AGELESS ELEGANCE:STEEL WINDOWS AND DOORS
Program Registration
Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
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Course Overview
When architects want to make a statement of timeless elegance in luxury homes, they may specify steel windows and doors. The history of steel goes back thousands of years. Buildings with steel windows may be hundreds of years old.Today, with advancements in glazing, coatings, and sustainability, steel windows and doors are seeing surging popularity in upscale homes. As we’ll see in this course, steel windows and doors often help architects stand out and give homeowners the distinctive look and superior performance they desire.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Discuss the history and craftsmanship of steel windows and doors
• Assess the aesthetics and design flexibility of steel windows and doors for high end homes
• Define the durability of steel for windows and doors
• Identify zinc coatings for steel frames
• Describe a case study where steel windows and doors were specified for a high end home
Section 1Introduction to Steel Windows and Doors
Introduction to Steel Windows and Doors
Steel windows and doors specified by Frank Lloyd Wright and other architects• Falling Water in Pennsylvania• Guggenheim Museum in New
York City
On trend but not trendy• Aesthetic appeal• Design flexibility• Versatility• Durability• Strength
Introduction to Steel Windows and Doors
Section 2The History and Craftsmanship of Steel Windows and Doors
What gives steel its strength?• An alloy of iron and carbon and
sometimes other elements• Smelted of iron ore• Iron alone “ductile,” brittle and hard to
work with• Small amounts of carbon make it
malleable and useful for building• Carbon in steel gives it tensile strength
The History and Craftsmanship of Steel Windows and Doors
Steel production dates back to 1800 BC• Evidence of steel production in Turkey in 1800 BC• High-carbon steel used in India around 500 to 400 BC• Steel from Austria and Slovenia used in Roman
military• Early windows made of wood and wrought iron• Mild steel (iron with carbon) widely available in 1890s
The History and Craftsmanship of Steel Windows and Doors
The History and Craftsmanship of Steel Windows and Doors
The heyday for steel windows for art deco designs• Steel windows reached heyday
in 1920s and 1930s• Larger panes and custom shapes
popular
The History and Craftsmanship of Steel Windows and Doors
Aluminum windows rose post-war, but now steel is back• Post-war building boom• Manufacturers moved into unused
war factories• Then wood and fiberglass became
standard for upscale homes• Advances in window design and
craftsmanship brought steel back for luxury homes
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Section 3
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
• Office buildings• Commercial buildings• Churches and Cathedrals• Schools and Universities• Hospitals• Shops
• Manufacturing Facilities• Transportation Terminals• Museums• High Rise Residential• Exteriors• Interiors
Many applications for steel windows and doors
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Styles of architecture• Traditional• Classic• Gothic• Art Deco• Mediterranean• Contemporary• Midcentury Modern• Farmhouse• And More
Favorite products for high end homes• Casement windows• Corner windows• Curtain walls• Awnings and window hoppers• Bi-fold doors• Sliding doors• Pivot doors• Exterior doors• Interior doors
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Narrow sightlines• Strength of steel allows for
narrow frames• Other materials require
more girth• Steel allows for light in and
access to views
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Classic and solid hardware• Hardware secured for
solid assembly• Will not loosen or tear out
with heavy use• Solid hardware feels good
for users
Aesthetics of Steel Windows and Doors for High-End Homes
Classiness• Steel windows and doors add unmistakable classiness• Like “old money”• Not gaudy or ostentatious
Case Study: Gayle’s home
“Choosing these doors and windows set a standard for how we were going to build the house, decorate the house, and exist in the home. They were very inspiring in the process for us.” — Homeowner Gayle
Don’t know whichimages are “Gayle’s house”
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Section 4
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Customizable sizes• Steel is an amazingly customizable
material• Openings can be much larger• Steel itself is structural• The frame can carry part of the
load
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Large sizes not uncommon• Steel windows up to 12 feet high and/or 12 feet
wide• Curtain walls up to 14 feet high and wide• Casements up to 12 feet high and 3 ½ feet wide• Awning windows 10 feet high and wide• Swing doors up to 4 ½ feet wide and 12 feet high• Pivot doors up to 8 feet wide and 12 feet high
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Large potential for other types of steel doors• Sliding doors up to 7 feet
wide and 12 feet high• Bi-fold doors up to 4 feet
wide and 13 feet high• Must work closely with
manufacturer’s in-house design team
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Non-standard shapes• Custom shapes favored by
custom homeowners• Owner and architect
determine which size and shape serve design goals• Steel window and door
manufacturer creates that
Design Flexibility of Steel Windows and Doors
Quality control important for custom orders• Quality control at factory
important• Some manufacturers
create mock opening• And install custom piece(s)
to ensure proper fit
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Section 5
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Strength• Strength of steel has
determined the course of human history• For windows, three times
stronger than aluminum• Will not rack and distort
with age
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Durability• In old buildings, wood windows
may be first to degrade• Steel windows impervious to:• Termites and other insects• Rodents• Mold• Rot• Weather threats
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Security• Steel frames harder to
compromise• Security a major concern for
owners of high-end homes• Windows can be weak point in
otherwise secure home• Steel frames add welcome sense
of security
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Ease of maintenance• Properly finished steel windows
and doors will not rot or warp• Thus maintenance is minimal• Remain at peak of aesthetics all
the time
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Long lifecycle• Some steel windows in Europe
and U.S. more than a century old• Steel windows may outlive the
building• New windows replace old to
take advantage of newer technologies
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Resilience• Resilience important in time of
climate change• Steel windows not impacted by
changes in humidity or extremetemperatures• Steel not a source of bioorganic
growth
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Sustainability• Steel is the most recycled material
on the planet• Recycling rate of 86 percent• Metallurgical properties of steel
allow it to be recycled continually• Steel windows with recycled content
can help toward green building certification
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Glazing options• Narrow sightlines does not limit
thickness of glazing• Increasing steel frame depth
allows for glazing up to and above 1 inch• Allows for glazing to meet
energy efficiency goals
Durability and Performance of Steel Windows and Doors
Historic renovation• New steel windows in old
buildings match historically but provide:• Advanced factory finishes• Advanced metal treatments• Advanced weather stripping• High performance glazing
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Section 6
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Common energy efficiency strategies for all windows• Glazing• Gas-filled spaces• Double and triple glazing• Insulated glass• Advanced coatings
• Superior weather stripping
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Thermally broken steel frames• Steel has lower thermal transmission
than aluminum• Thermally broken steel frames
reduce thermal transmission even more• Layer of non-conductive material
such as polyurethane placed between inside and outside halves of the steel frame
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Importance of NFRC rating• Determine performance with
NFRC rating• Includes:• U-Factor• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient• Visible Transmittance
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
U-Factor• Measures resistance to heat
escaping from the inside• The lower the number, the
better a product keeps heat in
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)• Measures resistance to
unwanted heat gain• Especially important during
summer cooling season• The lower the number, the less
spent on cooling costs
Energy Efficiency with Steel Windows and Doors
Visible Transmittance (VT)• Measures daylight• Saves homeowners money on
artificial lighting• The higher the number, the
more natural light is let in
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Section 7
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
For main factors for steel corrosion• A cathode, or negatively charged
particle• An anode, or positively charged
particle• An electrical path• An electrolyte, usually water
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
When four factors are present, rust begins• When four elements are
present, electron flow begins• By-product is flaky iron oxide,
known as rust• Rust is the anode disintegrating
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Unprotected steel• Mild steel has within it all
elements for corrosion except water or humidity• Once water is present,
electrons begin flowing• As this happens, rust forms
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Steel protected by paint only• Paint protects steel with a
barrier• Barrier keeps out water or
humidity• However, paint is easily
damaged
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Broken paint barrier• As paint barrier is broken, rust
begins• Blisters cause more steel to be
exposed to water• Rust also begins with scratched
powder coating
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Zinc metalizing as a barrier• Zinc metallizing much stronger
than paint or powder coating• Creates intimate electrical
connection between steel and the zinc• Steel cannot rust when zinc
anode is present
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
Intact zinc metallizing/paint coating• Metallizing provides strong
barrier• Plus, galvanic process against
rust• Starts working when paint
barrier is broken
Durable Coatings for Steel Windows and Doors
The galvanic effect with damaged zinc metallized/paint coating• Coatings get damaged• Zinc is used in corrosion
process before rust canhappen• Can take 15 to 20 years
Conclusion
Section 8
Thank You
Thank you for your interest in “Ageless Elegance: Steel Windows and Doors.” This concludes the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course.
Please contact Euroline Steel Windows and Doors directly if you have any questions about the material presented in this course.www.eurolinesteelwindows.comPlease take the following quiz for your AIA credits.
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