Bayport, Minn.-based Andersen Windows says its new Web-based tool will help builders easily find windows and doors that satisfy building code requirements in coastal areas. The tool will be beneficial to builders who have questions but don't know where to go for answers, says Cameron Snyder, a company spokesman. "Builders and architects now have a general idea of what requirements they have to meet."
As severe weather activity increases across the country, more jurisdictions are adopting more-stringent building codes for new houses. Some states already have adopted new codes, but changes vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and figuring out the minimum performance requirements can be a daunting task.
Andersen says its Design Pressure Estimator and Coastal Products Finder make things simple. Builders enter basic site and building information such as wind speed, exposure, building category, and mean roof height. For more detailed results, builders can include window and door dimensions, wall zones, and roof zone location.
After the Estimator generates the overall design pressure requirements that windows and patio doors must meet, the Products Finder recommends Andersen products that meet those requirements. The company says the specs need to be confirmed by a registered architect or structural engineer.
Because the tool provides baseline performance requirements, a builder does not have to use Andersen products. The tool will not, however, list products from other manufacturers that meet those requirements. To use the tool, register at www.andersenwindows.com/stormwatch.