FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Industry’s Best-Selling Drained & Back-Ventilated Panel System Validated Under the Latest FGIA Standard.
SAF’s rainscreen ACM panel system has updated third-party testing data to help architects, specifiers, and installers document performance for commercial exterior wall assemblies.
Lithia Springs, GA — Southern Aluminum Finishing Co., Inc. (SAF) announces the successful completion of AAMA 509-22 classification testing for its Series C4000 Drained and Back-Ventilated (D&BV) RainScreen Panel System. The C4000 is SAF’s best-selling rainscreen panel system, valued by architects, glazing contractors, and design/build teams for its straightforward installation and competitive cost. The system is typically specified under Division 07 — Thermal and Moisture Protection. This rating under the 2022 edition of the FGIA/AAMA voluntary test and classification standard affirms the system’s performance in managing water infiltration and cavity ventilation — the two core metrics by which D&BV wall cladding systems are evaluated.
AAMA 509-22, published by the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), establishes a voluntary test and classification method for drained and back-ventilated rainscreen wall cladding systems. The standard quantifies the volume of rainwater contacting the air/water barrier (AWB) and the system’s ability to allow ventilation and drying within the wall cavity. Systems are assigned a dual VX/WX classification rating reflecting measured airflow through the cladding and average water reaching the AWB under both static and dynamic test pressures per ASTM E283, ASTM E331, and AAMA 501.1. The testing for SAF indicated a classification of V1/W1.
The Series C4000 system ships with factory-fabricated panels and pre-fastened track extrusions, simplifying job-site assembly and reducing installation time. The system’s open-joint design allows moisture to enter the drained cavity and subsequently drain via weep holes and dry via back-ventilation — keeping the primary air/water barrier protected. SAF’s factory-attached frame extrusions allow panels to fit directly into horizontal and vertical track extrusions, minimizing field labor and margin for error.
“SAF has been supplying production-tested rainscreen panel systems since 2010, and the C4000 is the culmination of everything we’ve learned about making these systems easy to specify, easy to install, and built to perform,” said John McClatchey, VP of Marketing of SAF. “A AAMA 509-22 classification gives our customers the independent, third-party verified performance data they need to specify with confidence.”
The C4000 is part of SAF’s comprehensive rainscreen wall panel product line, which includes insulated panel systems, ACM and solid metal panel options, NFPA-compliant systems for projects with fire-resistance requirements, and a progressive installation repair kit for phased or renovation projects. SAF’s east and west coast production facilities provide rapid fulfillment to commercial projects across North America.
For complete information on the SAF Series C4000 and SAF’s full wall panel product line, visit www.saf.com/building-products/wall-panels/
Background
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1946, SAF (Southern Aluminum Finishing Co., Inc.) is a nationwide aluminum distributor, fabricator, and finisher specializing in Kynar painting and architectural anodizing. As a mill-direct aluminum buyer and approved fabricator for major Aluminum Composite Panel (ACM) manufacturers, SAF is a contractor’s dependable single-source for panel jobs of any scale. SAF’s services include aluminum batch anodizing, painting, coil anodizing, powder coating, and architectural fabrication for specifiers, glazing contractors, and commercial building projects across North America.
Public Relations Contacts:
John McClatchey
VP of Marketing
Southern Aluminum Finishing (SAF)
Email: JBJ@saf.com
Phone: 800-241-7429
Website: www.saf.com