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32 | AUGUST 2018 Residential Windows increasingly better performing windows – and while the new code presents some challenges for build- ing material manufacturers, it is also a very exciting time, says Jessica Owen, brand champion for Innotech Windows + Doors. "It's an opportunity to further improve our product offering to ensure we can meet the demands for highly energy-efficient building standards, such as Net Zero and Passive House." Architects are on the lookout for products that meet these increased energy ratings and feature higher performance ratings, as the industry aims for bigger windows and unique feature combina- tions. "Energy efficiency is the number-one thing we all face, not so much as a challenge, but a necessity," says Mike Harrison, architectural representative for Starline Windows. It's not just about the energy code requirements either as high-rise and other multi- family projects, often built near skytrains or transit, have acoustical requirements as well. "Thicker, heavier glass or laminated glass, along with higher performance Low-E coatings address both acoustics and energy," says Harrison. Virtually all projects now get thermally modelled by an energy consultant and have acoustical reports done as well . . . though such project requirements are increasing costs beyond what has been typical in the industry. Whatever the catalyst, "there's a trend towards higher performance. More companies are doing tilt and turn, driven by more stringent requirements in the code," says Funk. With passive housing becom- ing a bigger topic of interest for architects, meeting and exceeding code with products like EuroLine's 4700-Series ThermoPlus PHC (certified by the International Passive House Institute) is particu- larly important. Technological developments are key in helping builders and architects reach those energy goals – like All Weather Windows' V-weld technology, which allows the company to build a one-piece frame for its windows. This has two benefits, explains Nadiger: "It's virtually air- and water-leak-free and because of the structural strength, we can use residential win- dows in buildings that are higher than three storeys." Not only does this result in improved thermal perfor- mance, but increased cost-savings for the end user. While modern design homes demand large win- dows, patio openings and doors, these critical components can account for "30 to 40 percent of a home's heat loss," says Darwin Ortis, VP of sales for Westeck Windows and Doors. "Gone are the days when architects and builders compare ABC values to measure a window's performance. Instead, industry experts are looking to Performance Grades for struc- tural integrity, Pa levels for water penetration, and U-Values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients for ther- mal performance." The pursuit of thermal excellence is why Westeck will be offering some of the highest performance windows, patio openers, and doors available on the market. "One significant strategy to achieve improved thermal performance is to upgrade the sealed units' gas fill from Argon to Krypton," explains Ortis. "We have conducted the thermal testing, adapted our manufacturing, and are now able to offer this feature under the name MAX Thermal." Krypton – used in a retrofit of the Empire State Building – is a non-reactive noble gas that is colourless, odourless and is found one part per million in our atmosphere, with a conductivity of .0051, which is 63 percent lower than air. Whatever the esthetic of your next project, these modern window products are clearly going above and beyond the basic glass pane: saving energy, ele- vating smart design and letting the light in. A One-piece frame with V-weld technology from All Weather Windows.

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