10 Winners of NAHB’s Best Products of IBS 2016

By Nigel F. Maynard

When the dust settled at the 2016 International Builders' Show, an inflatable air cushion that allows contractors to adjust heavy windows took top prize in NAHB’s Best of IBS Awards.

"The competition for this year's Best of IBS awards was intense," Tom Swartz, NAHB's 2015 conventions and meetings committee chair and a home builder and remodeler, said in a statement. "The 2016 winners represent the best and most innovative products on the market, and we are pleased to be able to honor them."

The fourth annual Best of IBS Awards recognizes the best products among manufacturers exhibiting at the show. This year's awards received more than 325 entries, and a panel of independent judges made up of attending reporters and building professionals selected the winners.

Manufactured by Red Horse USA, the WinBag is a powerful hand-operated inflatable air cushion made of fiber-reinforced material. It’s designed to provide a maximum pressure of up to 220 pounds and can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as installing windows, heavy doors, and kitchen cabinets.

Here are the other winners from the awards program:

Best Kitchen Product (Tie): Lowe's Holoroom by Marxent

The Holoroom Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Experience allows home improvement customers to experience their future bathroom in 3-D virtual reality. Shoppers design their bathroom and make product selections, then don an Oculus Rift headset to experience the space and swap product options in and out; once the design is complete, it can be exported for sharing.
Best Kitchen Product (Tie): Culinary Preservation Centers by Thermador

Culinary Preservation Centers help buyers personalize their refrigeration purchase using a customizable, interchangeable lineup of cold-storage options, including built-in refrigerator/freezers, French-door refrigerators, freezer columns, wine storage, and more.
Best Bath Product: Alterna Engineered Stone by Armstrong Flooring

Alterna Engineered Stone offers the look of limestone without the associated hassles such as weight, porosity, and susceptibility to cracks. The tiles are available in 12-inch- and 16-inch-square formats.
Best Energy Efficient Product: ZIP System Sheathing and Tape by Huber Engineered Woods

ZIP System sheathing features an integrated water and air barrier, cutting the weatherization installation process down to two steps: install the panels and tape the seams with ZIP System tape.
Best Home Technology Product: FreshBrix by FreshBrix

FreshBrix is a home intelligence platform to connect builders with homebuyers before, during, and after their new home is built. It can be used as a sales tool to browse model home photos and options with prospective buyers.
Best Green Building Product: Wisy WFF 150 Vortex Filter by Rainwater Management Solutions

Designed for rainwater collection applications in which multiple downspouts are connected to a single pipe, the WISY WHH 150 Vortex Fine Filter can filter precipitation from up to 5,500 square feet of roof area.
Best Indoor Living Product: Halo and Halo+ by Halo Smart Labs

Halo is a new line of smart smoke alarms that uses specialized sensors to detect fast- and slow-burning fires and carbon monoxide leaks.
Best Outdoor Living Product: Aluminum Batten System by Knotwood

This aluminum batten system gives contractors the natural look and feel of wood but without the maintenance requirements.
Best Window and Door Product: Next-Generation Z-Articulating Cap Sill by Endura Products

The Z-Articulating Cap Sill significantly reduces the likelihood of door unit failure and costly service calls. Featuring a unique cap, integrated end-sealing assemblies and door bottom, it eliminates the need to caulk the sill and door bottom, either in the shop, during installation or after; and self compensates for variations in margins.
Most Innovative Building Product and Best in Show: WINBAG by Red Horse USA

WinBag is a hand-operated inflatable air cushion that is designed to provide a maximum pressure of up to 220 pounds to help contractors install windows, heavy doors, and kitchen cabinets. The reinforced-rubber inflatable air wedge replaces the need for wooden shims and plastic wedges.