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AAMA announces extension of NAFS certification

July 9, 2013 – The American Architectural Manufacturers Association  have 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.

July 9, 2013 – The American Architectural Manufacturers
Association  have 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 is 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,” says 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December 31, 2014, or sooner if superseded by other procedures authorized by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/general/1/45/publication-store