IGMA Addresses Testing, VIG and More

The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) continues work within its various task groups this week at its summer conference in Montreal. Tuesday afternoon, the Emerging Technology and Innovation Committee met.

The Advanced Testing Fenestration Task Group—working jointly with an Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) group—has been developing what it calls the “Rapid Assessment Chamber” (RAC). John Kent of AMS said the device is being created to help fabricators better predict the quality of insulating glass units (IGUs) in a shorter amount of time compared to ASTM E2190 testing.

The joint group selected Intertek/Architectural Testing’s Variable Environmental Chamber (VEC) as a model to focus on, and a new prototype is being designed. Kent said a “pre-prototype” chamber is currently being built and is expected to be delivered in early August.

At the meeting, the group voted to officially merge with the IGCC committee.

Another task group in the ET&I committee, which worked extensively on the development of the recently published Window Product Category Rule (PCR), is focused on material transparency. This includes PCRs, Life Cycle Assessments, Environmental Product Declarations and more.

Affiliated organizations, including the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, are seeking to make certain revisions to the Window PCR. Technoform’s Helen Sanders, who leads the task group, asked IGMA members whether the association should participate in those efforts. Some members were reluctant about being involved given the amount of work already put into the initial PCR, but IGMA will participate.

Also in this committee, a task group on vacuum insulating glass (VIG) is monitoring the development of the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) standard for VIG. Task group chair Dave Cooper of Guardian participated in developing the draft of the part-one durability standard, which he said should be approved by ISO later this year.

The second-phase standard, which covers temperature-induced effects, is currently being created.

Cooper said IGMA will continue to monitor these developments. IGMA executive director Margaret Webb also pointed out that it has a technical bulletin on VIG that is available to members.

Earlier in the day, Bill Lingnell provided an update on thermal stress research that he’s conducted with Lynn Beason and Michael Brackin of Texas A&M. Lingnell said he hopes a draft for an ASTM standard on thermal stress evaluation in IGUs will be available by the end of the year.

Stay tuned to USGNN.com™ for continued coverage of IGMA’s summer conference, which runs through Wednesday.