Latest Articles in Design & Performance

  • May 24, 2016
    THE TALK... | Codes & Standards

    Website Photography
    What you don’t know about your website photographs might cost you
    Imagine you come into the office one spring day and find a letter on your desk from an attorney. The letter claims you are using his client’s photograph on your website without permission—either pay several thousand dollars or risk a six-figure lawsuit. Is the claim is legitimate? Your website may have hundreds of pictures, the majority of which came from a manufacturer’s... more »
  • May 9, 2016
    COLUMN : Code Arena | Codes & Standards

    Merger in Progress
    The potential impact of the ASHRAE 189.1/IgCC merger on residential products
    At the present time, a merger of International Code Council International Green Construction Code and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 189.1, Design of High Performance Buildings, except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is occurring. The resulting document will be referred to as the 2018 edition of ASHRAE 189/IgCC. Although the intent of both are somewhat... more »
  • May 9, 2016
    COLUMN : From the Field | Methods & Techniques

    Smooth Operators
    Installation tips for doors
    Does your installed product operate smoothly? (Image courtesy of the author.) Doors are generally more challenging to install than windows. While many basics are similar, such as wall interface, true alignment, and the fact that both either swing or slide, some factors are very different. Doors are commonly larger and heavier and have to stand up to much more frequent operation and... more »
  • May 9, 2016
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Design & Performance

    The Luxury of Automation
    Fenestration follows suit in smart home technology
    Kolbe’s sliding door automation systems utilize an interactive wall switch, providing easy-to-use, push-button controls, as well as a feedback feature for serviceability. These systems are available for field-installation on Ultra Series and VistaLuxe complementary multi-slide doors, as well as Ultra Series TerraSpan Lift & Slide doors. (Image courtesy of Kolbe.) The popularity... more »
  • May 3, 2016
    THE TALK... | Codes & Standards

    Quality Management
    Everyone wants to deliver quality—whether in terms of products or installation. Today, there is an increasing focus on developing front-end quality-control procedures as critical steps to meeting end goals. Documenting these early quality evaluations is essential.   The North American Fenestration Standard/Specification and its prior individual standards always required fenestration... more »
  • March 13, 2016
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Design & Performance

    Designing for Future Success
    Creating the framework for new product development
    Seldom can you stand still—you either move forward or stagnate and lose market share. A sound policy to generate sales growth is to strengthen your product line with innovative products. Developing new products enables manufacturers to appeal to a wider geographic arena as well as enter into additional markets. Interpreting Market Signals In developing a new product line, it’s... more »
  • March 13, 2016
    COLUMN : Code Arena | Codes & Standards

    Interruption in the Cycle
    System glitches alter ICC code development path for 2016
    State and local jurisdiction adoption and enforcement of the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Residential Code and 2015 International Energy Conservation Code continues to grow. As of press time, the International Code Council website reports that the 2015 IBC is being enforced either statewide or locally in five states, and the 2015 IRC and 2015 IECC in three states. At the... more »
  • January 12, 2016
    THE TALK... | Codes & Standards

    What’s in Your Warranty?
    Authors Note: While The Gary Law Group has written articles for Window & Door over the years, we are pleased to be given this opportunity to join the 21st century and pen our first Talk. Our firm focuses on providing legal services to the fenestration industry and we look forward to tapping into that expertise to provide you with blog posts throughout 2016. We seek and appreciate any and all... more »
  • January 4, 2016
    COLUMN : Code Arena | Codes & Standards

    International Code Requirements for Windows & Doors
    Courtesy of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association How to Use this Guide This article focuses on the requirements of the 2015 editions of the IRC and IECC for residential fenestration, with emphasis on the changes that have occurred between the 2012 and 2015 editions of those codes. The user of this summary is cautioned, however, that it is not intended to be a full discussion of... more »
  • November 17, 2015
    THE TALK... | Codes & Standards

    Do You Know Your EEROs?
    During my years of window replacement, I was only somewhat acquainted with clear opening size requirements for Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings—5 square feet for first floor bedrooms and 5.7 square feet for upstairs bedrooms. That was about all I knew off the cuff. I also referenced window manufacturers’ standard sizing tables that identified what sizing met egress... more »