Manufacturers open doors to protection, style

Las Vegas — New fenestration products offer energy, fire and impact ratings; more black profiles; and a fob for automatically opening multislide doors.

Zeeland, Mich.-based ODL Inc. expanded its lineup of products to improve protection for homeowners year-round.

ODL now offers 11 panel styles of fiberglass doors for stylish safety in its Estate, Shaker and Craftsman designs. The fire-rated fiberglass doors meet most national and local code requirements for multifamily and residential house-to-garage entries.

The company's 20-minute fire-rated doors are tested to withstand fire exposure at temperatures over 1,400° F and feature a Category B positive pressure rating without a hose stream. The fire rating signifies the critical time window for occupants to evacuate a building or for firefighters to arrive, contain the blaze, and save lives and property.

The doors are certified with the Warnock Hersey Mark, a fire product safety and performance mark for building and construction. Their fiberglass construction also resists dents, scratches and rust.

ODL also produces uPVC Keystone-brand impact-rated frames. With a contemporary flat profile and no visible screw plugs, the frames meet the highest impact building code standards and are certified for high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ) and wind-borne debris (WBD) regions. These doors can withstand wind forces up to 65 pounds per square foot, giving then a design pressure (DP) of 65 for 6-foot, 8-inch opaque doors and DP50 for glazed doors, which gives homeowners additional security and resilience in extreme weather conditions.

"We've gone through a lot of testing with our fiberglass doors and with our glass — it's laminated — to make sure that together they are rated for the Florida building code wind-borne debris," ODL Project Management Director Annie Agrotis said at the International Builders' Show 2025.

ODL products are undergoing tests to be rated for HVHZ. "That zone is really specific to the Miami-Dade and Broward counties down in that tip of Florida," Agrotis added.

For another feature, ODL offers the only enclosed blinds solution for large-format windows and doors. Called Blinds + Glass XL, the product covers an area up to 28 feet.

Founded in 1945, ODL is a family-owned, privately held company focused on door and glass products.

Therma-Tru Doors created new branding for its entry and patio door products to perform, protect and preserve. "We wanted to create a more emotional appeal about how our products provide benefits to end customers," Therma-Tru Product Manager Jay Solarik said at IBS 2025.

For the perform category, Therma-Tru now provides options to meet Energy Star requirements in all 50 states, which Solarik said can help buyers qualify for tax credits.

The company redesigned its full-length, flush-face doors with a triple-pane construction in addition to other manufacturing steps it takes. "We incorporate a pressure-injected foam into all of our fiberglass door that allows for four times the insulating value compared to a standard wood door," Solarik said.

For the protect category, Therma-Tru tests doors against air and water infiltration and extreme environmental conditions like hot, cold, sun, salt and fog, Solarik said.

Preservation claims are based on the fiberglass material used to manufacture many products. "It's not going to warp, rot or crack like a wood door. It will stand the test of time," Solarik said.

Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru helped pioneer the fiberglass entry door industry. The company, which also sells wood and steel entry door systems, is part of Deerfield, Ill.-based Fortune Brands Innovations Inc. The parent company's 2024 sales of $4.6 billion were flat compared with 2023. The portfolio of brands also includes Moen, Larson, Fiberon, Master Lock and SentrySafe.

Westlake Royal added a black frame option to its Legacy Collection window line to meet demand for darker window frames.

The new frame is black on both the outside and inside of the window, which is part of the Legacy Collection's 250 Series. The 250 Series, which was designed for durability and reduced energy use, features multichambered vinyl profiles, and an all-welded frame and sash with aluminum sash reinforcement.

Hung, slider and picture window models are available.

The Legacy Collection is currently available in Alabama, Arkansas, the Florida panhandle, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Westlake Royal also has a new vinyl patio door in its Series 800, which features stainless-steel rollers and mortises for coastal applications.

With estimated related sales of $2.8 billion — also for pipes, decking and siding in addition to windows and doors — Westlake Royal ranks third among the largest North American pipe, profile and tubing producers, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.

Wausau, Wis.-based Kolbe Windows & Doors showed a new automation option on a multislide door in its Forgent series, which is made from a proprietary material called Glastra that combines short-strand fiberglass and uPVC.

The new option, called AutoSlide, enhances indoor-outdoor living via wall switch, key fob or smartphone app, according to Kolbe Marketing Director Liz Reynolds.

One panel remains stationary while others can be moved. The system includes a retractable screen for active panels.

"This is an indoor-outdoor living trend that people are embracing more," Reynolds said at IBS 2025. "We didn't have an automated option within the Forgent series. It felt like it fit well, so this is the next evolution with this level of product."

The automated door also features a striking black exterior finish that frames the design.

"Our window and door solutions are designed to meet the growing demand for larger openings that seamlessly connect indoor spaces with the outdoors. This helps homeowners create environments that promote well-being by bringing more natural light and fresh air inside," Jeff De Lonay, president of Kolbe Windows & Doors, said in a news release.