The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance held its virtual summer summit June 17 and June 18. Topics ranged from vacuum insulating glass, energy efficiency, commercial glazing do’s and don’ts and political factors affecting the market.
Building resiliency
Director of Sustainability, Building Science Solutions at Intertek Alan Scott discussed the importance of resilience in building construction, highlighting the impact of natural hazards like hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, which he says have increased significantly in recent years. Scott says there are three aspects of built environment resilience: safety and security, integrity, and functionality.
Scott also emphasized the role of the new LEED version 5, which includes resilience requirements and a requirement to conduct a resilience assessment, as well as the ASTM E3429-24 standard guide for property resilience assessment. The ASTM guide includes a three-stage PRA process:
- Hazard screening
- Vulnerability assessment
- Identifying resilience measures
"We want safer, healthier, more prosperous communities, businesses and homes. All of that starts with a hazard assessment and tools like the new LEED V5 and the ASTM PRA. They are helpful guides in assessing potential risks and impacts and informing decisions on what are the best measures to mitigate risks and improve resilience," says Scott.
Glazing best practices and use of VIG
Director Of Program Development at AGMT Glazier Certification Jeff Dalaba, Quality Manager at Administrative Management Systems Terry Schaefer and Dana Landis of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. hosted a session on commercial glazing failures and how to avoid them. This session focused on improving glazing project outcomes through quality management systems, the importance of addressing installation errors and the need for holistic approaches that consider the entire building enclosure.
Schaefer says it is important when examining failures to determine the root cause of mistakes. "Ask why did it happen, not necessarily how did it happen," says Schaefer.
The panel explained that quality management systems are proactive, while quality control, which is examining any mistakes after they happen, is reactive. QMS can help avoid these mistakes to begin with. Repair after installation for glazing is costly and disruptive. Consensus built quality management systems for glazing ensures everything is controlled throughout the process.
Another session at the virtual summit explored vacuum insulating glass, including its history, uses and benefits. The discussion included technical experts like panelists Dave Cooper of VacuumGlass, John Matuszewski of Guardian Glass, Kayla Natividad Pilkington North America and Rob Grommesh of Cardinal Glass Industries. Key points included VIG's development in the late 1980s, its commercial availability in 1997 and its use in various applications like historic preservation as well as new construction. VIG units are primarily produced in China with a typical lead time of 10 weeks.
Cooper discussed one VIG case study, the Grant-Deneau Tower in Dayton, Ohio, which achieved significant energy efficiency improvements through the use of VIG. The building was able to be retrofitted, avoiding replacing the entire curtainwall. Cooper also highlighted the financial benefits of using VIG, including tax credits and the ability to install heat pumps, which reduce operating costs.
Matuszewski also discussed the importance of considering frames when it comes to installing VIGs. Matuszewski says that poor quality framing can result in bad energy performance. He emphasized the importance of considering overall construction of a project and how the VIG is held in place.
Political factors affecting the U.S. commercial market
FGIA U.S. Technical Operations Director Kathy Krafka Harkema broke down some political factors in the U.S. that may be impacting the commercial market as well as economic facts and figures of note.
Harkema says that the U.S. recently made a significant reduction in the trade deficit by $76.7 billion and that tariffs implemented by the U.S. are helping to reverse the trade deficit, with U.S. exports rising 3% to a record $289 billion in April. Inflation is also at its lowest level since 2021, with a rate off 2.4% in May, largely due to decreases in energy costs.
When it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, Harkema says it may impact the U.S. economy, safety and security, ultimately affecting commercial construction. There may be increased demand for safety and security retrofits in buildings. The conflict could change market dynamics and create new opportunities and challenges for commercial construction.
Executive orders have mandated efficiency and certainty in federal construction projects, reducing the length of environmental reviews. Sustainability-related considerations have also been removed from federal contracts and regulations. The federal government is focusing on commercially available products and services to reduce procurement costs. Harkema adds that if someone is bidding on pursuing federal contracts, there's an executive order now that requires traditional federal architecture to be used on new federal building projects.
As of June 4, there was an executive order that increased tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. "If you're in an industry that deals with steel and aluminum, domestic manufacturers will have a greater ability to compete as a result of the new tariffs that the U.S. government has put on those products," says Harkema.
There's also an increased focus from the federal government on products that are made in America and trying to drive more support for American manufacturing through the Build America, Buy America Act. This act requires certain products for projects to be manufactured in the U.S., with waivers available through the General Services Administration.
There is also help for small businesses available through the U.S. Small Business Administration that offers resources and programs to help small business compete for federal contracts. The SBA has a new portal to connect small businesses with verified U.S. manufacturers, producers and suppliers, as well as provide tips for winning federal contracts and a hotline for reporting burdensome or discriminatory regulations.
General Motors is investing $4 billion in domestic manufacturing, creating opportunities for new facilities and multi-family housing, This resurgence of manufacturing is driving demand for commercial construction in areas with new plants.
The federal government's focus on stringent building codes is being taken up by the insurance industry to reduce catastrophic losses. areas with unique conditions, like hurricane-prone zones and flood zones, will see more stringent construction requirements. "Look at areas where insurance companies are dropping coverage completely, because those can signal higher risk area s that insurance companies just feel its not worth their risk to even be in that market," says Harkema.
