Frequently Asked Questions: 2008 North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS-08)

Is there a standard for the beam length?
During the testing process, does the middle get braced to avoid torque?
Does NAFS-11 have any reference to ADA or Canadian versions of ADA?
If transoms are installed separate do they have to meet window regulations or doors?
Will Canadian customers have to pass AAMA 930?
How does this affect 'site glazed' aluminum, curtain wall, storefront SEF and AW assemblies?
Can LW (Limited Water) doors be installed anywhere other than in a 'protected' location?
Can the lock and deadbolt hardware on side hinged doors be 'cupped' during NAFS water testing?
Is a side hinged door with a structural design pressure of DP80 and a water performance of 510 Pa which is equivalent to a PG70, considered to be a Limited Water (LW) door?
Are “site glazed” products are being exempt from NAFS? Apparently in the US, site glazed products are exempt and this will be recognized in Canada as well but when? I want to know if this info is accurate...?
Is air leakage also required for doors in Canada?
How are custom / specialty windows and doors handled (e.g. bullet, acoustic, blast)?
Is there any change to which requirements apply to interior openings, or are these only for exterior openings?
Are both the permanent and temporary labels mandatory?
Are certified product labels controlled like fire labels, or can they be printed in-house?
Are sliding doors included in the standard?
What if the door passes the structural test but exceeds deflection ratings?
Do door doubles cover similar singles of equal or lesser leaf sizes?
Do we need to submit reports like with hallmark or do we just make claims with our own 3rd party reports?
What about Entry Doors when a product is sold without hardware?
Like Hallmark CS1, is there something like that for Canada
For NAFS swing doors testing do we need to test separately for wood jamb  VS  metal clad wood frame ?

Is there a standard for the beam length?
No. Beam length is not specified and is more impacted by the mullion span and tributary area.  We suggest consulting with your Intertek/ATI engineering staff member for recommendations on mullion span.

During the testing process, does the middle get braced to avoid torque?
Yes, if necessary the mullion will be braced to replicate reaction in an actual mullion.

Does NAFS-11 have any reference to ADA or Canadian versions of ADA?
No, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements may sometimes conflict with the sill heights needed to resist water entry.  In these cases ramps or other means may be needed to meet ADA requirements.

If transoms are installed separate do they have to meet window regulations or doors?
Window/door regulations are all covered under the same NAFS-08 and CSA A440S-09 standards per Canadian codes. If transoms are installed separate from the door, whoever labels the whole system (including mulled connections) is responsible for ensuring it meets regulations for that installation and has been tested to conform.

Will Canadian customers have to pass AAMA 930?
Both NAFS-08 and NAFS-11 reference AAMA 930.  Hardware manufacturers would do well to test to it so that door system manufacturers have more hardware options available.

How does this affect 'site glazed' aluminum, curtain wall, storefront SEF and AW assemblies?
Curtain wall and storefront commercial systems are not in the scope of NAFS-08 and will likely be governed by a different section of the Building Code.  Site-glazed windows that do fall within the scope of NAFS will still need to meet the requirements therein and be labeled to conform.

Can LW (Limited Water) doors be installed anywhere other than in a 'protected' location?
Not per the standard or the Codes although this is ultimately dependent on the requirements of the local AHJ.

Can the lock and deadbolt hardware on side hinged doors be 'cupped' during NAFS water testing?
No.  NAFS-08 requires the test to be of the system in its installed condition, which will not include special cupping or sealed bags.  Use of any special measures must be clearly noted as deviations in the report.

Is a side hinged door with a structural design pressure of DP80 and a water performance of 510 Pa which is equivalent to a PG70, considered to be a Limited Water (LW) door?
No, "Limited Water" only pertains to cases with water testing at a 0 psf pressure differential.

Are “site glazed” products are being exempt from NAFS? Apparently in the US, site glazed products are exempt and this will be recognized in Canada as well but when? I want to know if this info is accurate...?
If the product is covered by the ICC (International Code Council) then, no, they are not exempt.  If on the other hand the product is covered by the IRC (International Residential Code) and simply shipped without glass then the product would need to pass NAFS.
They are not exempt in Canada and the entity labeling the finished system is still responsible to demonstrate the product conforms to NAFS and CSA A440S1-09.
The Canadian Building Codes have a section for Site-Built windows for products that do not fall in the scope of NAFS, but the range of products in this category is quite small.

Is air leakage also required for doors in Canada?
Yes.  Air, infiltration, and exfiltration in Canada are required for doors just like windows

How are custom / specialty windows and doors handled (e.g. bullet, acoustic, blast)?
Specialty characteristics as referenced are not addressed directly by the NAFS standard. The NAFS standard forms the basis of performance for air, water, structural, and other functional tests specific to the product type and performance grade.

Is there any change to which requirements apply to interior openings, or are these only for exterior openings?
There may be specific requirements that interior door and window products need to comply with fire resistance, for example, but the NAFS standard applies to exterior openings.

Are both the permanent and temporary labels mandatory?
Permanent and temporary labels are mandatory to conform to CSA A440.2-09, the Canadian Supplement to NAFS.  That is whether you are certified or not. 

Are certified product labels controlled like fire labels, or can they be printed in-house?
At this time, certified product labels are not controlled like fire labels and may be printed by an approved third party or by the manufacturer if the label types and proofs are approved by Intertek.

Are sliding doors included in the standard?
Yes, sliding glass doors are covered the designation is SGD.

What if the door passes the structural test but exceeds deflection ratings?
Deflection limits are only applicable for “Commercial C” and “Architectural AW” rated products and in those performance grades the product would not pass.

Do door doubles cover similar singles of equal or lesser leaf sizes?
Yes, although you might compromise the performance rating of the single leaf door by applying the double door results in some cases

Do we need to submit reports like with hallmark or do we just make claims with our own 3rd party reports?
In Canada you are required to label your doors indicating conformance with NAFS-08 and CSA A440S1-09.  To do this you must have conducted testing in accordance with NAFS-08 and have met requirements (from NAFS-08 and CSA A440S1-09) for the job & jurisdiction in question.  Local authorities may likely request that you submit test reports to substantiate your labels.  If you are under a certification program then the certification agency will already have your test report included in a Certification Listing before an Authorization to Mark is issued, and label proofs are agreed upon.

What about Entry Doors when a product is sold without hardware?
It is the responsibility of the company placing the product labels (the labels indicating NAFS-08 and CSA A440S1-09 conformance) to ensure the door system is built in accordance with the manner in which it was tested.  This may require a change in the way door slabs and components are sold; additional oversight on the part of the manufacturer to ensure only certain hardware is used on their slabs, or a requirement that pre-hangers and installers are those conducting tests to ensure the finished systems they construct meet requirements. 
Note, too, that the frame and sill are all part of the same system and they both need to be maintained per the test assembly as well.  This could one day affect how doors are sold as they may require to be more packaged and controlled.

Like Hallmark CS1, is there something like that for Canada?
The Canadian standard that the NAFS document is replacing is known as CSA-A440 for windows and CGSB 82.1 (doors) in the 2010 National Building Code of Canada, and other provincial codes based upon the 2010 NBCC.
In general terms, certification for NAFS-08 can be granted by accredited certification laboratories, such as through the utilization of Intertek’s recognized certification services.

For NAFS swing doors testing do we need to test separately for wood jamb  VS  metal clad wood frame ?
Grouping may be possible through a certification program such that only one needs to be tested. An AHJ may cry foul if the report does not match the installed system.  It all depends on how different the two installations are, how the seals engage, hardware action, etc.