Fabricator A fabricator is the person or firm that assembles all the component parts into a complete window, door or sash unit.
	Factory-mulled This refers to two or more window units that have been attached together at a manufacturing plant.
	Fading (TDV and TUV) TDV is a damage-weighted measure of fading potential, which includes damaging energy that TUV ignores (TUV measures only UV transmittance, meaning TUV= 0, doesn’t indicate zero fading).
	Fenestration The placement (or arrangement) and design of the windows and exterior doors of a building. In Greek architecture, windows began as simple openings in temples. These openings began to contain glass in the 13th century, when clear glass was available for buildings such as Westminster Abbey. Another important shift in fenestration occurred in the 20th century when large windows became important components in commercial buildings.
	Fiberboard A broad term used to describe wood sheet material of widely varying densities manufactured of refined or partly refined wood fibers.
	Filler A trim piece used to provide a weatherstrip seal for the operating sash or panel on a horizontal sliding window or door.
	Finger-jointed This assembly technical involves joining components that have finger-like projections on their ends that fit together.
	Finish The final, protective treatment of a surface (paint, stain, etc.).
	Fir This wood species is dimensionally stable with a uniform color, grain pattern and texture. It features a straight, vertical grain and a light rosy shade that will appear more red over time when exposed to light. Fir offers exceptional stain and finish consistency.
	Fire-Rated Door A door that is noncombustible in the average structure fire for a minimum period of time. A fire-rated door takes a certain number of minutes to burn; usually 20, 60 or 90 minutes.
	Fixed Refers to a window or door that is non-venting or inoperable.
	Fixed sash See stationary sash or panel.
	Flange dimension For a flanged frame window, this is the overall tip-to-tip measurement.
	Flange frame This type of window frame has a head, jamb, and sill with an exterior perimeter leg that's longer than the interior perimeter leg.
	Flanker unit A flanker unit is an outside window or door that is nonventing or inoperable.
	Flashing Sheet material used in an overlapping manner to provide protection against water leakage.
	Flat Door Panel A door panel consisting of a flat piece of plywood, solid wood or other material in contrast to a raised door panel.
	Flitch A flitch is a thin piece of wood, used often as a veneer.
	Float glass This quality glass made by a process where a ribbon of molten glass is fed across a bath of heated liquid, usually molten tin.
	Flush bolt A flush bolt is a mechanical fastening device found at the bottom and top of the T-astragal of a French, garden or swing door with active and inactive panels. Used to hold the inactive door of the French door unit closed.
	Flush Door A door consisting of a core, cross-banding and flat-face veneers, or a door consisting of a core and flat-face veneers only.
	Flush fin This type of window has a face flange (trim only) and is used in window replacements, primarily for stucco or aluminum window replacement applications.
	Fluted dowel panel construction This refers to door or patio door panel assembly that includes dowels with vertical grooves.
	Fogging Fogging is a deposit or film left on an interior surface of a sealed insulating glass unit. It occurs due to extreme conditions or failed seals.
	Folding crank handle This type of hardware is used to operate casement windows; the handle folds away when not in use.
	Folding nailing flange A folding nailing flange is a nailing fin where the nailing flange lies flat against the product during shipping and is locked into place prior installation of the window/door into the wall opening.
	Foot bolt A foot bolt, located on the passive panel of a French door, is designed to secure the panel into the sill of the frame.
	Fountain glass This decorative glass type includes portions of textured Gotta glass arranged like a fountain spray.
	Frame The assembly of structural members (head, sill, jambs) used to fasten a window sash or a door panel to a structure.
	Frame expander A frame expander is a component uses to adapt a standard size window to a nonstandard size opening.
	French Casement Window A window unit comprised of a single frame in which two sash (hinged at the side jambs) may be opened outward from the center of the frame. This creates an unobstructed opening which spans nearly the complete width of the frame.
	French Door A style of door in which two panels open to provide a clear opening which is approximately twice as wide as one panel. In the 19th century, glass was being added to door construction, mainly in French and German homes, on internal doors leading to rooms containing more natural light, such as conservatories, glass houses and vestibules.
	French screen This is a bypass screen set for French door unit (note: two screens equal one set).
	Friction weld Friction weld is a process that uses high-speed vibrations to join materials together.
	Full round A type or radius and geometric shape, it’s available for vinyl and aluminum windows.
	Full screen This type of screen fills the entire window opening of a double-hung window.
	Full size Full size refers to a patio doors sized to fit new construction applications.
	Full-surround wood grilles These framed grilles are attached to the interior side of a window or patio door. They are often removable.
	Fully sheathed wall installation This type of installation includes wall framing that’s covered by sheathing and a window mounted with the nailing fin flush against the sheathing.
	Fungal Infestation A natural life form causing organic decomposition of wood; it depends on moisture to grow.
	Fusion welding A process of joining vinyl window or door frames or sashes, fusion welding entails the heating of each piece and then joining them until bonded together. This reduces air and water infiltration.
	Fusion-welded corners This technique involves mitering the frame and sash corners of a vinyl window or patio door for reduced air and water infiltration.
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