AWI Standards

a) Fastening through an exposed face frame surface is permitted if inconspicuous.

b) Grain shall run vertically on stiles and horizontally on rails. Horizontal reveal between countertop’s bottom edge and overlay doors, drawer fronts, and false fronts shall be 6.4 mm [.250”] to 25.4 mm [1”] and shall be consistent across elevations. (See Figure 16)

a) Horizontal reveal between countertop’s bottom edge and overlay doors, drawer fronts, and false fronts shall be 3.2 mm [.125”] to 9.5 mm [.375”] and shall be consistent across elevations. (See Figure 15) At laboratory countertops, the maximum reveal permitted shall be 25.4 mm [1”]. (See Figure 17)

a) Wall-hung cabinets for exposed interior shall be uniform in thickness for the entire elevation or connected elevations except when concealed behind a minimum 38.1 mm [1.500”] face frame component.

a) On wall-hung cabinets, if cabinet ends or sides extend below the cabinet bottoms, the portion below the cabinet bottom is considered an exposed interior surface and shall be the same color and pattern as the exposed surface.

b) Exposed ends shall be of integral construction or secondarily applied.

c) When viewed from the side, exposed ends shall conceal all other structural cabinet components, except toe kicks on base cabinets where ladder bases or levelers are used.

d) Horizontal components (excluding countertops) shall not extend beyond the exposed end.

e) Secondarily applied exposed ends shall be mechanically fastened to the cabinet body.

f) Unless prevented by design or usage, drawer compartments within a casework unit shall be separated from shelf or open compartments by a full-depth vertical division.

a) Cabinet backs are required.

b) At multiple-panel backs, visible joints shall be inconspicuous at exposed or semi-exposed interiors where panels intersect.

c) At semi-exposed surfaces, vinyl overlay is permitted in cabinet backs if matched for color to other semi-exposed materials.

a) Base/toe kick shall be integral (constructed as an integral part of the cabinet body) or separate (constructed as a separate component).

a) Joints in Product shall be assembled to meet the tolerances defined within this standard and be securely attached, with any adhesive residue removed from exposed and semi-exposed surfaces.

b) Fixed horizontal cabinet components, including tops and bottoms, shall be either flush or set back a maximum of 2 mm [.078”] at their intersection with vertical components (See Figure 27) and shall be uniform throughout the room.

c) At 3 mm [.118”] thick edgebanding, radiused, beveled, or square edges are permitted for horizontal and vertical components provided that the core of the square edge component is not visible and that the “V” or gap that is formed where a component with a square end meets a component with a radius (See Figure 28 and Figure 29) is uniform throughout the room and does not exceed .4 mm [.016”].

d) Flushness variations in exposed and semi-exposed surfaces (See Figure 26-D) when mitered or butted shall not exceed .4 mm [.016”].

e) Gaps in exposed and semi-exposed surfaces, when mitered or butted (See Figure 30-A) shall not exceed .4 mm [.016”] wide by 20% of the joint length.

f) Gaps in exposed and semi-exposed surfaces between parallel components (See Figure 30-B) shall not exceed .4 mm x 152.4 mm [.016” x 6”] and shall not occur within 1524 mm [60”] of a similar gap in the same joint.

g) Gaps in exposed and semi-exposed surfaces, when mitered or butted (See Figure 30-C), shall not exceed .4 mm [.016”].

h) Joint filler (putty), when used, shall be inconspicuous.

i) Sheet and laminated lumber panels shall be permitted to move, float, expand, or contract as a result of temperature and/or relative humidity.

a) Material, pattern, and color shall be as specified and, if not specified, shall be at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

b) Material shall be of one color or pattern per room, with a maximum of five different colors or patterns per project.

a) Require HPDL or TFL of specified color or pattern.

a) At exposed interior surfaces at doors and drawer fronts, interior face shall be the same material and thickness as face, color to match interior or face.

b) Exposed interior surfaces, except at doors and drawer fronts, require HPDL or TFL compatible to exposed exterior surface for color, grain, and pattern.

a) Semi-exposed surfaces shall be HPDL or TFL at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

a) Product shall be finished with a finishing technology per ANSI/AWI 0400 Factory Finishing (latest edition) of the manufacturer/supplier’s choice.

b) Hardboard is not permitted for exposed surfaces.

a) Material shall be of the specified species, cut, veneer match, and solid stock and/or veneer shall be compatible for color and grain.

b) Veneer for transparent finish shall be a minimum of ANSI/HPVA HP-1 (latest edition) Grade A.

a) Transparent finish requires the same species as the exposed exterior surface.

b) Veneer for transparent finish shall be a minimum of ANSI/HPVA HP-1 (latest edition) Grade A.

c) Veneer at interior face of door and drawer fronts shall be a minimum of ANSI/HPVA HP-1 (latest edition) Grade B of the same species and cut as the exposed exterior surface.

a) Solid wood shall be compatible for color.

b) Surfaces shall be a minimum of ANSI/HPVA HP-1 (latest edition) Grade C, species at the option of the manufacturer/supplier or HPDL or TFL.

a) Product shall be finished with a finishing technology per ANSI/AWI 0400 Factory Finishing (latest edition) of the manufacturer/supplier’s choice.

a) Opaque finish permits substrates of MDF, MDO, closed-grain hardwood veneer, or solid stock.

b) Veneer for opaque finish shall be closed-grain hardwood of manufacturer/supplier’s choice of species and a minimum of ANSI/HPVA HP-1 (latest edition) Grade C.

a) Opaque finish permits substrates of MDF, MDO, closed-grain hardwood veneer, or solid stock.

a) Opaque finish permits substrates of MDF, MDO, closed-grain hardwood veneer, or solid stock.

a) Hinges shall align horizontally when adjacent and exposed.

b) At flush overlay, five knuckle and wrap-around hinges shall be let into the edge of the door to maintain proper gap tolerance (See Figure 33). The resulting notching for hinges is not required to be finished.

c) At reveal overlay, five knuckle and wrap-around hinges are not required to be let into the edge of the door (See Figure 34).

d) At reveal overlay, the reveal shall be determined by the hinge clearance requirements (See Figure 35).

a) Interior and exterior faces of sliding doors shall be of the same thickness and material.

b) Thickness of wood and/or decorative laminate doors shall be a minimum of 6.4 mm [.250”] for doors 610 mm [24”] and under in height or 19.1 mm [.750”] for doors over 610 mm [24”] in height.

c) Sliding doors more than 1.5 times as tall as they are wide shall be mounted with an overhead metal track and roller hanger to prevent tipping and binding.

d) In hanging track systems, exposed tracks are permitted.

e) Frameless glass sliding doors require formed or extruded tracks.

f) Thickness of frameless glass sliding doors shall be a minimum of 6.4 mm [.250”] tempered or laminated glass at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

a) Grained or patterned faces on doors shall run and match vertically within each cabinet (See Figure 21).

a) Moulded profile (sticking) shall be at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

b) Stile and rail components shall be a minimum of 38.1mm [1.500”] in width.

c) Stiles shall run the full height of the door.

d) Rails, including top, intermediate, and bottom, shall run between stiles.

e) Grain or directional pattern shall run vertically on stiles and horizontally on rails.

f) At panels, direction of grain or pattern shall run vertically.

g) When solid stock is used with veneer panels, solid stock and veneer panel shall be compatible for color.

h) Flat panels shall be a minimum of 6.4 mm [.250”] thick. Edge-glued solid wood is permitted for panels a minimum of 12.7 mm [.500”] thick and a maximum of 350 mm [13.75”] wide.

i) Raised panels shall be a minimum of 12.7 mm [.500”] thick. Edge-glued solid wood is permitted for panels a maximum of 350 mm [13.75”] wide.

j) Solid wood is permitted for rim banding raised panels if mitered and glued under pressure.

k) The panel face veneer may be applied before or after rim banding.

l) Regardless of retention method, panels shall have adequate space to move, float, expand or contract as a result of temperature and/or relative humidity.

m) Applied moulding shall be securely attached. Fasteners shall be inconspicuous.

n) Cores of panel product materials shall not be exposed.

a) At opaque finish and decorative laminate doors, stops shall be synthetic or solid stock and compatible color to exposed interior surfaces.

b) At transparent finish doors, stops shall be synthetic or solid stock of compatible species to adjacent surfaces and compatible color to exposed interior surfaces.

c) Stops shall be continuous, removable, and on the interior only.

d) Mechanically fastened glass clips (See Figure 32) are permitted in lieu of continuous stops when installed per clip manufacturer/supplier’s documented instructions.

e) Silicone or glazing putty used as a stop is not permitted.

f) Exposed rabbet shall be painted or stained compatible to the exposed interior surface.

a) At HPDL or TFL drawer box joinery, visible core shall be edgebanded, painted, or stained to match drawer side.

a) Drawer box systems shall be assembled in accordance with manufacturer/supplier’s documented instructions.

b) Wood components shall meet semi-exposed requirements within this standard or be compatible for color with drawer box system at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

a) Grained or patterned faces on doors, drawer fronts, and false fronts shall run and match vertically within each cabinet. (See Figure 21)

a) Grained or patterned faces on drawer fronts shall run either vertically or horizontally at the option of the manufacturer/supplier and shall be consistent throughout the entire project. (See Figure 18 and Figure 19)

a) Thickness shall be uniform at each elevation or connected elevations in open casework.

a) Minimum shelf depth shall be 6.4 mm [.250”] less than the interior cabinet depth.

b) Minimum shelf length shall be 3.2 mm [.125”] less than the interior cabinet width plus any additional offset created by the shelf rests used (See Figure 36).

c) Bored-hole shelf rest systems shall extend vertically to within 152.4 mm [6”] of the interior top and bottom of the cabinet shelf space.

d) Metal shelf standards shall be recessed in a plow with the face slightly proud of the cabinet side surface with the core not exposed.

e) Metal shelf standards shall extend vertically to within 152.4 mm [6”] of the interior top and bottom of the cabinet shelf space.

a) Casework surfaces that are behind sliding presentation panels or removable presentation panels (such as marker and tack boards) shall be treated as exposed surfaces.

a) Shall have a minimum 6.4 mm [.250”] radius at inside corners.

b) At cutouts and corresponding access panels creating a perimeter reveal greater than 3.2 mm [.125”] wide, edges shall be painted or edgebanded.

a) Manufacturer/supplier shall provide material used for scribe fillers, scribe mouldings, scribe allowances, scribe closure panels, scribe corner closure panels or HPDL closures as part of the Product to be scribed by installer.

b) Exposed material shall match exposed surfaces and be furnished by the manufacturer/supplier.

c) Scribe fillers (See Figure 8) and scribe mouldings (See Figure 9) shall have a maximum installed width of 76.2 mm [3”].

d) Scribe fillers and closure panels shall be a minimum of 6.4 mm [.250”] thick, except at HPDL closures where permitted (See Figure 41). HPDL closure thickness shall be at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

e) For scribe allowance options, see Figure 10.

f) Voids less than 76.2 mm [3”] in width at the top and bottom of a cabinet shall have scribe closure panels (See Figure 42). HPDL closure (See Figure 41) is permitted at the top of a cabinet when above 2032 mm [80”] unless visible from above.

g) Voids in width greater than or equal to 76.2 mm [3”] at the top and bottom of a cabinet shall have scribed closure panel (See Figure 42) or scribe corner closure panel (See Figure 103)

h) Voids at inside corners where two elevations of casework meet shall use scribe inside corner fillers (See Figure 104) and be equal in width and not wider than 76.2 mm [3”] unless required for cabinet operation.

a) Joints are not permitted in material less than 2438 mm [96”] of horizontal grain or directional pattern and 1219 mm [48”] of vertical grain or directional pattern.

b) Soffit and fascia panels shall be a minimum of 12.7 mm [.500”] thick.

c) At fascia panels, grain direction (if any) shall run vertical, or be at the option of the manufacturer/supplier if less than 305 mm [12”] tall (See Figure 85).

d) Where soffit and fascia panels meet, grain direction shall be continuous.

a) Edges shall be HPDL, PVC, or ABS a minimum of .5 mm [.018”] thick and maximum of 3 mm [.118”] at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

b) PVC and ABS edgebanding thicker than 1 mm [.039”] shall be radiused or beveled on edges and corners.

c) PVC and ABS shall be well matched to the exposed face.

d) HPDL edgebanding shall match exposed surfaces.

a) Edgebanding on exposed edges is required and shall be compatible for color and grain with exposed surfaces.

b) Exposed edges shall be edgebanded with solid wood, veneer, or veneer tape a minimum of .5 mm [.018”] thick to match the exposed exterior surface.

c) Veneer tape edgebanding thicker than 1 mm [.039”] shall be radiused or beveled on edges and corners.

d) Finger joints in veneer tape used as edgebanding are permitted.

a) At opaque finish, all edges shall be filled or edgebanded.

a) Top and bottom edges are concealed and not required to be edgebanded or filled.

b) Vertical edges are considered exposed and shall be edgebanded.

a) Doors manufactured/supplied from panel products shall be edgebanded or finished to match exposed surfaces.

a) Frameless glass doors shall have exposed edges flat polished.

a) Edgebanding showing on face less than or equal to 6.4 mm [.250”], the sequence of application shall be at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

b) Edgebanding showing on face greater than 6.4 mm [.250”] shall be mitered.

c) At back-beveled edges, edgebanding shall be specified.

d) Drawer fronts and false fronts shall be edgebanded at all four edges except when back-beveled or when composed of solid wood.

a) At opaque finish, all edges shall be filled or edgebanded.

a) Top edges of drawer box shall be edgebanded.

b) At veneer core of seven-ply or more with no voids, edgebanding is not required.

c) At transparent finish panel product drawers, edgebanding shall match drawer side surface.

a) Top edges of drawer box shall be filled and sanded smooth or edgebanded.

a) Top edges of drawer box shall be edgebanded.

b) Edgebanding shall match drawer box color.

a) At solid stock, drawer edges shall be profiled at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

a) Edges at semi exposed surfaces shall match interior or exterior surfaces at the option of the manufacturer/supplier.

b) If the gap between the end of a shelf and the interior cabinet body exceeds 6.4 mm [.250”], both ends of the shelf shall be edgebanded.

a) Edges of writing or utility shelves shall be edgebanded with a material compatible for color to the exposed interior surface.

a) Sharp edges shall be eased.

b) Flat wood surfaces require a minimum of 120 grit sanding.

c) Profiled and shaped wood surfaces require a minimum of 20 KMPI or 120 grit sanding.

d) Turned wood surfaces require a minimum of 120 grit sanding.

e) Visible sanding marks, excluding turned surfaces, shall be inconspicuous.

f) Tear out, nicks, or hit and miss machining is not permitted.

g) Glue or joint filler (putty), when used, shall be inconspicuous and match the adjacent surface for smoothness.

a) Edges shall be machined flush and filed, sanded, or buffed to remove machine marks and sharp edges.

b) Overlap (See Figure 23-F) shall not exceed .1 mm [.004”] for a maximum length of 25.4 mm [1”] in any 610 mm [24”] run.

c) Chip-out shall be inconspicuous (See Figure 24).

d) Over-machined (See Figure 25-H) removal of color or pattern of face material shall be limited to .8 mm x 76.2 mm [.031” x 3”] and shall not occur within 1524 mm [60”] of a similar occurrence.

a) Doors, drawer fronts, and false fronts shall be properly sized to permit edge alignment between doors and adjacent drawers.

b) Edge alignment of doors and drawers (See Figure 30-N), in both the vertical and horizontal plane, shall not exceed 1.2 mm [.047”].

c) Doors and drawers shall align on the same flat plane as one another See Figure 30-J) with a variance not to exceed 1.6 mm [.063”].

a) The maximum uniform reveal (See Figure 43) within a cabinet elevation between any edge of a door and/or drawer and another door and/or drawer or finished end, and doors hung in pairs, shall be as specified. If not specified, the following conditions shall apply (See Figure 43).

• “X” shall be 3.2 mm [.125”], subject to a maximum uniform variance of +/1.6 mm [.063”].
• “Y” shall be determined by the hinge overlay.
• “Z” varies from 3.2 mm [.125”] to 9.5 mm [.375”] and shall be consistent across elevations (See Figure 15). However, for laboratory countertops, reveal at “Z” may be 6.4 mm [.250”] to 25.4 mm [1”] to permit attachment of laboratory equipment. (See Figure 17)

a) The maximum uniform reveal (See Figure 44) within a cabinet elevation between any edge of a door and/or drawer and another door and/or drawer or finished end, and doors hung in pairs, shall be as specified. If not specified, the following conditions shall apply (See Figure 44).

• “X” shall not exceed 3.2 mm [.125”].
• “Y” shall not exceed 1.6 mm [.063”].
• “X” and “Y” are subject to a maximum uniform variance of +/- 1.6 mm [.063”].
• “Z” varies from 3.2 mm [.125”] to 9.5 mm [.375”] and shall be consistent across elevations (See Figure 15). Where equipment attachment is specified, reveal at “Z” may be 6.4 mm [.250”] to 25.4 mm [1”] to permit attachment. (See Figure 17)

a) The maximum uniform reveal (See Figure 45) within a cabinet elevation between any edge of a door and/or drawer and another door and/or drawer or cabinet component, and doors hung in pairs, shall be as specified. If not specified, the following conditions shall apply (See Figure 45).

• “X” shall not exceed 3.2 mm [.125”], subject to a maximum uniform variance of +/- 1.6 mm [.063”].
• “Y” shall be as specified, indicated, or agreed. “Z” varies from 6.4 mm [.250”] to 25.4 mm [1”] and shall be consistent across elevations (See Figure 16).

a) The maximum uniform reveal (See Figure 46) within a cabinet elevation between any edge of a door and/or drawer and another door and/or drawer or cabinet component, and doors hung in pairs, for “X” shall not exceed 3.2 mm [.125”], subject to a maximum uniform variance of +/- 1.6 mm [.063”].

• “Y” and “Z” shall be as specified, indicated or agreed.

a) As a lineal ratio, per 305 mm [12”], Product (See Figure 5, E), including doors, shall not exceed 1.2 mm [.047”] or portion thereof.

b) Cabinet doors shall not exceed a maximum of 6.4 mm [.250”] in any single door. (Measurements for warp shall be taken on the concave face of the panel.)