*Content courtesy of NASF

What is NAFS?

NAFS is the North American Fenestration Standard (officially known as AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440) that is used in Canada and the United States. It is a new fenestration standard to test and evaluate the performance of windows, doors, and skylights.

The 2010 NBCC now includes the new Nafs Specification for Windows, Doors, and Skylights – AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-08, this replaces the 2000 edition of the A440 standard. The old A440 standard did not have a requirement for doors.

How does NAFS affect me?

NAFS is the window and door requirement of the National Building Code for residential housing and requires you test and properly label windows and doors in accordance with the standard and ensure doors and windows are rated to perform in the area they are being installed.

What about products made outside Canada?

The Canadian supplement is more stringent than the US; so many US manufacturers do not understand or meet the Canadian Building Code. That doesn’t mean they would not meet NAFS but they need to test, label and be able to prove they meet the NAFS supplement of the National Building Code of Canada.

What kind of projects will it affect?

Typically it will affect all residential projects that fall under Part 9 (Residential) of the National Building Code that require a building permit. All doors including commodity and utility doors will require a NAFS label if used in areas that require NAFS conformity.

What type of construction projects requires NAFS testing?

All projects require NAFS certified windows and doors or have an Architect and/or Professional Engineer certify they meet the requirements of the building code for the location they will be installed.

How does NAFS specifically affect entry doors?

While there have been testing requirements for steel entry doors and flush wood doors in the building code for over 30 years, they have been largely ignored and not enforced. All side-hinged entry doors are now included in the NAFS standard and by referencing the NAFS-08 and A440S1-09 in the NBC 2010 and provincial codes all entry doors have to be tested to NAFS-08 and A440S1-09 to comply with the building code. This will require that side-hinged entry doors be tested and labeled for air infiltration and ex-filtration, water penetration resistance and structural wind load resistance.

Window Label

U-Factor measures how well a product can keep heat from escaping from the inside of a room. The lower the number, the better a product is at keeping heat in.

Range: 0.20–1.20

Look for: Low numbers

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient measures how well a product can resist unwanted heat gain, which is especially important during summer cooling season. The lower the number, the less you’ll spend on cooling.

Range: 0–1

Look for: Low numbers

Visible Transmittance measures how well a product is designed to effectively light your home with daylight, potentially saving you money on artificial lighting. The higher the number, the more natural light is let in.

Range: 0–1

Look for: High numbers

Air Leakage measures how much air will enter a room through a product. The lower the number, the fewer drafts you’ll experience.

Range: ≤ 0.3

Look for: Low numbers

NFRC also has a condensation rating that is optional for manufacturers to include, so you may or may not see it on the label. The higher the number, the better a product resists condensation.