FGIA updates thermoplastic, cellulosic composite exterior profiles specification
Posted on November 17th, 2025
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released an updated specification establishing the minimum requirements for rigid thermoplastic/cellulosic composite exterior profiles used in windows, doors and skylights. AAMA 309-25, Standard Specification for Classification of Rigid Thermoplastic/Cellulosic Composite Materials, an FGIA document, is now available for purchase in the FGIA online store. This document was last updated in 2013.
“Fenestration products made with profiles that meet the requirements of this specification are expected to perform well in actual use, assuming adequate product design,” said Glenn Ferris, FGIA Fenestration Standards Specialist, and staff liaison for the FGIA Rigid Thermoplastic/Cellulosic Composite Classification Standard Update Task Group. “These requirements define structural performance of the profiles, the physical requirements for profiles, the weight and dimensional requirements for profiles and lead content to ensure that profiles do not contain lead in excess of U.S. safety standards.”
AAMA 309 consists of nine sections:
Section 1 covers the scope and lists the basic performance requirements
Section 2 lists the standards that are referenced in the document
Section 3 defines the purposes of this standard
Section 4 provides the means for classifying and identifying thermoplastic/cellulosic composite materials
Section 5 defines a sampling procedure for thermoplastic/cellulosic composite profiles to be inspected
Section 6 provides physical requirements for thermoplastic/cellulosic composite profiles
Section 7 provides requirements for testing thermoplastic/cellulosic composite profiles
Section 8 defines test specimen preparation
Section 9 provides test methods and requirements for determining profile performance
AAMA 309-25, as well as other documents available from FGIA, may be purchased from the online store at the discounted member rate of $25 or the nonmember price of $70.
For more information about FGIA and its activities, visit https://fgiaonline.org.
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