Design Solutions - Winter 2021 - 52

When specifying a project, questions
often arise around melamine (TFL)
and its core material. While it is true
that melamine is available with both
MDF and particleboard cores, the
majority of manufacturers tend to
prefer particleboard core melamine as
their standard melamine material, in
part due to the weight and possible
cost difference. As a result of this
preference, most melamine sheet
suppliers stock more particleboard
core melamine than MDF core material.
That is not to say that MDF core is not
available, but if the project is registered
under the Quality Certification
Program and the woodworker wants to
substitute particleboard core for MDF,
they are required to request approval.
3.2 Material states that " Materials
used for the construction of Product
shall comply with tested, documented,
and approved means and methods
for the specified Performance Duty
Level. " " Product, " as used in ANSI/AWI
0641-2019, refers to architectural wood
casework and related interior finishes.
The subheadings under 3.2 Material
set the expectations for each part of a
cabinet for face frame and frameless
construction. Tops and Bottoms, Ends
and Divisions, Backs, Security Panels,
Stretchers, Anchor Strips, Toe Kicks,
Bases, Sleepers and Levelers, Aprons,
Light Valances, Cabinet Doors, Drawer
Boxes, Shelves, and Hardware.
Note that, in the absence of
specified thickness values in the
specifications, all components and
assemblies shall meet the minimum
thickness and materials requirements
of those tested and used to establish
the structure performance values set
forth within the Standard. Alternative
materials and assemblies are permitted
provided they meet the structural
performance and aesthetic values set
forth within the Standard.

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designsolutions winter 2021

Please be aware that, in the absence
of manufacturer/supplier's tested and
approved methods and materials for
casework construction, manufacture/
suppliers may fabricate to AWI's Tested
and Approved Methods and Materials
for Casework Construction, which will
be made available at https://awinet.
org/standards as testing is finalized.

Pictured below is a 36 " wall cabinet
with 280 lbs. loaded onto the top of
each door held open at 90 degrees.
This cabinet was fully-loaded with as
much steel shot as will fit in and on it.

DUTY LEVELS

Load values are found under
5.4 AWI Performance Duty Level
Typical Applications within the
new Standard. These are specific
to the referenced laboratory tests
conducted in accordance with AWI Test
Methodologies. These load values do
not suggest service loads nor shall they
be construed as suggesting normal
casework usage loads.
First, AWI's Technical Committee
established what to test, then
developed the test method. Once
approved, truckloads of cabinets were
built to AWI specification and shipped
to the AWI National Testing Center
(NTC) in Americus, Georgia.

To date, the AWI NTC has completed
extensive testing of base cabinet,
wall cabinet, tall cabinet, and drawer
box assemblies. Hundreds of test
specimens have been built and tested.
After an acclimation period of 72 hours,
test specimens were loaded with bags
of steel shot in 5 lb., 10 lb. and 20 lb.
units, as well as 25 lb. steel ingots, each
calibrated and labeled with precise
weight for accuracy.

Base cabinets of 36 " were tested
with 1,500 lbs. of steel ingots lowered
onto the cabinet carcass by way of a
gantry hoist.
Destructive testing determines
whether cabinets (built per previous
and current versions of the AWI Quality
Standards and Architectural Woodwork
Standards) are being built for added
value or simply added cost.
History has shown
that specification writers
sometimes specify
cabinets as " Premium
Grade " in the belief
that it will provide the
desired level of structural
performance. Testing
results seem to suggest
that performance across
all three grades may be
too similar to exhibit any
meaningful difference
between them. Now, the
value of AWI Standards is advanced
by including real distinction between
different structural performance
characteristics of casework construction
methods.
https://awinet.org/standards https://awinet.org/standards
Design Solutions - Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Design Solutions - Winter 2021
