AAMA Offers Electronic Version of Fenestration Standard

(SCHAUMBURG, Ill.) The second edition of AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440, NAFS -- North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights is now available for electronic download from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). According to Ken Brenden, AAMA technical standards manager, this standard/specification supersedes the previous edition, published in 2005 under the title AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-05 Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and unit skylights and is expected to be referenced in the 2009 versions of the ICC Building Codes.

“Significant changes from the previous edition of this document have been made, including a reduction in the number of window and door performance classes from five to four by elimination of Classes C and HC and the addition of a new class identified as CW. In addition, the structural pressure caps have been revised for the R and LC classes,” per Brenden.

This edition introduces an option whereby a product is permitted to enter Performance Class R by testing a specimen of an alternative minimum test size smaller than the gateway test size specified in Table 27, provided that the minimum performance grade (PG) is correspondingly increased (see Clause 9 for details).

Relating to door force-to-latch performance, the standard/specification now references the revised AAMA 925-07, Specification for Determining the Vertical Loading Resistance of Side-Hinged Door Leaves and excludes any separate discussion of force-to-latch requirements.

Clarification of the meaning of, and difference between, design pressure (DP) and performance grade (PG) has been made, and the primary designators for design pressure (DP), performance grade (PG), and size tested have been revised.

In addition, standards for tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) have been added to the document.  “Previous versions of this standard/specification are the basis for the AAMA Gold Label certification program and the 2008 edition was just approved (as an option) for certification in the program,” says Brenden.

At its meeting in Indian Wells, Calif., on February 26, the AAMA Certification Policy Committee authorized certification to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S. 2/A440-08, NAFS -- North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights as of March 1, 2008. At the same meeting, direction was given to begin the phase-out of AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S. 2-97, Voluntary Specifications for Aluminum, Vinyl (PVC) and Wood Windows and Glass Doors. Testing to this standard for certification in the AAMA program will end in four years, as of March 1, 2012. However, test reports will be permitted for use for their entire four-year span, so certification and labeling to the 1997 standard will end four years later, as of March 1, 2016.

The NAFS -- North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights is available to members at a cost of $25 for electronic download. Non-members may purchase the document at a cost of $50 for download. Hard copies of the document will be made available soon. To order AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, visit the AAMA Online Publication Store at www.aamanet.org; call 847-303-5664; or write the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, 1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

AAMA is the source of performance standards, product certification, and educational programs for the fenestration industry. (SM)

 

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