Latest Articles in Design & Performance
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May 28, 2013May is National Home Remodeling Month, and to mark the occasion, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association is urging homeowners to trust their window and door replacement to professional installers. As we all know, qualified installers not only help homeowners avoid the pitfalls associated with DIY installations, they make the window and door replacement process significantly smoother... more »
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May 7, 2013The 2013 International Code Council Group B Code Development Hearings recently took place in Dallas, where code officials reviewed numerous proposals for changes to the 2015 International Residential Code, 2015 International Energy Conservation Code and 2015 International Existing Building Code, among others. Following is a report on the more significant results of these hearings, with... more »
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May 1, 2013The International Code Council has posted the code-change proposals that will result in the 2015 ICC Group B codes, including the 2015 International Residential Code, 2015 International Energy Conservation Code and 2015 International Existing Building Code. These proposals are available for review at the ICC website. While it's too early to know the results of these proposals, there are some... more »
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May 1, 2013The grey tabby was perched in the rough opening as I returned to the room carrying the new window. Unaware of a house cat I asked it, “Do you live here?” His only reply was a blank stare. He had no collar ID, and I couldn’t reach the homeowner to ask if the cat was a resident or just a visitor. This dilemma quickly turned into a vision of a panicked homeowner quizzing me,... more »
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May 1, 2013Product development underway despite concerns about program requirements and implementation dateWhile window and door manufacturers move forward in their efforts to meet the Energy Star for Windows, Doors, and Skylights Version 6.0 criteria, significant concerns still surround the program’s proposed product requirements and an early 2014 implementation date. Topping the list is the concern that the proposed U-factor for the Northern zone would drive the cost of Energy Star... more » -
May 1, 2013Today’s windows, doors and skylights bear little resemblance to those of yesteryear. Materials technology, designs, standards, testing protocols and installation requirements have continued to evolve, providing consumers with greater performance and aesthetic options at moreprice points. The old double-glazed window pane has moved well beyond a simple unit consisting of two lites of glass... more »
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April 16, 2013We report this week on a new campaign launched to block, revise and/or delay Version 6 criteria for Energy Star windows, set to go in effect early next year. The Coalition for Home Energy Efficiency has been formed by a group of industry manufacturers and others who are concerned that Energy Star windows will no longer be cost effective products, particularly in the Northern tier of the country.... more »
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March 26, 2013In response to Julie Ruth's column, "Preparing for 'the Big One'" in the January/February issue of Window & Door, Mory Katz, VP of the Commercial Property Division at Verisk Insurance Solutions, addresses the threat posed by severe storms. He writes: "I read with interest Julie Ruth’s column. ... After a storm, the power grid, building construction and... more »
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March 4, 2013On average, 18 toddlers die annually by falling from windows, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. More than 98,000 children—an average of 14 per day—were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for windowfall-related injuries during the 1990-2008 time period, according to the most recent study on the subject. About 65 percent of those injuries involved children four years old and younger,... more »
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February 26, 2013Code development tends to focus on where the codes are going, rather than where they are now. This year, the 2015 International Residential Code and 2015 International Energy Conservation Code requirements will be determined. Last year, requirements for the 2015 International Building Code were established. Enforcement of these code requirements, however, is not likely to begin until 2016 or... more »