AAMA Adopts Stricter Standards to Ensure Lead-free Vinyl Profiles

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has recently approved revamped testing procedures, designed to ensure that vinyl window profiles used by AAMA-certified window and door producers are lead-free. It will go into effect January 1, 2005, according to Dean Lewis, AAMA's manager of product certification.

The procedure changes apply to both domestic and offshore extruders of vinyl profiles, as well as AAMA-accredited testing laboratories and licensees of the AAMA certification program.

"One sample of each profile design and color found in a plant must be tested for lead content during the AAMA inspections, which take place twice a year," said Lewis. Additionally, a lead-check test by an AAMA-accredited laboratory will be conducted whenever they test a window, door or skylight assembly, he added.

There is also a requirement for new licensees to complete a 12-month weathering test, which is six months longer than what was required prior to July 1, 2004. Lewis noted that an exception existed for U.S. and Canadian profile producers who apply for admission before January 1, 2005.

Licensed extruders who do not follow the new procedures can be fined up to $250,000 and will be de-listed from the program, according to AAMA.