Without Further Ado: An Outdated Standard Joins the Modern Age With Updates
by Aaron Blom
The Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) works hard to keep its standards up to date. For this reason, revisions to FMA/AAMA 100, Standard Practice for the Installation of Windows with Flanges or Mounting Fins in Wood Frame Construction for Extreme Wind/Water Conditions, were essential. Industry technology and best practices have changed significantly since the document was last updated in 2012. Meanwhile, this standard is widely referenced as an installation guide for fenestration product manufacturers.
Simplification and streamlining were major goals, starting with the standard’s title, which will be changed to AAMA/WDMA 100, Standard Practice for the Installation of Windows with Mounting Flanges for Membrane Drainage Systems. Why the change?
Firstly, the Fenestration Manufacturers Association (FMA) has been disbanded. Moving forward, consensus-based installation standards will be co-developed and co-owned by FGIA and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA).
Also, the 2012 edition of the standard specifically stated “for Extreme Wind/Water.” This qualification has been removed from the title because if the installation method is acceptable in those conditions, it is most certainly acceptable in lower exposure environments.
Finally, the “Wood Frame Construction” qualification was changed to “Membrane Drainage Systems.” This change broadens the scope of the standard to include other types of structures which utilize a membrane drainage system, such as steel stud walls.
Spotting the Issue
I am the lead instructor for FGIA’s InstallationMasters® certification and training program. The program is based on industry-accepted best practices for product installation and integration, and provides training in subject matter that even experienced individuals might not otherwise obtain. When I started teaching InstallationMasters® instructor accreditation courses about three years ago, the need for an updated standard became readily apparent. Part of my duties at FGIA include serving as the staff liaison for the FGIA/WDMA Installation Committee, and that group opened the document for revisions and republication soon thereafter.
User friendliness was a top priority for the new standard, and it was the group’s goal to create a guide that could be easily referenced in the field. The updated version of AAMA/WDMA 100 will include new and improved imagery, reflecting the most current industry-accepted best practices and recommendations.
Also, the procedures for water-resistive barrier (WRB) preparation have been reorganized. The 2012 version included three methods for WRB prep, which were all contained in Section 7. The committee felt that listing the steps for all three methods in the main body of the standard was confusing. The updated version includes WRB prep Method A1-100 in the main body of the document and Methods B1-100 and C1-100, although also acceptable, have been moved to separate appendices.
Furthermore, liquid applied flashing (LAF) is commonly used in residential window installations, more so than it was in 2012. The new version adds language and instructions for the use of LAF for the sill pan flashing and includes a new section with specific instructions for using LAF for the jamb and head flashing.
Balloting to both FGIA and WDMA memberships is currently underway, and a new version of the standard is expected to be published in late 2025.
Aaron Blom is technical training specialist for the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA).
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