New guidelines for replacing windows without removing exterior brick veneer

The Fenestration Manufacturers Association (FMA), the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have released a new document focused on replacement windows.

FMA/AAMA/WDMA 2710-20, Guidelines for the Full Frame Replacement of Windows without Removal of Exterior Brick Veneer covers windows replacement in residential and light commercial buildings of not more than three stories above grade. It pertains to structures using a membrane/drainage system, a surface barrier drainage, or a wall system without a reliable membrane drainage system.

The document is focused on the full frame replacement without removal of external brick veneer. It describes methods where the cavity between the wall and façade needs to be blocked and sealed.

“This newly document is the first installation practice to address this window-wall condition, which also includes a 'decision-tree' matrix to guide installers to the most appropriate methods,” said Jim Katsaros (DuPont Performance Building Solutions), co-chair of the Joint Replacement Window Task Group. “The task group evaluated numerous configuration variations and completed representative installations with comprehensive field testing in actual homes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”