Glossary of Terms - North Shore Commercial Door

Glossary

Automatic Latch: Automatically locks door.
Automatic Opening Device: Opens door quickly without electric operator, see our listings here.
Back Hang: Iron hanger holds tracks to ceiling.
Back Jamb: Interior wood surrounding door.
Backroom: Distance from header above door to first blockage of headroom.
Ball Bearing:  Used to reduce friction, position moving machine parts, and carry loads to reduce the surface contact and friction across moving elements, see our listings here.
Bar Joist: Lightweight truss that can hold roof decks.
Bead: Strip to hold glass in window or garage door frame.
Black: Used for determining garage door spring wind direction. Usually signifies right side, left wound.
Blind Rivet: Tubular fasteners that contain a mandrel through the center. Used to hold two surfaces to each other.
Booster Spring: Extra spring to ensure proper counterbalance.
Bottom Corner Bracket: Keeps boards secured and even in a square or rectangle. Also for lifting cables.
Bottom Rail: Door's lowest rail.
Bottom Weatherseal: Weatherstrip between door and floor, see our listings here.
Bow: Crooked or bent door.
Bracket Mounted: Vertical track mounted to jamb with angle brackets, see our listings here.
Broken Cable Device: Safety part in case of cable breakage.
Bushing: A metal lining used on machinery with sliding or rotating shafts to improve efficiency and control friction.
Cable Clamp: Device that holds cables together during installation.
Cable Drum: Drum on torsion spring shaft that holds different types of cables, see our listings here, see our listings here.
Cable Drum Set Screws: Screws that hold drum to the shaft or tube.
Cable Length: Total cable needed.
Cable Safety Device: Safety feature in case of cable breakage.
Cable Stop: A swaged fitting to stop slipping .
Cam: Rod that rotates and slides against machinery to turn rotary movement into linear movement. See our listings here, see our listings here.
Cam Tube: Provides axial force.
Carry-Away Post: Removable center post.
Ceiling: Garage's interior top.
Center Bearing Bracket: Holds torsion shaft and spring assembly and anchors stationary cone to header, see our listings here.
Center Bearing Plate: Holds counterbalancing mechanism to torsion shaft and torsion springs to header, see our listings here.
Center Bushing: Helps center bracket support a torsion tube.
Center Hinge: Lets sections pivot when opening door and can serve as edge hinge between sections, see our listings here.
Center Lift Cable: Gives more lift for very big doors.
Center Post: Area between two doors or extra strength against wind.
Center Stile: Adds structural integrity and attaches to center hinge.
Center Track: Extra track helps stop doors from sagging.
Chain Hoist: A sprocket or pocket wheel that connects to torsion spring to ease opening and closing door, see our listings here.
Chain Hoist Operator: Jackshaft-type operator attaches to chain hoist, see our listings here.
Channel Frame: Steel flanges that follow the jambs.
Chill: A square shaft joining exterior and interior latches.
Clearance: Area available for proper installation.
Clevis Pin: Steel pin used with a cotter pin to hold cables, arms and brackets together, see our listings here.
Commercial: Overhead door designed for heavy commercial use.
Containment Cable: Safety cable in case of spring breakage, see our listing here.
Contour Track: Follows the layout of ceiling.
Corner Burn: Fire emergency test where fire starts next to garage door.
Cotter Pin: Commonly used to lock castle and slotted nuts, also secures clevis pins, wheels and machine components on an axle. Holds by flaring through a hole. See our listings here, see our listings here.
Counterbalance: Equalizes balance with a comparable force, see our listings here.
Counterbalance System: Decreases effort to operate doors.
Counterweight: Weights used to counterbalance door weight, see our listings here.
Coupler: Connects counterbalance shafts, see our listings here.
C-Value: Measure of how heat flows through insulation.
Cycle: One opening and closing of a door.
Cylinder: Lock mechanism, see our listings here.
Daylight Opening: Measurement between jambs, floor and header.
DC: Double-car door opening.
Dead Coils: Coils inactivated by spring plugs that do not affect spring load or spring rate. Often close wound coils added to increase height, assemble a spring attachment, or decrease tangling.
Dead in the Head: Door doesn't stay fully open due to lack of counterbalance.
Dead Load: Nonmoving load.
Decal: Basic data attached to door, see our listings here.
Design Wind Load: A garage door's capacity based on wind, location and height.
Disconnect Chain: Emergency feature for manual operation when power fails, see our listings here.
Door Casing: Frame trim surrounding door opening. Conceals unattractive construction gaps between frame and drywall.
Door Check: Ensures that pass door or wicket closes.
Door Closer: A mechanism that uses a spring to close the door quietly, see our listings here.
Door Frame: Enclosure for the door.
Door Header: Top of door frame.
Door Jamb: Sides of door frame.
Door Schedule: Overview of sizes and placements for doors.
Door Section: One piece of a sectional door.
Door Size: Door measurements.
D Shaft: A torsion shaft that limits spin of attachments.
Double Door: Two or more vehicle openings.
Double End Stile: Two neighboring stiles on both sides of section.
Double Glazing: Twice the glazing for better insulation and noise reduction.
Double Shaft: Double torsion spring shaft for more space with counterbalance spring lengths.
Double-Strength Glass: Extra-strength glass typically 1/8" in thickness.
Double Top Roller Fixture: Uses two top brackets to accommodate a longer roller shaft.
Double Track Low Headroom: An extra set of horizontal tracks used for applications with scant headroom.
Dowel: Wood cylinder for joining wooden pieces together.
Drawbar Operator: Lifts door electrically for doors with normal or low headroom, see our listings here.
Drip Cap: Designed to draw water away from door and building.
Drip Lap: Designed to protect steel doors from weather.
Driveway Post: Allows easy automatic operation of door via key switch.
DSB:  Glass that is double-strength grade B.
Duplex Spring: A pair of different-sized torsion springs. A smaller spring is placed inside the larger spring, with both working together.
Eased Edge: A contoured meeting rail edge.
Eave Height: Measurement of height from ground to roof eave.
Edge Grain: Quartersawn lumber.
Electric Operator: Electrically opens and closes door, see our listings here.
Electrical Interlock: Device to stop door operation.
Embossed Door Section: Decorative raised design.
Embossed Panel: Panel with a raised design.
Embossed Rosette: Raised ornamental design of wood or metal.
End Bearing Plate: Helps radial movement of a torsion shaft at each end of torsion spring counterbalance, see our listings here.
End Stile: Stile located at end of door section attached to graduated edge hinges.
End Stile Sealing Strip: For sealing sections at end stiles of steel or fiberglass doors.
Escutcheon: A flat piece of metal that surrounds and protects the exterior of a lock mechanism, including keyholes, door handles, and light switches. See our listings here. see our listings here.
Exhaust Port: Takes hose to safely remove vehicle exhaust, see our listings here.
Extension Spring: Stretches or pulls to increase tension or power, see our listings here.
Exterior Lock: Outside keyed lock, see our listings here.
Extrusion: Process for forming metal and plastic parts.
False Louver Molding: Looks like a slatted panel.
Faux Divided Lite: Mullions divide glass and light.
Ferrule: Caps a cable's end.
Finger Joint: Joins two pieces of wood.
Flame Spread Index: Measurement of how quickly a flame will spread horizontally.
Flush Door: Even-surfaced door with wood veneer, MDF, or laminated outer layer attached with adhesive. Offers fewer customization options compared to stile, rail, or panel doors.
Front Mounted Low Headroom: For low-headroom mounting.
Front-Mounted Spring: A header-mounted spring for counterbalance.
Full-View Section: Glazed with glass or see-through plastic.
Galvanizing: Process of applying a protective zinc coating to iron or steel to protect metal against rust.
Gauge: System standardizing weight per square foot.
Glazed: Covered with glass or see-through plastic.
Glazing Strip: Protects window and frame from elements.
Graduated Edge Hinge: Lets door sections pivot during opening and closing.
Grease Packet: Small amount of grease for lubrication, see our listings here.
Grille: Window insert that gives divided lighting effect.
Gusset: Metal reinforcement for corners.
Gusset Plate: Reinforces track and spring assembly.
Hang Down: The part of door hanging down while open.
H-Column Jamb: Separates pair of door openings for H-columns.
Headplate: Supports lifting drum.
Headroom: Clearance between door and ceiling and obstructions.
Heliarc Weld: A versatile, durable style of weld. Often used to describe the TIG welding process.
High-Cycle Spring: Long-life spring for heavy use.
High Lift: Measurement between header and horizontal track's bottom for high-lift track.
High-Lift Drum: Drum made for high-lift door, see our listings here.
High-Lift Track: Makes door open higher before retracting horizontally.
High-Moment Arm: Cable-drum's radius.
Hinge: Attaches door sections while letting them pivot, see our listings here.
Hinge Support Plate: Reinforces the hinge mount.
Hinge Tube: Attaches a pair of hinge leaves to each other.
Hoist Electric Operator: Includes a chain hoist for power outages.
Horizontal Radius: Moves from vertical to horizontal track.
Horizontal Rise: Horizontal track's rising slope starts the door down.
Horizontal Track: Moves door horizontally.
Horizontal Track Angle: Reinforces horizontal track.
Horizontal Track Assembly: Track and reinforcement angle move and hold door horizontally.
Hot off the Floor: Unwanted rising of door from floor.
Inch-Pounds: Torque measurement.
Inclined Track: Smooth-moving vertical track that protects against weather and friction.
Inside Hook Up: Counterbalance cable inside track.
Inside Hook Up Bottom Bracket: Cable routed via bottom corner bracket.
Inside Lock: Lock operated via door interior.
Installation: Installing door.
Installer: Person who installs door.
Insulated Door: Doors with insulation.
Insulating Glass: Glass with insulating air spaces between panes.
Insulation:  A material that resists outside temperatures to maintain the desired temperature in a home or facility year-round.
IPPT: Inch-pounds per turn denotes a spring's torque rate.
ISLO: Inside looking out.
Jackshaft-Type Operator: Wall- or ceiling-mounted device turns torsion shaft, see our listings here.
Jamb Bracket: Joins vertical track and door jamb, see our listings here.
Jamb Extension: Used to hold door track and spring assemblies above opening height.
Joint, Shiplap: Raised part of a section joint used between door sections for a weatherproof seal.
Joint, Tongue-and-Groove: A locking joint for weatherproofing connections between door sections.
Key: In mechanical engineering, the key is a machine element that connects a rotating part to a shaft and keeps parts from rotating.
Key Switch Control: Alternative to push button or transmitter to start door operator, see our listings here.
Key Way: Groove used with key to stop rotation of parts on shaft.
Keyed-Alike: Locks that the same key can open.
Keyed Shaft: Contains an integrated key way.
K-Value: A material's thermal conductance.
Lag Screw: Coarse-threaded wood screw, see our listings here.
Lap Jamb:  Door sections overlap both jambs by one inch.
Lateral Force: Total net force acting on an object in the lateral direction from the side. Often used with horizontal direction.
Lift Handle: Manual door opener, see our listings here.
Lintel: Structural support over opening.
Lock: Keeps door securely shut, see our listings here.
Lock Bar with Cremone: Locks door with rotation.
Long-Stem Roller: 7-inch-plus roller, see our listings here.
Louver: Ventilates via slats or screen.
Low-Lift Hardware: Parts for using a door system with limited headroom.
Low Moment Arm: Measurement of the shortest distance from shaft axis to cable center.
LSLO: Left side looking out.
Lubricant: For lubricating, see our listings here.
Lubricate: To decrease friction.
Maintenance: Maintaining a system in good running condition.
Master Keying: Opening multiple locks with one key.
Meeting Rail: Top or bottom horizontal rail forming a seal.
Metallurgist Report: Describes components of a metal.
Mill Certification: Technical description of a metal by its maker.
MIP: Maximum Inch-pounds.
Modular Coordination: Coordinated dimensions of building components.
Mounting Plate: Steel or wood plate for mounting.
Movable Post: Transportable post for use of multiple doors in one opening, see our listings here.
Mullion, Garage Door: Vertical door reinforcement that separates two panels in the middle of the door between the rails.
Mullion, Window: Vertical bars that divide the panes in a window.
Muntin: Strip that separates window panes in sash.
Munton, Window: Makes a faux divided light.
Neoprene: Synthetic rubber that is generally stronger and harder than natural rubber as well as more resistant to water, oils, and solvents.
Nicopress Sleeve: Cable sleeve made of aluminum or copper.
Numbered Panel: Left-to-right numbered space between stiles.
Opening Height: Height from ground to header bottom.
Opening Width: Width of door opening.
Operator: Device that moves door up or down, also known as an opener,see our listings here.
Outside Hook Up: Connects counterbalance cable on tracks' outside.
Outside Hook-Up Bottom Bracket: Cable on outside tracks goes via bottom corner bracket.
Overlay: Ornamental wood or metal for exterior door sections, see our listings here.
Pan Door: Door made with sheet-metal sections.
Panel: Raised design on sections.
Pass Door: Swinging door built into sectional door for foot traffic.
Pedestrian Door: Door for foot traffic next to garage door.
Perforated Angle: Metal part hangs garage doors and operators from punched holes.
Perimeter Seal: Weatherstripping around door, see our listings here.
Pinch Resistant: Designed to avoid catching and hurting fingers.
Pocket Wheel: Chain-link drum or wheel that transmits power, see our listings here.
Polyurethane: Foam insulation used in doors, see our listings here.
Pounds Pull: Measurement of drum force.
Power Unit: Torsion spring assembly.
Prefinished: Comes painted.
Prime: Paint undercoat.
Prime-Painted: Primed with primer for final finish painting.
Pull-Down Rope: To pull door down by hand, see our listings here.
Pulley: Pulls cable, chain or rope, see our listings here.
Purlin: Roof beams that are often used in industrial buildings that support the mid-span of rafters. Pusher Bumper: Also known as a Leaf spring. Used to keep downward pressure on a door.
Push-Down Spring: Push rods that make door start closing.
Pusher Bumper: Leaf spring.
Push Nut: Metal fastener that pushes on to a shaft, see our listings here.
Quarter Round: Molding cut as quarter of a cylinder.
Quarter Turn: Turn measurement for torsion spring winding tension.
Radial Force: Force emanating from the middle outward.
Rail: Horizontal piece of section, see our listings here.
Rain Stop: Part to keep water from running under door.
Rate of Rise: Measures drum's movement arm revolution rate.
Rear Mount: Counterbalance system connected to horizontal tracks' rear, see our listings here.
Red: Used for determining garage door spring wind direction. Means left side, right wound.
Removable Center Post: Movable post that serves as a jamb in large openings to accommodate many doors rather than one.
Removable Jamb Wall: Wall allows use of multiple doors in one opening.
Residential: Overhead door for residential use, see our listings here.
Reverse Angle Mount: Permits use of doors in garages with low headroom or side room.
Roller Bracket: Holds track roller.
RSLO: Right side looking out.
R-Value: Measurement of thermal resistance.
Sash: Window or door framework for glass.
Sash Muntin: Bar for glass in sash with multiple lights.
SC: Single-car door.
Scarf Joint: Joining wood with glue and dowels.
Scribing: Cutting the door's bottom to fit the floor.
Section: Part of garage door.
Section Joint Meeting Rail Seal: Weatherproofing between sections.
Sectional-Type Door: Door made with multiple hinged sections.
SG: Single glazed.
Shaft Bearing: Keeps torsion shaft in alignment and decreases friction, see our listings here.
Sheave: Pulley designed for counterbalance system, see our listings here.
Sheave Fork: Attaches sheave to extension springs.
Shiplap Section Joint: Interface for joint sections.
S-Hook: Used to attach door hardware.
Shop Drawings: Manufacturers' or suppliers' illustrations to ensure correct execution of architectural plans.
Sideroom: Distances from sides of door opening to nearest horizontal obstructions.
Single Door: One-vehicle opening.
Single Thick Glass: Glass for sashes.
Slant: Roof angle.
Solar Glass: Tinted glass.
Solid Rail: A jointless rail.
Special Door: Custom door.
Specifications: Listing of quality and materials for system.
Splice Plate: Attaches tracks, see our listings here.
Spring Assembly Closed Wound: Gapless coiled tension spring.
Spring Assembly Open Wound: Gapped coiled torsion spring.
Spring Balance: Number of turns required as counterbalance to door.
Spring Bumper: Slows upward movement of door to prevent shocks and rope breakage.
Spring Constant: Formula to find number of active coils necessary per spring.
Spring Fitting: Adapts torsion springs to torsion shaft or center bearing bracket.
Spring Pad: Anchors center bearing bracket from header.
Stationary Cone: Connects torsion spring to center bearing bracket.
Steel Jamb: Iron door frame.
Steel Jamb Mounted: Track system for steel jamb.
Steel Pin: Helps secure door rails and dowels, see our listings here.
Step-Down Plate: Closes door final inches.
Step/Lift Plate: Step-down plate that doubles as manual door handle, see our listings here.
Stile: Reinforces a part of a section.
Stock Door: Door for standard-sized opening.
Stop Mold: Goes around door for protection from elements and sunlight, see our listings here.
Stress: Measurement of a spring's work load.
Striker Plate: Part of locking system, see our listings here.
Strut: Reinforces door for structural support and against wind.
Swing-Away Post: Swiveling center post that can be swung aside.
T Handle: T-shaped handle, see our listings here.
TC: Two-car opening.
Template: Plan for shape or drilling; also, a short header for beam support.
Test Wind Load: Measurement of wind resistance.
Thermal Break: Space between outside and inside parts of door section.
Tog-L-Loc: Mechanical means of attaching steel parts.
Tongue and Groove Section Joint: Joint for joining adjacent door sections.
Tongue and Groove Board: Wood that look like wainscoting.
Top Fixture: Attaches top guide roller to door's top section, see our listings here.
Top Rail: Horizontal rail at top of door.
Top Seal: Weatherstripping that seals opening along door top, see our listings here.
Torque: Measurement of force caused by rotation.
Torsion: Force turning one end while the other end remains still.
Torsion Bar: Long bar made of metal that moves torque from spring to winding plug, see our listings here.
Torsion Shaft: Moves torque from springs to load, see our listings here.
Torsion Spring: Turns one end while the other remains stationary or is turned the other way, see our listings here.
Torsion Spring Assembly: Parts for counterbalance assembly.
Track: Channel along which doors run via rollers.
Track Bracket: Holds track to jamb.
Track Clip: Attaches track to wall angle.
Track Graduation: Measurement of differential distance from track to door jamb.
Track Guard: Protects vertical track back, see our listings here.
Track Roller: Guides door on track, see our listings here.
Trajectory: Movement of top section as door opens.
Translucent Door: Allows some light to pass but isn't see-through.
Transom Bar: Horizontal piece above window or door.
Transom Section: Spare section on top of opening giving more lift for trolley-type operator.
Trim: Finishing parts, including handles and locks.
Triplex Spring: A group of three springs inside each other.
True Divided Lite: Multiple windows separated by mullions to make one bigger window.
Tubular Shaft: Empty shaft
Turn: One full revolution.
Twist: Type of warp due to twisting rail edges.
Urethane (Finish): Clear coat to protect and beautify wood.
U-Value: Measurement of heat transfer through door.
Upper Vertical Track: Upper track assembly.
Varnish: Clear coat good for interior wood.
Vent: Opening allows air exchange, see our listings here.
Vertical Lift: Design requiring no horizontal tracks for opening doors vertically, see our listings here.
Vertical Lift Drum: Cable drum with grooves to handle spring tension, see our listings here.
Vertical Post: Reinforces against strong wind.
Vertical Track: Up-and-down track next to jamb, see our listings here.
Vertical Track Assembly: Vertical track and brackets held to jamb.
Vision Lite: Door-mounted glazing.
Warning Tag: Safety advisory.
Water Seal: To prevent moisture damage.
Weatherstrip: Material to insulate and protect against elements, see our listings here.
Wedge Connection: Holds vertical and horizontal track sections where they meet.
West Coast Lumber: Wood from the U.S. Pacific Coastoften used for garage doors.
Winding Cone: Piece in torsion spring for winding and adjusting tension.
Winding Plug Set Screw: Locks winding plug to torsion shaft.
Winding Rod: Tensions torsion springs via winding plug's socket.
Winds on Spring: Total turns on torsion spring, see our listings here.
Wire Glass: Glass reinforced against heat and breakage, see our listings here.
Wire Size: A wire's diameter.
Wood Grain: Wood pattern and orientation.
Wood Jamb: Perpendicular wooden pieces on an opening's sides.
Wood Jamb Mounted: Vertical track mounted on wood jambs.
Woodruff Key: A semicircular key, see our listings here.