The 2025 Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance Summer Summit highlighted pivotal regulatory changes, emerging trends, tech and product breakthroughs, and market dynamics that are influencing the trajectory of the fenestration and glazing industry. Across residential and commercial tracks, sessions dove deep into topics such as evolving building codes and regulations, the latest market trends and economic impacts, advancements in product performance, including energy efficiency and resilience, and the integration of smart technologies. In particular, best practices for installation and quality control, emerging product categories like security screens and advanced glazing, and the implications of environmental initiatives and supply chain dynamics were covered.
FGIA Executive Director Janice Yglesias shared updates on the association's strategic priorities—including education, research, advocacy and product certification—during the Opening General Session. While FGIA has evolved its events to enhance professional networking and launched a new learning management system to improve educational offerings, a recognition research project aimed at establishing expertise in the industry is also underway.
Looking ahead, FGIA aims to build a robust research program and refine its product certification framework. "The goal is to assess our current certification models to identify opportunities to revise or wholly re-imagine our approach, elevate recruitment and onboarding strategies, and fully understand our competitive advantage," says Yglesias. "This plan begins with identifying new licensee recruitment targets and determining the potential for current licensee participation expansion."
The organization is placing increased emphasis on advocacy to influence critical legislative and regulatory issues affecting its members. This involves a targeted approach to ensure manageable and effective initiatives. "The prioritization of this activity was prompted by the recent swell of federal, state and provincial legislation and regulations impacting our members, products and businesses," says Yglesias. "Development of a strategy for FGIA to elevate its U.S. and Canadian governmental influence, potentially in partnership with other industry organizations, is underway now. The goal is to finalize the plan development and move into implementation throughout the remainder of 2025 for targeted, full-scale activities."
Security Screens
Understanding the new North American security screen specification and opportunities for the industry
The market for residential security is currently valued at $78 billion and growing, with significant opportunities projected for security screens in both the aftermarket and OEM sectors, potentially reaching a $2-3 billion market.
The session focused on the development of security screens, which serve a dual purpose of providing security while allowing for ventilation in homes. The industry has witnessed significant growth over the decades, evolving from simple fly screens to sophisticated products that protect against both pests and intruders. The establishment and standardization of security screens, guided by successful practices from Australia, is crucial for ensuring product safety and reliability.
Michael Leigh, president wholesale operations, Crimsafe NA, delivered a brief history of security screens and Australian standards. The recently released AAMA 1901-25 North American standard, derived from Australia’s framework, aims to unify and promote quality across the industry and will drive innovation while giving consumers greater confidence in their purchases. "The benefits of these standards, over time, have really driven innovation," says Leigh. "What started out as a product that provided safety and security against insects and intruders has really evolved across a number of different segments. And the certification labeling program in Australia gives the consumers the quick ability to identify those products that meet the minimum Australian standards."
Dan Parrish, vice president of product development, UHD Innovations, and Jeff Bell, president and CEO, UHD Innovations, provided insights into the new AAMA 1901 Specification for Security Screens, the testing protocols underlying these standards, and market opportunities for security screens.
Parrish provided an overview of the development process for AAMA 1901 and the testing procedures outlined in the document. "It takes years to bring a specification to completion," he says. He explained that the standard's primary focus is on what occurs when someone attempts to break into a home. "Opportunistic force entry is also addressed in the North American Fenestration Standard, so many of you may already be familiar with it." The standard includes minimum test sizes, similar to those in the North American Fenestration Standard. Testing of security screens must follow a specific sequence: impact, pry and pull tests are conducted repeatedly on the same object and can be performed in-house. Shear and knife shear tests (component tests), however, are carried out at AAMA-accredited laboratories.
Bell highlighted the promising outlook for the security screen market, projecting the residential security segment to reach $78 billion by 2025 with an 8% compound annual growth rate. According to Ducker Carlisle, the overall market potential, including both residential and commercial sectors—especially on the East and West Coasts—ranges from $2 to $3 billion annually. Bell emphasized this market remains largely untapped due to low consumer awareness, but the establishment of performance standards and certification programs could significantly boost growth. An emerging opportunity lies in the original equipment manufacturer sector, exemplified by Australian window manufacturers offering product upgrades as awareness grows. Additionally, security screens' benefits in fall prevention and fire resistance present further marketable features; while the U.S. currently lacks fire screen codes for windows and doors, such regulations exist in Australia and Canada. Bell anticipates that similar adoption will occur in the U.S. within the next 18 to 24 months, eventually influencing building codes.
Residential Window Installation
Reviewing field issues related to water drainage
A window is only as good as its install, according to Ben Anastasio, chief operating officer, Signature Windows + Doors. "If the installation guidance is not sound, we're not going to get a good install," says Anastasio. "To get very granular, we're going to discuss the bead of sealant behind the mounting flange at the sill and the implications. To narrow our focus a little bit more, we're specifically speaking to mounting flange windows in membrane drainage walls."
Anastasio spoke about the proper integration of mounting flange windows in walls that utilize a membrane/drainage system, based on the recommendations of FMA/AAMA 100, Standard Practice for the Installation of Windows with Flanges or Mounting Fins in Wood Frame Construction for Extreme Wind/Water Conditions. Key takeaways included the understanding that regardless of a window's quality, incorrect installation can lead to significant problems, particularly with waterproofing. A major point highlighted was the necessity of continuous or discontinuous sealant behind the mounting flange, primarily depending on whether a sill pan is used to manage water. Participants were encouraged to follow manufacturer instructions, but also to be aware of potential conflicts between these instructions, installation standards and waterproofing consultants' recommendations. The importance of a robust four-sided interior air and water seal was also emphasized as a critical aspect of ensuring performance.
Uncertainty and Opportunities
Navigating change in Canadian politics and trade relations
Louis-Philippe Champagne, associate vice president of public affairs and industry practices, Canadian Construction Association, offered an overview of recent shifts in Canadian politics, trade relations and their implications for the construction industry. Champagne highlighted the political turbulence caused by leadership changes within the Liberal Party and ensuing federal elections that resulted in a minority government closely divided between liberals and conservatives, with significant shifts away from third parties like the NDP and Bloc Québécois. These political dynamics, combined with the public sentiment of scarcity evolving into precarity—fueled by economic pressures, a housing crisis and workforce shortages—are impacting construction activity and related sectors across Canada. "This scarcity feeling is now evolving to this feeling of precarity. Precarity is one step further than scarcity. It's not only feeling that you don't have what you need, it's the scare of losing what you already have."
Champagne also discussed Canada's trade relations with the U.S., emphasizing regional disparities in economic dependence on cross-border trade and the complexity of supply chains. The ongoing trade tensions are showing signs of improvement under the new leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is pursuing a balanced approach to trade and infrastructure investment. A key focus remains on legislation aimed at reducing inter-provincial trade barriers, streamlining procurement and enhancing economic mobility within Canada. He foresees cautious optimism for construction growth dependent on successful government investment flows and addressing chronic workforce shortages primarily through better immigration policies and workforce development, with a predicted period of slow but steady growth followed by a stronger expansion once these challenges are tackled. "Construction cannot build if we don't have the workers we need," says Champagne. So there's going to be some very important public policy changes that will need to take place in order for construction to be able to build these new projects. And if that doesn't happen, no matter how much money flows, it will get bottlenecked by the incapacity of companies to bid on projects and effectively build."
Finally, Champagne underscores the importance of closely monitoring the evolving political landscape in Ottawa, trade negotiations and budget allocations, which will shape the industry’s trajectory over the next several years. "My prediction is that the next year will be slow and steady, but the next three years after that should be pretty positive."
Political factors affecting the U.S. commercial market
FGIA U.S. Technical Operations Director Kathy Krafka Harkema broke down some political factors in the U.S. that may be impacting the commercial market as well as economic facts and figures of note.
Harkema says that the U.S. recently made a significant reduction in the trade deficit by $76.7 billion and that tariffs implemented by the U.S. are helping to reverse the trade deficit, with U.S. exports rising 3% to a record $289 billion in April. Inflation is also at its lowest level since 2021, with a rate off 2.4% in May, largely due to decreases in energy costs.
When it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, Harkema says it may impact the U.S. economy, safety and security, ultimately affecting commercial construction. There may be increased demand for safety and security retrofits in buildings. The conflict could change market dynamics and create new opportunities and challenges for commercial construction.
Executive orders have mandated efficiency and certainty in federal construction projects, reducing the length of environmental reviews. Sustainability-related considerations have also been removed from federal contracts and regulations. The federal government is focusing on commercially available products and services to reduce procurement costs. Harkema adds that if someone is bidding on pursuing federal contracts, there's an executive order now that requires traditional federal architecture to be used on new federal building projects.
As of June 4, there was an executive order that increased tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. "If you're in an industry that deals with steel and aluminum, domestic manufacturers will have a greater ability to compete as a result of the new tariffs that the U.S. government has put on those products," says Harkema.
There's also an increased focus from the federal government on products that are made in America and trying to drive more support for American manufacturing through the Build America, Buy America Act. This act requires certain products for projects to be manufactured in the U.S., with waivers available through the General Services Administration.
There is also help for small businesses available through the U.S. Small Business Administration that offers resources and programs to help small business compete for federal contracts. The SBA has a new portal to connect small businesses with verified U.S. manufacturers, producers and suppliers, as well as provide tips for winning federal contracts and a hotline for reporting burdensome or discriminatory regulations.
General Motors is investing $4 billion in domestic manufacturing, creating opportunities for new facilities and multi-family housing, This resurgence of manufacturing is driving demand for commercial construction in areas with new plants.
The federal government's focus on stringent building codes is being taken up by the insurance industry to reduce catastrophic losses. areas with unique conditions, like hurricane-prone zones and flood zones, will see more stringent construction requirements. "Look at areas where insurance companies are dropping coverage completely, because those can signal higher risk area s that insurance companies just feel its not worth their risk to even be in that market," says Harkema.