What is AAMA?

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has become widely recognized for developing voluntary standards to test and validate the performance and quality of windows, doors and skylights. The current AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2 specification establishes stringent standard for the testing of windows in the following categories:

Design Pressure (DP): Resistance to wind and other dynamic pressures. The higher the DP rating of a window or door, the more resistant it will be to the effects of wind and other pressures.

Air Infiltration: Air Infiltration is the amount of air leaking through a window or door. The lower the air infiltration rating, the better. To pass, a window cannot exceed 0.3 CFM/Sq Ft of air infiltration with a 25 mph wind.

Water Resistance: The ability of a window to withstand leakage from a wind driven rain. Windows are rated on a pass/fail basis.

Forced Entry Resistance: A skilled/trained lab technician attempts to gain entry with common tools. A window must pass the forced entry resistance test to be certified to the AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2 specification.

When shopping for windows and doors, look for the gold certification label. Under this certification program window and door manufacturers submit products to an AAMA accredited independent testing laboratory where they are tested to the AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2 specification.