What's News, DWM 2004

August 2004

What's News

AAMA Discusses
Controversial Issues at Recent Meeting

In a highly unusual move, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) held two closed meetings at its recent summer meeting in Vail Colo. Both of these sessions were closed to the press.

The first was that of the possible merger between the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and AAMA. According to AAMA’s Janice Charletta, the purpose of this meeting was simply to brief members on the negotiations between the two organizations are taking place and that talks will continue.

“Beyond that there wasn’t much to report,” she said.

Charletta said the meeting was closed to the press so members could ask questions related to
the merger in a comfortable environment.

“We wanted to offer a forum that all members were comfortable with without worrying about how things would be reported,” she said.

She added that negotiation teams for both organizations are working to schedule the next meeting and says that AAMA will continue to keep members informed of these discussions. In fact, she says that future talks may be closed as well until a final decision is made.

The other meeting closed to the press, and to other interested parties, was that of the deflection limits task group. A motion had passed at the winter meeting for this session to allow AAMA members only, and members were required to sign a confidentiality agreement before attending.

According to Charletta, AAMA had paid a considerable amount of money for research to be performed concerning L/175.

“Some of those results were presented at the meeting as well as what AAMA would do with that information,” said Charletta.

The fact that two sessions were closed to the press at the summer meeting is definitely a deviation from the past.
“It is very rare that we have closed meetings,” said Charletta. In fact, in my five years of being with AAMA, I can’t remember a meeting being closed.”

Look to the September issue of DWM for a full report of the association’s summer meeting.

COMPANY NEWS
Shat-R-Proof Moves
Shat-R-Proof Corp., based in Savage, Minn., has announced its move into new corporate headquarters. According to the company, the move will allow for more efficient office space and greater manufacturing flexibility in the production of SRP products, including SRP surface restoration products, SRP Totalseal adhesives and Novus plastic polishes.

The company's address will change with the relocation, but corporate phone numbers will remain the same.
Centennial Windows Named Canadian Energy Star® Manufacturer of the Year

Centennial Windows, a London, Ontario based manufacturer and installer of replacement windows, has been named Canadian Energy Star® Manufacturer of the Year. President Terry Lee received the award on behalf of the company, which was presented in Montreal by Neil MacLeod, director general, Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada (NRC).

“We are truly honored by this recognition, particularly because of the fact that competition for the award is amongst all categories of energy-efficient products, not just windows,” said

Lee. “This award signifies how important our Energy Star qualified replacement windows have become in Canada’s overall effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

When the NRC announced in May 2003 that criteria had been developed to allow the Energy Star label to be used on windows and sliding glass doors in Canada, Centennial Windows was first in line to have its products qualified.

During the awards presentation, MacLeod also pointed out that Centennial Windows was one of the earliest companies in North America to offer low-E coatings and argon gas fill in its products.

Kaye and Freedman Start New Company
Harold Kaye and Robert Freedman, long-time managers in the window industry have formed Focus Point Windows and Doors in Long Beach, N.Y. Kaye previously served as president of Survivor Technologies and Remington Aluminum. Freedman has more than 30 years of experience in the industry including ownership of Airtite Manufacturing.

The owners say it will introduce many innovations including the new insulating glass system from Sashlite and exterior color coating of vinyl windows, and will be an exclusive fabricator of Dayton Technologies.

The owners expect the company to offer quick delivery to its customers that will include lumber yards and large window dealers with 100 miles of its plant.

ASSOCIATION NEWS
AAMA to Offer Professional Membership Category
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) now offers a special membership category for those with an interest in window, glass and related applications but who are not employed by a manufacturing firm.

AAMA is offering a professional membership category. Professional members will receive the AAMA newsletter and Certified Products Directory at no charge. They
will also have access to the Member’s Only section of the AAMA website, which provides information on state building code adoptions, developments in fighting mold, drafts of standards that are being developed or updated and more.

CODES AND STANDARDS
ICC Rules on Window Sill Heights
The Window and Door Manufacturers Association reports that it has been working diligently during the code cycle to oppose a proposal that would require minimum sill heights for residential windows located more than 72 inches above grade. RB205, approved recently at the Final Action Hearings held in Kansas in May, includes the following new text in R613.2:

In dwelling units, where the rough opening for the sill portion of an operable window is located more than 72 inches above the ground or other surface below, the rough opening for the sill portion of the window shall be a minimum of 24 inches above the finished floor of the room in which the window is located.

BHMA Publishes New Standards
The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) has published ANSI/BHMA A 156.7-2003 American National Standards for Template Hinge Dimensions. The updated standard covers template requirements for the length, width, thickness, offset and screw-hole spacing of full mortise, full-surface, half-mortise, half-surface, slip-in and swing clear hinges.

The association has also published ANSI/BHMA A 156.2-2003 American National Standard for Door Gasketing and Edge Seal Systems. The updated standard establishes requirements for the performance and installation of gasketing systems applied to, or mortised to, doors or frames. According to the BHMA, requirements and rests are described for non-intumesent materials and for intumesent materials for the first time.