American Made Passive Haus Windows
Last Post 01 Oct 2014 11:49 PM by greentree. 2 Replies.
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Pitt2004User is Offline
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23 Sep 2014 02:23 PM
Hello All, I am posting in regards to the availability of American made Passive House windows for the U.S market. We are a small window/door manufacture in the Midwest mainly focused on energy efficient European designs. We have been building wooden German style Tilt/Turn windows, Lift/Slide doors, Entrance doors, Fold & Slide doors as well as custom entrances. Currently we manufacture our products in three thicknesses 68, 78, 92 mm however we do not offer a window that has been certified by the German or U.S. Passive House organizations. We have been tossing the idea around for some time now that maybe we should obtain these certifications and offer a wood euro style door and window to the U.S. We are aware that most individuals looking for such products are importing these due to the fact there are no local sources for these products, however there could be, we have products that are very close performance wise and with a little tweaking we could easily be where we need to be to compete with our European competitors. We realize there may be a potential market for these products, we are just a little uneasy regarding these types of products due to the cost of components, labor and whether or not builders would be willing to accept this reality and purchase locally. Isn’t one of the goals of building green finding local sources for products and materials? Below are a series of questions we would like any and all feedback for those willing to share their thoughts and insight. Let’s ask the questions: 1. What features would you like to see in your ideal window? (obvious we cannot satisfy everyone’s needs) 2. What features are an absolute must? 3. Would you be willing to work with a small local manufacture if he was flexible enough to provide the product & service YOU are looking for? This is very popular in Europe where there are thousands of small window/door manufactures. 4. Would it make sense to have Window units certified for multiple NA climate zones? Or focus on the climate zones where most of the Passive construction is concentrated? 5. Regarding exterior finishes/cladding. Solid wood with Exterior rated finishes/paints or Alum. Clad shells? 6. Ability to specify your glass options based on facing direction and solar heat gain goals, how important is this? Is this a difficult request with the European or Canadian companies? 7. Lead times…what are realistic lead times acceptable to most, realizing that all projects are different? 8. Gas filling of insulated glass units: The simple fact that any change in elevation less than or greater than 1,500 ft. from where the sealed unit is manufactured and its final destination leads to installed breather tubes and in many cases for proper glazing these unit must be glazed at the job site. Is this an acceptable practice? So many times we are unable to provide inert gas fills due to elevation challenges. 9. Insect Screens? YES or NO. Fixed or roller? 10. Integrated Exterior Shading systems, Roller shutters, blinds, etc.? 11. Is there a need for a wood or wood/clad entrance door system? What are we looking for? Thank you all for your time and consideration. Bob Holloway Advantage Architectural Woodwork XXX-XXX-XXXX (Phone #'s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts)
fun2driveUser is Offline
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23 Sep 2014 04:03 PM
I'll offer my opinion as a consumer planning to build in 3 months as a data point. I am a PE but not in this industry. I would state that I am an educated consumer so please keep that in mind regarding my answer.

1. What features would you like to see in your ideal window? (obvious we cannot satisfy everyone’s needs)
Performance in SHGC, U-factor, VT and air infiltration. Also for my application impact glass. Frame materials are really up to what the performance dictates. Yours seem to be wood Euro which unless painted and repainted would not be my first choice.

2. What features are an absolute must?
See my answer in #1.

3. Would you be willing to work with a small local manufacture if he was flexible enough to provide the product & service YOU are looking for?
Yes of course but my locations are Ohio and Florida and my needs are in Florida thus the impact glass requirement.

4. Would it make sense to have Window units certified for multiple NA climate zones?
I am picking the best performing window I can afford. The answer is maybe. The various zones really don't dictate making a product for each zone (my opinion) but other factors like site location, window placement and size, etc would.

5. Regarding exterior finishes/cladding. Solid wood with Exterior rated finishes/paints or Alum. Clad shells?
I am not a fan of wood unless covered with vinyl or other durable covering to reduce repainting. Any material that has a thermal break or low conductivity would be fine to me.

6. Ability to specify your glass options based on facing direction and solar heat gain goals, how important is this?
This is huge to me and in fact I do plan to spec windows based on their cardinal direction, SHGC and U-factor.

Is this a difficult request with the European or Canadian companies?
I don't see this as a difficult request given you know what you want to order.

7. Lead times…what are realistic lead times acceptable to most, realizing that all projects are different?
Max would be 12 weeks anything less is acceptable with sooner always better than later.

8. Gas filling of insulated glass units: The simple fact that any change in elevation less than or greater than 1,500 ft. from where the sealed unit is manufactured and its final destination leads to installed breather tubes and in many cases for proper glazing these unit must be glazed at the job site. Is this an acceptable practice?
I am agnostic on this one. What I expect is that if I request a particular gas that when the window arrives the gas is still there. The how it happens is not something that should concern me.

9. Insect Screens? YES or NO. Fixed or roller?
For my application yes for sliding glass doors or French doors and on rollers so they can be moved out of the way. Caveat I don't plan to have anything but fixed panes and sliders or French doors so that is user specific.

10. Integrated Exterior Shading systems, Roller shutters, blinds, etc.?
Yes that would be very desirable as long as window performance is not effected and also depending upon cost. I have some with built in blinds now and find them very useful.

11. Is there a need for a wood or wood/clad entrance door system?
For my application I need good performing doors and I have no preference. Must meet local codes and by performance see window performance in #1 above.

I hope this is of some value but again I am just a consumer not a builder or home store supplier...
greentreeUser is Offline
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01 Oct 2014 11:49 PM
I think glass tuning is what you should focus on, and I would forget Passive Haus and focus on high performance. (My non support of passive is purely a personal choice I've made)

Extruded Clad over wood with a good weatherproof cross section.

Short lead times 4-6 weeks. Lead times for the masses not the rich.

No site glazing, that seems like a really poor idea for an important step unless your talking about sourcing local IGU's and installing them onsite in the frames?

Put a fin on it.

Stainless hardware.

Good hardware, nothing like a nice looking window that operates like flimsy sh*t.

Don't say your American made and then provide dimensions in millimeters.

Again, For a window company, I think tuned glazing is really an unfulfilled market although I'm seeing more and more offerings from the bigger guys.

My .02
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