Spring is officially here, which means the Window Safety Task Force encourages parents and caregivers to recognize the importance of practicing window safety during Window Safety Week, being observed April 6-12. However, open windows any time of year can be dangerous for young children who are not properly supervised.“Warmer weather presents us all with the opportunity to enjoy fresh air through open windows. However, it’s important for customers to have positive experiences with your products,” said Angela Dickson, Co-Chair of the Window Safety Task Force....

Registration is now open for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Southeast Region Meeting, taking place April 22-23 at the Clearwater Beach Marriott Resort on Sand Key in Florida. This event will feature a networking night at Topgolf St. Petersburg on April 22, followed by a full day of speaker presentations covering crucial information for the southern region states. Register now for this two-day, exclusive in-person meeting dedicated to exploring the latest trends in the fenestration industry in the southeast region.“We are thrilled to...

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released a new specification applicable for use in testing and rating horizontal sliding windows and sliding doors based upon the sash/panel size and interlocking conditions present in the tested samples. AAMA 517-25, Specification for Air/Water Penetration Resistance, and Structural Load Performance of Multi-Track Doors and Windows, a new FGIA document, is now available for purchase in the FGIA online store.This new document is intended to be used as a supplement to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440, North American Fenestration Standard/Specification...

Registration is now open for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) FENBC Region Summit, taking place April 1-2 in Surrey, BC. This annual two-day event will feature a welcome reception, commercial and residential topic coverage and opportunities to engage with industry leaders. Register now for this exclusive in-person event dedicated to exploring the latest trends in the fenestration industry in British Columbia.“The FGIA FENBC Region brings together manufacturers, glaziers, architects, builders and code officials to address regionally specific issues and provides the insights you...

In a session sponsored by UL Laboratory Canada, Robert Jutras presented on the impact of Canadian code changes and updated standards at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. Jutras covered recent revisions to the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) Canadian supplement, a proposed change to revise provisions for wind and snow loading in the 2025 edition of the National Building Code (NBC) and two new Canadian standards covering resisting high winds and field testing.Revisions to the NAFS Canadian Supplement“We...

Participants learned about the barriers to adopting high-performing fenestration in both non-residential and multi-family buildings, as well as a blueprint for market transformation, at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. Presented by Helen Sanders (Technoform), this session reviewed a yearlong study conducted by the Façade Tectonics Institute (FTI) on the topic. “Why do we care that high-performance facades and fenestration are not used?” asked Sanders. “What is used today performs worse than widely available options and far worse than...

Those participating in the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, learned about the building, energy and stretch codes in the state of Massachusetts in a presentation about the complexity of backstop calculations from presenter Christopher Grey (Simpson Gumpertz & Heger). In this presentation, Grey provided an overview of the 2023 Massachusetts Stretch Code updates that impact façade design including requirements for air leakage, thermal bridging and the envelope backstop calculations. He reviewed the 2020 and 2023 backstop calculations and discuss...

A safety expert gave advice for how to safely handle hurricane-resistant products during the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, February 17-20. Sponsored by the FGIA Fenestration Safety Committee, this session entitled “Safe Manufacturing of Hurricane Resistant Products” was led by Todd Benedict, Senior Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Manager at PGT Innovations. His presentation included background information on hurricane codes, why hurricane-resistant products are necessary and how to safely handle them during their manufacturing and assembly.History of Hurricane CodesIn...

A panel on innovation at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference featured an in-depth discussion on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), the future of vacuum insulated glass (VIG), prioritizing updated software over new hardware and the use of more sophisticated digital modeling. The “Ignite Innovation” panel discussion was moderated by Ray Garries (Global Fenestration Solutions) and featured panelists Dave Cooper (VacuumGlass), Chris Giovannielli (Kawneer Company) and Anthony Pigliacampo (Joseph Machine Company).Garries began the session with a mention of AI and how he navigated...

Participants at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, heard from Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show, a popular business podcast in which Hawk interviews thought leaders and communicates their stories, insight and leadership wisdom. Hawk shared six tips for becoming a “learning leader,” or one who recognizes that their own ongoing education is a critical component of successful leadership.1: Be Accountable“The first thing I have learned about leadership is that the best leaders have 100% ownership,” said...