ICC Disapproves Motion to Add AAMA Specifications to Fire Safety Code
May 1, 2012

by Sahely Mukerji, smukerji@glass.com

The International Code Council (ICC) reviewed proposed changes to the International Building Code's Section 1405.4, Chapter 35, related to flashing, and rejected them as part of proposal FS 161-12.

Theresa Weston, representing DuPont Building Innovations, proposed adding references to American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 711-07 and AAMA 714-11 standards to this section of the code.

The proposed revision would have added the following: "When self-adhered membranes are used as flashing, those self-adhered flashings shall comply with AAMA 711. When fluid-applied membranes are used as flashing, those fluid-applied membrane flashings shall comply with AAMA 714."

"The standards would not require the code to change any specific kind of flashing material," Weston said. "Self-adhered and float-applied flashing materials are growing in use, and the AAMA standards are consensus standards."

The code committee asked how many products meet the standards, and Weston said three or more for the float-applied and between 10 and 15 for self-adhered.

Julie Ruth, representing the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, pointed out that changes were made to the scope of AAMA 711 and the second modification to the standard is still under review.

"I'd support updating 711 to 712 provided it's ready by the next hearing," Weston said. "There is extremely high possibility that it will go through."

Ed Berkel of the code committee asked Weston if AAMA 711 was not ready by the next hearing, whether she would accept a committee modification that separated 711 and 714 into two items for the committee to consider, to which she answered yes.

Tim Mattox, representing Tremco, supported the revision.

A representative of the Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) opposed the revision, and a representative of the EIFS Manufacturers, Tina Raker, pointed out that she never knew that AAMA 714 existed until it came out. She said their product did not meet AAMA standards, "and there are no EIFS manufacturers in the consensus committee."

Ruth and Weston advised that AAMA has an open process and anybody could join its consensus committees.

David Tyree of the code committee asked who decides whether a committee is balanced, and Ruth answered "our staff."

Citing the reasons that one of the manufacturer associations wasn't able to participate in the consensus committee, that the AAMA 711 standard is not ready, and that AAMA decides what a balanced consensus committee is, the committee disapproved the motion by 13-0.

The ICC's code development hearings run all week in Dallas. Stay tuned to USGNN.com™ throughout the week for more from the hearings.