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Technical bulletin explains window opening control devices

A new technical bulletin has been released in collaborative partnership between the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). The purpose of this document, AAMA/WDMA TB-24-01, is to clarify the definition of a window opening control device (WOCD) to promote greater understanding of the role of WOCDs and provide an understanding of a WOCD’s function.

WOCDs are intended to help support home safety. When properly designed, tested, specified and installed, WOCDs can help prevent or reduce accidental falls from windows, while allowing the ability to open the window fully as may be needed to exit in the event of a home emergency.

“This informative new technical bulletin will help users understand the important role of WOCDs, and how to tell the difference between them and other window hardware types like vent limiters or night latches, designed for different purposes,” said Dan Raap (AmesburyTruth, https://www.amesburytruth.com), Co-chair of the FGIA Window Opening Control Device (WOCD) Update Task Group.

WOCDs were introduced as a new window fall prevention device starting with the 2008 version of the ASTM International (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) (ASTM) F2090, “Standard Specification for Window Fall Prevention Devices with Emergency Escape (Egress) Release Mechanisms.” ASTM F2090 is a standard for window fall prevention devices that are releasable such that a window can be fully opened for emergency escape or rescue. The publication of this technical bulletin is especially timely because Window Safety Week (https://fgiaonline.org/pages/window-safety-and-fall-prevention) takes place April 7-13, 2024.

“This technical bulletin was the result of a lot of effort from our industry members and will serve as an informative and helpful document to better understand code driven window fall prevention requirements and the important role of ASTM F2090 that is referenced in the code,” said Mark Mikkelson (Andersen Corporation, https://www.andersenwindows.com), an active member of both Associations who also worked extensively on developing the document. “It also provides important information on the requirements for an ASTM F2090-compliant WOCD and how they can help with meeting code required window fall prevention.”

Download AAMA/WDMA TB-24-01 now in the FGIA Online Store(https://store.fgiaonline.org/pubstore/ProductResults.asp?cat=0&src=TB-24) or from the WDMA site (https://www.wdma.com/technical-bulletins).