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

International Window and Door News from Fensterbau

Friday, April 05, 2024

In March 2024 the Fensterbau Expo in Nuremberg / Germany was held again after a 6-year Covid break. There were more than 600 Exhibitors and 75,000 visitors from around the world, and Paarhammer went there to learn about the latest developments in the window industry to be able to offer these to our clients. Automation – Convenience and ConnectivityThe biggest innovations were made in home automation and many expo stands offered products that could either be integrated into existing home automation or as stand-alone systems. Paarhammer’s German hardware supplier Siegenia had a display under the topic ‘It’s magic’ with wireless technology

Forever Homes

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

What can be called a ‘Forever Home’? For many it is a family home where memories are made, where one stays for a long time, a home where children are brought up, and one later retires into. This home needs to be something that can handle any changes life throws at it. Important considerations are location, flexibility that the home can change with your requirements and lifestyle, that it provides a sense of belonging, and a feeling of being comfortable. Decisions for a Forever Home are made with longevity in mind, and less about potential resale value. Often owners want

Window Trend for 2024

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Large expanses of glass are definitely the trend for 2024. To achieve this modern look and the connection to nature while still creating a comfortable indoor environment, the thermal performance is important with double or triple glazing and high-performance frames. Expanse of glazing Views, space, light, glass, natural, sun etc. are words that show people’s aspirations when building or renovating, and real estate sites mention the same. Large, glazed areas ensure an indoor-outdoor feel of openness and connection to the environment which boost our mood, health and wellbeing. It also let’s natural daylight in to make a room appear larger and enables

Award winning Projects featuring Paarhammer Windows

Friday, December 01, 2023

Over the years a number of architects, builders and suppliers received awards for projects that feature Paarhammer windows and doors. From new builds to renovations and additions, residential as well as commercial, see some examples here: Beach Retreat Winner of 2023 MBA Regional Building Awards, category Additions and Alterations, with the builder Davis Builders, also being awarded Young Builder of the Year and Residential Builder of the Year by Master Builders Association Regional Awards. This project is set on a steep slope at the edge of bushland with stunning views of the sea; the renovation and addition came with a fair share

Timber - Classic Window Frame Material

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Window frames made from timber have a long history, they are sustainable as timber re-grows, and offer a beautiful, natural indoor environment that is good for human health. Timber is also a good insulator, making it ideal for energy efficiency when combined with double or triple glazing. Thermal insulation Every individual wooden cell acts as a natural air storage. If a timber grows faster, the cell structure is larger and can store more air, achieving a higher insulating effect. In general, softwoods grow faster than hardwoods which gives it better insulation properties. It is durable when treated or finished correctly. The structure

BAU Expo Munich

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Tony Paarhammer and Andrew Ferguson were part of the 190,000 visitors at the BAU Expo in Munich end of April, gaining insights into all the newest products on show. The 2260 exhibitors from 49 countries included the following topics which might also become significant for the Australian building industry: Façade insulation and secondary façade insulation, Prefabrication and materials to streamline the building processes, Lifting equipment like small tower cranes to make work easier on the building site, Solutions to reduce or eliminate thermal bridging in building envelopes, Low and zero level thresholds with drainage and thermal breaks, Screws, bolts, connectors for the timber construction industry, Low VOC

NCC - Energy Efficiency & Livability

Thursday, May 18, 2023

The new National Construction Code (NCC) which came into effect on the 1st of May 2023 (start date has to be adopted by each State and Territory) includes higher energy efficiency regulations and provisions for dwellings to better meet community needs including for the elderly or those with mobility limitations. Paarhammer products meet and exceed these new regulations. Today we look at new dwelling access regulations: Clear OpeningAccess to dwellings now require entrance doors (or 1 universal access point/door) with a clear opening of a minimum of 820mm, not including the frame or door leave. Step-free access is also a must

Additional benefits of bushfire windows

Thursday, February 09, 2023

Paarhammer manufactures bushfire safe windows and doors for all BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings including BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). They are tested, certified, approved and compliant to all relevant Australian Standards and are designed to keep the fire out and you safe in the event of a bushfire. But the benefits go far beyond bushfire safety.High energy efficiencyA frame thickness of 78mm combined with special double-glazing achieve 7 to 8 WERS (Window Energy Rating Scheme) energy stars for heating and cooling, with a U-value from a very low 1.6. Such high energy efficiency can dramatically reduce energy bills while at the same time increase comfort

Lift-slide doors vs. Sliding doors

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

What are the main differences and how do they compare? With outdoor living areas being an extension of modern homes, sliding glass doors are all the rage. There are two options when choosing sliding doors: regular sliding doors or lift-slide sliding doors.Regular sliding doors have been used in Australia for decades and usually have basic rollers along the bottom which allows the door to roll on the threshold or are top hung. Some door types already feature seals or brushes but there is little clearance between the rail and the threshold, which results in a compromise between making the door somewhat

Invest in climate action

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Australians produce around 499 million tons of CO2 per year *. More and more people are asking themselves how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Heating and cooling consume the most energy in a house and cause the most CO2. Since older windows are a real energy waster, there is a huge savings potential there.Energy LossThe greatest weakness in old windows are poor glazing with insufficient insulation (especially single glazing) and leaky window joints as well poor installation. This is where most of the energy is lost.High-techWindows have developed rapidly in recent years and are now real high-tech components of

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