
High Cycle Springs Special counterbalance springs with increased life cycle capability for high usage garage doors.
High-Lift See "Lift Clearance." (Commercial garage door application.)
Hinges To make the independent sections to act as a complete garage door, the sections must be hinged together. Hinges are found on the end stiles and center stiles at the meeting rails. All hinges perform two basic functions within a garage door system: 1. They join the sections together with bolts or screws. 2. They allow the sections to break, independent of each other, as the garage door travels up and down.
Hinges on the end stiles perform two additional tasks: 1. They are designed to support the roller on which the the garage door travels. 2. They are offset to provide a flush fit to the garage door itself when in the closed position.
Horizontal Track An assembly usually made up of a section of track and reinforced with an angle that is used to both guide and support the garage door in the horizontal position. Furnished with an integral section of curved track. See "Radius."
I
Incline To slope, to slant. To follow roof pitch. (Commercial garage door application)
Inclined Track Tapered vertical track and a graduated height of edge hinges that assure a weathertight fit between the garage door and jamb.
Inside Lock Spring loaded, sliding deadbolt lock operable only from the interior of the garage door.
Insulation Material that has the ability to reduce heat or cold transmission.
Insulation Terms: BTU Amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water, one degree Fahrenheit.
K-value (Thermal Conductivity) Laboratory-determined value of the thermal conductance of a material.
R-value (Thermal Resistance) Ability of a material to retard the transmission of heat. The higher the R-value, the better the garage door insulation performance.
U-Factor (Heat Transmission Coefficient) Amount of heat, in BTU, transmitted through one square foot of material (the garage door) in one hour at a temperature difference of 1° Fahrenheit from one side to the other. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating material.
J
Jamb Seal Weather-stripping attached to the garage door jamb to provide a seal along the jambs.
Jambs The upright framing on each side of the garage door opening. When wood jambs are specified, the vertical track is mounted to the inside surface of the jamb and the stop molding is nailed to the side surface within the opening. For steel garage door jambs, see "Reverse Angle Mounting." For wood or masonry jambs, see "Bracket Mounted Track" and "Angle Mounted Track."
L
Lift Clearance Refers to track hardware that causes the garage door to rise vertically some distance before leveling out into a horizontal position. Also known as "High Lift Track," Lift-Clearance is the distance above the top of the garage door opening to the underside of horizontal tracks.
Lift-Handle A handle, normally on the bottom section of the garage door, to assist in manually lifting the sectional door.
Lites Frames glazed with glass or clear plastic. The number of panels in a section limits the quantity of lites that can be installed. May be double glazed for insulation value. See "Full Vision Section."
Low Headroom Track hardware accessories to improve garage door installation with minimum headroom conditions.
M
Master Keying Arrangements whereby cylinder locks, although fitted with different keyed cylinders, can be opened or locked by one master key. In new buildings, the hardware supplier has responsibility for the lock cylinder and the locking device has to be coordinated with the hardware supplier. Cylinder may be furnished by this supplier and changed in the field. (Commercial garage door application)
Meeting Rail The top or bottom horizontal rail in any section that meets and joins with an adjacent garage door section in horizontal rail.
Mounting Plates Flat steel or wood members placed on the wall to accommodate spring support, spring shaft bearings, chain hoists and mountings for operators.
Movable Center Post A lightweight extruded aluminum post/track assembly, which substitutes for the jamb between two adjacent garage doors and can be released and carried from the opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Mullion A slender dividing bar between two garage doors. Usually designed to carry horizontal (wind) load but not vertical load. (Commercial garage door application)
Muntin A bar member supporting and separating panes of glass within a sash or door.
N
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Established to provide standards for electrical components. Number designation refers to motor operator and controls to meet the ambient requirements.
O
Opening Size Frequently called daylight opening or finished opening. Dimensions are taken between masonry or wood walls or between steel jambs.
Opening Width Distance between jambs of the garage door opening.
Outside Hook-up Bottom fixture with an arm that bends around vertical track to receive lifting cables. Generally used with low headroom hardware.
P
Padding Refers to the wood framing at jambs and header to which the garage door track is mounted. Usually furnished by general contractor. See "Jambs."
Pane The area between vertical stiles in a garage door section.
Pass Door Sometimes called wicket door or access door. It is a small swing door built into the larger upward acting garage door allowing people to walk in and out without opening the large door. Cannot be used as a legal exit. (Commercial garage door application)
Pedestrian Door Access door adjacent to the upward acting garage doors. Avoids the use of a sectional door as a legal egress. (Commercial garage door application)
Perimeter Seal Complete weather-stripping package for sectional garage doors, consisting of astragral, jamb seal and header seal.
Perimeter Wearstrip Vinyl or felt attached to corrugated sheet door curtain to prevent rubbing. Located at the ends or drum locations.
R
Rabbeted Joint Joint formed by connecting rails with grooves cut out in opposing edges to permit overlapping weathertight meeting of sections. See "Shiplap Joint" and "Tongue-and-Groove."
Radius The curved portion of the track, which allows the door to move from vertical to horizontal (and vice versa). The curve is measured in inches, thus determining headroom requirements. See "Headroom."
Rain or Water Stop A step at the edge of the garage floor, approximately 1" (25.4 mm) higher than the outside finish. The garage door sits between the two.
Rear Track Hangers Often constructed of punched angle iron, laterally braced, these hangers attach the end of the horizontal track to the garage ceiling. See "Back Hangs."
Removable Post Designed to allow the use of two or more garage doors in a single opening with center posts that can be removed when doors are raised. Especially desirable where small openings are required normally, but occasionally the entire clear opening is necessary. (Commercial garage door application)
Reverse Angle Mounting An exceptionally sturdy method of track mounting used on all steel jambs and wood jambs at the architect's direction. See "Angle Mounted Track." (Commercial garage door application)
Roller Assembly The combination of a wheel and axle that is used to guide a garage door through the track system, either 2" (50.8 mm) or 3" (76.2 mm) diameter, depending on track size. Available as short or long stem.
Rollers Steel, ball-bearing wheels or nylon rolelrs that allow sections to roll freely along garage door tracks.
RSLO/LSLO Right side looking out/left side looking out. Used to indicate hand of chain hoist or electric operation or lite or exhaust port location. (Commercial garage door application)
S
Safety Spring Containment An extra cable used with garage door extension springs to prevent it from causing damage or injury if the spring breaks. The cable is threaded through the center of the spring and is secured on both ends of the horizontal track.
Sectional Joint Meeting Rail Seal An integral weather-strip with the section at the joints between garage door sections.
Sectional Garage Doors Garage doors made of two or more horizontal sections hinged together to provide a door large enough to close the entire opening. Sectional doors are guided into the horizontal or open position by a system of vertical or horizontal tracks. May be fabricated of continuous roll-formed steel with reinforcing ribs or flush sections of steel or aluminum.
Shaft Bearings Type of bearing that adequately supports the radial forces dictated by the weight of the counterbalance assembly and door weight, and the lateral forces exerted. See "Center Support Bearing."
Shafts, Tubular and Solid A tubular or solid steel counterbalance shaft transmits the lifting force of the torsion springs to the cable drums and lifting cables.
Sheave A pulley with integral ball bearings designed to handle a cable. Used to control the movements of the cables employed in the garage door counterbalance system. Various types are stud or clevis.
Shiplap Joint The configuration of the meeting rails. When closed, the shiplap prevents rain, wind, and light from infiltrating the garage door between the door sections. See "Tongue-and-Groove."
Sideroom A horizontal measurement from each side of the garage door opening outward along the wall to the nearest obstruction within the building.
Spring Anchor Plates Designed to transmit torque from the stationary end of a torsion spring to the building structure and, at the same time, support the weight of the torsion shaft in a level attitude. The anchor plate is able to withstand the lateral forces exerted by a torsion spring. Usually supplied by the general contractor. See "Center Support Bearing."
Spring Assembly Hardware used to make up the garage door counterbalance assembly.
Spring Bumper Small spring-cushioning bumper attached to the horizontal track, which stops the door at the full open position. (Commercial garage door application)
Spring Fittings The sleeves or cones that are used to affix the torsion springs to the torsion shaft. One piece is a stationary sleeve or spring retainer, and the second piece is an adjusting cone or winding sleeve.
Steel Jamb Mounting Continuous angle attached to vertical track and fastened to the jamb by welding, self-tappers, or bolts. (Commercial garage door application)
Steel Jambs Door framing made from either channel or angle iron.
Stop Molding Seals the perimeter of the garage door against weather and light infiltration. Stop molding is nailed to the jamb, outside the door, and is incorporated as one of the final steps in the installation process. Sometimes called doorstop, it is usually wooden or plastic.
Stop Bars Bars or brackets mounted at the top of guides to prevent bottom bar from traveling out of the guides when the sheet door curtain is fully raised. (Commercial door application)
Straight Incline Track Vertical track assembly that extends from floor to twice the height of the opening without break-away feature. See "Break-Away Track." (Commercial garage door application)
Struts L-shaped metal reinforcement members attached horizontally to the inside of the garage door section to add strength and rigidity. Struts are necessary on wide heavy garage doors to help prevent sagging and bowing and to provide additional reinforcement to comply with the required windloading. Also called trusses.
Swing-Up Post See "Removable Post."
T
Tongue-and-Groove The configuration of the meeting rails that differs from shiplap in having matching channel groove and protrusion on the longitudinal edges of the abutting meeting rails for wind and weather protection.
Top Fixture Adjustable brackets that carry track rollers mounted on the top corners of the garage door's top section.
Top Header Seal Flat weatherstrip fastened along the full width of top door section as a seal along the header.
Top Rail The horizontal rail forming the top horizontal member of a garage door as distinguished from the meeting rails and bottom rail.
Top Seal Weatherstripping that fastens to the top of the garage door generatoing a seal along the top of the opening.
Torque The turning effect of a tangential force acting at a distance from the axis of rotation or twist; torsion springs apply such effect to spring shafts.
Torsion Shaft The shaft of a torsion spring assembly that transmits the lifting force of the torsion springs to cable drums and lifting cables.
Torsion Spring Counterbalance Assembly Designed and constructed to provide a safe and durable conversion of spring torque to lifting force by balancing the weight of a sectional overhead garage door.
Torsion Springs Mounts above the garage door opening. The springs are manually wound, or charged, then set to a shaft that runs through the spring. The spring turns the shaft, which raises or lowers the door via the cables winding on drums.
Track Provides a guide for the roller wheels. The vertical track is mounted to the jambs with brackets on each side of the garage door opening. The horizontal track contains a curved end called the radius (See "Radius"). In the closed position, the garage doors rest in the vertical track. In the open position, the garage doors suspend from the horizontal track. Sectional door track usually consists of two vertical pieces and two horizontal pieces.
Trajectory The arc of travel, or sweep of the top section, as the garage door is raised from closed to open position. Determining the trajectory is important when planning the location of pipes, light fixtures, etc.
V
Vertical Lift A hardware design that allows a sectional garage door to open vertically along the wall above the door opening without turning back inside the building. (Commercial garage door application)
W
Wicket Door Hollow-metal pedestrian door installed adjacent to the sheet door that shares the same building opening. (Commercial garage door application)
Winding Bars Used by garage door installers to set initial tension on torsion springs at the winding cones.
Winding Cone Part that fits into a torsion spring, permitting winding of the torsion spring and tension adjustment.
Winding Sleeves Designed to safely allow the application of torque from a torsion spring. The winding sleeves' design properly retains a torsion spring when fully wound or unwound and withstands the radial and lateral forces exerted by the torsion spring.
Windload The lateral force that the wind exerts upon a garage door as it stands in a closed position.
Wood Jamb Mounted Regular method of mounting vertical track to wood jambs.
Wood Jambs Upright wooden piece forming the side of the garage door opening.
Roll Up Doors Glossary
A
A-Frame Support member used to fasten torsion spring assembly of a vertical lift door to the wall above the door opening.
Adjusting Cone (Winding Sleeve, Winding Cone) Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and tension adjustment.
Angle-Mounted Track A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using a fully adjustable continuous angle.
Astragal Weather-strip attached to the bottom of the door to seal it against the floor.
B
Backroom The distance from the door opening into the building to the first obstruction at the required headroom. Barrel The core of the roll up door which totally encloses the drums, springs and axle. Reduces door sag, eliminates drum dents and improves operation due to an even support of the curtain for the entire width.
Booster Spring Additional spring provided to compensate for weakened counterbalance. (Usually extension spring.) Bottom Bar Roll formed clear acrylic coated galvanized steel, reinforced with a 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” 11 gauge full width galvanized angle that extends fully into the guides. The PVC bulb astragal provides positive contact with floor.
Bottom Fixture (Bottom Corner Bracket) A structural support located on the bottom section, which hold track rollers and provide for attachment of the lifting cables on the sectional doors.
Bracket Mounted Method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using jamb brackets.
C
Cable Clamps A manufactured device used to secure two pieces of cable to each other. Size of clamp is determined by the cable diameter.
Cable Drums Grooved drums fitted on torsion spring shaft onto which lifting cable is wound when door is opened.
Cable Safety Device A safety bottom fixture specifically designed to prevent a door from falling in the event of cable breakage.
Carry-Away Post A lightweight extruded aluminum post/track assembly which substitutes for door jamb in multiple door installations where a clear span is required. Can be released and carried from opening.
Center Hinge Flat hinge located on all intermediate stiles to allow for section break as door operates.
Center Lift Cable An additional lifting cable attached to the exterior of the door to provide support for extra wide or heavy doors.
Center Stile/Stile/Mullion/ Mutt Vertical members of a door section which provide structural rigidity and location for center hinge attachment.
Chain Hoist Refers to sprocket or pocket wheel attached to shaft with chain operation giving varying mechanical advantage in various ratios.
Contour Track Special horizontal track with more than one radius used in specialty applications.
Corner Bracket See Bottom Fixture.
Counterweight Refers to design of door mechanisms using weights instead of springs to counterbalance door weight.
Cycle One full opening and closing operation of a sectional door. D
DASMA Door and Access System Manufacturing Association. International manufacturing trade association with 5 divisions: residential & commercial sectional doors; rolling doors; operator & electronics; specialty; and association division. Dead Axle A coiling door barrel that remains still while the door rotates around it. Allows for a straighter travel path of the door curtain in the guides.
Dead Load A static applied load. A load without movement.
Double Car (DC) Door section width > 10' 1".
Double Low Headroom Track Special horizontal track with a pair of tracks used to reduce the high point of travel of the top section of a door to permit installation in a low headroom application. Double Shaft Double torsion spring shaft used when additional space is required to accommodate counterbalance spring wire. Drive End End of drum where operation of door is performed.
Duplex Spring A combination of two torsion springs of different diameters telescoped within common spring plugs. E
Edge Hinge (Roller Hinge) Graduated hinge, which is attached to end stile of the door sections to carry track rollers and allows for section breaks as a garage door operates.
Electric Interlock Interlock to prevent door operation by electric motor under specific circumstances.
Electric Opener Electric motorized device to control door cycling.
Electrical Operation Kit (EO Kit) A device which equips the door for wall mounted jackshaft electric operators. End Stile Stile located at each end of a door section, which provides for attachment of edge hinges. These stiles carry the total section load and should be of superior strength to provide structural integrity.
Extension Spring Counterbalance springs, which provide lifting power by stretching. Generally mounted above horizontal tracks.
Exterior Lock Keyed lock, which can be operated on exterior of the door.
F
Ferrules A metal ring or cap that is affixed to a cable so as to form a bottom or loop on the end of the cable. Finished Opening The size of the actual finished opening after framed and trimmed.
G
GDO's Garage Door Openers
Graduated Seal Design of tapered vertical track and a graduated height of edge hinges, which assure a weathertight, fit between door and jamb. Guides The steel bars which are mounted and have the door curtain fed into when installing a door. Janus universal mount galvanized steel guides require no pre-installation modifications for wood, steel, concrete or masonry block applications. They are fitted with dual polyethylene wear strips to reduce friction and muffle door noises.
H
Head Stops Galvanized, guide mounted steel slots which prevent curtain over travel when raising the door. Headroom The distance above the top of the door opening to the nearest obstruction.
Headplate Special plate attached to front of horizontal tracks for limited sideroom application.
Header Seal Weather-stripping which fastens to the top of the door to seal the door along the top of the opening.
High Lift See Lift Clearance.
High Cycle Springs Special counterbalance springs with increased cycle lift capability for high usage doors.
Horizontal Track Assembly An assembly made up of a piece of track and which can be reinforced with a piece of angle that is used to both guide and support the door in the horizontal position. I
IDA International Door Association The dealer/installer trade association.
Inclined Track A horizontal track that follows the slope or slant of a building roof line.
Inside Lock Spring loaded, sliding deadbolt lock operated only from interior of the door. Insulation An extra layer affixed to the door steel which is a foil backed, dual layer of heavy-duty polyethylene air-bubble insulation secured in place with a strong adhesive and joined by mylar film to provide an R value of 4. J
Jackshaft Opener Electric operator which mounts on the wall or ceiling and directly drives torsion spring shaft.
Jamb Either of the two vertical pieces framing the doorway. Jamb Angle (Jamb Bracket) "L" shaped bracket used to fasten vertical tracks to doorjambs.
Jamb Seal Weather-stripping attached to doorjambs to help seal door along the jambs.
Joint Seal Weather-stripping attached to door section meeting edges to seal door between sections. K L
Lap Jamb Condition where door sections lap the door opening one inch on each jamb.
Lateral Force A force applied from or toward the side.
Lift Clearance The distance above the top of the door opening to the centerline of the horizontal track. This term is often confused with the term "headroom."
Lite Term for windows in sectional doors.
Low Headroom Hardware accessories to provide for door installation with minimum headroom conditions. Usually less than 16" headroom.
M
Metallurgist Report A report of document that describes the composition of a material.
Mill Certification A report or document from the producing mill that provides all pertinent data relative to the composition, structure, heat, etc. of a given material. Mounting Brackets Steel structures which attach to the guides. Engineered and designed with deep embossing for strength, and are independently tested to withstand more than 2,700 pounds per pair. Janus installation-friendly mounting brackets feature safe rounded edges and slots that allow for easy vertical adjustments as well as various installation preferences. Mounting Plates Used for steel mounting application.
Mullion A slender dividing bar fixed or removable between two doors. Usually designed to carry wind load and not vertical load.
N
Normal Headroom Hardware standard to provide for door installation with standard headroom conditions. Usually 16" to 24" of headroom. O
One Piece Door Also known as Shin-busters. A door that operates as one-piece, rather than a door made of mutliple sections.
Open Back Door Hollow door with no insulation or back.
Opening Area of the garage exterior where a garage door will hang for closure.
Opening Height Distance from garage floor to the top of an opening.
Opening Width Distance between left and right jambs of an opening.
Opener / Operator A device used to control the up and down motion of a door.
Outside Hook-Up Bottom fixture with an arm that bends around vertical track to receive lifting cables. Generally used with low headroom hardware. P
Panel The area between stiles in a door section. The "look" of a door is considered the "panel style." Pawl The small “latch” on the ratchet tensioner that lifts in order to change door tension; when closed it locks the selected tension in place.
Pass Door Entry person door which is built-in to a sectional door.
Perimeter Seal Complete weatherstripping package for sectional doors consisting of astragal, jamb seal and header seal. Plumb Leveling of vertical guides/jambs.
Pocket Wheel A wheel or drum machined in a way to receive the individual links of a chain. Used to transmit direct power.
Push Down Spring Bumper Spring-activated push rods mounted on horizontal tracks to force door down during closing portion of door cycle. Generally used with jackshaft type operator or manual chain hoist with standard lift. Push Up Operation Manual opening/closing of door. Q
R
Radial Force A force generated from the center of an object toward the outside. Ratchet Tensioning Device Simpler mechanism to adjust tension while more accurately fine tuning all the springs on the door at the same time. Reduced Drive Chain Hoist (RDCH) Modifies door operation from manual to reduced drive chain hoist operation-- requires 3-3/4" of additional side room in the header. Reverse Coil When door is mounted on the outside of the building and color of the curtain needs to be on the inside of the coil to be seen in the down position
Rollers Steel and nylon, usually with ball-bearing wheels that allow sections to roll freely along door tracks.
R-Value R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a garage door, or how well the garage door insulates. The higher the R-value, the increased thermal efficiency of a garage door. Be aware that manufacturer’s R-value calculations may vary. To compare R-value, make sure manufacturers follow the DASMA (Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association) guidelines by stating Calculated door section R-value is in accordance with DASMA TDS- 163. S
Sandwich Door Triple-Layer: Steel + Insulation + Steel Interior. Classica 3000 and Stratford 3000 (residential) and Models 2700, 1380, 1350, & 1000 (commercial).
Section Individual components of a garage door. Garage doors are made up of multiple sections to fill the appropriate height of a garage opening. 7' tall doors are typically comprised of 4 sections spanning the width of an opening. 7' tall doors in the Amarr Classica Collection are made with 3 sections to provide a more vertical, authentic carriage house door look.
Shaft Bearings A free rolling, cylindrical, ball bearing that is used to guide the torsion shaft, maintain alignment, and reduce friction.
Sheaves A pulley with a ball bearing built into it that is designed to handle a cable and used to control the movement of the cables employed in door counter balance system.
Side Bearing Plate (End Bearing Plate) A bracket that attaches to the horizontal supports and possibly the wall to provide a bearing surface for the torsion shaft near the ends. Side Draft Stop 2-1/4" black neoprene stripping with a return for affixing directly to the guides, this seal provides a barrier against the elements. Select a length greater than or equal to your door height. The price covers two strips for your door height, one per side.
Sideroom Distance from each doorjamb to the nearest obstruction.
Single Car (SC) Door section width < 10'
Spring Assembly Hardware used to make up door counter-balance assembly.
Spring Bumper Small spring-cushioned bumper attached to horizontal track to stop door at full open position.
Spring Pad (Center Bearing Plate) Plate or bracket which is located on the wall above door opening to receive torsion spring assembly support brackets.
Spring Fittings The sleeves or cones that are used to adapt the torsion springs to the torsion shaft. Torsion springs usually have two fittings or cones. One is a stationary sleeve or spring retainer, while the second piece is an adjusting cone or winding sleeve.
Spring Tension Adjusting the tension to make sure the door opens easily; not too loosely or with too much force. Stationary Sleeves (Spring Retainers) Part that fits into the end of a torsion spring permitting the spring to be anchored to the spring anchor plate.
Steel Gauge Steel gauge is the thickness of the steel material used in garage doors. The lower the steel gauge number the thicker the steel. Real steel gauge is the true thickness of the steel material. Nominal steel gauge is the average thickness of the steel material used in production due to a plus/minus tolerance level. Real steel gauge is the minimum gauge of steel material used in production.
Stiles Vertical members of a door section which provide structural rigidity and a location for hinge attachment. Generic term.
Strut Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a door, as well as reduce deflection of a door section in the horizontal position.
Super Durable Polyester Paint Long lasting paint system used only by Janus International which has greater strength and durability. Backed by a 40 year film integrity and 25 year no-fade limited paint warranty. Swing-Up Post An extruded aluminum post which substitutes for doorjambs in multiple door installations where a clear span is required. Operated by a hand winch or electric operator, it swings up parallel to header.
T
Tapered Vertical Track Refers to the graduated spacing of the vertical track away from the jamb permitting weather-tight closing of door against jamb. Tensioner – see Ratchet Tensioning Device Top Draft Stop 2-1/4" black neoprene stripping with a return for affixing directly to the door curtain where it meets the top of the opening, this seal provides a barrier against the elements. Select a length greater than or equal to your door width. Top Fixture Adjustable brackets, which usually carry track rollers, mounted on the top corners of the top section of the sectional door.
Torsion Shaft The shaft of a torsion spring assembly, which transmits lifting power of the torsion springs to cable drums and lifting cables.
Torsion Springs Counterbalance springs which provide balancing power by winding and unwinding through door cycle.
Track Channel shaped metal bars that guide rollers on sectional garage doors.
Trajectory The arc of travel or sweep of the top section as the door is raised from closed to open position.
Trolley Operator Electric operator, which mounts above the door in the horizontal position and lifts door by pulling, and pushing the top section. Specifically designed for normal headroom and low headroom doors.
Truss (Struts) Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a door as well as reduce deflection of the door sections in the horizontal position. U
Upper Vertical Track Horizontal track assembly on a vertical lift door.
V
Vertical Lift Refers to a hardware design that causes doors to open vertically, no horizontal tracks required. This hardware is normally operated with spring counterbalance, but also possible with weight counterbalance.
Vertical Track Track assembly mounted to door opening jambs to guide and support a sectional door in the "closed" or "vertical" position. Vision Panels A small 5”x17” window which provide outside visibility and allows light entry into a roll up door. Constructed of a translucent polycarbonate panel inside a glossy white 20 gauge frame, the panels create no interference with the operation of the door. The location and number of vision panels are limited by door size. W Wind Load The amount of force (in PSF) exerted by the wind along the face of the door as it stands in the opening.
Winding Sleeve (Adjusting Cone) Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and tension adjustment. X Y
Z
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