AAMA Releases Fenestration System Guide Specification Covering Tests that Simulate Hazardous Blast

Guideline specifications, to assist architects, engineers, manufacturers and code officials to ultimately reduce the hazardous consequences of a blast force on fenestration systems, have been published by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). AAMA 510-06, Voluntary Guide Specification for Blast Hazard Mitigation for Fenestration Systems, directs manufacturers to the appropriate resources to simulate blast conditions in a laboratory environment in order to evaluate and compare fenestration system performance in a standardized manner.

"NIBS (the National Institute of Building Sciences) handed off the challenge to reconcile blast mitigation specs to AAMA in much the same way as we handed off the InstallationMasters™ program concept, because of AAMA's 40-year track record in window certification," says Earle Kennett, NIBS vice president, technical programs. "More practically, AAMA's membership includes about 80% of the commercial fenestration manufacturers in the U.S. and all of the major players in the blast resistant products market."

"The effort to establish a fenestration system performance classification relating to the hazards of a blast event represents the combined work of test laboratories, manufacturers, component suppliers and independent consultants," notes Dennis Kelly, senior vice president of Graham Architectural Products and chairman of the Blast Hazard Task Group. "As a result, system categorization and standard tests now exist for a broad range of products, allowing manufacturers to design products in a manner that will help to reduce injuries and fatalities-should the real thing occur," he explains. In addition to establishing testing guidelines, other goals of the AAMA Blast Hazard Task Group are to educate the design community and to establish a rating system that could be referenced by project specifiers.

The Voluntary Guide Specification for Blast Hazard Mitigation for Fenestration Systems is available through download, CD or paper copy at a cost of $16.00 for non-members and $8.00 for members.

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