As you may have heard, registration is now open for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) 2024 Fall Conference! This special industry event is taking place September 16-19 in Minneapolis, MN, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. I am especially excited for the theme of this conference: “Oktoberfest”! We will be celebrating this introduction to autumn with a fun night out at Surly Brewing, complete with a performance from a Minnesota Hall of Fame inductee, the Jolly Huntsmen Polka Band. But as you know, FGIA...

As part of FGIA’s objective focused on delivering purposeful and valued events, the Summer Conference will be transitioned into a fully virtual event beginning in 2025, allowing for a focus on two in-person conferences each year: the FGIA Annual Conference and the FGIA Fall Conference. This announcement was initially communicated in December of 2023 and again during the opening general session at this month’s 2024 Summer Conference in Montreal, QC. We are excited to share the concept with everyone and tell you what we have...

FGIA’s Glass Products Council has been busy in 2024! Those with this type of FGIA membership enjoy benefits like having access to new product research, information about new technologies and the ability to help develop new standards that impact the industry. If you aren’t already, consider becoming a part of this team. Read on for more.The GPC oversees and reviews development of all technical publications, assists in development and maintenance of insulating glass standards and provides technical expertise and supports technical programs. The Council also...

Is your company experiencing increased interest in sustainability? A new tool is now available for FGIA members whose customers seek environmentally conscious information to make choices for their homes and businesses. With property owners, architects and organizations’ interest in sustainable products and building practices growing, the newly released Product Category Rule (PCR) for fenestration systems comes at a great time.Thanks to collaboration by FGIA, the National Glass Association (NGA), and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA), the updated and expanded PCR for Environmental Product...

The first full week of April each year is designated as Window Safety Week – a time to focus on simple tips to keep children safe around windows. This year, Window Safety Week will be observed April 7-13, so there’s plenty of time to consider how you’d like to help spread the word of window safety. As an FGIA member, it’s in your company’s best interest to foster only the most positive interactions with your products – both for your customers and employees. For one...

FGIA’s conferences are well known for being the go-to destination for industry influence and networking. But did you know FGIA also offers events access to information and events specific to three different regions? These three regions are the FGIA FENBC Region covering British Columbia; the FGIA Southeast Region in the U.S.; and the FGIA Western Region also in the U.S. There are four regional events on the calendar for 2024, so save the dates now so you don’t miss out.2024 Regional EventsApril 3 (FENBC Region...

Great news: applications are now being accepted for a 2024 FGIA education grant! The first-ever FGIA Bill Briese Educational Engagement Grant Program recipients were awarded grants last year, and the time to apply for the second round of winners is now through March 31.This company-focused grant, available exclusively to FGIA corporate members, is aimed at extending education opportunities, building engagement within FGIA, expediting integration into the industry and furthering professional growth and advancement.Who is qualified to apply for the grant? An FGIA corporate member company...

As 2023 comes to a close, it is a good time to make sure you have the current versions of the documents that best serve and help shape our industry. Several important FGIA standards were updated this year in FGIA’s ongoing efforts to keep up with the latest technologies and performance demands. Let’s take a look at a few of these documents, whose 2023 versions are now available in the FGIA Online Store.Click on each document number to read more about what changed from its...

GlassBuild 2023 was an expansive, up-close look at our industry and its innovations! The 20th anniversary featured a rodeo theme – a nod to the location of next year’s show in Dallas. With that theme in mind, I wanted to offer some post-show cowboy wisdom for those planning for next year in Texas.Always drink upstream from the herdWe were all cowboys this year at GlassBuild America 2023! We were committed, worked hard and made a great show happen again! Like a cowboy with a good...

Many fenestration manufacturers now offer residential windows, sliding glass doors, skylights and tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) that meet new, more rigorous U.S. ENERGY STAR 7.0 specifications. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the more stringent residential ENERGY STAR 7.0 program goes into effect October 23, 2023. View the U.S. ENERGY STAR 7.0 specifications for windows, doors and skylights.Fenestration manufacturers seeking to have residential products certified to ENERGY STAR 7.0 will have to meet additional new requirements to comply with the new program, compared...