Non Operating Windows

{{Infobox
|title = Non-Operating Windows
|image        = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Non-Operating Windows]]
|header5 = Other Names:
|data6   = Fixed Windows, Replacement Non Operating Windows, Windows that Do Not Open
|header7 = Description:
|data8   = Windows that do not open, installed in locations which do not require venting but where daylighting and design reqiure a window.}} 

[[Replacement-Windows|Replacement window]] selections involve choosing either an operating window or a '''non-operating window'''. Decisions are made based on the room's architectural design, venting or cross-ventilation requirements and cost. Non-operating windows generally provide the same amount of daylighting as [[Operating Windows|operating windows]] and are relatively cheaper.

Operating windows are the replacement windows of choice for a design that calls for venting. When ventilation is not required a non-operating window, also called a "[[Fixed Frame Windows|fixed window]]" or, in specific situations a "[[Picture Windows|picture window]]" is a suitable and low-cost option. Non-operable windows are stationary. The glass is set within a non-operating window's frame and there is no moveable sash. Non-operable windows may be installed on their own or as part of a window unit together with operating windows. 

== Non-Operating Window Advantages ==
Non-operating windows offer several advantages over operating windows. 

=== Design Features ===
Non-operating replacement windows can add to a home's architectural design by including a wide range of window options which are not available as operating windows. These windows may include [[Special Shape Windows|special shape windows]] which cannot be manufactured as operating windows, as well as other fixed window options. Window treatments and accessories are available for both non-operating and operating windows.

=== Security ===
Security of a non-operating window is not dependent on a locking mechanism or on the homeowner's memory. Non-operating windows don't need to be closed and locked in order to ensure that intruders cannot enter a house through the window. In addition, the danger of children falling through an open window is not a problem with non-operating windows. 

=== Cost === 
Non-operating windows are a more cost-efficient window option than operating windows. The operating mechanisms of venting windows, even the simplest opening windows, involve an additional cost which is not an issue with non-operating windows. 

=== Size ===
The mechanisms used to operate operating windows tend to limit the available size options for these windows. In general, large non-operating windows provide a higher degree of stability than operating windows and can be installed in extremely large sizes. Framing materials used in the manufacture of non-operating windows will also impact on the available size of a non-operating window. 

=== Shape ===
Homeowners who are looking for an unusually or specifically-shaped window can generally find the window as a non-opening window. Operating mechanisms are not always available for windows of all shapes but any window shape can be produced as a non-operating window. 

=== Style ===
Many operating windows include horizontal or vertical bars which impede the view and partially block the scene from the people in the house. Such opening windows include [[Single Hung Windows|single hung windows]], [[Double Hung Windows|double hung windows]], [[Horizontal Sliding Windows|gliding windows]] and some double-opening [[Casement Windows|casement windows]]. Double pane casement windows may open without a dividing middle bar, but in general, if a homeowner wants an unobstructed view of the outdoors, a non-operating picture window will be the best option. 

=== Energy Efficiency ===
Non-operating windows do not include the gaps and breaks that are part of the make-up of an operating window. The operating mechanisms and movements create cracks and holes which may allow for heat transfer and weather penetration. Operating windows require a higher degree of weatherproofing than is required for non-operating windows including the need for thermal breaks and weather stripping.  

== Non-Operating Window Considerations ==
The main disadvantage of non-operating windows is their lack of venting capability. If a home's architectural design does not incorporate sufficient ventilation, an operating window is the only solution. If however, ventilation is not a concern, a non-operating window can provide a suitable replacement window solution to the application. 

== Framing Materials for Non-Operating Windows ==
Non-operating windows are manufactured using numerous framing materials including aluminum, vinyl, wood, wood - clad, composite and fiberglass materials. 

=== Aluminum Windows ===
Aluminum windows are relatively inexpensive and offer a popular framing option. There is a tendency for condensation to build up along the frames of [[aluminum windows|aluminum windows]] when the weather becomes cold. For this reason, aluminum replacement windows perform best in warm climates. Some aluminum windows have thermal breaks which increase the frame's effectiveness as a thermal insulator in cold weather. 

=== Vinyl Windows ===
[[vinyl windows|Vinyl frames]] are a low-cost replacement framing option. Vinyl windows are sturdy and long-lasting. Vinyl frames cannot be painted which limits a home's architectural design to the featured colors of the vinyl windows. 
 
=== Wood and Wood-Clad Frames ===
[[wood windows|Wood replacement window frames]] are a traditional framing alternative which provides a high level of thermal insulation. The interiors of a wood replacement window match a wide range of architectural styles. These windows must be varnished or painted yearly to prevent rotting or warping. One relatively new wood window alternative is the [[wood clad windows|wood clad window frame]] which encompasses a protective vinyl or aluminum cladding on the outside of the window. This cladding shields the exterior wood frame from the weather's elements. The cladding is available in multiple colors which can match any home's architectural design. 

=== Fiberglass and Composite Frames ===
[[fiberglass windows|Fiberglass]] and [[composite windows|composite window frames]] have become more popular in recent years as durable, sturdy and energy efficiency window frame solutions. They are a more costly window option but provide a stable and structurally sound window frame with design alternatives that make them an appropriate window for any home design. 

== Styles of Non-Operating Windows ==
The styles of non-operating windows provide homeowners with a wide range of non-opening window alternatives. 

=== Block Glass Windows ===
[[Block Glass Windows|Block glass windows]] provide additional natural light without increased ventilation. There are various block glass window glazing alternatives, framing materials and insulating options. Replacement block glass windows are produced with blocks of cloudy privacy glass or assembled using cubes of patterned glass. They are frequently used in bathroom applications where privacy glass is indicated.

=== Clerestory Windows ===
[[clerestory windows|Clerestory replacement windows]] include both operable and non-operable windows. Clerestory windows are installed above eye-level, generally directly below a room's ceiling. They may be added to a room design as a single row below the ceiling or above a door or other window. They are included as a window solution that adds light to a room and, for operable clerestory windows, ventilation. 

=== Picture Windows ===
Replacement picture windows are large non-opening windows which are installed in large openings. They offer an expansive view of the area surrounding the home and provide the home with a spacious feel with an atmosphere that integrates the home's occupants with the surroundings. Picture windows include either no glazing bars/muntins or limited muntins or bars. If glazing bars or muntins are included in a non-operating window they are placed along the window's edges to ensure that the view is not broken by bars which may otherwise criss-cross the window. 

=== Skylight Windows ===
[[skylight windows|Skylight]] replacement windows are large windows which can be installed in a flat roof or in a sloping roof in which the slope does not angle more than 15 degrees. Skylight windows do not require any structural changes within the room but they can change the room's atmosphere by increasing the light that enters the room and providing an unimpeded view of the sky.

=== Roof Lantern Cupola Windows ===
A [[roof lantern cupola windows|roof lantern cupola window]] is often referred to simply as a "cupola." It is installed in flat roofs and brings light into the room below. Roof lantern windows may cover the entire span of a home's roof or may be installed within one specific section of the roof. Roof lantern cupola windows may be comprised of any number of glazing panels, offering numerous window design options. 

=== Special Shape Windows ===
Architectural designs which call for unusual window shapes can include [[special shape windows|special shape windows]]. Special shape windows may be installed singly or in conjunction with other windows or doors -- either to the side or above these other operating or non-operating windows and doors. Special shape replacement windows have curves and/or angles which create a uniquely-shaped window alternative. Special shape windows comprise a wide range of shapes including full arch heads, full cords, full circles, half cords, half circles, ellipticals, eyebrows, octagons, partial arch heads, half ellipticals, pentagons, quarter circles, partial chords, trapezoids, springlines, Isosceles triangles and right triangles.

== Placements for Non-Operating Windows ==
Non-operating windows are suitable for [[office windows|home offices]], [[living room windows|living rooms]], [[kitchen windows|kitchens]], [[basement windows|basements]], [[bathroom windows|bathrooms]], [[garage windows|garages]], [[attic windows|attics]], [[bedroom windows|bedrooms ]] and any other home location which already contains adequate ventilation. 

== Energy Enhancements ==
While non-operable windows do not require the sealing stringencies that an operable window needs, other energy efficient solutions are applicable and can help ensure that the window adds to the home's energy efficiency and helps to reduce heating and cooling costs. [[window ratings|Ratings]] provided by the [[National Fenestration Ratings Council|National Fenestration Ratings Council]] assist homeowners in deciding which energy efficient enhancements are appropriate for their particular climate. 

=== Multi-Pane Non-Operable Windows ===
[[double pane windows|Double]] or [[triple pane windows|Triple]] panes can help to lower energy costs by trapping a portion of the heat transfer in between the window panes. These multi-pane windows are standard among many window manufacturers. Some manufacturers offer [[argon windows|windows with an argon or krypton gas fill]] which further impedes heat transfer and enhances the window's energy efficiency.

=== Low-E Coating ===
The [[Low E Windows|Low-E coating]] which is applied to many windows during the manufacturing process blocks the sun's UV rays and reduces cooling costs.


{{Replacement Window Types}}

[[Category:Replacement Windows]]