How our windows are tested
Step inside our Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) Center with the hosts behind the Modern Craftsman podcast to see how we test to exceed industry standards and push our products to their breaking points.
Rigorous testing is a key step in our manufacturing process, and we do mean rigorous. Here’s a summary of the testing covered in the video ...
Air and water infiltration testing
The video begins with infiltration testing that’s meant to simulate a worst-case scenario in which 8 inches of rain are falling per hour and wind is gusting at 55 mph. By forcefully spraying water at the window while also applying negative pressure to the backside, the test seeks to identify any leaks within the window unit itself — the sill, jamb liners, head jamb, etc. It is not a test of the installation, though our recommended flashing details are tested separately.
Schiffer demonstrates spraying red clothing dye at the window. The dye can be used to identify where a leak is occurring if infiltration is happening but its location is unclear. After the test concludes, Grace examines the window with a flashlight to look for leakage, paying special attention to what are typically the weakest points on any window — the corners. They discuss the continuous weatherstripping used on our windows to help prevent leakage at the corners and overall. Grace finds no water intrusion. The window shown passes the test, which comes with a high standard: Not a single drop of water should reach the interior-most frame.
The two also explain what happens when a window doesn’t pass the test. It gets sent back to engineering with the testing results. The window is then redesigned before once again undergoing testing. By testing to failure or for a period of time without failure, no matter how many times it is tested, we go beyond industry standards.
