From Testing to Trust: Why Performance Validation Should Be a Priority for Manufacturers

Testing is the proof that’s in the pudding. For fenestration systems, it is a promise to customers that the windows and doors they purchase are built to endure decades of wear, tear, and weather. Testing is a key step for manufacturers to transform a concept in an engineer’s mind into a verified, market-ready product.

The two primary forms are in-house testing at a manufacturer’s facility and third-party testing by an independent lab. Both add essential layers of credibility. When tests are conducted by a third party, window fabricators can present that unbiased verification of their products to customers. They don’t have to rely only on the word of the manufacturer or extrusion supplier. However, in-house labs at a manufacturer’s plant serve a vital role by providing supported R&D and quality assurance testing.

Investing in performance validation for window and door systems helps manufacturers and fabricators strengthen customer confidence, differentiate their products, and ensure long-term success and performance in a competitive marketplace.

Planning for Performance

When a window or door manufacturer launches a new product line, the first priority is performance. This includes thermal, structural, and weather resistance. Establishing how a product performs requires collaboration from the very beginning. The manufacturer and the extrusion supplier work together to gather all necessary product specifications, from glass configurations and spacer types to reinforcement materials and foam fill requirements. Collectively, the teams come up with a test plan to cover the broadest spectrum for that particular system, with each one having unique testing conditions and requirements.

Window testing is a complex process that encompasses many variables starting with the window and door configurations.

Tests can be performed in-house, and many manufacturers hire a third-party accredited lab to witness the testing and qualify it for certification. These organizations then write an accredited test report. These reports are then submitted to an independent administrator (IA). Ultimately, they review the documentation and issue the official product labeling.

For thermal performance, computer simulations and validation testing are conducted and verified by an independent lab. However, long-term exposure testing may also be conducted off site in a real-world scenario. After all thermal, exposure, and structural test results are completed, they are reviewed by an IA. If all requirements are met, the manufacturer can label their products accordingly.

It is a comprehensive and time-intensive process, but one that is crucial for building trust with customers.

Specialized Testing: Storm and Impact

The industry has introduced specialized testing for the structural performance of products made for windborne debris regions. For example, these tests simulate a home being torn apart, with fragments striking a neighboring home’s window. Today’s leading manufacturers are developing window and door systems designed to perform at a level that protects the building envelope. These tests are critically important due to major weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense. If flying debris strikes a window or door allowing excessive air and water to infiltrate the structure, it could result in significant damage.

There are hurricane-specific wind load and impact tests. These evaluations simulate increasingly stronger winds that replicate a hurricane approaching. The intensity decreases to imitate the eye of the storm, and then the window is subject to stronger winds in the opposite direction as the “hurricane” passes over once again.

The testing involves launching a 9-pound, 2-by-4 piece of lumber at the window or door system using a large air cannon, simulating debris impact during severe weather. The projectile hits the glass at approximately 34 mph, and it must absorb the blow with only acceptable damage according to the test specifications.

In this instance, the window systems undergo 4,500 repetitions of pressure pushing inward, simulating wind forces against the product during a storm. This is followed by 4,500 additional cycles of pulling the product outward as wind passes. This back-and-forth stress replicates the real-world demands of hurricanes and other extreme conditions.

This level of testing requires reinforced components, specialized glazing, and high-performance hardware.

While no test can fully replicate every real-world condition, they provide a standardized method of comparing products and evaluating performance. And while passing a test does not guarantee zero damage during a severe event, it shows that the product is likely to reduce or minimize the extent of destruction, which is critical for building trust with window fabricators, building owners and homeowners.

The Right Partner for the Long Haul

When it comes to testing, what sets an extrusion supplier apart is its ability to partner with customers to test and assess performance throughout a product’s lifecycle. Possessing a deep knowledge of the design, performance, and engineering of a window and door system becomes invaluable should an issue arise in the field. Whether it is assisting in troubleshooting during a large-scale window installation or overcoming issues that arise during a field test, having a partner who can be on the ground with your team is incredibly valuable.

In these moments, the supplier’s role is to help identify the problem and resolve it quickly. The best suppliers aren’t just suppliers, they are true partners.

It is especially valuable when an extrusion supplier maintains their own in-house laboratories. This gives window and door fabricators access to technical resources they might otherwise not have. It allows fabricator customers to evaluate a product to a certain specification or to address a unique project requirement. Alternatively, while independent test labs are crucial for third-party verification, there may be limitations on how they can assist. They also must remain neutral, which limits their ability to offer creative problem solving.

Individual manufacturer or supplier testing facilities, such as those at Deceuninck North America, have greater flexibility to help customers through specific issues to reach a solution quickly. In essence, they can conduct customized testing for specific window and door systems.

When manufacturing, technical services, engineering, testing, and customer support are all under one roof, the result is more agile and solution oriented.

Testing With Purpose

At the end of the day, testing is about more than just checking a box. It is about making sure a product will perform the way it is supposed to in the real world, where it matters most. It gives everyone involved greater peace of mind, from the fabricator to the homeowner.

The process is often complex and time-consuming, but choosing the right window and door extrusion supplier makes a big difference. When you are working with a supplier who knows your products, helps you design them, understands potential challenges, and is ready to roll up their sleeves alongside of you, testing adds a tangible value to the entire supply chain.