FGIA conference’s key insights to cover performance, codes, products

by Christopher Brinckerhoff | February 3, 2025 6:00 am

Speakers during the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) 2025 Annual Conference will share technical expertise on various topics, including high-performance fenestration adoption, stretch energy codes in Massachusetts, impacts of Canadian code changes, and the safe handling of hurricane-resistant products. The conference will be Feb. 17-20 in Orlando. Visit FGIA’s website to register.[1]

“We know our members want to be informed about the topics that matter most to our industry,” says Florica Vlad, events manager at FGIA. “Don’t miss this chance to hear from knowledgeable leaders on themes like codes, innovation, and the latest on high-performing products at the FGIA Annual Conference.”

[2]

Barriers to High-Performance Fenestration Adoption in Non-Residential and Multifamily Buildings and a Blueprint for Market Transformation with Helen Sanders (Technoform[3])

Participants in this session will walk away with an understanding of the many interlinked and complex barriers to adopting high-performance façades and fenestration in non-residential and multifamily buildings. Sanders will outline a blueprint for action that could transform the market and accelerate the adoption of high-performance systems and technologies. She will also discuss the first-of-its-kind in-depth research highlighting the complexity of the dynamics in the market that cause barriers to adopting new innovative products.

[4]

Impacts of Canadian Code Changes and Updated Standards | Canadian Building Code, CSA A440S1, CSA S520:22 with Robert Jutras (UL Laboratory Canada[5])

Sponsored by UL Laboratory Canada, this session will provide an in-depth understanding of the updated CSA A440S1, the Canadian Supplement to NAFS-22. Jutras will highlight key revisions and their implications for fenestration product performance requirements in Canada. Additionally, he will address proposed changes to the Canadian Building Code, set to take effect in the 2025 edition, concerning structural wind load calculations and wind load considerations. Participants will gain an understanding of how these changes will affect CSA A440S1 and fenestration products and how this standard could impact the industry in Canada.

[6]

Backstop Calculations and Complexity | Building, Energy, Stretch Codes in Massachusetts with Christopher Grey (Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.[7])

Massachusetts codes are perhaps some of the most complex and perplexing in the U.S. because they include the three different 2023 Massachusetts Energy Code versions: a base code, a stretch code, and a specialized version. To clarify the complex, Grey will explain how and where prescriptive and performance compliance and tradeoffs come into play, backstop calculation and why it matters, and whether more stringent energy codes require more applications of triple-pane glazing. Those attending this informative session will learn about the key differences and nuances in the three versions of energy codes and, specifically, how the differences relate to fenestration.

Safe Manufacturing of Hurricane Resistant Products with Todd Benedict (PGT Industries[8])

Sponsored by the FGIA Fenestration Safety Committee, this session will cover how to safely handle and assemble hurricane and impact-resistant products and their importance. Benedict will discuss why and how these products are used, including identifying the need for hurricane and impact-resistant products, determining what is needed to protect the building, and detailing the safety considerations for manufacturing facilities.

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