Australian Made versus Imported Products

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Paarhammer is proud to manufacture Australian Made windows and doors. Our philosophy is about sustainability and local jobs, therefore we use local materials where possible - including Australian glass - in our products. In the Paarhammer story, Australian Made translates to locally made windows and doors providing valuable training and skills sharing, and jobs not simply localised to the Paarhammer factory but extending to suppliers and manufacturers, including but not limited to, Australian glass manufacturers, and timber suppliers. However, with a flood of foreign products on the market it has never been more important to ensure that you are getting

Do your Windows comply?

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Recently some high profile projects were in the media for all the wrong reasons: their windows did not comply to the Australian Standard. The Australian Standards AS2047 and AS1288 set out minimum mandatory specifications under the Building Code of Australia which your windows and doors have to meet. All window manufacturers must comply with this Standard and must be able to verify compliance on request. The tests for AS2047 include a Deflection Test, Operating Force Test, Air Infiltration Test, Water Penetration Resistance Test and Ultimate Strength Test. All residential windows and doors must have a Performance Label that confirms the

10-Star Challenge

Friday, August 22, 2014

New houses in Australia have to meet 6 stars to comply with the Building Code. This requirement is quite easily reached. A movement for higher star ratings – and with it more energy efficient and comfortable buildings – is being undertaken by a number of architects and designers. The front runner is the BDAV (Building Designers Association of Victoria) which runs a 10-Star Challenge, giving Victoria’s building design fraternity the opportunity to design 10-Star energy efficient homes and be recognized for their design abilities and expertise in sustainable design responses. Already in its fourth year, the challenge is for conceptual

Policy Changes for NSW Rural Fire Service

Thursday, July 03, 2014

The newly released factsheet by the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) details their policy changes in relation to modifications to existing buildings and developments in flame zone areas. Paarhammer fire resistant windows and doors, Australia’s only tested and approved to AS3959-2009 and AS1530.8.2, will now officially be considered. Based on community and industry feedback, the NSW RFS has reviewed its BAL-FZ policy in regards to alterations and additions to existing dwellings and the practical limitations associated with building to BAL-FZ. Applications for alterations and additions to existing residential dwellings where the outcome of the new works increases the level

Award for ECO-Facade

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Featured at Designbuild 2014, the Eco Façade by Paarhammer wins the Selector Best New Product Award 2014, sponsored by Selector and Architectural Product News, and Designbuild. The award encourages innovation, development and improvement of products for use in architectural projects, and the product must have been released to the Australian market during the 12 months prior to Designbuild 2014. The judges for 2014 include Clare Cousins, founding director of Clare Cousins Architects; Jeremy McLeod, founding director of Breathe Architecture; and Nick Deans, project professional at Woods Bagot. The energy efficient and sustainable glass façade, with a low U-value from 0.8,

Energy Rating Certificate

Friday, August 09, 2013

When you talk about the energy efficiency of windows, it is not just the glass but the whole window system, which includes the frame, glass, seals and spacers. All components make a difference to the energy used in your home. Tested window products receive a rating called the U-value. A lower number indicates more energy efficiency. The U-value can be as high as 7.5 in some windows and doors and as low as 0.8 for extremely energy efficient products (0.8 is Paarhammer’s latest and best rating). The testing of energy efficiency must be performed by a rating organisation which is

Are your windows child safe?

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in NSW reported that from 1998 to 2011 there have been 113 young children admitted after falling from windows. To reduce such incidents the National Construction Code now requires window barriers to openable windows where the sill is less than 1.7m above floor level and the floor below the window is more than 2m above the surface beneath, effective from May 2013. These new rules apply for all windows in early childhood centres and in habitable rooms in residential buildings. Windows are to be either fitted with a screen or have the window opening limited