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

Natural Light Equals Happy Homes

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Light in the home is more valued than ever before. We strive to take advantage of the building’s orientation for energy efficiency, to include views and invite nature into our homes, and to enjoy free flowing spaces for entertaining and our individual lifestyles. When asked what people’s aspirations were when building or renovating, the most common responses are: area, light, room, space, living – according to CSR Viridian Consumer Research. Renovation and real estate sites mention similar words: views, space, light, glass, natural, sun. The conclusion is ‘Natural Light/Space = Design Success and Market Appeal’. Coincidentally, research tells us that

Windows that insulate like Walls

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Paarhammer windows are already known for their excellent insulation performance but a new glass technology brings this performance to a completely new level. Heat Mirror Glass is relatively unknown in the Australian market, but has been used for years overseas. For example, New York’s Empire State Building was refurbished in 2010, including the use of Heat Mirror glazing throughout – changes which were projected to save US$4.4M per year and 105,000 tonnes CO2 emission in 15 years. Heat Mirror (HM) insulating glass units (IGU) contain one or more clear, low-emissivity films suspended within the sealed airspace of a dual-pane IGU

What makes a Window a Good Window

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

At recent home shows this question was asked often, so I will try and answer it here: A good window consists of 5 parts: glazing, frame material, seals, locking points and installation Glass Double glazing is now quite common but it is important to consider the width of the air gap between the glass. Anything from 12 to 20mm is ideal as it is the air or gas which is between the two panes of glass which provides energy efficiency. Triple glazing should have two 12mm air gaps to increase the efficiency even more. Frame Look for a material which

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

Inner City Living

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

In the last 15 to 20 years the shift to living in the centre of the city or in the inner suburbs became as strong as the shift to the edge of the city to live in a house on a quarter acre block had been in the 1950s and 60s. The reversal has been driven primarily by the desire to live a more exciting, cosmopolitan lifestyle and the convenience of living close to work. Many single or sometimes double fronted older style houses are being renovated to reflect modern day living. Some of the disadvantages to overcome are traffic

Fensterbau Frontale 2014

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Paarhammer has visited the bi-annual expo in Nuremberg again this year, taking several key staff. As a market leader in innovation and energy efficiency, Paarhammer is always striving to be at the forefront of the window industry. Fensterbau is a great place to keep up-to-date. Trends for the future and new hardware solutions can be seen at the world’s leading trade fair for windows, doors, facades and shading. The wish for more sustainability and comfort continues to drive innovation in the construction sector. It shows how aesthetics and design trends can be reconciled with energy-efficient building. Another focus of the

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,

First Impression: Entrance Doors

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Your entrance door is like your business card: when visitors come to your home the entrance door will give a first impression. In today’s market there are many designs available from modern to traditional, from blending in to making a statement. The design should suit the house so that ‘curb appeal’ works as a whole and makes your home inviting. But your entrance door should not only look good but work well. After choosing the right design, sealing and security are the main issues for front doors. Seals equal no drafts Sealing well could mean that your door is double

Burglaries - protect what's dear to you

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

During 2012/13 there have been 28,915 residential burglaries in Victoria alone with 2,716 of aggravated burglaries. (Source: Victoria Police Crime Statistics, 28 Aug 2013) 15 seconds – that’s how long a professional burglar needs on average to get through a door or window into a house. The consequences of a burglary are high financial damage of all sorts: next to the stolen goods which have to be replaced, often burglars leave behind wilfully damage and damage to property which might need costly repairs. Also emotionally burglaries can be damaging, especially the lost feeling of security and missing personal items are

Back to Timber

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

For numerous reasons wood is making a come-back as building material of choice. Led by the famous award winning ‘Forte’ – the tallest apartment building made of cross laminated timber in the Southern Hemisphere, more and more architects are using timber in a major way. Michael Green and his firm in Canada developed North Americas tallest timber building with a height of 27.5metre, the new home of the Wood Innovation and Design Centre. In Australia, Peter Maddison, award winning architect and presenter of Grand Design Australia, says in a commercial by ‘Wood Naturally Better’ that “wood stores carbon and carbon