W&D Weekly - July 30, 2008 | Vol 3, Num 31
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NFRC Looks at IG Certification Again
The National Fenestration Rating Council plans to add a requirement for IG certification to its rating and labeling program, but just how that will be done was still up for discussion at its summer membership meeting held this week in Chicago. ...
The National Fenestration Rating Council plans to add a requirement for IG certification to its rating and labeling program, but just how that will be done was still up for discussion at its summer membership meeting held this week in Chicago. The event also featured a forum designed to guide development of rating programs for various window attachments and the unveiling of software designed for rating commercial fenestration systems.
Roland Temple of AZS Consulting Inc., who chairs NFRC’s certification policy committee, opened up the IG certification forum. NFRC does not plan to set up its own IG certification program, but will instead require manufacturers seeking product labeling to use existing certification programs in the market. Temple outlined a plan under which NFRC would maintain a list of third party IG certification programs that have submitted a statement to NFRC stating they meet its requirements. The statements would be provided to NFRC on an annual basis but would not be independently verified.
Although NFRC’s earlier proposed accreditation requirements for these independent programs were widely criticized as being too onerous, the plan outlined at the Chicago meeting was greeted as too lax. “I feel like a pendulum. You guys have swung from here to way over there,” said Rich Biscoe of Architectural Testing Inc. Attendees at the meeting requested that NFRC go back to the recommendations submitted by the IG certification task group co-chaired by Tracy Rogers of Edgetech IG and Tina Jenkins of Simonton Windows and slightly modified by the NFRC board of directors. It was decided to develop new draft programs for review by both NFRC membership and its board of directors.
“If the accreditation program documents represent the far right, then what was proposed during today’s IG forum would be represented by the far left. One extreme to another, or too many teeth to toothless,” said Margaret Webb, executive director of the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance. “In other words, we’ve gone a long way to go a short distance but hopefully we’re back on track now.”
The attachment forum, which drew about 50 people, featured a panel consisting of Jim Benney, NFRC executive director; Top Culp of Birch Point Consulting; Joe Hayden of Pella Corp., current NFRC chair; and Fred Higgins of Wayne-Dalton Corp. The group discussed the need to balance a "top down" versus a "bottom up" approach to attachment ratings to make sure that interested parties benefit both from guidance from the board of directors and the expertise present among the NFRC membership. The panelists also noted that it can be a lengthy process to develop a consensus rating method, while protecting the technical integrity of the NFRC rating and certification system .
In addition to the forum, the Chicago meeting featured task group sessions focusing on storm windows, dynamic attachments for swinging doors, interior attachments such as shades, blinds, and exterior attachments such as screens and awnings.
The NFRC meeting also featured a demonstration of NFRC’s new software tool designed for its component modeling approach to rating commercial fenestration products. Charlie Curcija of Carli Inc., the software developer, showed how the application stores data related to glazing, framing and spacer components and uses that develop rating numbers for an entire system.
—Article based on reporting by Sahely Mukerji, managing editor, Glass Magazine
AAMA Starts Evaluation of Rating Method for Hurricane Rain Resistance
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association recently started a yearlong review process to evaluate AAMA 520, a new specification designed for rating the severe wind-driven rain resistance of windows and doors. ...
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association recently started a yearlong review process to evaluate AAMA 520, a new specification designed for rating the severe wind-driven rain resistance of windows and doors.
The new test protocols were developed at the urging of the Florida Building Commission following the unusually strong 2004 hurricane season, explains Rich Walker, AAMA president and CEO. During the storms of that year, windows and doors designed for impact resistance generally performed well on that front. Those stringent requirements raised expectations about the water resistance of these products, however, leading to some calls for even higher performance standards. “At the FBC’s urging, we have assessed current test methods and developed a standard of performance for testing windows to enhance their ability to resist water penetration under hurricane conditions,” Walker says. “The resulting document will serve as an elevated performance characterization but is not intended for building code adoption and enforcement.”
“Without a doubt, once released, these specifications will represent the most stringent test standards of their kind in the industry today,” adds John Lewis, AAMA’s technical director, who also notes that the majority of door and window testing is based on AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440.
“This standard relies on static pressure tests for evaluating structural performance and resistance to water penetration,” Lewis adds. “The goal of AAMA 520 is to better replicate hurricane conditions using a rapid pulsating test with computer-controlled cycling of high and low pressures.”
Following the 12-month process, the final document is expected to be published next summer—well in advance of the 2009 hurricane season.
Edgetech Operations Earn ISO 9001:2000 Certification
Edgetech I.G. production operations have been certified to the ISO 9001:2000 International Quality Standard, the company
reports. ...
Edgetech I.G. production operations have been certified to the ISO 9001:2000 International Quality Standard, the company reports.
ISO 9001:2000 is a set of standardized, globally-recognized requirements that take a systematic approach to managing an organization's processes so that they consistently manufacture products that satisfy customer expectations. Edgetech was assessed and approved by Smithers Quality Assessments, Inc. of Akron, Ohio.
“Customer satisfaction is our number one priority at Edgetech,” says Mike Hovan, president of the IG component supplier. “We strive to go above and beyond for our customers at every level in the organization and achieving ISO 9001:2000 Certification is another way we are showing our commitment to quality products and service.”
The company’s entire quality system for the manufacture of Super Spacer products was audited and certified effective July 3.
Fen-Tech Signs Midwest Sales Rep
Specialty vinyl window and door supplier Fen-Tech Inc. has signed up with Cleveland-based Stern & Co. to represent its line in the Midwest and New York. ...
Specialty vinyl window and door supplier Fen-Tech Inc. has signed up with Cleveland-based Stern & Co. to represent its line in the Midwest and New York.
“We’re pleased to bring this well established team into our business group,” says Mike Mirau, Fen-Tech president. “They are a top-selling sales agency for some of the leading window-and-door component suppliers in the U.S. and will help us strengthen and expand our presence in the Midwest as well as into Northeastern states like New York and Pennsylvania.”
“It’s about the synergy we have together and about bringing a full line of products to our customers,” says Deedee Paster, Stern finance and office manager. “The more well-rounded our line card is the better we can serve our customers’ needs. The addition of Fen-Tech to our product line is very important to that effort.”
Stern is representing Fen-Tech in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York.
Slight Recovery Expected in German Market
Following a downturn in 2007 that exceeded many expectations, the German window market is expected to see about 1 percent growth in 2008, according to a new study by Interconnection
Consulting. ...
Following a downturn in 2007 that exceeded many expectations, the German window market is expected to see about 1 percent growth in 2008, according to a new study by Interconnection Consulting. Italy saw a slight decline in 2007 and is expected to slip again in 2008.
Following a short-lived boom that increased window sales 6.4 percent in 2006, the German market declined 7.4 percent in 2007. Researchers point to cancellation of a government subsidy for condominiums, as well as an increase in the nation’s value-added tax, combining to produce lower volumes in the residential market. The nonresidential sector held up better, enabling aluminium windows to enjoy gains while vinyl products decreased 14 percent.
In Italy, the Vienna-based market research firm reports window market declines of 1.4 percent for 2007 and an expected 1.2 percent for 2008. The renovation sector is predicted to grow, however, because of tax changes.
Although the outlook for the European window market may not appear to be bright, long-term growth in demand for living space, combined with heightened needs for energy savings, offers some promise for window manufacturers, the firm states.
Information on the market reports for Germany and Italy, as well as many other European countries is available by contacting Susanna Laurencik at laurencik@interconnectionconsulting.com.
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Housing Relief Bill Awaits President’s Signature
From MarketWatch
The White House indicates that President Bush will sign legislation that is designed to support the struggling housing market. ... read more
Builders Can Use New Tax Credit to Help Spur Home Sales
From the Nation’s Building News
National Association of Home Builders finds prospective first-time home buyers who have been sitting on the fence now have a significant financial incentive to explore the opportunities available in today’s housing market. ... read more
Home Buyers Increasingly Thinking and Buying Green
From USGBC/McGraw-Hill
Improved air quality and energy savings cited as key factors for all families, new study finds. ... read more
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