Get on Track: AAMA 517-25 Allows for Many Options Via a Small Number of Samples
by Jason Seals
Industry innovation demonstrates the need for new, robust and updated product specification guidelines. This is something FGIA is (and has been) committed to. A recent example includes the new FGIA document AAMA 517-25 Specification for Air/Water Penetration Resistance and Structural Load Performance of Multi-Track Doors and Windows.
AAMA 517 is intended to be used as a supplement to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440, North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS), and is applicable for use in testing and rating horizontal sliding doors and windows based upon sash/panel size and interlocking conditions present in tested samples. This document is needed because NAFS currently limits the ratings assigned to doors and windows to the maximum tested frame size. This can be problematic for testing products that are designed to incorporate a large number of sash/panels enclosing large openings. Testing such products at the maximum number of sash/panels can be impractical.
Open to Testing or Analysis
Of course, with a multi-track product the basis of the product is the individual sash/panel, and the unique intersections between any two sash/panels, as well as between a sash/panel and framing. Such combinations intersect with other sash/panels, and product frames, in various ways, depending on the configuration of the product, such as number of tracks, number of sash/panels, inside slide/outside slide, pockets and corners. These unique intersections are of primary interest to ensure they are qualified by either testing or analysis. To this point, nearly 20 helpful figures are included in the specification to diagram numerous iterations of intersecting conditions.
It should be noted that test samples, at the least, must include the largest sash/panel sizes to be qualified. Alternative panel sizes within the tested panel square footage limitations may be included through the analysis of a licensed professional engineer (PE) in determining the best product configurations to test to qualify all unique sash/panel and intersection types.
AAMA 517-25 supplements lab testing to NAFS to define the qualification criteria at greater numbers of sash/panels than incorporated into test samples. As far as sash/panel testing requirements—if a PE analysis is not used—at least one specimen must consist of a three-track configuration of four panels, minimum, for systems that incorporate four or more panels. There must be at least one panel in each track of the test. That said, a sample containing three panels may qualify various configurations of samples containing three panels or less.
Again, if PE analysis is not used, test samples must include the least number of tracks to be qualified. Anchorage differences must be qualified by testing or analysis if product frame anchorage varies in anchor quantity, pattern or location for varying numbers of track. Miami-Dade County code references two- and three-track samples as also requiring testing for water penetration resistance.
Current procedures found in NAFS limit approvals of products based on the tested frame size for most operator types. The procedures in this specification allow the evaluation and approval of panelized sliding door and window systems at larger frame sizes and more panels than found in the original tested samples. A copy of AAMA 517 can be obtained from the FGIA online store.
Jason Seals is certification services manager for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA). jseals@fgiaonline.org
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