NZP Fenestration: A Canadian PassivHaus-Certified Door and Window Manufacturer

Nadine Duguay-Lemay
Jul 8
2 min read

As we worked toward building a sustainable and passive home, the choice of doors and windows quickly became one of the most critical decisions. No matter how well-insulated your walls are, poor fenestration can compromise the entire building envelope. After extensive research, we chose NZP Fenestration, the only Canadian manufacturer of PassivHaus-certified windows and doors.

We discovered this Quebec-based company through its strong reputation in sustainable building. Their mission is clear: to offer high-performance products designed to meet the highest standards of airtightness, energy efficiency, and durability. Their product line includes custom-built doors and windows tailored for passive building projects.

NZP manufactures its products in Quebec and provides free technical support to contractors who have never installed PassivHaus-style windows and doors. This includes installation guides, instructional videos, and remote support. It is also possible to hire their team for installation, although in our case, the cost of bringing the team from Quebec to New Brunswick didn’t make sense financially.

Our selections

Here are the products we chose for our project (see product images below, courtesy of NZP Fenestration):

NZP triple-glazed windows: These PassivHaus-certified windows offer outstanding energy performance. Triple glazing helps minimize heat loss, increases comfort by eliminating the cold wall effect, and enhances acoustic insulation.
EasyGlide patio door: A sleek, triple-glazed model that brings in natural light without compromising airtightness.
Lift-and-slide door: This premium model glides effortlessly thanks to a lift system while maintaining superior airtightness.
Passiva Canada entry door: Engineered for maximum energy efficiency, this entry door combines triple glazing, high-performance insulating materials, and a robust build. It’s specifically designed to meet passive house standards.

Why NZP and triple glazing make a difference

Too often, the focus is on wall R-values, without realizing that windows and doors are the biggest source of thermal loss. Canada’s National Building Code requires a minimum of R-24 for exterior walls, but aiming for R-36 to R-40 is increasingly common in passive house design.

Still, even with R-40 walls, a standard window can significantly reduce overall performance. This is where NZP’s products come in:

An NZP triple-glazed window can reach an effective thermal resistance (Reff) of R-19.1 when installed in a wall with R-28.
The interior surface of triple glazing can be up to 5°C warmer than standard double glazing.
This results in lower humidity, greater comfort, and reduced heating needs.

In short, investing in high-performance windows is smarter than letting precious energy escape through underperforming openings.

In a passive home, every detail matters. Our NZP doors and windows will complement the effectiveness of our hemp insulation and smart membranes. Their performance, PassivHaus certification, and committed customer service give us the confidence that we are building a home that will be naturally comfortable and efficient.