Stuart Lipp, is a products and services consultant at A.W. Hastings & Co., a leading distributor of the Marvin Family Of Brands. On Wednesday, November 14, Lipp gave a presentation at 7 Tide about Fenestration Field Testing. In the audience, industry professionals gathered to collect continuing education units (CEUs), but also to learn more about this important step in the building process. Here are seven of the evening’s most popular questions with answers from Lipp:

1. Why is it important to conduct a field test?  

To ensure that the windows and installation method will perform as needed for that particular project. You can consider it quality control for the window and installation.

2. How should an architect decide which windows to field test in a project?  

For a residential project, you really want to take the building location and exposure into consideration.  For example, a house in Newton is not subject to the same high winds and driving rain as a house on the coast in Gloucester. If the house is on the coast and fully exposed to the ocean, then it might be a good idea to conduct a field test.  

3. Will there be a difference in the performance of a double hung vs. a casement window?  

In general windows with compression seals, such as awnings, casements, hoppers, and tilt-turns will perform better at keeping air and water out than sliding windows, like double hung (vertical) and gliding (horizontal) windows do.  

4. When is the best time to test?  

You should test at the beginning of the project. You can catch any issues prior to all of the windows being installed, and it will establish a product and install standard for the rest of the project.

5. What happens when a window or door fails?

The contractor/installer should contact their window representative for a consultation. They will inspect and evaluate any of the issues, and try to determine whether the failure is a result of the product or installation.  If it is product-related, then a field service technician would come out to “fix” the window.  Sometimes it can be as simple as replacing a piece of gasketing. 

6. How would you handle testing a multifamily?  

There can be many different window types and window assemblies types in a multifamily building, so generally each of these different types would receive a test. 

7. Who would be a good resource when conducting a field test?  

The field test is conducted by a third party company that specializes in building envelope testing, but it is always prudent to have a representative from the window manufacturer present as well. They can give the window a once over prior to the test to make sure the window gaskets are clean and the window is functioning properly.  

Marvin Windows were used at the University of Massachusetts’ South College and a field test was conducted in the beginning stages of the project.