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Glossary

Every field of business has a unique language - rolling closures and grilles included. That's why Dynamic thought a Glossary of terms would be helpful.

Term	Definition
ADA	American Disabilities Act requires locking to be accessible within the following height restrictions: 9-inch (229mm) minimum to 54 inch (1372mm) maximum off floor.
Adjustable Lock Rod Stops	Adjusts easily on site within guide to keep bottom bar tightly secured to floor when lock rod is engaged.
Adjusting Wheel	See "Charging Wheel".
Anodize	An electrolytic etched finish forming a hard protective film on the surface of aluminum. Clear, bronze, gold and black are the most common colors.
Astragal	Protective bumper attached to the bottom bar that seals to the floor or counter.
Axle	A Mini Roll-Up term. Refers to the barrel assembly of the shutter.
Barrel Assembly	Steel barrel with a drive shaft at one end and a tension shaft on the other. The counterbalance spring assembly is inside the barrel. Rings may be attached to the barrel. Deflection of the barrel may not exceed .03 per foot.
Barrel Rings	Used to raise offset from counterbalance barrel where the top slats of a curtain are attached.
Base Plates	Optional steel plates mounted under the support tubes to help distribute weight of the grille/closure on the floor.
Base Slat	A Mini Roll-Up term. Refers to the bottom bar of the shutter. A base slat contains the locking just as a bottom bar for a grille or closure does. A vinyl astragal on the bottom of the base slat prevents marring of counter tops.
Bell Mouth	Flared upper portion of guides to allow easy entry of the grille/closure curtain.
Between Jamb Mounted	Guides are mounted to wall directly facing into opening and are often in a pack-out configuration. This mounting could require inside charging wheel and fascia.
Bottom Bar	A heavy-duty aluminum extrusion attached to the bottom of the curtain. Locking is located in the center of the bottom bar. An optional bottom bar plate and/or astragal is often included on the bottom bar. ADA requirements locate locking a minimum of 9-inches off the floor.
Bottom Bar Plate	Mounted to underside of bottom bar for reinforcement and conceals slot in ceiling.
Bracket Plates	Mounted to the support tube or the angle of the guide assembly. Bracket plates support the barrel assembly on the shafts at each end. These plates also support a motor mounting bracket and hood if required. Size of plates determined by height that forms the coil size.
Chain Hoist	A mechanical operator using a continuous hand chain and gear reduction to lift grille/closure. Rarely used in commercial or retail locations.
Charging Wheel	Winds tension to the counterbalance spring assembly and is locked in place to the outside of a bracket plate with a tension pin.
Clear Opening	Actual opening left after the grille/closure is installed. Coil, guides, tubes and angles are not part of the clear opening.
Closure	Rolling curtains made of tempered glass, polycarbonate, solid aluminum and perforated steel slats.
Coil	Barrel assembly and curtain in rolled up position.
Coil Box	A Mini Roll-Up term. This represents the counterbalance assembly including a hood and fascia. The terms for Mini Roll-Up’s are known as the axil, end caps, cover face and cover top.
Coil Cord	Electric wire in a tight coil stretching and retracting from the sensing edge on the bottom bar to a junction box located at mid-door height that is wired to the electric operator.
Coil Side	Side of the curtain that the barrel assembly and bracket plates protrude.
Constant Contact	The wiring of a key switch or button activating the electric operator to the open or close cycle only when the key switch or push button control is depressed. The electric motor will stop if pressure is released.
Counter Grille/ Counter Shutter	A grille/closure that is in a location that is not a walk through opening.
Counterbalance Spring Assembly	Located inside the barrel and consists of the torsion spring, spring plugs and tension shaft.
Cover Face	A Mini Roll-Up term. Refers to the coil side and bottom of hood.
Crank Operation	A mechanical operator using an awning or wall mounted gearbox with removable handle.
CTS	Cabinet tambour shutter.
Curtain	Grille - Rods and links of aluminum, stainless or galvanized steel assembled in grille pattern of choice with attached bottom bar. Closure - Slats of aluminum or HIEP assembled with end locks making a door or shutter with attached bottom bar.
Cylinder Locks	Keyed mechanism operating a locking device located on the bottom bar.
End locks	Used to secure slats from sliding apart.
Drive Shaft	Fixed to one end of the barrel and requiring a gear/sprocket engaging by chain an electric motor, crank or chain hoist to lift grille/closure.
"E" Guide	Face of wall mounted guide on an angle that faces the opening, usually used on steel jambs.
Electrical Interlock	Prevents motorized operation when bottom bar is locked.
Electric Safety Edge	Mounted to the underside of the bottom bar, this highly sensitive, electrically actuated device will stop and reverse upon hitting an obstruction.
Emergency Egress Release	A pull handle that is flush mounted into a wall adjacent to a motorized grille. A simple cable system releases the motor from the drive shaft. The grille is "over sprung" so when the motor is released the grille lifts off the ground for emergency egress. Meets ADA requirements.
Emergency Hand Chain/Emergency Hand Crank	Used when the electric motor fails to operate. This is a mechanical means of operating a grille/closure after engaging the emergency disconnect on the electric operator.
End Cap	A Mini Roll-Up term. The shutter’s term for a rolling bracket plate.
End Cap Stud	A Mini Roll-Up term. The studs hold the axle in place from end cap to end cap.
End locks	Fixed on both ends of every other slat to prevent curtain slats from shifting laterally.
Extended Shaft	Drive shaft lengthened to accommodate a gear/sprocket for other than push-up operation.
Exterior	Refers to the side of the curtain that faces the unsecured area.
Face-of -Wall	An electric safety edge with an additional feature of retracting the grille/closure to the open position when edge gets damaged.
Fascia	Optional sheet metal cover used when no header is in place and the standard hood leaves exposed the back of the coil.
Galvanizing	Zinc coating to protect steel against corrosion.
Grille	A security gate constructed of rods and links offering visibility and ventilation that rolls in a coil upward.
Guides	Side tracks of aluminum or steel that retain the curtain in the opening.
Hand of Operation	Side of the barrel assembly with the drive shaft looking from the coil side.
Head Plates	See "Bracket Plates"
Headroom	The unobstructed clearance above the clear opening.
HIEP	High impact extruded polymer with Class A fire and smoke ratings.
High Cycle Springs	Optional extended life spring assembly for high usage grilles/closures.
Hood	Covers the barrel assembly and is supported by the bracket plates and hood supports. Hoods can be made of various materials including galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum and vinyl.
Hood Supports	Rigid brackets that fit around the center of the coil, bracing hood to keep its shape and reduce sag.
Inside Charging Wheel	Attached inside the bracket plate and used only when no side room is available. Grille/Closure size and weight will limit usage. See "Charging Wheel"
Interior	Refers to the side of the curtain that faces the secured area.
Key Switch	Key activated electrical control device for electric motors. Motor can be wired for constant or momentary contact operation.
Lock Channel	Extruded aluminum channel that accepts bottom bar of tambour shutter and captures hook bolt.
Locking	Keyed cylinder operated device mounted in center of extruded bottom bar throws locking bars into guides to prevent lifting of curtain. ADA lock height location available. Simple slide bolts with hasp are available on some models.
Mill Finish	The raw finish of extruded aluminum. Mill aluminum will oxidize if not anodized or painted.
Mini Roll-Up	Compact rolling shutters and doors. Coil size will range about half the size of standard rolling grilles. Ideal for counter applications, cabinets, windows or small full height door areas.
Momentary Contact	Refers to the wiring of a key switch or button that activates the electric operator to the open or close cycle. One a quick turn of the key switch or simple push of a button control is all that is needed. The electric motor will not stop if pressure is released. Almost all commercial and retail applications use constant contact wiring, not momentary contact.
Motor	Term often used to describe an electric operator that moves the grille/closure/shutter up and down.
Motor Mounting Bracket	Supports motor from bracket plate or wall on drive shaft side of barrel assembly.
Pack Off	See "Stand Out"
Pack-out	Used for between jamb mounting of guides to provide clearances from obstructions and space for tension shaft and drive shaft.
Panic Release Device	See "Emergency Egress Release"
Pipe Assembly	See "Barrel Assembly"
Pneumatic Sensing Edge	A "rubber bumper" with an air system mounted to a bottom bar that will upon hitting an obstruction, signal the electric operator to stop and reverse.
Polycarbonate	Impact resistant and flame-retardant thermoplastic, far stronger than acrylic and Plexiglas used for vision panels.
Push Button Station	Standard three button control device including open, close and stop, provided with electric operators.
Recessed Lock Plate	Used in lieu of a lock channel, captures hook bolt of bottom bar of tambour shutter.
Removable Soffit	Allows for easy full width access when barrel assembly is mounted above the ceiling.
Retractable Reel	Electric wire in a retractable take up reel from the sensing edge at the bottom bar to a junction box located at mid-door height that is wired to the electric operator.
Shutter	See "Counter Grille/Shutter"
Side Rails	A Mini Roll-Up term. Refers to the track the curtain of the shutter glides through upward and down.
Side-room	Space on either side of opening for support tubes, angles, guides and bracket plates.
Slat	An extruded or cold roll-formed continuos profile designed to interlock, fabricating a curtain.
Slide Bolt Lock	Separate hasp type locking units mounted to each side (left/right) of the bottom bar.
Sloped Bottom Bar	An extended bottom bar tapered to match a sloped floor.
Spring Counterbalance	See "Counterbalance Spring Assembly"
Stand Out	The distance from the center of the guide to the closest edge of the bracket plate.
Stops	Catch-type obstructions mounted at the top of the guides to prevent the bottom bar from leaving the guides when the curtain is fully raised.
Support Tubes	3" x 3" 20' and 4" x 4" x 20' structural tubular steel, factory drilled and tapped for guides and bracket plates. This self-supporting system allows rolling grilles/closures to mount directly to concrete slab and ceiling joists.
Tambour	A curtain of slats that move within a cabinet that can be locked. An example of this would be a roll top desk.
Take-Up Reel	See "Counter Grille/Shutter" See "Retractable Reel" Space on either side of opening for support tubes, angles, guides and bracket plates.
Tension Shaft	Located opposite the drive shaft on the barrel assembly. Attached to spring counterbalance assembly and charging wheel to add tension to spring.
Tension Wheel	See "Charging Wheel"
Thumb Turn Lock	Thumb turns are required by fire laws in many areas. This non-removable key like knob fixed to a cylinder is used as an alternative to a keyed cylinder. Requires a protective cup and security pattern on rolling grilles to prevent unauthorized entry.
Top Cover	A Mini Roll-Up term. Refers to the top of the hood that covers the axle and end caps.
Torsion Spring	A helical wound spring mounted inside the barrel used to counterbalance rolling grilles/closures.
Winding Wheel	See "Charging Wheel"
"Z" Guide	Face of wall guide mounted on an angle that faces away from the opening usually used on masonry or wood jambs.