WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, alongside the National Glass Association and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, recently released a new Product Category Rule for fenestration systems.
According to the emailed announcement, the rule provides manufacturers with the base document needed to develop Environmental Product Declarations. These allow manufacturers to take comprehensive, third-party verified Life Cycle Assessments and utilize them for standardized declaration labels for their products.
The PCR for Fenestration Systems reportedly define a normalized “declared unit” as one square meter of fenestration assemblies including framing and glass.
Additionally, to reflect the differences in fenestration manufacturing approaches, the EPD results disclose the LCA results as a total fenestration system. This also includes separate results for both the frame and the glazing, because some manufacturers may make only the frame, or there may be variability in glass types used.
“This PCR is important for reporting and standardizing EPD information for fenestration systems,” said Kathy Krafka Harkema, FGIA U.S. Technical Operations Director. “It documents the goal and scope of LCAs for this category so that EPDs can be generated according to the applicable ISO standards.
“Without a well-defined industry PCR, it’s difficult for specifiers, architects, builders and other EPD users to make accurate comparisons in today’s sustainability-conscious world.”
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| Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance |
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The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, alongside the National Glass Association and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, recently released a new Product Category Rule for fenestration systems. |
The new PCR reportedly covers exterior-grade, finished, assembled fenestration assemblies including skylights, windows, curtain walls, storefronts and doors.
“Formerly known as the Windows PCR, this comprehensive new version more accurately describes the diverse range of fenestration products covered by this standard,” said Craig Drumheller, WDMA Vice President, Technical Activities.
“This enables it to serve as an even greater and more helpful resource for those interested in using this PCR to develop EPDs as part of a focus on and commitment to sustainability.”
The relative ratio of framing and glass for EPDs based on this PCR is derived from National Fenestration Rating Council standard sizes and configurations prior to normalization, the associations explain. They add that this may or may not be representative of the project-specific sizes and configurations on a specific building or group of buildings.
“This Fenestration PCR is more encompassing for the glass and glazing industry and will allow companies to generate their EPDs with the most up-to-date rules for sustainability,” said NGA Vice President of Technical Services and Advocacy, Urmilla Sowell.
The fulle rule, NSF 1102-23: Product Category Rule for Environmental Product Declarations, can be found here. The FGIA notes it is primarily intended for use in North America.
Previous Industry Review, Forecast
In May last year, the FGIA released its industry review and forecast, delivering information on window, door and skylight market trends and product relationships.
Historic data for 2012 through 2022, as well as forecast data for 2023 through 2025, were included in the “FGIA 2022/2023 U.S. Industry Statistical Review and Forecast.” Forecasts were reportedly based on projections of construction activity as of March 2023.
According to the report, following 12 consecutive years of growth, total housing starts fell in 2022 by 2.5% overall. Included in this, single-family starts steeply declined by 11%, offset by 15% growth in multi-family housing starts.
Going forward, the FGIA anticipated that the overall new housing market is expected to continue to fall further in 2023 by 17% before returning to growth of 8% and 7% in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
New construction demand in 2022 grew for entry doors in the residential market by 1%. However, entry door remodeling and replacement demand declined by 13%. The total market also declined by 8% compared to 2021, along with anticipated declines this year followed by growth in 2024 and 2025.
Similarly, in 2022, non-residential construction demand for entry doors declined by 3%. Total volume decreased to 2.0 million units. A recovery is reportedly expected in 2023 with minor declines expected in 2024 and 2025.
Looking at windows, the FGIA notes that the demand for prime windows was flat in 2022 with marginal growth of 0.5%. The demand for windows in new housing increased by 1% in 2022, with backlogs particularly in multi-family housing maintaining shipments as starts fell.
Remodel and replacement demand for windows was also flat. Additionally, an overall decrease of 7% is forecasted for 2023 shipments, driven by a 14% decline in new construction demand, before rebounding with growth of 5% and 4% in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
The FGIA reported that the non-residential glazing market decreased by 3% last year, with decreases across all applications. New construction increased 1%, while renovation demand declined by 11%. Moving forward, an increase of 4% is forecasted for 2023, with flat demand anticipated in 2024 followed by a decline of 3% in 2025.
In terms of residential skylights, the report indicated a decline of 8% over 2021 volume. New construction skylight activity was up 3% while remodeling and replacement skylight activity was down 10% compared to the year prior.
Tagged categories: Certifications and standards; Doors; Environmental Controls; Environmental Protection; Environmentally friendly; Fenestration; Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance; Glass; Glass; Glass coatings; National Glass Association; Regulations; Window and Door Manufacturers Association; Windows
