Following a packed day one schedule, the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance’s (FGIA) Fall Conference resumed Wednesday with topics ranging from economics and sealants to sustainability, certification, and some of the challenges associated with product testing. A hands-on glass workshop was also in the mix, allowing attendees to learn about the tools needed to prevent seal failures and glass breakage.
Kathy Kafka Harkema, United States codes and advocacy director for FGIA, noted amid a U.S. and Canadian Regulatory and Legislative report that she sees a lot of deregulation and spending cuts. At the same time, states tend to follow their own paths, she suggested, with some leaning into deregulation. Others, such as Washington State and Colorado, are increasing regulatory action, Kafka Harkema said.
Pullbacks have already impacted the energy sector. Several energy tax credits have been eliminated, including the IRS 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement, which expires by the end of 2025. According to Harkema, companies need to understand that materials must be installed by the end of the year to receive credits.
With the future of Energy Star remaining uncertain, Kafka Harkema encouraged program partners to maintain unit shipment data, while advising them to expect fewer federally-funded promotional campaigns and longer response times. A live audience poll indicated that most attendees believe the program should remain part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Another poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of attendees believe tariffs have had a negative impact on operations.
Amy Roberts, FGIA’s Canadian codes and advocacy director, said that in Canada the economy is slowing, even though broader inflation rates appear to be contained. On the housing front, home prices in Canada continue to decline, suggesting that downward pressure is softening, she said. Canadian home sales rose 1.1% in August, even as housing starts fell 16% on a month-over-month basis.
The country is working to diversify, which could open new export and sourcing opportunities, Roberts suggested. This includes reducing reliance on the U.S. and growing trade relations with other countries.
Product Certification and Testing
In a presentation on certification and testing programs, Jason Seals, FGIA certification services manager (fenestration), discussed challenges faced by licensees. Seals noted that common issues within AAMA programs include failure by licensees to update their contact information. Without this information, they miss important details on invoices, inspections and audits. The product testing itself also poses several challenges.
Seals says, for instance, the issue with verified components includes test times (some component tests require weeks to months). For IGU certification, the complete testing process takes around six months once testing begins. If there is a failure, the timeline resets. Seals noted that “extreme” care should be taken when creating test samples.
Regarding profiles, testing and lead times can be an issue, he said. The compounds used in profiles must pass at least 12 months of outdoor exposure. However, if another licensee is using the same compound and it has already been tested, an exception can be made. Lead times are also a challenge for air, water, structural and thermal testing, due to the availability of laboratory resources. Attendees were advised to budget for retesting.
Seals said that test plans often trip up licensees. He advised developing a detailed test plan before conducting a test. For instance, when considering air, water and structural tests, consider frame options, anchorage types, seal extenders, reinforcement and other relevant factors. Pre-planning can help minimize the number of units and configurations that need to be tested, saving both money and time, he said. The certifier should also review the test plan before moving forward.
Sustainability Matters
A panel of industry experts delved into sustainability in the fenestration and glass industries, sharing perspectives and highlighting certification programs, energy use and approaches for managing end-of-life materials.
Michelle Foster helms Home Innovation Research Lab’s NGBS Green certification program. Green certifications for single- and multi-family buildings have continued to grow year over year, at a rate of about 120,000 homes per year, she said, noting that there has also been a big push to renovate buildings to meet modern energy codes.
Foster said that codes and regulations continue to tighten, and that fenestration is a key compliance lever. Economic drivers include investor demand, lower operating costs, selling points for homebuyers and financial incentives. Risk, resilience, health, comfort and wellness also play a role, she suggested.
“Consumer expectation continues to grow with what they expect from where they live,” Foster said. “Sustainability is here to stay.”
On the manufacturing side, sustainability has become more company-focused, said Chris Giovannielli, director of global product management for Kawneer. For instance, Kawneer has a dedicated sustainability team that examines occupant wellbeing, including such factors as occupational carbon, as well as material impacts and other factors.
In the glass industry, there is a direct correlation between cost and sustainability, said Paul Bush, vice president of technical services, sustainability and government affairs for Vitro Architectural Glass. With glass production being such an energy-intensive process, one obstacle includes reducing the amount of energy required for production. Bush says there has been a lot of research and development to achieve those goals, so momentum is real, regardless of where the political pendulum swings.