The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released a new publication addressing aspects of the finite element (FE) thermal modeling process.
This procedure is often used to predict interior surface temperatures on fenestration including non-residential windows, terrace and patio doors, curtain wall, storefront, and entrances. AAMA 515-19, “Voluntary Procedure for Determination of Fenestration Surface Temperatures by THERM Finite Element Modeling,” an FGIA standard, is now available for purchase.
This voluntary procedure helps designers determine what temperatures and film coefficients to use when running a project-specific condensation analysis. Per AAMA 515, condensation will occur on any interior surface that falls below the dew point temperature of interior ambient air. “Condensation can be unsightly, unsanitary, and over long periods of time can damage adjacent building materials,” according to an FGIA news release.
“This new, voluntary procedure, a result of seven years of detailed development, is intended to make application of the software tool uniform between users,” said Steve Fronek (Wausau Window and Wall Systems), chair of the Architectural Finite Element Thermal Modeling Task Group. “It addresses key variables, such as boundary conditions, substrates and THERM parameters, as well as the accuracy of modeling and testing. The scope is clearly outlined and guidance provided for the specifier.”
Related Stories
| Mar 8, 2012
Federal silica dust rule caught in bureaucratic limbo
A federal rule meant to protect the lungs of workers has been caught in bureaucratic purgatory for more than a year.
| Mar 8, 2012
New LEED-EBOM rating has requirements for specific project types
Several key changes are proposed for the LEED-EBOM Rating System in 2012.
| Mar 8, 2012
Green buildings more resilient than conventionally built structures
A new study by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning suggests that structures built to green standards can advance building resiliency.
| Mar 1, 2012
LEED Platinum standard likely to mean net-zero energy by 2018
As LEED standards continue to rise, the top level, LEED Platinum, will likely mean net-zero energy construction by 2018.
| Mar 1, 2012
EPA beefs up stormwater discharge rule from construction projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now finalized its 2012 construction general permit (CGP) that authorizes stormwater discharges from construction projects that disturb one or more acres of land in the areas where EPA is the permitting authority.
| Mar 1, 2012
Regulators investigate structural failures during construction of two Ohio casinos
Regulators with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the city of Cincinnati are investigatingthe collapse of the second floor of Cincinnati's Horseshoe Casino as workers were pouring concrete.
| Mar 1, 2012
Is your project too small for LEED? Consider other green standards
There are many other recognized national, state and local programs that offer a variety of best management practices and sustainable design, construction and operating strategies.
| Mar 1, 2012
California bill aims to cut costs for commercial building energy retrofits
A bill in the California Assembly would allow the state to pool together property owners’ energy-retrofit loans.
| Feb 29, 2012
Carvalho appointed Shawmut Safety Director
He has been a driving force behind multiple safety-orientated initiatives at Shawmut, including Safety Week, the creation of an online safety manual, and the implementation of a new safety reporting and tracking system.
