Powder and AAMA - What are you getting when you spec this?

Posted by on 5 June 2020

AAMA 2605 has become the industry standard for superior performance coatings in North America. What does it mean?

Most architects and specifiers working with exterior, superior performance coatings know, and require, coatings that will comply with AAMA 2605 (commonly referred to as just ‘2605’) for curtain wall, windows, exterior façade applications.

Most know that this is the specification that will get them a liquid 70% PVDF coating on the project.

How many know that performance powder will also meet and exceed this specification – while also delivering improved scratch resistance and a more environmentally responsible choice?

We’ll get to that in a moment, but let’s start with a little background. What is the AAMA 2605 coating spec and what does it require?

AAMA is an acronym for the American Architectural Manufacturers Association – now called the FGIA – Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. The name of the specifications stayed the same.

There are three specifications that apply to the coatings industry; AAMA 2603, AAMA 2604 and AAMA 2605.

It’s probably important to point out here that these three coatings specs are for all coatings! For many years liquid coatings have talked about how they meet the AAMA coating specs and so people often incorrectly associate them with liquid coatings only. In fact the specs are for all performance coatings, and so they apply to both liquid and architectural grade powders.

Anodized is not included in these particular specifications, as anodizing actually changes the substrate itself, so it is referred to as a ‘finish’ and there are separate AAMA specifications for anodizing (e.g. AAMA 611).

Ok, so what are the AAMA specifications all about and why are they important to specifiers, architects and designers?

Simply put, they will give you a very good idea of the performance capability of the coating. With a performance coating, as the name suggests, it’s not just about color – it's about performance. Each AAMA spec requires a certain number of chemical, mechanical and weathering testing to be done, and lays out minimum performance requirements for each.

As you move up through the coating specifications, from 2603 to 2605, the tests become longer and stricter.

We want to know that the coating will stand up to humidity and salty air, and will hold its color and gloss, to within certain performance parameters, over a certain period of time. Essentially that’s weathering testing – and mother nature can certainly play havoc with a coating. So choosing the right performance type is important.

With this in mind, check out what AAMA 2605 requires in these key areas:

Test type	AAMA 2605
Humidity resistance	4000hrs Blisters size 8
Salt spray resistance	2000 hrs aggressive cyclical 1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8
Florida Exposure	10 years
Color retention	Delta E <5
Gloss retention	Minimum 50%

 

Each test type has a variety of tests – usually ASTM test methods – required, and the performance requirements for a pass/fail are outlined in the AAMA spec.

So which powder products will meet these coating specifications?

Making sure you get the right product performance for your application is important. Here’s what you should expect

AAMA 2605

IFS 500FP is the IFS FEVE based Fluoropolymer that will meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2605. The testing requirements are stricter than the 2604 performance requirements, with weathering testing being double that of the 2604 spec. For this reason, Fluoropolymers are regarded as an excellent exterior grade powder. They are almost always used solely on exterior applications and are used on curtain wall and façade, windows, doors etc., on monumental buildings, high value residential, stadiums, malls, hospitals, government buildings and more. Fluoropolymers come with a 20 year warranty when applied by a registered applicator to aluminum. If you want a liquid comparison – think 70% PVDF liquid (but better scratch resistance and a better environmental footprint)!

AAMA 2604

IFS 400SD is the IFS Super Durable Polyester that will meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2604. The testing requirements, including weathering, are much stricter than the 2603 requirements, with exact performance parameters (as you can see, the weathering requirement is five times that of the standard polyester). For this reason, super durables are regarded as good exterior grade powders, that are often used on windows, doors, and especially on applications like commercial storefront.  Super durables come with a 10 year warranty when applied by a registered applicator to aluminum – great for storefront where the chance of the same store being in place in 20 years is unsure, but a robust 10 year performance is ideal.

AAMA 2603

IFS 300SP is the IFS Standard Polyester that will meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2603. As the weathering requirements of AAMA 2603 allow a “slight change” in the color and gloss (not very specific!), we normally recommend these powders for interior uses where weathering or exterior conditions are not really a factor. They do sometimes get used on the exteriors of low value residential projects – items like windows, fixtures, fittings etc. – but for general purposes, regard them as a good all round interior grade powder!

In actual fact, the AAMA specifications are a great way to specify any high performance coating – no matter whether it’s powder or liquid. Stating the AAMA spec level gives you an absolute minimum that must be met, and stops a contractor from simply getting any “powder coating” or “paint” in the right color, regardless of performance.

Check out more detail on some of the AAMA test requirements below, and for more information, talk to your IFS architectural coatings rep.

Mechanical and Corrosion testing

Test	AAMA 2603	AAMA 2604	AAMA 2605
Adhesion	No film removal under the tape within or outside the cross hatched area or blistering anywhere on the test specimen	No film removal under the tape within or outside of the cross hatched area or blistering anywhere on the test specimen	No film removal under the tape within or outside of the cross hatched area or blistering anywhere on the test specimen
Impact resistance	No removal of film from substrate	No removal of film from substrate	No removal of film from substrate
Abrasion	Test not required for standard polyesters	The abrasion coefficient value of the coating shall be minimum 20	The abrasion coefficient value of the coating shall be minimum 40
Humidity	1500hrs test Blisters size 8	3000hrs test Blisters size 8	4000hrs test Blisters size 8
Salt spray resistance	1000hrs test Blisters size 8	1500 hrs1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8	2000 hrs 1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8

 

Chemical Testing

Test	AAMA 2603	AAMA 2604	AAMA 2605
Muriatic Acid resistance	No blistering and visual change in appearance with the unaided eye	No blistering and visual change in appearance with the unaided eye	No blistering and visual change in appearance with the unaided eye
Mortar resistance	Mortar shall dislodge easily from painted surface and any residue removed with a damp cloth	Mortar shall dislodge easily from painted surface and any residue removed with a damp cloth	Mortar shall dislodge easily from painted surface and any residue removed with a damp cloth
Nitric acid resistance	N/A	Not more than 5DE units color change between exposed and unexposed areas	Not more than 5DE units color change between exposed and unexposed areas
Detergent resistance	No loss of adhesion, blistering or significant visual change	No loss of adhesion, blistering or significant visual change	No loss of adhesion, blistering or significant visual change
Window cleaner resistance	No blistering or visual change	No blistering or visual change	No blistering or visual change

 

Weathering testing

Test	AAMA 2603	AAMA 2604	AAMA 2605
Florida Exposure	1 year	5 years	10 years
Color retention	Slight change	Color change Delta E <5	Color change Delta E <5
Chalking	Slight chalking	No more than 8 rating	No more than 8 rating and 6 rating for whites
Gloss retention	Slight fade	Minimum 30%	Minimum 50%
Erosion resistance	No loss of erosion	Less than 10% film loss after exposure	Less than 10% film loss after exposure