Blower Test for Airtightness

Sunday, November 29, 2015

A blower door is a machine used to measure the airtightness of buildings. Some reasons for establishing airtightness are -Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage -Avoiding moisture condensation problems -Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold or hot air leaking in from the outdoors Blower door testing has been used in Europe and the US since the late 1970s. A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks

Top 5 Renovation Regrets

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Insufficient insulation, air leakage, poor lighting, not selecting double glazing, and poor design are the Top 5 renovation regrets, according to the research of the Victorian Government. Let’s look at those renovation regrets in the context of Paarhammer windows and doors: 1. Insufficient insulation: Paarhammer windows provide excellent insulation with U-values from as low as 0.8, the lowest made in Australia 2. Air leakage: there are no drafts, and air infiltration is from a low 0.05% 3. Poor lighting: well insulated energy efficient windows can be made much larger, while still out performing a smaller single paned uninsulated window, hence

Francesco the Robot

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Latest technology in window manufacturing: making windows and doors is not as it used to be. To make technologically advanced products which save energy, are draft proof and sound proof as well as bushfire safe, advanced machinery is a must. Enter Francesco, Paarhammer’s newest recruit. An Italian, Francesco is handsome and sometimes a bit temperamental. He has been named after the software technician who trained him. Francesco is a robot. Delivering custom made windows and doors Australia-wide, Paarhammer has steadily grown over the last 25 years. An increasing workforce is complimented with computerised wood working machinery and the latest is

Grand Designs Australia - 5x4 Hayes Lane

Thursday, October 29, 2015

A small footprint, passive design, and sustainable products were the focal point when designing this home in inner city Melbourne. With dimensions of just 5 x 4 meters the Haynes Lane Project is an impressive example of what is possible when good design meets client focus and principles. Paarhammer Windows and doors are part of this project. We invite you to watch the show about this interesting building, airing on Foxtel on the 5 November at 8.30pm on 106 Lifestyle Channel. If you are unable to catch the airing of the episode at this time, 106 Lifestyle Channel is re-running

Liveability - add Value to your Home

Friday, September 25, 2015

Australia’s real estate agents are embracing the trend of comfort, energy efficiency, and healthy lifestyles when considering the appeal and marketability of a property. The use of the ‘Liveability Property Features’ icon when advertising a property indicates that the property includes a minimum of six recognised liveability features. The complete list of features are itemised in the ’17 Things’ checklist, which includes options such as orientation, insulation, energy rating, and water and energy efficiency devices. Windows and glazing is also an important component of the checklist. When selling your home, you will require independent proof of the products that are

Australian Made versus Imported Products

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Paarhammer is proud to manufacture Australian Made windows and doors. Our philosophy is about sustainability and local jobs, therefore we use local materials where possible - including Australian glass - in our products. In the Paarhammer story, Australian Made translates to locally made windows and doors providing valuable training and skills sharing, and jobs not simply localised to the Paarhammer factory but extending to suppliers and manufacturers, including but not limited to, Australian glass manufacturers, and timber suppliers. However, with a flood of foreign products on the market it has never been more important to ensure that you are getting

Sustainability for End Users

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Careful window selection and placement is rightly viewed as a means of reducing demand for artificial light and climate control. WERS – Window Energy Rating System - rates the energy impact of windows in housing anywhere in Australia. With up to 40% of a home’s energy for cooling or heating being lost or gained through windows, improving their thermal performance reduces energy costs and Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Windows and doors are rated as a whole, meaning glass and frame together. High performance glazing is a waste if the frames leak and create a draft. Equally important is sealing the

Sustainable Production

Monday, June 22, 2015

It is not enough to produce sustainable products from sustainable materials, the manufacturing process and facility have to fit in with the overall ideology at Paarhammer. When building the new factory in 2010 several sustainable features were included: Light Management: An automatic monitor dims lights or turns them off depending on natural light levels at each workplace. This results in better and constant light to work in for staff and reduced energy consumption. Water saving: Water from the large roof area is collected in huge water tanks and used to establish and water shade trees and ground covers around the

25 Year Paarhammer Anniversary

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

To mark the 25th anniversary celebration of Paarhammer, the staff spent a weekend taking in the sights and history of Echuca, including the iconic port. The staff trip was a great opportunity to unwind and mark the occasion. The dinner cruise on the Murray River was just one of many highlights. The Paarhammer story began in a small factory in Ballan in April 1990, with a staff of three, a philosophy for providing superior quality and creative timber solutions, and with the original name ‘Design and Handicraft Furniture’. However, the need for energy efficient European style windows and doors was

Do your Windows comply?

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Recently some high profile projects were in the media for all the wrong reasons: their windows did not comply to the Australian Standard. The Australian Standards AS2047 and AS1288 set out minimum mandatory specifications under the Building Code of Australia which your windows and doors have to meet. All window manufacturers must comply with this Standard and must be able to verify compliance on request. The tests for AS2047 include a Deflection Test, Operating Force Test, Air Infiltration Test, Water Penetration Resistance Test and Ultimate Strength Test. All residential windows and doors must have a Performance Label that confirms the

Natural Light Equals Happy Homes

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Light in the home is more valued than ever before. We strive to take advantage of the building’s orientation for energy efficiency, to include views and invite nature into our homes, and to enjoy free flowing spaces for entertaining and our individual lifestyles. When asked what people’s aspirations were when building or renovating, the most common responses are: area, light, room, space, living – according to CSR Viridian Consumer Research. Renovation and real estate sites mention similar words: views, space, light, glass, natural, sun. The conclusion is ‘Natural Light/Space = Design Success and Market Appeal’. Coincidentally, research tells us that

Windows that insulate like Walls

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Paarhammer windows are already known for their excellent insulation performance but a new glass technology brings this performance to a completely new level. Heat Mirror Glass is relatively unknown in the Australian market, but has been used for years overseas. For example, New York’s Empire State Building was refurbished in 2010, including the use of Heat Mirror glazing throughout – changes which were projected to save US$4.4M per year and 105,000 tonnes CO2 emission in 15 years. Heat Mirror (HM) insulating glass units (IGU) contain one or more clear, low-emissivity films suspended within the sealed airspace of a dual-pane IGU