The Conqueror Swatchbook exhibits its selection of premium business communication papers and new, matching envelopes. Presented in Laid, Wove and super-smooth CX22 finishes and a choice of shades, the papers offer rich tactility and dependable printability.

“Conqueror’s contemporary selection of products coordinates corporate stationery with style, sophistication and professionalism,” says Ferkó Goldinger, advertising and promotion manager. “Available in more than 120 countries, global brands rely on Conqueror to reflect their credibility and attention to the smallest of details. These papers deliver an exceptional, consistent, unified message that leaves a lasting, positive impression.

Complementing the strength and versatility of Conqueror’s premium business communication papers, Number 10 size envelopes in Conqueror Wove and CX22 writing weights are available for immediate shipping. Sheet sizes and packing information are detailed within the swatchbook and online. For up-to-the-minute accuracy on Conqueror’s stocked items, as well as printing tips, finishing techniques and samples, please visit CuriousPapers.com and click on the “Conqueror” icon.

Sending an environmentally-responsible message, Conqueror products are elemental chlorine-free, acid-free, have earned Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification and are manufactured in an ISO 14001-certified facility.

Helping communicate quality, while accommodating a company’s personality in their stationery’s design, the 24- and 26.6-lb. writing weights have a localized watermark. Laid and Wove writing weights and CX22 writing and text weights are guaranteed with desktop laser and inkjet printers. Conqueror also performs well with offset lithography, silk-screening, embossing, foil-stamping and thermography.

Key Credits
Title: “Conqueror Swatchbook”
Company: Appleton Coated LLC, Combined Locks, Wis.
Paper: Conqueror CX22 Diamond White 118 lb. cover
Printing: Cover – four-color process + match orange + match blue + satin aqueous coating; Dividers – match orange + satin aqueous coating
Writing and Design: The Thorburn Group, Minneapolis

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Assisting with architectural calculations, Kolbe’s online Architect Library features tools to assist with anchorage installation and wind pressure requirements.

Kolbe’s WindFacts downloadable workbook provides basic background information about wind speed and wind pressures. Created for design professionals, this calculation tool helps determine required wind pressures of Kolbe wood and vinyl windows and doors.

The downloadable Installation Anchor Calculator helps calculate the number of installation anchors and clips needed to install Kolbe products.

In addition to these calculation tools, Kolbe’s online Architect Library also presents a convenient, online destination to access:
* A searchable database of 2-D and 3-D drawings, CSI specifications, dimension calculations and size limitations, and emergency escape and rescue/clear opening dimensions;
* A searchable database of products’ energy performance for windows and doors’ U-Value, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Visible Transmission and Condensation Resistance information that have gone through the National Fenestration Rating Council testing process, and identified for ENERGY STAR® guidelines in U.S. and Canada;
* A summary of 2011 tax credits for energy efficient windows and doors with links to additional details;
* Downloadable manuals for acoustic performance and for air, water, structural test reports;
* Links and connections to ratings organizations, industry associations, as well as Kolbe’s e-newsletter, Facebook Fan Page, webinars, video tutorials, American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System courses and green and sustainability resources.

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Tubelite Inc. announced Complete Line Glass Wholesalers, Inc., will distribute the company’s architectural aluminum products to clients in Texas. Three of Complete Line’s Texas locations – Grand Prairie, Houston and San Antonio – now offer Tubelite’s storefront, curtainwall and entrance systems.

“For nearly 25 years, we have prided ourselves on our service and provided glazing contractors with quality products. Tubelite is a perfect fit in product mix and service. We are very pleased with the partnership,” says Robert “Chico” Perales, Complete Line’s vice president and general manager.

Perales also notes that Tubelite’s environmental focus is important to Complete Line. All of Tubelite’s architectural products are manufactured using EcoLuminum™, a high recycled-content aluminum billet composition featuring environmentally-friendly finishes. Tubelite’s recycled content, energy-efficient systems and  support services help project teams pursuing green building certification. The LEED® Rating System™ is championed by the U.S. Green Building Council, of which Tubelite is a member.

Complete Line is a member of the Texas Glass Association, a state chapter of the National Glass Association (NGA). Tubelite will be exhibiting at GlassBuild America, sponsored by NGA, in Booth 2304 from September 12-14 in Atlanta.

To learn more about Tubelite’s distributors, please visit www.tubeliteinc.com.

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Coursework is now available through the AAMA FenestrationMasters™ professional certification program, which was launched last year by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). This nationwide program is targeted to professionals in the window, door, skylight, curtain wall, storefront and sloped glazing industries. The FenestrationMasters program offers training content based on consensus-based AAMA standards.

The coursework can be used for the purpose of training new hires, as an introduction to the fenestration industry or to provide further education, instruction and training to current employees. The broad scope of the coursework provides an introduction to the industry, as well as an education in a range of topics affecting the commercial and residential building products market segments.

Rich Walker, AAMA’s president and CEO, states, “Additional education and certification is an effective way to ensure that employees are well-trained and knowledgeable, which puts companies in a strong position to compete for business by offering customers the benefit of a well-trained staff with a broad knowledge base.”

The program coursework covers a wide range of subjects, including performance standards, product and material types and code requirements. Coursework is accessed through MyWindowClass.com, which is owned and operated by the National Glass Association. The online education format allows professionals to complete the coursework at their own pace and convenience, simply through access to any computer with an Internet connection. There are two different credentials available through the program:

* Certified FenestrationMaster: To qualify for advanced certification, a four-year degree in engineering, architecture or applied sciences in addition to four years of full-time fenestration-related experience or six years of full-time experience is required. This credential requires completion of six levels of coursework and a certification exam.

* Certified FenestrationAssociate: To qualify for entry-level certification, a four-year degree and one year of full-time fenestration-related experience is required or three years of full-time fenestration-related experience. This credential requires completion of four levels of coursework and a certification exam.

Descriptions for currently available courses within levels 1 and 2 are outlined below.

Level 1

* Specifying Windows and Doors: Part I: History & Features
The evolution of window and door standards and code references and introduces AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, NAFS – North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (the jointly published industry standard that is applicable for use in testing and rating fenestration products)

* Specifying Windows and Doors: Part II: Basic Performance Requirements
Basic performance requirements outlined in AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, NAFS – North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights and performance considerations, including structural loading, water penetration and air infiltration

* Specifying Windows and Doors: Part III: Window Testing
Testing requirements for windows, including minimum test sizes and other special and optional test requirements

* Specifying Windows and Doors: Part IV: Requirements for Materials and Exterior Side-Hinged Doors
The framing materials requirements dictated by AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, NAFS – North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights, as well as performance requirements for exterior side-hinged doors

* Specifying Windows and Doors: Part V: Verifying Performance through Certification
The importance of product certification and the role that certification plays in verifying quality and performance

* Glass Functionality, Performance, and Types
The uses and functionality of glass in commercial buildings, as well as manufacturing and fabrication processes for different types of glass and the applications for these products

* Fabricated Glass Solutions
Various kinds of fabricated glass solutions to enhance basic glass performance, including insulating units, safety glass and fire-rated glass, as well as methods of measuring and evaluating glass performance in order to make informed glass choices

* Installation Design Considerations
This course was developed as part of the InstallationMasters™ curriculum, and covers design considerations for both windows and doors.

* Types of Windows
This course was developed as part of the InstallationMasters curriculum, and covers all types of windows.

* Types of Exterior Glass Doors
This course was developed as part of the InstallationMasters curriculum, and covers hinged glass doors, dual action hinged glass doors and sliding glass doors.

Level 2

* Air and Water Leakage Resistance Testing: Part I
Comparison of AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, NAFS – North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights to the field testing documents (AAMA 502, 503 and 511) to define the appropriate water test pressure, test durations and water application necessary for a successful forensic water test

* Air and Water Leakage Resistance Testing: Part II
Evaluation of case studies, as well as procedural information on recreating the leak during a forensic water test

Please contact Angela Dickson AAMA marketing manager, for more information regarding the FenestrationMasters program, or visit www.aamanet.org/FenestrationMasters. More information about AAMA and its activities can be found at www.aamanet.org.

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Kolbe provides sustainable design support for architects, builders and owners to achieve their green building goals and navigate certification programs, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Rating System™ and the California Green Building Standards (CALGreen) Code.

“Understanding green building standards and practices can be challenging,” acknowledges Kolbe’s product and market analyst, Lance Premeau, LEED Green Associate. “There are several organizations that have developed rating systems to help guide the green building processes for both residential and commercial properties. Now, some of these guidelines are being adopted into code requirements for cities, counties, states and federal building projects. While their criteria vary, they share similar goals.”

Helping customers meet the criteria of these organizations and jurisdictions, Premeau and his colleagues at Kolbe answer green building technical questions and serve as liaisons to the company’s manufacturing team. Kolbe’s staff demonstrates its commitment the environment through its practices and initiatives – from the sourcing and recycled content of its materials, to the crafting and finishing of the durable products.

Kolbe’s window and door products also contribute to green building projects: Daylighting, outside views and natural ventilation are complemented by energy efficient performance, sustainable wood species, and eco-friendly finishes.

Kolbe earned Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody Certification: No. SCS-COC 002040. FSC-certified wood is an option on many Kolbe window and door products. Kolbe’s selection of interior wood species also includes Lamboo®, an engineered, laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) product. As a rapidly renewable material, Lamboo allows a four- to six-year harvest cycle, about half of the harvest cycle allowable under LEED.

Kolbe’s products are finished with sensitivity to environmental air quality and the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), enhancing these long-lasting, low-maintenance window and doors. Kolbe’s broad palette of finishes protect the products’ exteriors, which includes cladding manufactured from recycled aluminum.

Standard glass used in Kolbe’s products contains 25-30% recycled content. High performance glass options are available for quiet interiors, thermal comfort and utility cost savings. To meet the new ENERGY STAR® criteria for U.S. and Canadian climate zones, Kolbe’s triple pane glass windows come standard with insulating glass and LoE coatings designed to achieve low U-factors. Kolbe’s Windquest EP vinyl windows and Ultra EP aluminum clad wood windows can achieve U-factors as low as 0.19 (approximately 1.00 in metric).

“We stand behind the durability and performance of all Kolbe products, which is evident by our extensive transferable warranties,” adds Premeau. “By choosing high quality products that will last for decades, our customers have taken important steps toward reducing their carbon footprints.”

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Linetec’s field services team combines high-performance paints with precise application procedures to provide sustainable, attractive finishes on painted or anodized aluminum, steel and a variety of other surfaces. As a fluoropolymer resin-based finish, Linetec’s application of Kynar® Air Dry System (ADS) restores structures to their original luster, while meeting weathering requirements of AAMA 2605, the most stringent specification for architectural coatings.

“Preservation of residential properties requires professional people, exceptional equipment, and a kind of specialized knowledge that only comes from years of experience,” says senior marketing specialist, Tammy Schroeder, LEED Green Associate. “As the country’s leading and largest factory applicator, with nearly 30 years of on-site restoration and refinishing experience, Linetec is unique in our ability to offer unparalleled quality for historical and home renovations.”

Schroeder continues, “Linetec relies on Kynar ADS finishes to ensure the highest performance of any air-dried, field-applied, coating available. Its unequaled, protective characteristics fend off atmospheric pollutants without fading and chalking. Just like the factory-applied finish, Kynar ADS resists harsh weathering and protects the surface from abrasion and environmental pollutants.”

For projects that are required to meet the interior specifications for the Green Seal® Standard and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™, Linetec, in partnership with AkzoNobel, developed TRINAR® ADS coating. This new, on-site finishing option from Linetec helps preserve residential properties’ green goals, as well as performance and aesthetics. The water-based, environmentally-responsible coating system was created, offering very low-VOC (volatile organic compound) content.

For projects in most jurisdictions requiring additional certifications, the company’s Field Service team is trained and licensed to meet their local needs. When specified, the team partners with owners, managers, contractors and manufacturers to maintain the criteria outlined by LEED. According to the LEED IEQ Credit 4.2: Low Emitting Materials – Paints and Coatings, architectural paints and coatings applied to the interior must not exceed the VOC content limits in the Green Seal Standard. Along with the paint, any primer and cleaner used also must fall within the LEED guidelines.

Beyond LEED, Linetec notes that more communities and individuals are voicing their concerns about the chemicals and particulates used in restoring and renovating their homes. “Consider such examples as preservation projects with historic value, residents with compromised immune systems, families with small children, or homeowners that staying in their living space during renovations,” says Dale Robinson, Linetec’s field service manager. “These are exactly the types of projects where property owners should insist on finishing applicators that are certified in environmentally-responsible practices.”

Architects, building owners and other professionals engaged in green building practices can learn more about the role of finishes and thermal barrier systems by visiting Linetec’s online Architectural Reference Center at www.linetec.com or calling 888-717-1472.

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Regular care and maintenance extends the lifespan and performance of windows, doors and skylights. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) offers a newly-published, educational brochure with tips for proper cleaning and information to help ensure that products perform as intended.

“Caring for Your Windows, Doors and Skylights” presents a comprehensive overview of:
* Glass care
* Frame cleaning
* Hardware and component care
* Drainage system design
* Condensation and moisture considerations
* Finish color retention
* Plastic glazing for skylights

Manufacturers can personalize the brochure with their logo and contact information to remind customers of these helpful hints, and of the helpful source that wants their products to perform well and have a long lifespan. Custom-imprinted brochures can be shared with end-users, sales staff, distributors and retail outlets. Some manufacturers include a copy with each shipment.

The professionally-designed, six-panel, fold-out brochure is intended to help homeowners, building owners, property managers and all who are responsible for maintaining and cleaning windows, doors and skylights. “Regardless of framing material, operator type or size, all of these projects must be cared for properly to increase their service life, performance and operation,” Rich Walker, AAMA’s president and CEO.

Some states also require that manufacturers provide written care and maintenance instructions. “Caring for Your Windows, Doors and Skylights” may assist with this compliance, and ultimately, in promoting better-informed customers. Walker adds, “The brochures communicate industry-wide truths without being brand specific. This neutral, third-party approach removes the potential, negative connotation that could be incorrectly made about an individual manufacturer who shares similar information under their own company name.”

AAMA’s “Caring for Your Windows, Doors and Skylights” addresses a wide range of products, components, applications and current industry standards. To identify products that have been certified to meet rigorous performance standards, the brochure also illustrates AAMA’s gold label. The AAMA Certification Program is the most established quality assurance program available to window and door manufacturers.

A digital sample of the brochure can be downloaded from AAMA’s website and printed copies may be ordered from its online publication store with product code PMB-1-11. Discounts are available for AAMA members and for non-members purchasing more than 1,000 copies.

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More than 17,000 of Kolbe’s window and door products are listed in the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Certified Products Database. Energy values provided by the NFRC are used in the ENERGY STAR® program. The thermal values also are used for levels set for the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC). Any agency or municipality that sets thermal performance requirements accepts the NFRC rating system, such as the 2009 version of IECC.

Many Kolbe products in the NFRC Certified Products Database meet or exceed ENERGY STAR guidelines in the U.S. Many also have been approved in Canada. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. The program’s goal is to conserve consumers’ financial resources and to conserve environmental resources through the use of energy efficient products and practices. To rate the efficiency of windows and doors, ENERGY STAR relies on NFRC ratings.

NFRC ratings are based on the performance of the total window or door unit (both glass and frame). This helps consumers, designers and builders to directly compare the energy performance of products of different construction. The online NFRC Certified Products Database allows visitors to search and find certified products. Product performance data listed in the directory can be reviewed and compared, such as U-Factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients.

Kolbe demonstrates a commitment to providing and sharing accurate, energy data by having products independently simulated, tested, inspected and listed in the NFRC certification program. In addition to the data available on the NFRC Certified Products Database, Kolbe also provides detailed, product performance information at www.kolbe-kolbe.com’s “Energy Product Database Search.”

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Tubelite Inc. announced United Plate Glass Company (UPG) has been named as a distributor for the company’s architectural aluminum products. UPG offers daily deliveries to clients in western Pennsylvania, southwestern New York, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, northeastern Maryland, the northern D.C. suburbs and specific destinations for large projects.

For more than 25 years, UPG has provided architectural glass and aluminum products, as well as in-house fabrication services from its facilities in Butler, Pa. Complementing these strengths, UPG now offers Tubelite’s storefront, curtainwall and entrance systems, including custom doors.

All of Tubelite’s architectural products are manufactured using EcoLuminum™, a high recycled-content aluminum billet composition featuring environmentally-friendly finishes. Tubelite’s systems and UPG’s technical expertise can help building project teams pursuing certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Rating System™ in the areas of daylighting and views, thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

“Tubelite is widely-accepted in our sales area,” says Mike Cully, UPG’s president. “Across the Northeast, Tubelite’s products are well-recognized and well-respected. The clients who use these products are very loyal.” He notes that most of these clients are using Tubelite’s systems on low-rise commercial buildings.

Cully continues, “While UPG has the ability to perform high production orders, it has built its name on the creation of quality products regardless of order size. At the core of UPG’s business philosophy is personalized service tailored to the needs of each one of our clients.”

Sharing industry insights and best practices with clients, UPG is a member of the Glass Association of North America and National Glass Association. The company is a certified fabricator with PPG and Guardian Industries SunGuard® Select, a licensee in the Safety Glazing Certification Council and Insulating Glass Certification Council, and an authorized labeler of fire-rated glazing materials for Underwriters Laboratories and Warnock Hershey.

To learn more about Tubelite’s distributors, please visit www.tubeliteinc.com. For specific information on United Plate Glass Company, please see www.unitedplateglass.com.

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Barbara C. Higgens, Plumbing Manufacturers International‘s (PMI’s) executive director, will be recognized with a Crystal Vision “Robert T. Atkins Life Time Achievement Award.” World Vision will present the award during the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show on April 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Higgens will be the third person ever to receive the Life Time Achievement Award. The award honors individual dedication to World Vision’s mission of ‘working with children, families and their worldwide communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.”

For more than 10 years, Higgens has championed The Storehouse of World Vision, which addresses the needs of Americans suffering from disaster, personal crisis or economic hardship by providing families with supplies, including building products and materials. Companies donate excess inventory or produced-to-give products to The Storehouse’s warehouses. The Storehouse, in turn, partners with other nonprofit organizations to install these much-needed products and materials in homes, shelters, rehabilitation facilities, schools, daycares, churches, and other community centers.

Member companies of PMI’s voluntary, not-for-profit, international, industry association represent 95 percent of North America’s plumbing manufacturers and produce a substantial quantity of the world’s plumbing products. World Vision estimates that more than $80 million worth of plumbing products have been donated during the past five years.

Read the entire news release by clicking here.

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