CONSULTING

We provide engineering consulting for product approvals of Windows, Doors, Storefronts, Curtain Walls, Skylights, Railings, Storm Protection Devices, Façade Panels, Roofing and Siding.

Our team can facilitate approvals throughout North America, and we are experts in the Windborne Debris Markets of Florida (Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade NOA) and Texas (Texas Department of Insurance). We can help you obtain product approvals for general use in a particular state or county as well as jobsite specific approvals when special or custom products that must undergo additional engineering or testing are used in a particular project. From the start, we collaborate with you to determine the necessary steps to achieve approvals for your products in any markets of interest. We handle the entire submittal process and work with the state and the third-party quality assurance entity to ensure that proper documentation has been transferred and uploaded to the state system in order to receive approvals.

PRODUCT APPROVAL PROCESS

Prepare for Testing

  • Determine configurations and quantities
  • Determine markets of interest
  • Manufacture test specimens
  • Shipment of specimens to lab
  • Prefab of test bucks for specimens
  • Provide test lab with “Lab Drawings”

Test all Specimens

  • Test specimens and account for some failures
  • Send extra panels and hardware to address “false failures”

Receive Test Reports

  • Lab will issue formal test reports after all testing is complete

Prepare Submittal Package

  • Preparation of reports and installation drawings
  • All calculations based on test data
  • Engineering of alternate anchors (aside from wood we can engineer steel studs, masonry, and aluminum substrates)
  • Coordinate with 3rd Party Quality Assurance/Certification Entity to receive documentation.

Submittal Documents

  • Compile documents with Quality Assurance Entity and upload to state website
  • Communicate with other entities involved in the evaluation process
  • Respond to comments, if any, with regards to submittal package

Receive Approvals

  • With approval from the respective agency, your product can now be sold in your chosen market and considered and searched online by contractors and architects for their upcoming projects
  • Your approvals can always be revised to add additional product configurations and improvements

Market Studies

In collaboration with iBDC, Building Drops offers market studies and education about the window and door industry and construction sector. We use our engineering background to augment the latest market data and deliver unparalleled, real-world insights related to industry news and trends, regulations, indicators, and macroeconomic outlooks. Our customers benefit from comprehensive market intelligence to guide their decisions and support their strategic goals.

For more information about market studies, please visit IBDC