Aluminum Facade Systems from China: Fire, Structural and Coating Standards for Buyers

Not legal or engineering advice. This guide lists public fire, structural and coating standards and the US duty scope that come up when specifying aluminum facade systems made in China. Each statement links to the page it comes from. Confirm project requirements with your facade engineer, code official and customs broker.

It does not name or rank manufacturers and does not quote prices, minimum orders or lead times; ask each supplier for those in writing.

NFPA 285 is the Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components; NFPA lists its status as active and its current edition as 2025. Source: NFPA 285 document page (NFPA).

NFPA 285 provides a test method for determining the fire propagation characteristics of exterior wall assemblies and of panels used as components of curtain wall assemblies that are built with combustible materials or incorporate combustible components. Source: NFPA 285 document page (NFPA).

Because the test evaluates an assembly, ask for the report that matches the exact panel, core and wall build-up in your project.

ASTM E330/E330M determines the structural performance of exterior windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls under uniform static air pressure differences, using a test chamber, and typically represents the effects of a wind load. Source: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021), Scope and Significance and Use.

ASTM E330 is applicable to curtain wall assemblies including, but not limited to, metal, glass, masonry and stone components. Source: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021), Scope and Significance and Use.

It evaluates only the tested specimen, not the structural performance of adjacent construction. Source: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021), Scope and Significance and Use.

ASTM E330 is not intended to account for windborne debris or cyclic loads; those are addressed by ASTM E1233/E1233M, E1886 and E1996. Source: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021), Scope and Significance and Use.

AAMA 2603, 2604 and 2605 describe test procedures and performance requirements for pigmented, high performance and superior performing organic coatings on aluminum extrusions and panels, a "good – better – best" set with increasing minimum coating thickness. Source: FGIA, "Start 2023 with the most recently updated FGIA standards and documents".

All three test color uniformity, specular gloss, dry film hardness, film adhesion, impact resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance and resistance to color fading due to weathering. Source: FGIA, "Start 2023 with the most recently updated FGIA standards and documents".

In the 2022 editions, humidity and salt spray exposure increases from 1,500 hours (2603) to 3,000 hours (2604) to 4,000 hours (2605), and outdoor weathering from one year to five years to ten years. Source: FGIA, "Start 2023 with the most recently updated FGIA standards and documents".

On May 19, 2026, FGIA released AAMA 2605-26, together with AAMA 2603-26 and 2604-26; FGIA says the update adds guidance on pretreatment conversion coatings and that the three were last updated in 2022. Source: FGIA, "FGIA Updates Suite of Finishes Documents for Aluminum Extrusions, Panels" (May 19, 2026).

The FGIA online store lists AAMA 2605-26 as the active edition. Source: AAMA 2605-26, FGIA online store.

Write the edition you require into the purchase specification, and ask for test results tied to the coating system actually applied to your panels.

The US countervailing duty notice on aluminum extrusions from China includes in scope extrusions described at import as parts for products assembled after importation, such as window frames, door frames, solar panels, curtain walls or furniture. Source: Federal Register 91 FR 51662, FR Doc. 2026-16362 (Aug. 11, 2026), case C-570-968.

Extrusions that are finished (for example anodized, liquid painted or powder coated) or fabricated stay inside the scope. Source: Federal Register 91 FR 51662, FR Doc. 2026-16362 (Aug. 11, 2026), case C-570-968.

The notice states that the written description of the scope is dispositive, not the HTSUS number. Source: Federal Register 91 FR 51662, FR Doc. 2026-16362 (Aug. 11, 2026), case C-570-968.

For rates and reviews see the anti-dumping guide, and confirm classification with your customs broker before you order.

These steps follow from the sources above.

1. Write the fire, structural and coating standards (with editions) into the purchase specification.
2. Ask for NFPA 285 or other fire reports that match your exact panel and wall build-up, where your code requires them.
3. Ask for ASTM E330 results for the tested specimen that matches your system.
4. Ask for AAMA 2603 / 2604 / 2605 results tied to the coating system on your panels.
5. Confirm the US duty scope for extrusions and curtain wall parts with your customs broker.
6. Check the factory's registration with the factory check tool and model duties with the landed-cost calculator.

What does NFPA 285 test? The fire propagation characteristics of exterior wall assemblies and curtain wall panels that contain combustible materials or components. Source: NFPA 285 document page (NFPA).

Does an ASTM E330 report cover the building's supporting structure? No. ASTM E330 evaluates only the tested specimen, not adjacent construction. Source: ASTM E330/E330M-14(2021), Scope and Significance and Use.

What is the difference between AAMA 2604 and AAMA 2605? AAMA 2605 is the most stringent of the three; in the 2022 editions its humidity and salt spray exposure is 4,000 hours versus 3,000 for 2604, and outdoor weathering is ten years versus five. Source: FGIA, "Start 2023 with the most recently updated FGIA standards and documents".

Are aluminum curtain wall parts from China covered by US duties? Extrusions imported as parts for curtain walls assembled after importation are included in the scope of the US countervailing duty notice. Source: Federal Register 91 FR 51662, FR Doc. 2026-16362 (Aug. 11, 2026), case C-570-968.