Campbell also reported that the association is developing new standards for entry doors, flush doors and expects to set performance-based standards for doors. The WDMA is working on the entry door standard in conjunction with the American Architectural Manufacturers Association. “This will be the first material-neutral performance-based standard,” said Campbell, who added that completion is probably about one year away.

Other sessions on the first day included Employee Attitudes, presented by Curt Smith, vice president and chief operating officer, the Hudson Institute; Channel Distribution Report, presented by Nick Limb, Partner, Ducker Research; and Workshop: Mastering Growth, presented by Andrew Lebby, Ph.D. Additionally, the keynote speaker at Monday’s luncheon was former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, who had attempted to secure the presidential nomination in the 2000 election.

Campbell said attendees particularly enjoyed the presentations by Limb and Smith. “Smith talked about the whole issue of ethics … and several attendees commented that they enjoyed his presentation,” said Campbell.

Smith wasn’t the only speaker who touched on this important subject. “Alan Keyes was particularly well-received,” said Campbell. “He had some poignant comments on the current political campaign and talked about the role of ethics in politics.”

On the window side, Larry Zarker, vice president of the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, posed a challenging question to product manufacturers: will you be driving change or be driven by change? He also outlined building trends that will affect the window industry over the next decade. Some of these include:

• Consolidation of firms within the home building industry will increase in pace;

• A growing number of new, non traditional firms will enter the residential construction process;

• Information technology will change the nature of the way products are manufactured, purchased and delivered to the jobsite;

• Regulation of all aspects of the building process will continue to have a negative impact on housing affordability;

• Litigation will develop as a factor in the home building and product manufacturing process.

Steve Selkowitz, head of the building technologies department at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, also outlined coming fenestration and glazing trends. He looked at how a number of issues in the United States might shape the development, sale and utilization of windows in the years ahead. He outlined emerging technologies, such as smart glazing and self-cleaning glass, which will change the window business in the near future.

Meetings in the door division focused on committee reports as well as updates on other projects being worked on by the group. According to Campbell, one of the major discussions was focused on positive pressure testing for fire-rated doors. Rick Curkeet, chief engineer for Intertek Testing Services and Daniel Kaiser, engineering group leader for Underwriters Laboratories, offered information on procedures, testing and codes for fire-rated doors.

A Resounding Success

Campbell said he, as well as attendees, were pleased with the meeting’s success. “The membership was very upbeat concerning the status of the association and its new programs and actions,” he said. Campbell added that attendees were happy with the seminars and said many told him, “the quality of presentations were the best ever.”

The WDMA will hold its next meeting February 24-28 at the Hilton Torr Pines in La Jolla, Calif.