Amma 502 08
Amma 502 08
Amma 502 08
AAMA 502-08
M A N U F A C T U R E R S A S S O C I A T I O N
HOW TO USE THE SHORT FORM SPECIFICATION ........................... 1
1.0 SCOPE AND PURPOSE................................................................... 2
2.0 TEST METHODS .............................................................................. 2
3.0 SAMPLING........................................................................................ 3
4.0 TEST PROCEDURES ....................................................................... 4
5.0 TEST REPORTS ............................................................................... 6
6.0 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS .......................................................... 6
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AAMA 502-08
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 1990
PRECEDING DOCUMENT: 502-02
PUBLISHED: 5/08
1. Newly installed fenestration product(s) shall be field tested in accordance with AAMA 502, "Voluntary Specification for
Field Testing of Newly Installed Fenestration Products."
SPECIFIER NOTE 1: See Section 2.0 for a description of the test method. AAMA 502 specifies air leakage resistance and
water penetration resistance field testing of fenestration product specimens during construction and prior to issuance of the
building occupancy permit.
2. Test three (unless otherwise specified) of the fenestration product specimens after the products have been completely installed
for air leakage resistance and water penetration resistance as specified.
SPECIFIER NOTE 2: The number of specimens to be selected for testing on a project should be determined after careful
consideration of the following factors:
• What will be the cost impact of the quantity and location of specimens selected for testing? (See Section 3.5.3).
• Selecting a large number of specimens on a small project (fewer than 50 fenestration products) is normally not cost
effective, and as few as one specimen may provide the information needed.
• On all projects, regardless of size, the specifier should determine how many specimens are required in order to
establish a reasonable measure of quality for the entire project. ASTM E 122 provides guidance on how to establish the
number of test specimens in order to estimate a measure of quality of a production lot with prescribed precision.
• The specifier must carefully balance the cost of specimen or specimen preparation, as well as the cost of testing and the
restoration of the project surrounding components and finishes to their original condition, before determining the
number and location of specimens to be tested. On larger projects, a formal cost-benefit analysis is appropriate. On
smaller projects, the specifier should avoid a situation where the cost of testing and building restoration approaches
the cost of the fenestration products. If any of the tested fenestration products fail to comply with the project
requirements, consideration should be given to the selection and testing of additional products.
• If water leakage is observed and the source of the leakage cannot be determined, a forensic evaluation using the
procedures outlined in AAMA 511 shall be performed while maintaining the test pressures and methods defined in
AAMA 502.
3. Air leakage resistance tests shall be conducted at a uniform static test pressure of ___ Pa (___ psf). The maximum allowable
rate of air leakage shall not exceed L/s•m2 (___ cfm/ft2).
SPECIFIER NOTE 3: The field test pressure for air leakage resistance shall be equivalent to the test pressure originally used in
the laboratory to test the product or achieve a laboratory performance rating. The allowable rates for field air leakage testing
shall be a minimum of 1.5 times the tested or rated laboratory performance (see Section 4.2.4 for default performance
requirements).
4. Water penetration resistance tests shall be conducted at a static test pressure of ___Pa (____ psf). No water penetration
shall occur as defined in Section 4.3.4 of AAMA 502.
SPECIFIER NOTE 4: When selecting static water test pressure to be tested at the job site, in no case shall the specified test
pressure exceed 2/3 of the tested or rated laboratory performance (see Section 4.3.2 for default performance requirements).
TO OUTSIDE BAROMETRIC
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
MEASURING
ALTERNATE DEVICE
TEST
CHAMBER
TEST
CHAMBER
EXHAUST
VALVE
AIR SYSTEM
INNERMOST PLANE
FOR WATER PENETRATION
(REFERENCE PARAGRAPH 4.3.4)
W
PRESSURE GAUGE
VALVE
CALIBRATED WATER
SPRAY RACK
Product
AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 AAMA 502
Designation
Allowable Air Leakage Allowable Air Leakage
Test Pressure Maximum Rate Test Pressure Maximum Rate
H-R15 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 1.5 L/s•m2 (0.3 cfm/ft2) 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 2.2 L/s•m2 (0.45 cfm/ft2)
SD-LC25 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 1.5 L/s•m2 (0.3 cfm/ft2) 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 2.2 L/s•m2 (0.45 cfm/ft2)
C-C30 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 1.5 L/s•m2 (0.3 cfm/ft2) 75 Pa (1.6 psf) 2.2 L/s•m2 (0.45 cfm/ft2)
AP-HC40 300 Pa (6.2 psf) 1.5 L/s•m2 (0.3 cfm/ft2) 300 Pa (6.2 psf) 2.2 L/s•m2 (0.45 cfm/ft2)
F-AW40 300 Pa (6.2 psf) 0.5 L/s•m2 (0.1 cfm/ft2) 300 Pa (6.2 psf) 0.7 L/s•m2 (0.15 cfm/ft2)
TABLE 1
NOTE 4: The above information is for example only and is not a complete list of all fenestration product designations. Refer to
Table 25 in AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-05 or Table 27 in AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08 for a complete listing
of all designations and maximum allowable air leakage rates.
4.3 Water penetration resistance performance shall be perfectly plumb, level and square in a precision opening.
determined per ASTM E 1105 using Procedure B “cyclic Field test specimens, although installed within acceptable
static air pressure difference,” except for AW windows industry tolerances, are rarely perfectly plumb, level and
which shall be tested using Procedure A, “uniform static air square. Shipping, handling, acts of subsequent trades,
pressure difference.” The test pressure shall not be less than aging and other environmental conditions all may have an
91 Pa (1.9 psf). adverse effect upon the performance of the installed
specimen. A 1/3 reduction of the test pressure for field
4.3.1 The ASTM E 1105 test consists of sealing a chamber testing is specified as a reasonable adjustment for the
to the surrounding conditions adjacent to the specimen to differences between a laboratory test environment and a
be tested, and supplying or exhausting air to the chamber at field test environment.
the rate required to maintain the desired air pressure
difference across the specimen. Simultaneous to the 4.3.3 With all operable portions of the specimen closed and
application of air pressure difference, water shall be applied locked, the specimen shall be subjected to a water
to the exterior face of the specimen at the required rate penetration test in accordance with ASTM E 1105
while observing for any water penetration at the interior. procedure “A” or “B” in accordance with Section 4.3.
Procedure “A” shall consist of a 15-minute test with
4.3.2 Water penetration resistance tests shall be conducted continuous pressure and water application. When using
at a static test pressure equal to 2/3 of the tested and rated procedure “B” each of the four cycles shall consist of five
laboratory performance test pressure as indicated by the minutes with pressure applied and one minute with the
applicable product designation in AAMA/WDMA/CSA pressure released during which the water spray is
101/I.S. 2/A440. For example, a product tested or rated as continuously applied. Observe and note all points of water
H-C50 shall be field tested at a pressure differential of penetration, if any, that occur during the test. If the origin
0.667 x 360 Pa (7.5 psf) = 240 Pa (5.0 psf). of the water leakage cannot be definitively attributed to
either the fenestration product specimen or the joint
NOTE 5: The default pressures used for water penetration between the fenestration product specimen and the
resistance tests conducted in the field are not the same as surrounding condition, a forensic evaluation shall be
the laboratory test pressure to allow for field conditions performed using the procedures outlined in AAMA 511
and test methods that vary from the laboratory test while maintaining the test pressures defined in the field
conditions and test methods. These conditions are testing specifications, and employing the test methods
primarily related to the ambient environmental conditions defined in AAMA 502.
and the installation. The certified and labeled product
performance is based on laboratory testing performed 4.3.4 Water penetration attributable to the surrounding
under controlled laboratory conditions. The temperature, condition shall be defined as the presence of uncontrolled
wind and barometric pressure conditions during a field test water which did not originate from the fenestration product
will typically vary from the standard laboratory conditions. or the joint between the fenestration product specimen and
the wall/roof. Water penetration attributable to the
The field installation conditions also influence the product fenestration product specimen shall be defined as the
performance. Products tested in the laboratory are penetration of uncontrolled water beyond a plane parallel to
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