Glossary of Terms



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 Active Door
(in a pair of doors)
The leaf that opens first and the one to which the lock is applied.

Astragals
A member or combination of members applied to one or both doors of a pair at their meeting edges (meeting stiles). The astragal closes the clearance gap for the purpose of either providing a weather seal, minimising the passage of light between the doors, or retarding the passage of smoke or flame during a fire. Also known as "Meeting Stile Seals", Astragal is a term used for the seal that seals the central join of two swinging doors.

Backset (of a lock)
A term used in referring to the horizontal distance from the face of the lock to the centreline of the cylinder, keyhole or knob hub.

Broad Butt Hinge
A wider version of the butt hinge.

Butt Hinge (or Butt)
A hinge morticed into both the door and frame.

Centre Pivot
A special type of hanging device for heavy-duty doors that usually swing both ways (double acting).

Door Closer
A device attached to the top of the door, either on the surface (or Door Check) or morticed to regulate and control the operation of the door.

Door Stop
A device to limit the opening swing of a door. Also, that part of a door frame against which the door closes.

Double-Acting Door
A door equipped with hardware that permits it to swing to either side of the plane of the frame.
 Escutcheon (Plate)
An elongated plate, either protective or ornamental.

Hinge Jamb
Vertical member of a door frame to which the hinges are applied.

Hinge Stile (of the door)
The door stile to which the hinges are attached.

Jamb
The vertical member forming the side of a door, window or wall opening frame. The hinge jamb is the jamb to which the hinges and pivots are installed. The strike jamb is the jamb in which a strike may be installed and away from which the door or window swings. A blank jamb is one that has not been prepared to receive hardware.

Labelled Door (or Frame)
A door or frame that conforms to all the applicable requirements, in respect to fire resistance, of nationally recognised testing authority, and bears a label designating that fire rating. Also known as Fire Rated Doors.

Latchbolt
A lock component having a bevelled end that projects from the lock front, but may be forced back into the lock case by end pressure or drawn back by action of the lock mechanism. When the door is closed, the latchbolt projects into a hole provided in the strike, holding the door in a closed position.

Leaf (of a pair of doors)
One of the two doors forming a pair or a double door.

Lock stile (of a door)
The vertical member of a door to which the lock mechanism is applied, as distinguished from the hinge stile.

 Meeting stile
The vertical edge of a door or window, in a pair, which is adjacent to the other door or window.

Mortice
An opening, recess or cutout made to receive a lock or other hardware. Also the act of making such an opening.

Rebate
A term used to define that portion of the door frame into which the door fits. Also a term used to describe the abutting edges of a pair of doors or windows so shaped as to provide a tight fit. One half of the edge projects beyond the other half, usually by 13mm.

Sequence Closer
A door closer that automatically closes a pair of fire rated doors in sequence, so as to ensure correct latching.

Sill
The stone or wood member across the bottom of the door or window opening. Also the bottom member on which a building frame rests (sill plate).

Stile
The vertical members of a door to the lock and hinges are applied.

Threshold Plate
A strip fastened to the floor beneath a door. May be required to cover the joint of two types of floor materials where they meet.

Weather Strip
Narrow strips made of metal, or other material, designed so that when installed at doors or windows, it will retard the passage of air, moisture or dust around the door or window sash.