Skylight/Sloped Glazing Council Updates Documents, Discusses Codes and Creates Course
January 31, 2012Sponsored by
Document Updates
The AAMA Skylight/Sloped Glazing Council is currently working on several document updates, as well as reviewing and commenting on an ASTM human impact document.
Design Guidelines for Skylights
The Skylight/Sloped Glazing Document Management Committee [Chair Roger LeBrun (Velux)] is soliciting donations to fund a significant rewrite of AAMA SDGS-1-89, Structural Design Guidelines for Aluminum Framed Skylights.
The work to be funded will focus on developing a complete working draft of the SDGS document that could then be reviewed and balloted via the standard AAMA process. In addition, the document will be expanded to include design guidelines relating to blast hazard mitigation as well as impact and cycling associated with high velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ).
The committee received a quote from Leon Murray, P.E., a recognized and respected engineer in the field of skylight structures. Now the committee is requesting the necessary funding to initiate the contract with Murray. This work does not include any specific research and thus the funding is intended to be raised from individual AAMA member companies. Companies involved in designing/manufacturing sloped glazing systems as well as those companies who supply materials to sloped glazing systems would benefit from having an updated standard on Structural Design Guidelines for Aluminum Framed Skylights.
Contributors to the effort will be acknowledged in the preface of the document. For more information, view the Contribution Form that is due by February 15 or contact Ken Brenden, AAMA Technical Services Manager.
Installation Guidelines for Skylights
A new task group [Chair Bob Sampson (RCS Consulting)] was also formed to revise AAMA 1607-04, Installation Guidelines for Unit Skylights. This document provides a guideline to installing preassembled unit skylights onto a roof. The intent of this standard is to educate by providing clear illustrations and concise commentary on the principles involved to ensure good installation practice.
ASTM Human Impact Document
The Skylight Fall Protection Task Group [Chair John Westerfield (CrystaLite)] discussed drop load comparison tests – the specifications of which are being developed by an ASTM Working Group. The task group recommended that the AAMA staff representative for ASTM WK17797, New Test Method for Human Impact on Commercial Skylights relay the Skylight/Sloped Glazing Council position that lead shot be used to fill the drop bag used for testing.
Skylight Codes
AAMA is promoting daylighting through codes and working proactively to introduce provisions for natural daylighting into green and energy codes. During the AAMA Fall Conference, Julie Ruth (AAMA Code Consultant) reviewed public comments from the IgCC Code Development Hearings, and the Skylight/Sloped Glazing Codes and Regulatory Affairs Committee [Chair Bob Young (Eastman Chemical)] discussed their feedback on these comments in order to provide direction as to how to move forward.
In addition, members discussed ASCE 7 – Section 2404 and reviewed draft proposal II, including applicable equations for loading requirements. Ruth will bring to light an ICC staff error at the Final Action Hearing regarding the status of ASTM D1003. She will make known to the assembly that ASTM D1003 was mistakenly determined to be in non-compliance to ICC standard when it had already been found in compliance.
Skylight NAFS Course
During the AAMA Fall Conference, the Skylight NAFS Task Group modified its scope, which now reads: “To develop proposed revisions and user guidance related to skylights within the AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-11 (NAFS 2011) documents and to develop a new continuing education course entitled Specifying Roof Windows, Unit Skylights and TDDs based on those documents.”
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