Glossary

A

Acoustic Seal

Any seal designed to reduce airborne sound transmission.

ADE: Approved Document E

Approved Document E to the Building Regulations (England) - Resistance to the passage of sound.

ADM: Approved Document M

Approved Document M to the Building Regulations (England) - Access to and use of buildings.

Air Velocity

Is the speed of passage of air and is usually measured in metres per second or in imperial terms in feet per second.

Airborne sound

Sound waves carried through air rather than a solid medium.

Ageing resistance

The ability to withstand degradation in service, tested through exposure to a particular environment.

Ambient temperature (smoke)

Smoke encountered some distance from the origin of a fire, and which has cooled but remains toxic.

Anodised

A hard, highly durable, electrolytic finish applied to aluminium extrusions, which greatly enhances the appearance at the same time. It is naturally clear, giving a silver effect, but coloured tints such as bronze, gold or gunmetal may be incorporated, generally at extra cost.

Astragal

A face-fixed vertical cover strip designed to conceal the gap that would otherwise exist between the meeting stiles of single-acting, non-rebated, double leaf doors.

Automatic door bottom

A threshold seal that automatically retracts from the floor surface as soon as the door leaf is opened by a few millimetres, and generally requires no electrical connections.

Automatic threshold seal

A threshold seal that automatically retracts from the floor surface as soon as the door leaf is opened by a few millimetres, and generally requires no electrical connections.