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SAVE THE DATE
Technical Meeting Schedule
September 22, 2010
Meeting in Kelowna
Other Events
September 30, 2010
Glass Connections - Vancouver 2010
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Energy Star Criteria Revision Process Officially Underway in the United States
June 15/10
The US Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to stakeholders
Monday announcing that is beginning a criteria revision for windows,
doors, and skylights. During this process, EPA is inviting industry
input, as well as updating research from the last criteria revision,
which took place between June 2007 and April 2009, leading to the
establishment of the current Energy Star criteria, which took effect in
January this year.
For the complete article click here
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A Word from the President
Members: We would like
to hear your comments on an issue that can be stickier than a wood casement in
a rainstorm. (Unless it was made by one of our members, of course).
A key role of the WDMA
BC is to help member companies understand and work with various rules and
regulations that may apply to our products. These rules are often for the
better and I'm sure many of you agree they can and do result in more reliable,
functional and high-performing products. However, the sticky issue is
that enforcement is not always universal. Lack of consistent enforcement
sometimes leaves those who follow the rules at a competitive disadvantage to
those who do not make the same investment.
In addition, there is
often confusion surrounding the rules, and a lack of consensus as to what is
actually required in some cases.
This results in the
obvious frustration, as companies invest significant funds in an attempt to
meet the requirements as they understand them. Tempers can flare as a result and some suggest boycotts of particular rules,
and/or letter campaigns promoting a level, and enforced playing field for all
window and door manufacturers.
WDMA-BC is known more and more as the voice of industry to government
and other regulatory bodies, and we would like to take this message forward in
as constructive and results-oriented a way as possible.
To help us do so, we welcome comments, suggestions and requests to
either myself (Terry
email) or Zana Gordon (email).
Thanks in advance and here's to a kinder, warmer, drier, and more
comfortable regulatory environment in the future.
Terry Adamson, WDMA President
General Manager, Westeck Window and Doors
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Fall 2010 Joint Door and Window Technical Workshop
WDMA-BC's continuing series of members' meetings to discuss
and offer information on issues affecting the industry is going 'on the road'
again this fall.
Stay tuned for final date and location announcements soon.
By popular request, a 'Door-specific' meeting will be on the
agenda, in parallel with a 'Window-specific' meeting. Upcoming modifications to
the Provincial Building Code and the 2009 Provincial Energy Efficiency Act have
brought much change to the exterior side hinged door industry, and the WDMA-BC will offer information and advice to prehangers and manufacturers
interested in better understanding these changes.
The NAFS (North American Fenestration Standard), including
recent door-specific changes, covers both windows and side hinged entry doors
and is expected to become part of BC's building code in 2011. The WDMA-BC is
uniquely qualified to help prehangers learn about and comply with these
regulations, although specific requirements for side hinge entry door testing
and component substitution remain somewhat uncertain.
We look forward to a great discussion, and will work closely
with our membership to address the new requirements.
If you're a prehanger hoping to learn more, and agree with
us that the WDMA-BC is the best place to go for assistance and advocacy, now is
the time!
Comments, questions, and requests for topics of future
Technical Meetings are always welcome.
Please contact Zana Gordon either by phone 778.837.8843 or by email zgordon@wdma-bc.org
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Sealants Adhesives and Membranes - Oh My!
by Rich Porayko
I confess that as a glass marketing guy
with a background in IG manufacturing most of my experience with sealants has
been geared toward the primary and secondary seals of an insulated glass unit. Which is why I was pleased
to hear that the topic of the GCABC's latest breakfast session was "New
Innovations in Structural Adhesives, Insulations and Membranes". And as usual,
the breakfast meeting did not disappoint. I walked away from the panel session
with a much better understanding of some of the current challenges and
solutions facing the industry. For more on this article click here. Comments, questions, and requests for topics of future
Technical Meetings are always welcome. Please contact Zana Gordon by phone 778.837.8843 or email zgordon@wdma-bc.org |
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WDMA Replacement Window and Door
Installation Task Group
The Replacement Window and Door
Installation Task Group is the technical committee for the Replacement Window
and Door Installation Guide Project. The objective of the project is to develop and produce a best practice
guide for replacement window and door installation in Part 9 and wood frame
multi-unit residential buildings along with an accompanying consumer education
guide. The best practice guide will be
used by the window and door industry, building and renovation contractors,
building professionals and building officials. The consumer guide will be used by homeowners to assist them in the
selection of replacement window and door products, installation contractors and
installation methods best suited for their situation.
There are now sufficient funding
commitments in place to begin the project and the consultants are preparing
proposals based on the budget plan. The
project is scheduled to begin in September 2010 and be completed within one year.
We are still seeking interested parties to
join the group on a regular basis as well as those willing to attend one or
more meetings and share their knowledge on issues relative to their area of
expertise. The group generally meets
every 4-6 weeks and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the
project.
If you would be interested in providing input or if you have any
questions about the Task Group, please contact Pat Phillips pphillips@vanislewindows.com or Devin Pickles dpickles@starlinewindows.com. |
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Side Hinged Door Performance Task Group
On July 9th the side hinge task group conducted
tests on two sets of doors. The first set was done on a typical oak and aluminum
in swing and out swing. This first test was preformed at Intertek Labs. The
second set of doors was tested with an improved in swing and out swing sill.
This second test was preformed at QAI; (Quality Auditing Institute Ltd). All data from these
tests should be available in the next couple of weeks. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank the two test labs for providing these first tests free
of charge to our task group. I would also like to thank Oakmont Industries for
preparing the doors and test bucks used in these tests for us. We will discuss
the results of these tests at our next meeting.
For more information on this Task Group you can contact the Chair - Brian Hepburn |
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