Design Your Door
Where To Buy/ServiceGlossary of Common Garage Door Terms
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
Weatherstripping added to bottom section of the garage door to seal the opening along the floor.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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)
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
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 astragal, 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.
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 rollers that allow sections to roll freely along garage door tracks.
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)
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."
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 generating 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.
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)
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.
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