Southern Aluminum Finishing Co., Inc. (SAF) announced the successful completion of AAMA 509-22 classification testing for its Series C4000 Drained and Back-Ventilated (D&BV) RainScreen Panel System. The C4000 is SAF’s best-selling rainscreen panel system. The system is typically specified under Division 07 — Thermal and Moisture Protection. This rating under the 2022 edition of the FGIA/AAMA voluntary test and classification standard affirms the system’s performance in managing water infiltration and cavity ventilation — the two core metrics by which D&BV wall cladding systems are evaluated.
AAMA 509-22, published by the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), establishes a voluntary test and classification method for drained and back-ventilated rainscreen wall cladding systems. The standard quantifies the volume of rainwater contacting the air/water barrier (AWB) and the system’s ability to allow ventilation and drying within the wall cavity. Systems are assigned a dual VX/WX classification rating reflecting measured airflow through the cladding and average water reaching the AWB under both static and dynamic test pressures per ASTM E283, ASTM E331, and AAMA 501.1. The testing for SAF indicated a classification of V1/W1.
The Series C4000 system ships with factory-fabricated panels and pre-fastened track extrusions. The system’s open-joint design allows moisture to enter the drained cavity and subsequently drain via weep holes and dry via back-ventilation — keeping the primary air/water barrier protected. SAF’s factory-attached frame extrusions allow panels to fit directly into horizontal and vertical track extrusions, minimizing field labor and margin for error.