FGIA updates trio of seismic documents
Posted on August 18th, 2026
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has released an updated trio of documents sharing recommend test methods for three different types of movement during seismic-related events. All three documents are now available for purchase in the FGIA online store. AAMA 501.7 was last updated in 2017. AAMA 501.4 and 501.6 were last updated in 2018.
* AAMA 501.4, "Recommended Test Method for Lateral Inter-Story Movements (Drift)"
* AAMA 501.6, "Recommended Dynamic Test Method for Determining the Seismic Lateral Inter-Story Movement Causing Glass Fallout"
* AAMA 501.7, "Recommended Test Method for Vertical Inter-Story Movements"
AAMA 501.4 provides a means of evaluating the performance of windows, window wall, curtain walls and storefront systems when subjected to specified horizontal displacements in the plane of the wall.
AAMA 501.6 provides a means of determining the horizontal racking displacement amplitude of exterior wall system framing members that would cause fallout of representative architectural glass panels under controlled laboratory conditions.
AAMA 501.7 provides a means of evaluating the performance of windows, window walls, curtain walls and storefront wall systems when subjected to specified vertical displacements.
“The most important change in this document issue for AAMA 501.4, 501.6 and 501.7 is that all three are now in alignment with each other,” said Lothar Erkens (Winco Window Company), vice chair of the FGIA Seismic and Wind-Induced Inter-Story Drift Review Task Group. “While AAMA 501.4 and 501.6 were split from a single document into two documents for a good reason, the need to keep these texts aligned with each other was important.”
AAMA 501.4, AAMA 501.6 and AAMA 501.7, as well as other documents available from FGIA, may be purchased from the online store. This document is available to FGIA members at the discounted rate of US$25. The nonmember price is US$70.
For more information about FGIA and its activities, visit FGIAonline.org.
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