We conduct quality assurance testing of fenestration products using the AAMA 502-02 and the ASTM E-1105 standards.
The Problem with Windows: Lack of Quality Assurance.
The Window Assembly: The window industry many years ago started a trade organization called the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and is commonly referred to as AAMA. If they pass AAMA admission requirements, a window manufacturer may voluntarily join AAMA. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) certifies laboratories to perform tests that measure, among other things, the performance of a window’s strength, and resistance to air and water.
AAMA certification includes an inspector going into a manufacturer’s plant and confirming the manufacturer is using the same parts and pieces they used in the window that passed the ASTM tests. The plant inspections do not include qualitative evaluation of manufacturing techniques and these inspections do not include tests of the manufactured window’s performance. AAMA certification testing does not assess a windows performance after the passage of time.
Since AAMA certification involves no element of testing or inquiry related to performance over time and the required testing is of a new window every four years, a Builder gets very little assurance of the future performance of the windows by a window’s AAMA certification. The lack of required testing of windows actually manufactured and the lack of quality assurance testing of installed windows may explain how a sample window can pass the AAMA test for water intrusion but yet still leak after the production versions of the window is installed.
The Window Installation: The other problem lies in the lack of oversight or understanding of the installation of the window. Window leaks can be a result of defective installation. With today’s shortage of skilled labor the construction industry faces, it is difficult to find trained window installers. The result is that there is a lack of proper training and oversight to the window flashing and installation. The defects simply get covered.
The Problem with Windows: Lack of Quality Assurance.
The Window Assembly: The window industry many years ago started a trade organization called the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and is commonly referred to as AAMA. If they pass AAMA admission requirements, a window manufacturer may voluntarily join AAMA. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) certifies laboratories to perform tests that measure, among other things, the performance of a window’s strength, and resistance to air and water.
AAMA certification includes an inspector going into a manufacturer’s plant and confirming the manufacturer is using the same parts and pieces they used in the window that passed the ASTM tests. The plant inspections do not include qualitative evaluation of manufacturing techniques and these inspections do not include tests of the manufactured window’s performance. AAMA certification testing does not assess a windows performance after the passage of time.
Since AAMA certification involves no element of testing or inquiry related to performance over time and the required testing is of a new window every four years, a Builder gets very little assurance of the future performance of the windows by a window’s AAMA certification. The lack of required testing of windows actually manufactured and the lack of quality assurance testing of installed windows may explain how a sample window can pass the AAMA test for water intrusion but yet still leak after the production versions of the window is installed.
The Window Installation: The other problem lies in the lack of oversight or understanding of the installation of the window. Window leaks can be a result of defective installation. With today’s shortage of skilled labor the construction industry faces, it is difficult to find trained window installers. The result is that there is a lack of proper training and oversight to the window flashing and installation. The defects simply get covered.