The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released a new technical information report (TIR) to establish criteria for deflection and permanent deformation gauge device locations in order to meet uniform deflection and structural load test specifications and requirements specific to folding doors. AAMA TIR-A21-26, Structural Test Deflection and Permanent Deformation Gauge Placement for Folding Doors, an FGIA document, is now available for purchase in the FGIA online store.
This TIR describes the correct placement of deflection measurement devices, and calculations for determining deflection and permanent deformation when performing structural testing of folding door products under uniform static air pressure difference per ASTM E330 and/or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440.
“Certain industry standards for structural performance require the collection and recording of deflection and deformation during testing,” says Dave Stammen (ASSA ABLOY), Chair of the FGIA Structural Test Deflection and Permanent Deformation Gauge Placement Review Task Group. “This document was developed to provide FGIA accredited test labs with a consistent method for measuring and calculating these deflections/deformations. Examples are provided in this document to assist test labs with determining the unsupported spans that are most typically used based on the product type being tested.”