CINTRAFOR
Working Paper 84
A TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF THE MARKET FOR US WOOD WINDOWS WITHIN THE JAPANESE
POST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Ivan Eastin, Joseph Roos and Paul Boardman (103 pp)
In response to weakened demand for imported
wood building materials within the 2x4 segment of the housing industry, a
number of US exporters have begun to explore opportunities in the post &
beam and prefabricated housing markets. In order to develop a better
understanding of the problems and opportunities confronting US wooden windows
in the post & beam segment of the Japanese residential construction
industry, this project was designed to integrate with the ongoing market
development programs being undertaken by OTED. The objectives of this project
are to: 1) describe the factors driving technological change in the Japanese
post and beam industry, 2) characterize and describe the major construction
technologies used in the post and beam industry, 3) document the technical
specifications and construction details required for wooden windows within the
post and beam industry, and 4) recommend strategies for increasing the
competitiveness of US wooden windows in the Japanese post and beam industry.
This results of this project support the idea
that standard US wooden windows can be incorporated into the post and beam
construction system used in Japan. However, product design and accessories as
well as the range of support services offered by Japanese window manufacturers
have a substantial impact on the competitiveness of US windows in Japan. US
wooden window manufacturers (including clad wood windows) need to ensure that
their windows are properly installed, finished, and maintained in order to
ensure that their long-term durability and performance meets Japanese
expectations. Significant technical and installation issues exist and US
manufacturers must take the initiative to develop training programs and
strategies to effectively address these issues so that window performance meets
homeowner expectations.
While the fire codes in Japan describe the
performance standards that windows must meet, it is interesting to note that
the fire codes specify that aluminum is a non-combustible material and therefor
exempted from the performance standards. Several people in Japan noted that,
although it is difficult for wooden windows to meet the performance standards
specified in the fire codes, to date approximately 15 wooden windows have been
certified as meeting the fire code criteria. In contrast, they noted that most
aluminum windows used in Japan, if exposed to the test criteria described in
the fire tests, would melt and fail early on in the test process. It is obvious
that the exemption of aluminum as a non-combustible material has played a
critical role in providing aluminum window manufacturers with their dominant
position in the industry.
During our visits to construction sites it
was noted that the majority of windows had not been sized to fit the rough
opening between adjacent posts. Rather, the rough opening for these windows was
often framed in between the posts to accommodate the size of each window. Given
this practice of in-fill framing for windows, it would be no more difficult for
Japanese carpenters to frame in US standard size windows than Japanese metric
size windows, a fact that our discussions with Japanese builders and carpenters
confirmed. However, the different post sizes used in post and beam construction
means that the casing width used to frame out the window in the wall varies
based on the size of post being used. To address this complication, Japanese
carpenters usually rip the window casing from a wide piece of casing after the
window has been installed in the rough opening. So what is limiting the
specification and use of US wood windows in Japan? Certainly price is one
factor. But beyond this, product design and the range of services offered are
equally important factors.
Another factor that impacts the window
specification decision relates to the fact that Japanese home builders are
usually provided with a range of services by domestic window manufacturers and
wholesalers that are often not available from US manufacturers and exporters.
These services include extended credit (tegata), on-site product
delivery, on-site installation crews, and locally available parts and
replacement windows.
This research suggests that standard US
window sizes can be easily accommodated within the post and beam construction
system used in Japan. However, product design and the range of services being
offered have a substantial impact on the competitiveness of windows in Japan.
US wood window manufacturers should at least consider the following factors to
increase the competitiveness of their products in the future: 1) establishing
of training and education programs for Japanese builders and carpenters, 2)
developing a certification program for Japanese window installers and
carpenters, 3) producing and distributing a generic window installation manual
in Japanese, and 4) maintaining technical support, parts and product inventory
in Japan. This research clearly shows that with a well thought out strategy, US
wood window manufacturers could be competitive in the Japanese post and beam
segment of the residential construction industry.
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