Many Wins for Industry at Recent Hearings
After the May International Code Council Group A+ final action hearings, an AAMA member
remarked to me, “I can’t remember
the last time we had such a high rate
of success at a code hearing.” I could.
It was before energy conservation
codes became as prominent as they
are now.
residential occupancies that are built
under the 2012 International Building
Code will be 36 inches or more above
the interior floor. This requirement
will not apply if the window cannot
be opened more than 4 inches under
normal operation, or is equipped
with a window guard or window
opening control device (WOCD) that
complies with ASTM F2090, or, for
dwelling units that are more than 75
feet above grade, window guards that
comply with ASTM F2006.
The window opening control
device is to limit the initial open-
ing of the window to no more than
4 inches, but then release with no
window does not open more than 4
inches, or if it is equipped with a win-
dow guard or WOCD that complies
with ASTM F2090.
Bringing our disagreements to ICC ➤
is ineffective and a waste of time,
money and other resources.
participating in the revision of ASTM
F2090 to clarify its testing requirements, and we will be seeking the update of that referenced standard to the
recently issued 2010 edition during
the Group B- hearings later this year.
SILL HEIGHTS AND WOCDS
The required height of operable
window sills that are more than
72 inches above exterior grade in
more than 15 pounds force to permit
the window to be opened to a greater
size. This could be the size required
to meet emergency escape and res-
cue opening requirements, if appli-
cable for that particular window. This
requirement would apply to multi-
family buildings such as apartment
buildings, and one and two family
homes and townhouses if they are
being built under the IBC rather than
the International Residential Code. It
is anticipated the primary impact of
this change will be operable windows
provided in apartment buildings.
EXTERIOR DOOR RATINGS
AAMA was successful in defeating three proposals that would have
permitted component based rating
of exterior door assemblies. Two of
these proposals relied upon ANSI
A250.13 for rating of the individual
components, while one relied upon
the Association of Millwork Distributor’s Side Hinged Exterior Door
standard (SHEDs) for rating of a completed door assembly based upon
testing of individual components in
that assembly.
