| Sidebar 3 – Air leakage requirements in codes |
| • Give special attention to fenestration products’ air leakage requirements. The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020 and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 (NECB) do not have the same requirements for operable windows. • Fixed windows and Other Fenestration Assemblies must meet 0.2L/(s•m²) [0.04 cfm/sf] in both the NBC 2020 and NECB 2020. • For operable fenestration products, the requirement is 1.5 L/(s•m²) [0.30 cfm/sf] in the 2020 NBC, and 0.5 L/(s•m²) [0.10 cfm/sf] in the 2020 NECB. Remember, when a building is within the scope of a NECB, performances required in the NECB take precedence over those in the NBC. |
In addition to these essential test protocols, NAFS describes minimal requirements to ensure products are easy to use, their screens remain in place on windy days, and they resist forced entry. This forced-entry test does not consider glass breakage type, but the product’s resistance to a quieter and less noticeable intrusion with the help of tools.
Products from all PC must also undergo the minimal mandatory tests. Their differences lie in the minimal dimensions of the tested samples, and the minimal water and wind load pressure they must meet. CW and AW classes are required to not exceed L/175 during the structural-deflection test. R and LC classes are tested to this, but the result does not determine a pass or fail.
In addition, AW class has more stringent requirements for air leakage with a maximum of 0.5L/(s•m²) [0.10 cfm/sf] for operable compression-sealed products and 0.2 L/(s•m²) [0.04 cfm/sf] for fixed products. Both are tested at 300 Pa (6.27 psf) for infiltration and 75 Pa (1.57 psf) for exfiltration. AW class products also must undergo two water tests: ASTM E331-00 uniform static air pressure and ASTM E547-00 cyclic static air pressure at a minimum of 20 per cent of the design pressure, defined with the structural-deflection wind load test.
The greatest distinction for AW class products is AAMA 910-10 life cycle testing. Life cycle testing involves thermal cycling from -18 C (0 F) to 82 C (180 F); opening, closing, and locking cycles of 4,000 operations each; and a misuse test for operable windows and doors. AW products must pass ASTM E283 air leakage and ASTM E331 water penetrations tests at the completion of cycling. The operating sash are then subjected to a torsion test.
AW class products also require high-performance finishes. Painted finishes must comply with AAMA 2604-13 or AAMA 2605-13, and Class I anodizing must meet AAMA 611-14 standards. This aspect should not be overlooked when preparing specifications (Figure 1).
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