Window framing system

1. A window framing system, comprising:

a plurality of pieces that are components of a frame for a window having a threat side and a safe side, wherein the pieces include a base and a pressure plate that together form part of one of a sill section, a head section, and a jamb section of the window;

the base and pressure plate being elongated in a longitudinal direction,

the base having (1) an L-shaped cross-section at a near portion of the base to receive an end of a glazing unit from the threat side of the window, (2) a first pocket formed in a far portion of the base and running in said longitudinal direction, the near portion being closer to the threat side than the far portion, and (3) a second pocket formed in a middle portion of the base, between the L-shaped section and the first pocket, the second pocket runs in the longitudinal direction and an opening to the second pocket is formed in a wall of the base extending from the corner of the L-shaped cross-section and runs the entire length of the second pocket;

the pressure plate to be assembled with the base so as to secure the glazing unit in the corner;

a cover having an L-shaped cross-section such that the cover fits over the middle portion and an end of the far portion of the base and having a clip; and

the base having a finger formed integrally with the base as part of a single extruded piece of metal, to receive the clip.

2. The window framing system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pieces include a jamb base and a jamb pressure plate having substantially the same cross-sections, respectively, as said base and said pressure plate.

3. The window framing system of claim 2 wherein said base and said pressure plate together form part of one of the sill section and the head section of the window, the window framing system further comprising an L-shaped shear block to join a jamb of the window with one of the sill and head, the L-shaped shear block having a first segment shaped to fit into the first pocket of the sill or head base, and a second segment shaped to fit into the first pocket of the jamb base.

4. The window framing system of claim 2 wherein each of the pieces is essentially made of a continuous piece of extruded aluminum, and the pieces have been secured to each other without welding together any of the pieces.

5. A method for assembling a window, comprising:

inserting a base anchor angle into a first pocket of a base for a sill section of the window, wherein the base anchor angle has an elongated shear block with an L-shaped cross-section whose first segment is inserted lengthwise into the first pocket;

joining a base for a jamb section of the window with the base of the sill section wherein the jamb base and sill base are joined using an angled shear block having first and second segments, the first segment being inserted into the first pocket of the sill base and the second segment being inserted into the first pocket of the jamb base;

setting first and second ends of a glazing unit from a threat side of the window into respective corners of L-shaped sections of the sill and jamb bases;

setting first and second pressure plates against the glazing unit, with a plurality of holes in each pressure plate being aligned with a channel in a respective L-shaped section of the sill and jamb bases;

applying a plurality of fasteners to the plurality of holes in the pressure plates to secure the glazing unit in said corners; and

inserting a second shear block into a second pocket of the base for the sill section of the window, wherein the second pocket is formed in a middle portion of the base between the L-shaped section and the first pocket of the sill base, and the second pocket has an opening formed in a wall of the sill base extending from the corner of the L-shaped section and runs the entire length of the second pocket.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

installing a weather seal into a groove formed in the L-shaped section of the sill base, prior to setting the glazing unit into the corner in contact with the installed seal.