Custom 3D Faceted Architectural Entrance & Wall Cladding
- 6063-T6 Extruded Heavy Gauge Frame
- AAMA 2605 PVDF Coating Finish
- High-Wind Load & Seismic Tested
Engineered for high-rise commercial developments, occupied building retrofits, and institutional projects across Canada. All systems are factory-fabricated and certified to Canadian structural and thermal codes.
A rigorous examination of thermal break technology, air/water tightness standards, material science, and building code compliance across provinces.
In the Canadian commercial construction sector, fenestration components are subjected to some of the most aggressive environmental loads globally. Commercial exterior aluminum doors, storefront entrance systems, and curtain wall portals must simultaneously endure winter temperatures dropping below -35°C in Calgary and Edmonton, hurricane-force coastal rain in Vancouver, and intense thermal expansion/contraction cycles in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where annual temperature swings exceed 60°C.
Historical reliance on uninsulated aluminum profiles or basic pour-and-debridged thermal barriers is no longer viable under modern Canadian building standards, such as the National Building Code (NBC 2020), the Ontario Building Code (OBC SB-10), and the BC Energy Step Code. Today’s architectural specifications mandate low U-factors, exceptional Condensation Resistance Factors (CRF), and single-source accountability to eliminate performance gaps between fabrication and site execution.
We incorporate structural 25% glass-fiber reinforced Polyamide 66 (PA66 GF25) thermal struts. This separates interior and exterior extrusion profiles, mitigating thermal bridging and preventing interior frost accumulation during severe sub-zero weather.
Fabricated exclusively from prime-grade extruded 6063-T6 and 6061-T6 structural aluminum alloys. Our profiles deliver yield strengths exceeding 170 MPa, providing rigid structural resistance against positive and negative wind pressures in high-rise applications.
Factory-assembled with sealed double or triple-pane Insulating Glass Units (IGUs), utilizing Solarban Low-E soft coatings, warm-edge Technoform spacers, and argon gas infills to achieve system overall U-factors as low as 0.22 BTU/h·ft²·°F.
Comparative structural, air infiltration, and thermal performance parameters independently validated under CSA A440 / AAMA-NAFS standards.
| System Classification | Thermal Break Tech | Overall U-Factor Range | Air Leakage (ASTM E283) | Water Resistance (ASTM E331) | Structural Load (ASTM E330) | Primary Canadian Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy-Duty Entrance Swing Doors | Dual PA66 Polyamide Strut | 0.28 – 0.34 BTU/h·ft²·°F | A3 / Fixed Level (<0.05 L/s/m²) | 720 Pa (15.0 PSF) | DP 75 (3600 Pa) | High-Traffic Lobbies & Retail Portals |
| Thermally Broken Balcony Sliders | Multi-Cavity Thermal Barrier | 0.22 – 0.26 BTU/h·ft²·°F | Air Tightness Level A3 | 540 Pa (11.28 PSF) | DP 60 (2880 Pa) | Mid-Rise & High-Rise Condominiums |
| Storefront & Vestibule Framing | Poured & Debridged / Strut | 0.30 – 0.38 BTU/h·ft²·°F | Standard Commercial Level | 400 Pa (8.35 PSF) | DP 50 (2400 Pa) | Urban Commercial Lobbies & Plazas |
| Continuous Curtain Wall Entrances | Structural Isothermal Pressure Plate | 0.18 – 0.24 BTU/h·ft²·°F | Exceeds NAFS AW-PG100 | 1000 Pa (20.8 PSF) | DP 100 (4800 Pa) | Institutional Facilities & Office Towers |
| Retrofit Replacement Door Packages | Thermal Insert Sub-Frame | 0.24 – 0.28 BTU/h·ft²·°F | Level A3 Certified | 600 Pa (12.5 PSF) | DP 65 (3120 Pa) | Occupied Building Energy Modernization |
From coastal extreme humidity to prairie freezing conditions, our engineering team customizes framing alloys, thermal barriers, and glazing make-ups to match local regional stresses.
Scenario: High-density urban high-rises, mixed-use commercial developments, and purpose-built rental towers facing intensive daily foot traffic and wind pressures at elevated heights.
Solution: Heavy-duty thermally broken swing and slider door packages integrated with low-profile AODA-compliant sills, factory-glazed with Low-E double/triple IGUs meeting Ontario Building Code SB-10 thermal prescriptions.
Scenario: Sub-zero winter cold snaps down to -40°C accompanied by drastic freeze-thaw cycles and severe Chinook temperature spikes.
Solution: Ultra-isolated polyamide multi-cavity thermal break door frames with argon-filled triple-pane glazing, designed with high Condensation Resistance Factors (CRF > 78) to eradicate internal frame icing and condensation damage.
Scenario: Prolonged moisture exposure, driven rains, atmospheric salt content, and strict energy targets under the BC Energy Step Code Tier 4/5.
Solution: Marine-grade anodized or AAMA 2605 fluoropolymer coated exterior aluminum profiles paired with pressure-equalized rain-screen drainage paths, delivering water resistance up to 720 Pa.
Understanding the regulatory shift towards Net-Zero Operational Carbon, Embodied Carbon Reduction, and Occupied Building Modernization.
Canada’s transition toward the 2030 Net-Zero Energy Ready standard requires commercial doors to achieve unprecedented thermal performance. Our R&D team continuously refines thermal break geometry to push door assembly U-factors lower without compromising structural mullion depth.
With aging multi-family residential towers across Canadian cities requiring envelope overhauls, our specialized suite-by-suite replacement protocol allows building owners to upgrade entrance doors and windows in a single working day per suite—eliminating resident relocation costs.
Utilizing high-recycled-content aluminum bill of materials, hydroelectric-powered extrusion billet sourcing, and non-toxic powder finishes. We provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to support LEED v4.1 certification credits.
Extrusion control, engineering shop drawings, advanced manufacturing, and direct installation managed entirely under one single point of accountability.
Operating out of our modern facility at 400 McNeilly Rd., Stoney Creek, Ontario, Norstar controls every critical path variable from thermal strut assembly to final glazing quality assurance checks.
Our structural engineering department generates full submittal drawing packages, wind load calculations, thermal modeling reports, and custom anchoring details before material fabrication commences.
By employing our own certified, safety-trained site installation crews rather than third-party sub-glaziers, we eliminate scheduling friction, installation defects, and divided warranty accountability.
Technical clarity on engineering submittals, Canadian code compliance, retrofit scheduling, and exporting capabilities.
Our complete line of commercial aluminum entrance doors and window wall systems are independently laboratory tested to CSA A440-S1 (the Canadian Supplement to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 NAFS). Test reports cover positive/negative air leakage (Level A3), water penetration resistance under static wind pressure, structural load performance (AW-PG Rating), and resistance to forced entry.
We utilize high-precision structural polyamide (PA66 GF25) thermal struts inserted into dual-chamber extruded aluminum frame profiles. This forms a continuous thermal barrier between the exterior element and interior occupied space. Combined with warm-edge insulated double or triple glazing, this system maintains high Condensation Resistance Factors (CRF), preventing frost build-up even when indoor relative humidity is elevated.
Yes. Norstar specializes in occupied multi-family high-rise retrofits. Our installation teams execute a suite-by-suite replacement workflow where old doors, frames, and windows are removed and replaced with new thermally broken systems within a single workday per suite. Daily weather-tight closeouts, dust protection barriers, and protective floor runners keep building operations smooth and non-disruptive.
We offer architectural-grade 70% PVDF (Fluoropolymer) coatings compliant with AAMA 2605 specifications, delivering superior resistance to chalking, salt spray, and UV fading over 20+ year lifespans. Class I anodic finishes (clear, bronze, black) compliant with AAMA 611 are also produced for high-wear entrance doors subjected to continuous heavy commercial foot traffic.
Orders are packaged and sequence-loaded onto dedicated flatbed transport trailers floor-by-floor or elevation-by-elevation. This direct staging matches the site general contractor's crane hoisting and erection schedule, minimizing on-site storage footprint, double-handling, and job-site material damage.
Yes. We offer low-profile thermally broken threshold extrusions with slope gradients and maximum vertical rises below 13mm (1/2 inch) to satisfy Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and national barrier-free guidelines without compromising water infiltration resistance.
Submit your architectural elevations, door schedules, or retrofit performance specifications to our technical estimating team. We deliver comprehensive tender pricing, engineering shop drawings, and single-source installation proposals.