Being an AAMA member has many benefits, but one I’d like to highlight this month is the association’s working relationships with other industry organizations. AAMA currently represents our members in interactions with four organizations: IGMA, ASHRAE, ASTM and NFRC. Members of AAMA staff regularly attend these meetings and representatives from these organizations are welcome to attend AAMA Conferences. This level of industry representation is crucial.

IGMA

The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) is the first group that AAMA monitors, in addition to attending their meetings. IGMA’s industry representation focuses on the interests of the insulating glass industry globally. They develop standards, create technical publications and provide education related to insulating glass. Because of the interaction between insulating glass and fenestration products, there are joint task groups enlisting members of both AAMA and IGMA.

AAMA and IGMA have recently begun discussing the possibility of unifying the two associations. Read more about that potential move here. If you have any questions when you are at our national conferences regarding IGMA, make certain to find IGMA’s Executive Director, Margaret Webb, as she would be more than happy to discuss the great works that they are doing. AAMA has membership on both the Emerging Technology and Innovation Committee and the Technical Services Committee.

ASHRAE

ASHRAE used to be known as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers but now goes simply by its acronym. AAMA monitors several important documents that ASHRAE has published, and we provide commentary as they review, including:

• ASHRAE 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
• ASHRAE 90.2, Energy- Efficient Design of New Low- Rise Residential Buildings
• ASHRAE 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

In order to keep up with the changes presented to these documents AAMA has created a Rapid Response Team under the Regulatory Affairs Committee.

ASTM

The third group that AAMA tracks is ASTM International. ASTM is an international standards development organization that produces methods that cover virtually all testing. In particular, AAMA staff participates in the E06 Performance of Buildings Group and primarily focuses on E06.51 Performance of Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls. There are many other groups that are of interest and followed, but to list each of them would make this excessively long.

Again, our objective in ASTM is to represent the positions of the fenestration industry. Some of the documents that are of particular interest to AAMA include:

• ASTM E1425, addressing acoustical performance of fenestration
• ASTM E2395, addressing security performance of windows and doors
• ASTM E2112, addressing installation of windows and doors
• ASTM F588, addressing test methods for measuring the forced entry resistance of window assemblies, excluding glazing impact
• ASTM F842, addressing test methods for measuring the forced entry resistance of sliding door assemblies, excluding glazing impact
• ASTM E283, addressing the rate of air leakage through exterior fenestration
• ASTM E1105, addressing water penetration through exterior fenestration
• ASTM E186/1996, addressing impact resistance of fenestration products

These and other methods are important for AAMA to monitor as they are the basis for certification and/or may be included in AAMA specifications. AAMA has a Rapid Response Team to respond to ballots from ASTM as well.

NFRC

The fourth group that AAMA is involved with is the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC). AAMA also acts as an Inspection Agency (IA) for NFRC’s Thermal Certification Programs. At their two conferences each year, ballots are reviewed from the work being done by each of the task groups. As a voting member, AAMA has access to all ballots. AAMA’s NFRC Rating Advisory Committee meets via conference call to determine ballot responses.

AAMA is working to develop similar relationships with other groups influencing the fenestration industry as well, such as Fenestration Canada. If you would like to participate in the Rapid Response Team, or other committees and task groups associated with these organizations, please reach out via email so that we can get you involved.