Window Installation

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

As per the Australian Glass and Windows Association (AGWA), weatherproofing of openings, specifically flashings to windows and doors, have been added to the National Construction Code (NCC) in 2019. A membrane should also be used to cover gaps between the window and the building envelope. This could be wrapping or sisalation. In essence, wall insultation should not be compromised where a window or door meets the rest of the building envelope.Paarhammer windows and doors are made with or without reveals (lift-slide doors always have reveals), and reveals are costed separately. This way you can chose to specify your products delivered

NEW product: 30min BAL-FZ

Monday, September 12, 2022

Paarhammer recently had new BAL-FZ windows tested, well exceeding minimum requirements of the AS1530.4 test. These are 30-minute products (-/30/-) which are allowed to be used in Flame Zone without shutters as per the 2018 Australian Standard for Building in Bushfire Prone Areas with limitations. Two Options: AS1530.4 products (-/30/-) can only be used in BAL-FZ without shutters if there is ‘... a minimum setback distance of 10m from the edge of the classified vegetation’.  The Australian Standard (AS) states that ‘In circumstances where the 10m setback distance between the building and the edge of the classified vegetation cannot be achieved, those elements

Glazing - Latest Trends

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Would you like thermal comfort, natural acoustics and safety and protection, or all in one? Glazing companies have now developed glazing to suit highest energy efficiency and comfort: Viridian Viridian has released a new type of glazing: Vista Tech and Vista Tech XP. Both are triple glazed Insulating Glass Units (IGU’s) with either 1 coat of Low-E or 2 coats of Low-E coating, and a warm edge spacer. Viridian mentions that there are minimum sizes of 600mm x 400mm to maximum sizes of 5000mm x 3100mm, subject to component, spacer and weight limitations, and the maximum unit area permitted under

Paarhammer at Bushfire Conference 2022

Monday, June 06, 2022

Now in its eighth year, the Australian Bushfire Building Conference is on again this year. Date: 14-16 September 2022 Place: Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, Leura, NSW. Paarhammer will again have a display of our BAL-FZ windows at the Conference, and our experts will be there to answer all your questions. Warringtonfire, NATA-accredited third party, tested Paarhammer products, first a range to BAL-40, and then Paarhammer developed and patented BAL-FZ windows and doors without the need for shutters. These have been tested and are approved and compliant to AS1530.8.2-2007, and also to AS3959-2009 and AS3959-2018. Matching products for lower

2x Passive House Tradesperson

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Paarhammer is proud to have 2 certified Passive House Tradespeople on staff and congratulates Thomas Paarhammer (Paarhammer Windows) and Andrew Ferguson (Siegware - Architectural Innovations) to the successful completion of their course. A PHI Certified Passive House ('Passivhaus' in Australia) Tradesperson (CPHT) is equipped to implement the Passive House building standard. They have passed the accreditation exam issued by the international Passive House Institute, and they are in a unique position to work with design teams that have targeted Passive House certification as a project goal. 'Certified Tradespeople can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Passivhaus principles' as stated on

Avoiding Renovation Regrets

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

Australia's love affair with renovating is expected to continue not only because Australians love to renovate, but also as households increasingly prefer to direct excessive property transaction costs towards improving their existing homes, rather than trading up. Top 5 regrets But renovations can be fraught with issues: according to research by the Victorian Government, the top five renovation regrets are insufficient insulation, air leakage, poor lighting, not selecting double glazing, and poor design. Energy efficiency Windows and doors play a very important role in buildings. They let in light but at the same time protect the home from wind, rain

Difference in U-value Calculations

Wednesday, October 06, 2021

Windows around the world get tested and certified using different criteria: Australia uses the North American NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) system, Europe uses ISO 10077-2 and ISO 15099, then there is the Passive House Criteria and ift Rosenheim Directive WA15/2. How do you know you get the best window for your build? One thing is clear: the lower the U-value, the better your window. But if the outcomes of the different methods are not the same, can you compare apples with apples? Is an Australian U-value of 1.1 worse than a European U-value of 0.8? Or is it better or

Claiming energy stars

Monday, November 09, 2020

In a recent article in ‘The Conversation’ some builders are said to use the star rating system in a way that could mislead customers. The same can be said of the window industry. If you are looking for highly energy efficient windows, do not believe claims like ‘best energy efficient windows in Australia’ if this claim cannot be independently proven.WERS – Window Energy Rating Scheme – is the Australian rating system that gives windows stars for cooling and for heating. It also rates windows for their U-value and air-infiltration. The lower the U-value, the higher the energy efficiency of the

Advantages of tilt & turn Windows

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Turn your four walls into a home with noticeably high room comfort. Custom made tilt & turn windows by Paarhammer feature several locking points around the window and, together with rebated framing and compression seals, provide high energy efficiency, sound protection and security. While outward opening windows – whether awning or side opening – have issues with space when combined with external roller shutters, they are also difficult to clean from the inside. In this situation flyscreens must be mounted on the inside, and also hinder the cleaning process. Sliding and double hung windows are notoriously draughty even when closed,

Architects Declare - What next?

Monday, November 18, 2019

Imports of building material have been on the rise in Australia in recent years, but has the worldwide Architects Declare movement shone a light on the product of local manufacturers in the respective regions of members? The aim of Architects Declare is to consider the overall impact to the environment when designing structures of tomorrow. Confirming the sources of raw materials, manufacturing methods, and reducing the travelling distance of construction items all impact the overall footprint of each project. Local job growth and the continuing development of skills in Australia is also an important consideration. The range of products still

Architects declare Climate Emergency

Monday, October 07, 2019

Recently hundreds of leading architects in Australia declared a ‘climate and biodiversity emergency’ and joined architects around the world. The group called Architects Declare Australia has as their goal – ‘to ;encourage architects to design buildings that are less wasteful, more adaptable and much more environmentally friendly’. Buildings account for nearly 40 per cent of greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions The group wants to raise awareness and are calling for the urgent need for action in the built environment, and also among their clients and supply chains. Paarhammer is part of this supply chain, making windows and doors. Right from the

Compliance and Industry Updates

Thursday, September 05, 2019

Recently the first national conference for members of the newly merged Australian Glass and Windows Association (AGWA) took place at Darling Harbour. A multitude of informative seminars on a variety of topics kept delegates busy, while there were many exhibitors showing their wares. The stand-out topic to take home for us was compliance and the upcoming changes to the industry through the National Construction Code (NCC). Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) gave an overview and outlook of the housing market in all states and territories of Australia, and while detached housing will experience a small drop, it is apartments which