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AAMA Unveils Cool Coatings Standard
A new standard on solar reflective finishes may prove useful to architects, owners and contractors when it comes to determining the best solar reflective coating for a project, according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).
The standard, AAMA 643-13, "Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for Solar Reflective Finishes,” describes test procedures and performance requirements for pigmented organic coatings applied to aluminum and other substrates.
The standard is available for purchase from AAMA’s Publication store.
Answering a Need
“Since its development, cool coatings technologies have always been thought of as being strictly for roof coatings,” said Manny Mayer, chair of AAMA’s Cool Coatings Task Group. Mayer is the architectural product manager, North America, with TIGER Drylac U.S.A. Inc., of St. Charles, IL.
“As is the case with roofs, such coatings can be beneficial on the façade as well as window frames, railings, outdoor equipment enclosures and numerous other applications as recent studies have shown,” he said.
“In order to specify such coatings for alternate purposes, AAMA’s Cool Coatings Task Group felt there was a need in the market place to provide a specification for manufacturers and architects to help in the evaluation and selection process of the best coating for the project.”
Other Architectural Substrates
In addition to aluminum, the standard covers coatings applied to fiber reinforced thermoset or wood profiles for windows, doors, wall panels and similar products.
AAMA reports that the primary purpose for utilizing coatings with solar reflective properties is to keep the coated surfaces cooler than they would be with standard coatings.
Future Use in LEED
“In order to continually meet the reduction of energy usage, AAMA 643 will help implement cool coatings technology of future projects and will be eventually used in LEED programs,” said Carl Troiano, vice chair of AAMA’s Cool Coatings Task Group. Trioiano is the president of Bay Shore, NY-based Trojan Powder Coatings Co. Inc.
Also, AAMA 643 is intended to assist the architect, owner and contractor to specify and obtain factory-applied finishes that will provide higher than standard Total Solar Reflectance values and still maintain a high level of performance in terms of film integrity, exterior durability and general appearance over a period of many years, the association said.
AAMA offers performance standards, product certification, and educational programs for the fenestration industry. AAMA’s membership is comprised of window, door, skylight, curtain wall and storefront manufacturers, suppliers and test labs.
