News Codes and standards
FGIA releases field testing guidance

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has updated a specification establishing the requirements for field test specimens, apparatus, sampling, test procedures and test reports to be used in verifying the air infiltration resistance performance or water penetration resistance performance of newly installed fenestration products.

“This specification provides a method to evaluate the installed performance of newly installed storefronts, curtain walls and sloped glazing systems and their installation during construction for air leakage resistance and/or water penetration resistance under controllable, reproducible and appropriate conditions,” said FGIA certification services manager, fenestration, Jason Seals. “When used as part of a comprehensive building commissioning program, AAMA 503 provides reasonable assurance that the installed fenestration products will perform to the specified or rated air leakage and/or water penetration performance levels with allowances given for field performance.”

In this new edition, the Testing Criteria of Commercial Fenestration Updates Task Group completed a full technical review of the specification. A new section about significance and use was added. Sections addressing sampling, site preparation and responsible parties were expanded. The section on test procedures was also revised, clarifying that air leakage resistance testing under AAMA 503 is optional. Definitions of water penetration were also updated.

“The specifier or architect can use this document and the short form specification provided to easily communicate to all interested parties the required installed performance for air infiltration and/or water penetration,” said Seals. “Following product installation, this document provides a structured, controllable and reproducible method for testing.”