The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) recently released an updated document to provide a standard method of evaluating side-hinged door active slabs for their ability to resist a vertical load. AAMA 925-17, the "Specification for Determining the Vertical Loading Resistance of Side-Hinged Door Systems," determines the ability of a side-hinged door slab to remain operable following the application of a vertical load along the lock stile. It was last updated in 2013.

"AAMA 925 has been updated to remove the collection of data-only methodology and incorporated a simplified pass/fail approach to the test," said Chad Elbert (JELD-WEN), chair of the Side-Hinged Auxiliary Test Method Task Group. "To ensure that a door leaf (slab) design can withstand a reasonable vertical load on the lock stile and remain operable, the pass/fail criteria is to validate the leaf (slab) will still close within the opening. The prior approach collected data-only with now pass/fail limitations."

Additional edits to this updated standard include the replacement of the term "door leaf" with "door slab," as well as a section clarifying what kinds of slabs may qualify other slabs.

AAMA 925-17, as well as other AAMA documents, may be purchased from AAMA's online store. More information about AAMA and its activities can be found on the AAMA website.