The big window and door glossary. Part 1: A to E
From B for accessibility to E for mortise lock: our glossary explains everything you need to know about doors and windows, including handles and other accessories. We make technical terms easy to understand.
Barrier-free
Accessibility means designing a physical or digital environment so that it is inclusive and can also be used and perceived by people with impairments without additional assistance.
The term "barrier-free" is increasingly replacing the term "handicapped accessible" in German. The goal of accessibility is accessibility and usability for all people regardless of physical and mental impairments, but also age, level of education and knowledge, economic and social possibilities.
For example, in a barrier-free room design, all door thresholds are designed in such a way that they can also be easily passed by wheelchair users. Another example is subtitles for video films so that people with hearing impairments can still consume this media content.
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Bauhaus style
Bauhaus style refers to styles that originated from the idea of the Bauhaus. Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius believed that an object should be simple, beautiful, functional and accessible to all at the same time. Gropius was an architect and founded the Bauhaus design with this core idea.
Today, the Bauhaus style is described as the combination of art and craft. Characteristics such as sober, clear, minimalist, reduced or no-frills are often mentioned in connection with the Bauhaus style. It is based on simple, symmetrical forms in combination with unusual materials and artistic craftsmanship. Bauhaus architecture primarily uses building materials such as steel, glass and concrete.
You can find out more about the Bauhaus style in our article "Living in the Bauhaus style".
Cover (window handle)
The part of the window handle that covers or conceals the screws is called the cover. To refit or replace a window handle, the cover must be turned. Fascias can also be glued.
You can find more information on replacing window handles on our "Window handles" page.
Buntbart lock
A bunt-bit lock is a very simple door lock, usually found in room doors. Buntbart locks can be opened quite easily with a bent wire even without a suitable key, which is why they are not particularly secure and should not be used in exterior doors.
The key of a bunt-bit lock consists of a round shank and a key bit, the shape of which often corresponds to the letters C, S, Z or t.
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Decor
Decoration refers to patterns or ornaments, mostly on porcelain or glassware. Decors can be coloured or without colour (e.g. engraved).
For glass doors and sliding doors in particular, a variety of decors are available, e.g. by means of laser engraving, screen printing or digital printing. In addition to printing methods, decorative foils are also used for door surfaces. They are particularly inexpensive and suitable for almost all materials. However, you have to make concessions in terms of durability.
Digital printing process
Digital printing is a series of printing processes in which the printed image is transferred directly from a file or data stream on a computer to a printing press. This means that no static printing form is used, as is the case with screen printing, for example.
Known digital printing processes are laser printing, inkjet printing or electrophotography.
The digital printing process is mainly used for small print runs and personalised print images because it is cheaper than comparable printing processes. This includes, for example, the individual printing of a glass door.
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Handle set
The handle set is the part of the door on which doors can be opened and closed manually on both sides. A handle set is also called a door fitting. Other terms are door handle or door knob, but these are only part of a handle set.
The handle set consists of a door handle, pin part and lock part, a pair of rosettes or door plates. For exterior doors, other components may be added, such as glass elements or lighting. Handle sets are flush or surface mounted.
Special protective fittings can be fitted for a particularly high level of security.
You can find out more about lever handle sets in our "All about lever handle sets" guide.
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Push button (window handle)
A push-button window handle is a security mechanism to protect a window from unauthorised opening. A window handle with push-button works like an ordinary window handle. In addition, it is equipped with a locking button. This restricts or blocks the movement of the fitting. When the push-button is pressed, the locking button opens and releases the hardware: the window can be opened.
Window handles with a push-button make the window more secure: for example, children cannot open the window unsupervised.
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Stainless steel
According to DIN EN 10020, stainless steel is defined as alloyed or unalloyed steels that have a special degree of purity. These are, for example, steels whose sulphur and phosphorus content does not exceed 0.025%.
In colloquial language, only stainless steels are usually referred to as stainless steel. This is not chemically correct. A stainless steel does not necessarily have to meet the requirements of a stainless steel. On the other hand, not every stainless steel is necessarily a stainless steel.
You can find out more about stainless steel in our blog post "All about stainless steel".
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Burglary protection
Burglary protection refers to measures that are intended to prevent unauthorised entry into certain areas. For example, a lockable flat or house entrance door already counts as a burglary protection measure. Good burglary protection is achieved by a combination of different measures, e.g. a coordinated security technology (mechanical and/or electronic) and the correct behaviour of the residents. The right protective fittings on windows or doors can already be an important step towards security.
Read more about how you can protect yourself from burglars and which Griffwerk products support you in doing so in our blog post: "Burglary protection - Burglar-resistant windows and doors".
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Mortise lock
A mortise lock is a door lock with latch and deadbolt that is installed in butt, rebate or tubular frame doors. Mortise locks can have different locks: Buntbart, tumbler or cylinder lock mechanism. They are locked by a bathroom bolt.
Compared to box locks, which are fitted to the inside of the door, mortise locks are not visible when the door is closed. This means they cannot be manipulated from the inside. For a mortise lock, a recess must be made in the door leaf, the so-called lock pocket.
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