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AAMA announces extension of NAFS certification

May 30, 2013 – The American Architectural Manufacturers Association has announced the release of an interim procedural guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification to any edition of AAMA/WDMA(/CSA) 101/I.S.2(/A440), North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS) for a period of two years for products that have had no changes. The procedural guide, AAMA 106-13, Interim Procedural Guide for Extension of NAFS Certification was effective as of May 1.

May 30, 2013–The American Architectural
Manufacturers Association has announced the release of an interim procedural
guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current,
unexpired AAMA product certification to any edition of AAMA/WDMA(/CSA)
101/I.S.2(/A440), North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for
windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS) for a period of two years for products
that have had no changes. The procedural guide, AAMA 106-13, Interim
Procedural Guide for Extension of NAFS Certification, was effective as of May 1.

“Over the past 10 years, testing and certification requirements have increased;
we are now testing more combinations of windows, and there are more special
conditions to meet ratings for hurricane zones and local building codes,” said
Mike DeSoto (MI Windows and Doors), co-chair of AAMA’s Certification Extension
Review Task Group. “Allowing a streamlined method of extending certification on
products that have not changed since the last test provides manufacturers with
much needed relief. The engineering resources we [manufacturers] are saving by
reducing the frequency of renewal testing can be focused on research and
development, certifying new products and introducing product enhancements.”

Specifically, under AAMA 106, manufacturers that choose to apply for product
certification extensions must implement weekly testing of both a thermoplastic
corner weld test and a corner leak and drainage test. Documentation must be
provided and the manufacturer must demonstrate during their regular on-site
inspections that they have implemented these tests and are keeping sufficient
records.

The option to extend certification per the terms of AAMA 106 expires as of December 31, 2014,
or sooner if superseded by other procedures authorized by AAMA’s Certification
Policy Committee. The request form and affidavit to extend product
certification is included in the procedural guide.

AAMA 106-13 is available to download from AAMA’s Publication Store.

Related Link
www.aamanet.org