Kolbe's Windows Successfully Tested to Withstand Earthquakes
Wausau, Wis. - Addressing the concerns of homeowners and builders in areas susceptible to earthquakes, Kolbe's windows have successfully passed seismic testing for wood framed residences.
Kolbe's windows withstood conditions simulating the 6.7 Northridge, Calif. earthquake of 1994. The windows were installed in a three-bedroom, two-bath, wood-framed townhouse, fully furnished including a car in the garage. The whole structure was constructed indoors, atop the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory's two shake tables at the University of Buffalo, N.Y.
"The full-scale test helps demonstrate that well-constructed windows and doors can provide a safe, stylish and economically efficient building option for residences in earthquake zones," says George Digman, Kolbe's director of research and development.
Reportedly the largest seismic test ever conducted, observers from across the globe witnessed the dramatic display on December 8. Media networks including CNN and National Public Radio also attended the day's test event.
To learn more about Kolbe's high-performance windows, please call 800-955-8177 or visit www.kolbe-kolbe.com. For additional information on the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory's test, please visit nees.buffalo.edu.
What began in 1946 as a two-brother team has grown into an internationally respected manufacturing company. Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co, Inc. remains a privately held, community-oriented business located in Wausau, Wis. Covering nearly one million-square-feet, its state-of-the-art facilities feature high-tech machinery and a design center to present the creative possibilities offered by Kolbe windows and doors.
