Energy Efficiency Increases Selling Price

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

With energy prices increasing in Australia as well as the general cost of living, it is no wonder that energy-efficient homes in the market are selling at a higher price than houses with no energy-efficient features. These could be roof and ceiling insulation, solar panels, and of course, high-performance windows and doors.According to a recent report by the Domain Group, the demand for energy-efficient houses is increasing across Australia. This demand is adding a premium to homes with energy-efficient features at the sale, while ongoing energy bills will be lower for the life of the home. It includes new builds

Critical Documents to request from Window Supplier

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Windows and doors must comply with several Australian Standards, and your window supplier must prove that they do. There is a real risk to architects and builders by falsified or non-existing test reports or the quoting of a different Standard. Australian Standards: AS 1288 Glass in Buildings - selection & Installation AS 2047 Windows and external glazed doors in buildings AS 4055 Wind loads for housing AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas NCC – National Construction Code - 2019 Commercial NCC – National Construction Code - 2022 Residential Performance Tests: Under AS 2047, windows made from timber, aluminium,

Paarhammer at THRIVE PASSIVHAUS Conference

Monday, May 20, 2024

The THRIVE PASSIVHAUS conference is on in Melbourne on the 23rd and 24th of May 2024. Experts from around the world will present on the potential of good design principles and more. Our managing director, Tony will run a training session on the first day of the conference at 11am. Under the topic of Windows and Doors within the Passivhaus Building Envelope, Tony will explore: European door and window installation approaches Essential materials for airtight installation The 4 biggest mistakes when installing windows Important documents to request from your window supplier Comparison between window construction types Comparison between window opening types Door threshold options Criticality of certification of the

Compliance: Insights and Pathways

Thursday, April 18, 2024

The integrity and compliance of building components are paramount to ensuring health, safety and sustainability in the evolving landscape of the building industry. Among these components, windows play an essential role in the structural and environmental performance of buildings. Poorly manufactured or standard windows lose more heat in winter and gain more heat in summer than any other surface in a building. This whitepaper delves into the multifaceted dimensions of window compliance within Australian standards and regulations, highlighting the economic, legal and social implications of non-conforming and non-compliant building products. It underscores the importance of rigorous independent testing and certification processes

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

Why is airtightness so important?

Friday, March 18, 2022

The size of an average Australian house is 250m2 – or about 625m3 of volume - and most homes require heating or cooling for a large part of the year. If the building is not airtight – meaning if there are draughts – the home requires a fortune on energy costs just to keep it feeling comfortable. Why? Air leakage is defined as uncontrolled flow of air in and out of a building due to pressure differences across the building envelope. This means that the air of an average Australian home is unintentionally exchanged between the inside and the outside

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

Australians like to buy local

Thursday, May 28, 2020

The number of Australians saying that they are more likely to purchase Australian made products has risen to 90% as per a recent study by Ray Morgan. This is a great sign for local manufacturers, including the window industry. Advantages of locally made windows and doors: Knowledgeable advice and reliable customer service right here and easily accessible Outstanding quality products Ethically made under safe working conditions and with decent wages for staff Continued development of skills Less transport reduces carbon footprint Long warranties as members of an Australian Industry Association Meeting and exceeding all Australian Standards Benefits all Australians through

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,

New Windows for your Renovation

Thursday, January 09, 2020

Increase energy-efficiency, security and sound protection in existing buildings. Windows play a very important role in buildings. They let in light but at the same time protect the home from wind, rain and cold, as well as noise and emissions. If your windows don’t perform well anymore it might be time to think about replacing them. Modern double or triple glazed products can save up to 75% of heating bills, or even up to 84% of cooling costs. The warmer months are the best time for renovations, including to change over windows and doors. Some companies have long waiting lists,

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