FAQs about Certified Products
Contribution from AAMA

the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has been the leader in testing and certification of fenestration products such as curtainwalls, windows and storefronts. Following are some frequently asked questions that the association gets about certification.

Q. What does it mean when a product is certified by AAMA?

A. Since 1962, AAMA’s American National Standards Institute (ANSI)- accredited certification program— the original third-party window performance verification program—has provided manufacturers with the means to independently demonstrate product performance quality to their customers. The AAMA certification label on a product tells customers that it has been verified as conforming to the standard’s requirements through independent laboratory testing and follow up on-site inspection of the manufacturer’s product line. When a product has been tested and validated by AAMA, the manufacturer is authorized to certify the product by applying the AAMA label. A product must be labeled to be certified.

Q. What kinds of windows and doors are covered by ANSI/AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S. 2-97?

A. Residential, light commercial, commercial, heavy commercial, and architectural performance classes are covered, whether framed in aluminum, vinyl (PVC), or wood. Residential windows and doors are commonly used in one or two-family dwellings. Light commercial products are used in low-rise, multi-family dwellings, and low-rise motels, libraries, and professional buildings such as doctors’, lawyers’, and dentists’ offices. Commercial applications are industrial buildings and factories, hotels, and retail sales buildings, including shopping malls. The term heavy commercial typically applies to hospitals, schools, institutions, dormitories, government or public buildings, and other buildings where heavy use of window and door products is expected. It may also be used on mid-rise buildings with increased loading requirements. Architectural class products are used in conjunction with storefront and curtainwall installations, or on high-rise buildings to meet increased loading requirements.

Q. How is a window performance specification designated?

A. There are four parts to a window performance specification. The first is the product type (also called the operator type). HS represents a horizontal slider; C is a casement window; H is a single-, double-, or triple-hung, etc. Next is the performance class. There are five of these: Residential (R), light commercial (LC), commercial (C), heavy commercial (HC), and architectural (AW). The third part is the performance grade. This is stated as a pressure in psf (pounds per square foot). Each performance class requires a minimum performance grade. For example, a residential class window must pass testing for a minimum performance grade of 15; light commercial requires a minimum performance grade of 25; commercial requires a minimum performance grade of 30, etc. The last information is the size tested in the lab to qualify the product for certification. The standard specifies a minimum test size for each product type and performance class. The sample to be tested must be equal to, or larger than, this size. If the manufacturer plans to certify a particular design in larger sizes, it must test to the largest  size it plans to certify and label.

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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