AAMA Releases Test Procedure and Quality Assurance guide for Thermal Barriers

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has announced the release of AAMA 505-09, a test procedure, and QAG-1-09, a quality assurance processing and monitoring guide.

AAMA 505-09, Dry Shrinkage and Composite Performance Thermal Cycling Test Procedure, outlines a laboratory method to measure the amount of dry shrinkage and retained composite longitudinal shear resistance of extrusions incorporating a thermal barrier after thermal cycling. The process of thermal cycling described in AAMA 505-09 is referred to as the "differential" method and is to be used for product qualification of all types of thermal barriers.

AAMA QAG-1-09, Quality Assurance Processing & Monitoring Guide for Poured and Debridged Polyurethane Thermal Barriers, is a quality assurance checklist for the in-plant processing of poured and debridged thermal barriers. AAMA QAG-1-09 includes information related to equipment checks, chemical storage and handling, process control, debridging and fabrication.

Both documents were developed by the AAMA Composite Thermal Barrier Testing Procedures Task Group, co-chaired by Patrick Muessig of Azon USA Inc. and George Nash of Ensinger Inc.

"The improvement of the thermal performance of fenestration systems has become increasingly important in recent years," says Muessig. "These two documents describe the thermal test cycling methods known as the 'soak' test used for continuous quality checks and the 'differential' method used for product qualification."