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NIBS Updates Earthquake Design Provisions, Partners With ASC on Sealant Resource
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) recently updated seismic provisions for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). NIBS also is working with the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) to raise awareness on sealant technology in vertical walls.
NEHRP Provisions
The 2020 NEHRP Provisions, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P-2082, were developed by BSSC and published by FEMA as part of an ongoing program to advance national seismic design standards and model building codes.
The 2020 NEHRP Provisions apply research and information, presenting a set of recommended improvements to the ASCE/SEI 7-16 Standard, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. This is the tenth edition of the document since its first publication in 1985.
Sealant Resource
NIBS’ and ASC’s initial efforts will be to reposition and revise the sealants section of the Whole Building Design Guide, which currently is organized into four major categories—design recommendations, project management/operations and maintenance, federal facility criteria and continuing education. ASC and NIBS are working collectively on an updated section for sealants.
New Decorative Glass, VIG Resources Available
Two new decorative Glass Technical Papers (GTPs): Guidelines on How to View Decorative Glazing Products in Interior and Exterior Applications and Guidelines for Measuring Color of Decorative Glazing Materials in the Field, have been published by the National Glass Association (NGA). An Introduction to Vacuum Insulating Glazing GTP also has been published.
Decorative Glass Resources
Guidelines on How to View Decorative Glazing Products offers inspection methods and acceptance criteria for factory and field evaluation. Viewing conditions for blemish detection, including for interior and exterior applications as well as for opaque and translucent products are addressed. Appearance criteria are outlined in a detailed table of allowable blemishes determined by viewing distance and viewing conditions. Tiling tolerances and inspection viewing time based on panel size also is explained.
Guidelines for Measuring Color of Decorative Glazing Materials in the Field was written based on the need to resolve color matching on a jobsite. The task group developed a color survey procedure with recommended steps to measure and compare already-installed units with mock-up, stock or replacement units.
VIG GTP
The Introduction to Vacuum Insulating Glazing GTP describes the makeup and purpose of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) and addresses its use in a variety of market applications including new construction, restoration and refrigeration.
Energy performance, acoustic improvements, size and shape options, as well as testing standards and a thorough list of terminology specific to VIG are also covered.
FGIA Updates Test Method for Vertical Fenestration Installation Procedures
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has updated a test method evaluating the performance and durability of the integration of a fenestration product with a building envelope. This is the first update to AAMA 504-20, Voluntary Laboratory Test Method to Qualify Vertical Fenestration Installation Procedures, which was created in 2005.
“The robust integration of windows and doors with the building envelope in a wide variety of wall configurations and environmental exposures presents unique challenges to ensure acceptable performance,” says Jim Katsaros of Dupont Performance Building Solutions
and chair of the Test Method to Qualify Installation Procedures Update Task Group. “AAMA 504 provides a standardized assembly test method for manufacturers to verify that the building envelope interface with various installation instructions exhibit consistent air and water holdout performance, as well as durability.”
Per AAMA 504, manufacturers should be aware that they are ultimately responsible for providing adequate installation instructions for their products. However, the document can serve as a guide.
“AAMA 504 provides a standardized test method for all manufacturers to verify their various installation instructions in a consistent manner,” says Joe Hayden (Pella Corp.), vice chair of the task group.
AAMA 504-20, as well as other AAMA documents available from FGIA, may be purchased from the online store.
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