Paarhammer featured on Small Business Secrets - SBS

Monday, March 02, 2020

An exciting day of filming wrapped up last week here at the Paarhammer facility for an upcoming episode of ‘Small Business Secrets’ to air on SBS. Small Business Secrets focuses on the stories of migrant entrepreneurs who have turned their business dreams into reality. It all started out of necessity when Tony and Edith were planning to build their own house here in Victoria and were unable to find high performing European style windows and doors similar to those in Austria where they had grown up. From there the dream of helping others to live in a comfortable house with

Bushfire Compliance

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Flame Zone (BAL-FZ) product testing requires successful completion of the AS1530.8.2-2007 test. This test has a 30 minute furnace cycle and a 60 minute cooling down cycle in which the product still has to keep its integrity. Part of the test is also a radiant heat requirement of a maximum of 15kW/m2 on the inside. Paarhammer BAL-FZ products showed a heat flux on the non-fire side of between 1kW/m2 and 2kW/m2 in the test, depending on the product. This is just 1/10th of the allowed radiant heat. To put this into perspective, naked skin can tolerate 5kW/m2 for approximately 10 seconds

Watch Videos of the Forever House

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Inspiration for the Forever House came from a 300 year old Moonah tree which takes centre-stage in the design by Bellemo & Cat Architects. The tree being so close to the building meant that this elevation needed to comply with bushfire attack level BAL-40. Easy to achieve with the tested and compliant Paarhammer ‘Bushfire Safe Range’ windows and doors, combined with Viridian PyroGuard 40 double glazing units. In addition to highly energy efficient windows and doors, the home has many sustainable features, including solar panels, a solar hydronic heat system, heat pumps for water, water tanks and fans. Featuring bluestone

Bushfire - Policy Changes NSW RFS

Thursday, June 29, 2017

The latest fact sheet by the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) details their policy changes in relation to Combustible Construction in Bush Fire-Prone Areas. Paarhammer fire resistant windows and doors, tested to and compliant with AS1530.8.1 and AS1530.8.2 respectively, are permitted to be used in BAL-FZ areas in NSW. The factsheet states that ‘for building elements subject to a radiant heat flux of greater than 29kW/m2, the use of exposed timber is generally not suitable without specific testing in accordance with suitable protocols.’ Paarhammer windows, doors, sliding doors and fixed glass units have been tested to BAL-40 in 2010

Bushfire ready

Friday, January 29, 2016

With the bushfire season well and truly started, it might be timely to investigate the Australian Standard for building in bushfire areas, as well as doing research on suitable building materials if you are planning to build or extend in a bushfire prone area. Each state government provides current and new development information for building in bushfire prone areas on their websites, e.g. the Government of Western Australia has recently announced a package of reforms to help protect lives and property against the threat of bushfires throughout Western Australia. These reforms introduce new requirements for people intending to develop and/or

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