WIN-DOOR REHAU leads in fenestration with CST, Passive House- compliant products and enhanced sound abatement Canadian Design and Constriction Report special feature REHAU, a leading provider of polymer- based solutions in construction, automotive and industry, continues to evolve as one of the top global providers of uPVC window and door designs, meeting increasing efficiency demands and introducing new products to meet the changing market. James Clavel, sales director for Eastern Canada, says the industry is focusing on structural and thermal performance, but reg- ulations are changing so rapidly and manu- facturers are working so quickly to catch up that the messages and terminology are get- ting muddled. “For instance, our products use compression-seal technology (CST) and while that has become a general term in the industry, it can be overlooked that ours is more compressible than most.” CST is a special gasket compressed be- tween the operable sash and frame of a window or door, which seals the joint by resisting air, noise and water infil- tration for thermal and acoustical performance. Pressure is applied to the gasket through the use of hardware. The hardware is positioned on both the sash and frame so the gasket is compressed, much like a car door. 22 – April-May 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report In addition to excelling in CST, REHAU goes beyond what is expected in other areas as well. “Passive house and net-zero construction are both gaining more attention,” he said. “We have products that meet passive house stan- dards, but they meet the more stringent Ger- man passive house standard, rather than the easier-to-achieve U.S. passive house require- ment.” Clavel says REHAU has parlayed its results to meet the German specification, as well as North American codes and standards to pro- vide superior energy efficiency and to give builders peace of mind that they are using properly tested and certified products. Besides energy savings and performance, REHAU has also taken an interest in products with better sound abatement, something Clavel says will become more important and sought after as urban sprawl increases. “We’re seeing increasing demand already from the manufacturer and builder side for our GENEO line. Through deeper frames with additional seals that provide the same sight lines, we offer window designs that meet high sound transmission coefficient (STC) and outdoor indoor trans- mission class (OITC) requirements.”