The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released an updated specification for producing quality PVC fenestration products. AAMA 320-22, Standard and Guideline for Quality Welding, Bonding, and Ventilation of Thermoplastic (PVC) Extrusion Based Fenestration Products, is now available for purchase. This document was last updated in 2010. It provides guidelines for successful welded corners and to reduce the risk of deformations and malfunctions of fenestration products fabricated with extruded PVC profiles due to heat build-up from sun exposure.

Such deformations and malfunctions may include, but are not limited to, organic coated, laminated, cap stocked/co-extruded and solid-colored profiles. This is especially recommended when darker substrates are used, or geographic location moves toward locations of high incidence solar radiation.

“A wide range of factors occurring in multiple areas of the factory can affect the structural integrity and appearance of welded thermoplastic corners and finished product dimensions and/or squareness,” said Jeffrey Franson (Quanex Building Products), Chair of the FGIA VMC Corner Break Task Group. “This document’s general guidelines identify methods for inspection and suggested checks and solutions relating to identified quality issues. The user should be certain to always think through the entire production system when reviewing these issues. Quite often a quality issue will not manifest itself until further down the production line when its cause may in fact be related to an earlier process or ambient condition of the factory.”

AAMA 320-22, as well as other AAMA documents available from FGIA, may be purchased from the online store at the discounted member rate of $20 or the non-member price of $60.

For more information about FGIA and its activities, visit FGIAonline.org.

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