Every spring, FGIA makes sure the industry is talking about an important issue: window safety. You might notice that our monthly newsletter, FGIA e-News, and our three monthly blogs in March all discuss Window Safety Week, recognized the first full week of April each year. That is because FGIA is a dedicated member of the Window Safety Task Force, a group that seeks to heighten the awareness of what parents and caregivers should do to help keep their homes and families safer from the risks...

As a parent, it can be hard to talk to your kids about certain subjects. You don’t want to talk down to them, but you don’t want the language to be too complicated either. We’ve got you covered for at least one tough topic – keeping kids safe around windows. There are several resources available from the Window Safety Task Force (WSTF) to make this easier. Here are the steps I practiced with my own kids (and fellow parents), and I hope you will, too.Color...

Even though it has been a mild winter where I am in the Mid Ohio Valley, I am ready for warmer weather and the start of youth soccer season! With warmer weather comes this reminder to parents: Screens are meant to keep bugs out, not to keep kids in. This is just one of many pieces of advice offered by the Window Safety Task Force. This industry group takes the time each year to share resources and tips every spring to commemorate Window Safety Week,...

We were able to announce some great breaking news at the 2023 FGIA Annual Conference about the impending release of the latest version of the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS). As of February 23, it is now available! This is thanks to the hard work of representatives from three different industry Associations: CSA Group , FGIA and Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA).The updated 2022 standard replaces the 2017 edition, representing a continued evolution of the standard to improve harmonization across North America. All three...

Last fall, FGIA released a revamped introductory educational program, now available as a more dynamic and engaging online course. Fundamentals of Fenestration provides basic terminology and performance criteria for windows, doors and skylights, covering both residential and light commercial products, as well as commercial and architectural applications. The program serves as an excellent building block for those new to the industry. Including Fundamentals of Fenestration as a part of your training for new employees will set them up for success.Companies looking for an introduction to...

FGIA is pleased to offer several engaging, interactive sessions during our next conference, taking place February 13-16. The 2023 FGIA Annual Conference will feature the rare opportunity to tour a seismic shake test site in California, where building resistance research has been conducted on a full-scale 10-story mass-timber building. Also at the conference will be a roundtable discussion about innovation in the window industry as well as a multi-station demonstration of various types of fenestration hardware and related tests.Seismic Shake Test Site TourFGIA Annual Conference...

A perhaps underrated benefit FGIA offers is access to a robust glossary of terms used in the industry, a document that can be helpful to both those new to fenestration and glazing as well as more seasoned employees who may appreciate a refresher. Now, for the first time since AAMA and IGMA unified, the official FGIA Glossary is available as a free download in the FGIA Online Store.This document is an all-encompassing guide meant to be used from this point forward when referencing definitions in...

This blog is often about ways to use social media to your company’s advantage, such as how to best showcase your products and services for various platforms. However, this month’s post is going to offer a certain degree of caution about doing so in some cases. Social media has changed a lot in recent years, and perhaps no more than it did in 2022. Let’s look back on why we started using social media for our businesses, what’s happened since and what to expect moving...

Things are winding down for the holidays as we close the books on 2022. It was a busy year for FGIA, with the Association hosting three conferences and, for the first time ever, three Regional events thanks to the creation of the new FGIA FENBC Region. We also saw several documents updated this year, along with new ones like IGMA TM-5000, Do’s and Don'ts of Glass Safety. But aside from what FGIA did, the industry at large saw changes in the economy, the labor market...

As you may know, the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) takes into consideration the unique properties of today’s different framing profile materials. The FGIA documents referenced in NAFS have minimum performance requirements, which are the result of years of research and testing as well as field experience. To this end, many important component FGIA standards were updated in 2022 to keep up with the latest technologies and performance demands. Let’s take a look at a few of them.AAMA 305AAMA 305-22, Voluntary Specification for Fiber Reinforced...