Cascadia Windows & Doors achieves AW Performance Class designation for the award-winning universal series™ window, making it easier for high-rise buildings to improve thermal performance without sacrificing durabilit.
Langley, B.C., Canada: Industry-leading manufacturer Cascadia Windows & Doors has recently expanded its certifications for the award-winning Universal Series™ window, achieving AW Performance Class designation for casements, awnings and fixed windows.
The AW designation is the highest North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) performance class, requiring products to meet increased durability and air tightness requirements. This elevated threshold is often required for high and mid-rise buildings where frequent use and extreme exposure of fenestration products is expected.
“Receiving AW Performance Class for the Universal Series™ is pretty exciting for our team,” says Cascadia Windows & Doors President Mike Battistel. “It’s another example of Cascadia’s commitment to verified, industry-leading performance, as well as proof there are thermally efficient products suitable for commercial and high-rise buildings that don’t sacrifice durability.”
“As well, the Universal Series™ was entirely designed and developed by our product development team, so this designation really recognizes their incredible work.”
Through third-party testing by multinational product testing and certification company Intertek, Cascadia’s Universal Series™ products underwent a series of grueling trials, including 4,000 operation cycles for the operable vents and six cycles through hot (82°C / 180°F) and cold (-18°C / 0°F).
After these tests—as well as a slew of others—the Universal Series™ products were still able to exceed the NAFS AW Performance Class standard for air leakage (300Pa / 6.3psf) and maximum deflection limit (L/175, where L is the length of the unsupported span). This designation paves the way for high-rise and commercial buildings to more easily incorporate thermally efficient products into their envelope assembly.
“More and more jurisdictions are requiring increased building envelope thermal resistance for high-rise and commercial buildings,” explains Battistel, “but many of the traditional products used in those buildings can’t meet the standard. Innovative products like the Universal Series™ can exceed those standards without sacrificing durability.”
ABOUT CASCADIA WINDOWS & DOORS:
Cascadia Windows & Doors is an innovative, industry leader, creating beautifully designed architectural fiberglass windows, doors and cladding support systems. Included in some of the most exciting and award-winning construction projects across North America, Cascadia’s goal is to help revolutionize the energy-efficiency of modern buildings and drive the adoption of high-performance building products.
From residential Passive House projects to commercial and multi-family buildings, Cascadia’s fiberglass windows and doors offer unparalleled thermal and structural performance compared to traditional materials. This increased performance allows architects and specifiers to easily reduce building costs and dramatically improve a building’s overall energy performance, all while delivering an engaging, highly livable building.
Learn more at www.cascadiawindows.com