Guide to Window Certifications, Standards, Ratings
- Window certification
& standards guides
- Window certifications from American Association for Window Manufacturers
(AAMA)
- :Window or door certification from the Window and Door Manufacturers
Association (WDMA, formerly the National Wood
Window and Door Association, NWWDA).
- Window certifications & standards - what are the minimum window & door performance grades
- Questions & Answers about window performance, certifications, & grades
- References
|
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
In this article series we discuss the certifications and standards for the performance of windows.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Window Certification & Standards
In this article series we discuss the selection and installation of windows and doors, following best construction and design practices for building lighting and ventilation, with attention to the impact on building heating and cooling costs, indoor air quality, and comfort of occupants. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
Also see WINDOW EFFICIENCY Features & Ratings. See WINDOWS & DOORS our home page for window and door information, and also see WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide for a photographic guide to window and door types and architectural styles.
It is always best to choose windows with third-party certification
from American Association for Window Manufacturers
(AAMA) or the Window and Door Manufacturers
Association (WDMA, formerly the National Wood
Window and Door Association, NWWDA).
Both the
AAMA and WDMA are trade associations representing
manufacturers of windows, doors, and skylights. The
WDMA is limited to wood windows and doors, while the
AAMA encompasses a wide range of materials, from
wood, aluminum, vinyl, and fiberglass to the newest
composites.
Voluntary Standards for Window Manufacturers
In 1997, the two groups joined
forces to establish a unified standard for evaluating fenestration
products, known as AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.
2-97 “Voluntary Specification for Aluminum, Vinyl and
Wood Windows and Glass Doors.” It establishes four performance
requirements for a completed window or door.
- Structural ability to resist wind loads
- Resistance to air leakage
- Resistance to air infiltration
- Resistance to forced entry
Products that are certified under 101/I.S. 2-97 are designated
by a four-part code that denotes the type of window,
the performance class, and performance grade. For
example, the code C-R15 indicates a casement window (C)
recommended for residential applications (R), with a performance
grade of 15.
Performance Grade and Design Pressure for Windows
How
well a window performs when subjected to heavy rains and
high winds is indicated by its performance grade and
design pressure. The design pressure is a structural rating
only, while the performance grade also indicates that a
window has met the water resistance and air infiltration
standards for that grade (see Table 3-2 below).
The minimum recommended design pressure for residential
doors and windows is 15 psf. A design pressure of
15 means a window has been tested to withstand sustained
wind pressures of 22.5 psf, roughly equivalent to a 95-mph
wind, applied to either side of the window, simulating both
positive and negative wind pressures.
The test pressure is
always 150% of the rated design pressure to provide a
safety factor. To earn a performance grade of 15, a window
must also pass a water pressure test of 2.86 psf, which
simulates rainfall of 8 inches per hour with a wind speed
of 34 mph. In coastal areas or other areas prone to heavy
winds or hurricanes, higher grade windows are recommended
and may be required by code.
Also see WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide.
Industry Associations for Windows & Doors
American Architectural Manufacturers Association
(AAMA)
www.aamanet.org
Efficient Windows Collaborative
www.efficientwindows.org
National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
www.nfrc.org
Sustainable by Design
www.susdesign.com
Shareware calculators for sun angles, solar heat gain,
and shading
Window and Door Manufacturers Association
(WDMA)
www.wdma.com
-- Adapted and paraphrased, edited, and supplemented, with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
...
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Use the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website.
Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.
Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Basic Housing Inspection, US DHEW, S 352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries; New York State version, ca 1955, source of our window parts and window repair sketches.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
|
- Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
- The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for adaptations, quotations, or reproductions used at this website. All rights and contents of the JLC material are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
- ...
