Maximum Size Tested

The maximum size tested, or MS, is required on designations reporting or recording individual product performance. The MST shall be designed by width times (x) height in millimeters, e.g., 705 x 1503. The MST shall be permitted to be additionally shown in inches, e.g., 705 x 1503 (28 x 59).

Test size is a critical factor in determining compliance with the standard/specification. Each product has a defined gateway set of requirements. One of the gateway requirements is minimum gateway test size. Products are to be tested at the minimum gateway test size or a larger specimen size as a condition of entering the performance class. After passing all of the performance requirements for the product type, performance class, and performance grade, the product shall be designated with the appropriate primary designator. (Figure 2)

Figure 2 Primary designator Both primary and secondary designators indicate the type of product, size, and other testing parameters.

This designation shall only be applied to production sizes of identical construction equal to or smaller than the size tested in both width and height. There are some glazing exceptions noted in the standard/specification. For downsized door products where structural material within the leaf has been removed to accommodate a lite insert equal to that of a larger leaf, an additional positive and negative uniform load structural test will be conducted on the downsized specimen to verify the structural performance.

Users shall not be confused by the terms �minimum test size� and �maximum size tested.� In order to claim that a product is entitled to be included in a given performance class, it needs to meet or exceed all of the minimum requirements for the performance class. This set of minimum requirements is the gateway requirements for the performance classes. After achieving the performance class, the manufacturer is permitted to test a second time at a reduced specimen size. The first test at the �minimum gateway size or larger� provides apples-to-apples comparisons of products rated in the same performance class. Since the second test is not required to be at the minimum test size, it becomes necessary to report to the user the actual specimen size during the second test. Indicating the �maximum size tested� fulfills this reporting function. For this reason, the MST is a mandatory part of the product rating, but should never be included in a project specification.

Those who wish to prove compliance with both the gateway and the optional performance requirements (Table 3) on the same test specimen will test a specimen equal to or greater than the minimum gateway test size for that product type.

Any geometric shape that fits within the rectangular gateway size (or larger test size) for a particular product type is permitted to be qualified by the rectangular shape, provided that the frame, sash, leaves, panels, hardware, hardware location, components, and construction remain the same.