A new technical bulletin has been released in collaborative partnership between the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA). The purpose of this document, AAMA/WDMA TB-24-01, is to clarify the definition of a window opening control device (WOCD) to promote greater understanding of the role of WOCDs and provide an understanding of a WOCD’s function.

WOCDs are intended to help support home safety. When properly designed, tested, specified and installed, WOCDs can help prevent or reduce accidental falls from windows, while allowing the ability to open the window fully as may be needed to exit in the event of a home emergency.

“This informative new technical bulletin will help users understand the important role of WOCDs, and how to tell the difference between them and other window hardware types like vent limiters or night latches, designed for different purposes,” said Dan Raap (AmesburyTruth), Co-chair of the FGIA Window Opening Control Device (WOCD) Update Task Group.

WOCDs were introduced as a new window fall prevention device starting with the 2008 version of the ASTM International (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) (ASTM) F2090, Standard Specification for Window Fall Prevention Devices with Emergency Escape (Egress) Release Mechanisms. ASTM F2090 is a standard for window fall prevention devices that are releasable such that a window can be fully opened for emergency escape or rescue. The publication of this technical bulletin is especially timely because Window Safety Week takes place April 7-13, 2024.

“This technical bulletin was the result of a lot of effort from our industry members and will serve as an informative and helpful document to better understand code driven window fall prevention requirements and the important role of ASTM F2090 that is referenced in the code,” said Mark Mikkelson (Andersen Corporation), an active member of both Associations who also worked extensively on developing the document. “It also provides important information on the requirements for an ASTM F2090-compliant WOCD and how they can help with meeting code required window fall prevention.”

Download the AAMA/WDMA TB-24-01 now from the WDMA site or in the FGIA Online Store.

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced today that CORRIM is the newest member of the association.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association defines the standards of excellence in the residential and commercial window, door, and skylight industry and advances these standards among industry members while providing advocacy resources, educational and professional programs, and ways for members to provide greater value to their customers.

CORRIM (corrosion-immune) is an established manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) doors, frames, fixed windows, fixed wall louvers and door accessories. With over 40 years expertise, CORRIM specializes in the fabrication of both fully-customized door systems and a complete range of door panels. More importantly, we never lose sight of the fact that attention is given to ensure the final product is of sound design and engineering and of the highest quality.

CORRIM is honored to be recognized as a new member of WDMA to assist in the advancement of fiberglass doors and frames. CORRIM is committed to the highest material standards and the unparalleled commitment to customer service levels. 

For more information on the Window & Door Manufacturers Association, click here.

For more information on CORRIM visit their website.

Former WDMA Chairman and long-time board member Frank R. Marvin passed away on March 2. Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and long-time executive at Marvin, with a remarkable 42-year career at the window and door manufacturer headquartered in Warroad, Minnesota.  

Frank’s legacy is one of incredible personal impact on thousands of customers, employees, and community members. His uncommon ability to genuinely and thoughtfully connect with people by recalling the smallest and most unique of details about them, coupled with his signature humility and approachability, will leave a lasting effect on all who had the opportunity to know him.   

“My dad touched so many with his genuine interest in others—be it customers, employees, community members or his own family,” said Paul Marvin, Marvin Board Member and CEO. “It will be impossible to replicate his trademark ability to make every person feel special and his uncanny talent for connecting to so many in a very relatable way. We are incredibly fortunate to have known his kindness, his commitment and his unwavering support.” 

Frank’s customer-centric mindset and dedication to people shaped cornerstones of the Marvin business that continue today, including the company’s Signature Services department. It was here that Frank made an indelible impact on Marvin’s unique approach to complex, one-of-a-kind solutions for some of the most noteworthy spaces across the U.S. Perhaps most notably, Frank will be remembered for initiating the company’s production of its first round top windows, which would usher in the mass production of radius windows in the industry. In turn, this innovation transformed American architecture and helped to propel Marvin’s explosive growth in the 1980s.

“My dad was always willing to do whatever it took to meet our customers’ needs,” said Will Marvin, Marvin Board Member and Director of Retail Operations. “Where others saw the impossible, he relished the opportunity to find a solution and inspire others to do the same.”

Frank joined Marvin full-time in April 1969 and would later become the first member of the third generation of Marvin family to be elected to the Board of Directors. He served as Vice President of Sales from 1977 to 1981, after which he began an 11-year term as company President during a period of significant growth for Marvin. He later served as Vice Chairman of the Board and led company-owned distribution and retail operations until he retired in August 2011.

“My dad’s leadership and influence on the business through so many decades is something I will always remember and am grateful to have learned from,” said Dan Marvin, Marvin Board Member and President of Infinity from Marvin. “Marvin simply would not be what it is without his countless contributions.” 

Throughout his career, Frank was involved in many civic and business organizations, including serving as a long-time member and chairman of what is now known as the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). 

“Frank’s contributions to the association and the industry are innumerable,” said WDMA President and CEO Michael O’Brien. “His leadership and support of WDMA helped propel it into the vital association it is today.”

Despite his successes, nothing meant more to Frank than his wife of 57 years, Margaret, their six children and spouses, and their 24 grandchildren, which represent part of the fifth generation and future of the company. 

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced today that ThreeKit is the newest member of the association.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association defines the standards of excellence in the residential and commercial window, door, and skylight industry and advances these standards among industry members while providing advocacy resources, educational and professional programs, and ways for members to provide greater value to their customers.

Threekit is the visual configuration leader in doors and windows, enabling game-changing dealer and website experiences to inspire and help buyers navigate and purchase products. Threekit customers can use their own product and business rules to deliver visuals in 3D and augmented reality, as well as in custom space planning settings. This provides dealers and buyers with everything they need to transact online. 

Building materials have become Threekit’s fastest growing category due to doors and windows companies wanting to provide differentiated experiences. Visual configuration enables a new age of product experiences that sets forward-thinking brands apart from the rest of the field.  

“Threekit helps door and window companies engage with buyers, architects and designers in a whole new way,” says Marc Uible, Threekit Vice President of Marketing, Business Development, and Alliances. “It gives dealers a way to explore and see options in real time while working with a customer. Ultimately, it simplifies the sales process and closes more deals.”

For more information on ThreeKit visit their website threekit.com.

Today, the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) released its 2024 National Policy Agenda, a comprehensive guide and resource for federal policymakers that identifies priorities and offers solutions to the biggest challenges impacting U.S. manufacturers in the housing and residential construction industry.

“The WDMA National Policy Agenda is a comprehensive document outlining the pressing issues facing the window, door and skylight industry at the federal and state levels. We look forward to working with policymakers at all levels to implement fiscally-sound policies on a range of critical issues, including housing supply and affordability, energy efficiency and environmental regulation, and workforce development and immigration,” said WDMA Chair Emily Videtto, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Pella Corporation.

The 2024 WDMA National Policy Agenda is divided into ten different policy areas:

• Energy Conservation
• Building Codes
• Environmental Stewardship
• Building Safety
• Housing and Economic Policy
• Tax Policy
• Product Supply
• Trade Policy
• Workforce/Workplace
• Immigration Reform

”The window, door and skylight industry is integral to the residential and commercial construction markets,” said WDMA President and CEO Michael O’Brien. “WDMA is focused on partnering with Congress and the Biden Administration to advance legislative and regulatory policies that will keep U.S. manufacturers competitive and the housing and construction markets strong.”

WDMA's 2024 National Policy Agenda will be distributed to members of Congress and key officials in the Biden Administration.

A new Product Category Rule (PCR) has been released in collaborative partnership among the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), the National Glass Association (NGA) and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). This PCR for Fenestration Systems provides manufacturers with the base document needed to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). EPDs provide a means for manufacturers to take comprehensive, third-party verified Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and transform them into standardized declaration labels for their products.

The new PCR for Fenestration Systems defines a normalized “declared unit” as one square meter of fenestration assemblies including framing and glass. To reflect the differences in fenestration manufacturing approaches, EPD results disclose the LCA results as a total fenestration system and also separately for both the frame and the glazing, because some manufacturers may make only the frame, or there may be variability in glass types used.

“This PCR is important for reporting and standardizing EPD information for fenestration systems,” said Kathy Krafka Harkema, FGIA U.S. Technical Operations Director. “It documents the goal and scope of LCAs for this category so that EPDs can be generated according to the applicable ISO standards. Without a well-defined industry PCR, it’s difficult for specifiers, architects, builders and other EPD users to make accurate comparisons in today’s sustainability-conscious world.”

This new PCR covers exterior-grade, finished, assembled fenestration assemblies including skylights, windows, curtain walls, storefronts and doors. For more specific inclusions, see Table 1 of the PCR for Fenestration Assemblies.

“Formerly known as the Windows PCR, this comprehensive new version more accurately describes the diverse range of fenestration products covered by this standard. This enables it to serve as an even greater and more helpful resource for those interested in using this PCR to develop EPDs as part of a focus on and commitment to sustainability,” said Craig Drumheller, WDMA Vice President, Technical Activities.

The relative ratio of framing and glass for EPDs based on this PCR is derived from National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) standard sizes and configurations prior to normalization. This may or may not be representative of the project-specific sizes and configurations on a specific building or group of buildings.

“This Fenestration PCR is more encompassing for the glass and glazing industry and will allow companies to generate their EPDs with the most up-to-date rules for sustainability,” said NGA Vice President of Technical Services and Advocacy, Urmilla Sowell.

View the new PCR for Fenestration Assemblies now. It is intended for use primarily in North America.

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced today that Opco, Inc. is the newest member of the association.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association defines the standards of excellence in the residential and commercial window, door, and skylight industry and advances these standards among industry members while providing advocacy resources, educational and professional programs, and ways for members to provide greater value to their customers.

Opco is a privately held business located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for 37 years. Opco expands, molds and cuts EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and GPS (Graphite Expanded Polystyrene) products serving the construction and protective packaging markets. In the construction space, Opco fabricates custom door cores and window insulation parts to help its customers achieve Energy Star rating, as both EPS and GPS have excellent thermal characteristics.

Opco is also a longtime member of the EPS-IA Industry Alliance with Opco President Jon Lewis serving as the Chairman of the Board. Opco is a strong environmental steward in the EPS industry and partners with many of our customers and clients to recycle EPS, keeping the product out of landfills and back into the reuse and recycle stream.

“Opco is excited to bring value to the WDMA with its considerable industry experience as well as its unique and affordable custom product offering.” – Jon Lewis, Opco President.

For more information on Opco, Inc. visit their website here.

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced that Corning Incorporated is the newest member of the association.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association defines the standards of excellence in the residential and commercial window, door, and skylight industry and advances these standards among industry members while providing advocacy resources, educational and professional programs, and ways for members to provide greater value to their customers.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-plus-year track record of life-changing innovations. The company applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. 

Corning has created a family of glass solutions and process innovations designed to meet the evolving needs of the window industry and introduced Corning® ATG™, an ultra-thin, lightweight glass that can enable high-performance, lighter, and sleeker windows in a slimmer footprint. In addition, the company also recently introduced Corning® Thin Line™, an insulated glass unit (IGU) production line designed to manufacture thin triple IGUs with Corning’s lightweight ATG™ technology. Both innovations are enabling window makers to meet stricter thermal efficiency requirements outlined in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recently implemented program – ENERGY STAR® Version 7.0 – and offer industry leading products that can potentially qualify for tax incentives.  

“Corning brings its materials science expertise to the industry’s toughest challenges,” said Thomas Bertin-Mourot, innovation and growth leader, Advanced Windows program manager, Corning. “Our innovations come at a critical time for the window industry. We’re helping manufacturers efficiently produce highly tailored architectural designs and meet new energy and efficiency requirements. We’re looking forward to working with the WDMA organization to help the industry meet and advance standards and provide greater value to customers.” 

For more information on Corning Incorporated visit their website here.

The WDMA Spring Meeting & Legislative Conference will be held April 9-10, 2024. WDMA’s Legislative Conference is the signature policy-making event, comprised of advocacy and education, including a day to conduct in-person meetings with your members of Congress.

This fast-paced conference features conversations with Members of Congress, agency leaders, and political strategists. From main stage keynote presentations to panel discussions and networking sessions, you won’t want to miss a minute of this program. In addition to advancing our common interests, this growing conference is an opportunity to make our voices heard.

Click here for more information and register today.

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) has released the WDMA 2023 U.S. Market Study for Windows, Architectural Interior Doors, and Patio & Entry Doors. This study is designed to define the historical, current, and forecasted size of the industry market. The report is based on direct industry input for product shipments in 2022 and combined with other primary and secondary research to benchmark the results. The Farnsworth Group, a nationally recognized market research expert, conducted the surveys, analyzed the data, and prepared the report.

 The 2023 market study report includes an analysis of the attitudinal drivers of homeowners and contractors, key macro drivers in the residential and commercial markets, and a special section to gauge overall shipment demand sentiment and expectations to understand the current and expected challenges for the industry. This report delivers timely information on residential/light commercial windows, patio doors, residential entry doors, and interior architectural door market trends and product relationships; regional data, historic data from 2020 through 2022, and forecast data for 2023 through 2025.

Quick facts and key takeaways:

• The residential window market has shown steady growth, although not as remarkable as the previous year's performance. In 2022, there was a notable increase in residential window shipments, with vinyl windows remaining the most commonly shipped type. Shipments of sliding patio doors also experienced growth, although at a slower pace compared to the impressive rates seen in 2021. Surprisingly, even hinged patio doors, which were anticipated to decline, witnessed an increase in shipments compared to the prior year.
• The housing market continues to be surprisingly resilient. As interest rates stabilized, it appears that potential home buyers have emotionally adapted to the fact that higher rates will be here to stay. Thus, both new and existing home sales remain strong. New home prices have begun to decline while existing home prices continue to rise. This narrowing price gap along with only a 2.9 month supply of existing homes for sale has strengthened the new home market.
• For 2023, the factors driving the new residential market and the remodeling market, although mixed, are producing a stronger performance level than many predicted 6 to 9 months ago. The next several months will be very interesting to see if the relative strength of the housing and remodeling market can continue despite negative economic factors and the Fed’s actions.

Along with shipments and forecasting information, the study also presents national and divisional data and detailed product data for housing stock, new projects, and non-residential construction to provide additional insights into the health of the construction industry.

The complete study is available for purchase online in the WDMA store in the Statistical Reports section for non-members. Individual market segments of the 2023 U.S. Market Study related specifically to residential windows, residential patio and entry doors and architectural doors are also available for purchase separately.

Last week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) signed one of the nation’s strictest laws (HF 2310) regulating the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. Similar to the state of Maine, the new law requires manufacturers to submit detailed reports on products containing PFAS to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency beginning in 2026, while banning the sale all products with PFAS by 2032. This was enacted as part of a larger $670 million environmental omnibus bill that advanced through the Minnesota Legislature in recent months and represents the most prominent example of Maine’s PFAS regulations being used as model framework for larger states to adopt. While there will be an extensive rulemaking process over the next two years that is likely paired with a legislative effort to delay and modify the PFAS provisions in Minnesota, WDMA members should internally investigate their own use of PFAS to make a determination about whether Minnesota’s new law applies to their products.

Below are important dates from Minnesota’s HF 2310 that could affect WDMA members.

• January 1, 2025 – The following products are banned from being sold in Minnesota if they contain PFAS: carpets or rugs; cleaning products; cookware; cosmetics; dental floss; fabric treatments; juvenile products; menstruation products; textile furnishings; ski wax; or upholstered furniture.
• January 1, 2026 –  Manufacturers of consumer products with PFAS must submit reports to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• January 1, 2032 – A person may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale in Minnesota any product that contains intentionally added PFAS, unless the commissioner has determined by rule that the use of PFAS in the product is a currently unavoidable use. The commissioner may specify specific products or product categories for which the commissioner has determined the use of PFAS is a currently unavoidable use.
  
  

In consideration of recent developments in Maine and Minnesota, WDMA is hosting a session on PFAS laws and regulations during the Technical & Manufacturing Conference in Minneapolis from June 27-29, 2023.

WDMA members with questions may contact Jacob Carter, WDMA’s Director of Government Affairs, at [email protected].

The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced its new leadership team which was installed at the WDMA Board of Directors meeting on March 31. At the meeting, the Board elected Emily Videtto of Pella Corporation as the association's 2023-2025 chair. She replaces outgoing Chair Steve Tourek of Marvin, who will become immediate past chair.

"I am honored to serve the board and work with an outstanding group of manufacturers, suppliers, and the staff at WDMA. We continue to navigate a number of challenging industry dynamics including labor shortages and rapidly changing public policy," said Videtto. "I look forward to working together to amplify our collective voices and influence progress as we strive to serve our customers with high quality windows, doors and skylights."

Emily Videtto is Pella Corporation's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, leading the enterprise's go-to-market strategy and innovation engine. Founded in 1925 and headquarted in Pella, Iowa, Pella Corporation has designed and built high-quality, innovative windows and doors for nearly a century. Today, the Company has 19 manufacturing locations, over 250 showrooms, and more than 10,000 team members across its family of brands. Pella has received nearly two dozen innovation accolades, including Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies award for the second consecutive year, and is also recognized as one of America's top employers by Newsweek and Forbes. 

“I am looking forward to working with Emily as WDMA’s new chair. Her knowledge, creativity and dedication to advancing the industry and the association will be invaluable as we take on the challenges facing the industry on several fronts and help take the association to the next level,” said WDMA President and CEO Michael O’Brien. “I also want to acknowledge outgoing Chair Steve Tourek for his outstanding leadership and dedication to WDMA during a particularly challenging time for the industry.”

In addition to Videtto, the other members of the 2023-2024 WDMA Executive Committee are:

• Vice Chair/Treasurer: Jeff De Lonay, Kolbe Windows & Doors, Wausau, WI
• Executive Committee Door Representative: Fenton Challgren, Therma-Tru Doors, Maumee, OH
• Executive Committee Window Representative: Andrea Nordaune, Andersen Corporation, Bayport, MN
• Executive Committee Supplier Representative: Dave Pinder, Cardinal Glass Industries, Eden Prairie, MN
• Immediate Past Chair: Steve Tourek, Marvin, St. Paul, MN