FGIA InstallationMasters study guide
FGIA InstallationMasters · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
InstallationMasters® is a nationwide training and certification program administered by FGIA for installers of windows and exterior glass doors in residential and light commercial markets. It serves both new construction and replacement work, and it is built around industry-accepted installation practices rather than any single manufacturer's instructions - the source notes that manufacturer's instructions should always take precedence. Training spans the full job from initial site inspection through final cleaning and maintenance of installed product, so it covers substrate and opening preparation, flashing and integration detailing, product handling, shimming and anchoring, sealing, and post-installation care. The current curriculum, InstallationMasters 3.0, is a streamlined, highly visual revision with color-coded materials, modernized diagrams, integrated speaker notes, and a Spanish-language segment initially offered as self-study with three months of access and proctored exams completed in the FGIA Learning Management System. Topics on this exam: Replacement installation and New construction installation. The FGIA InstallationMasters study guide has 2 sections and about 961 words.
01Replacement installation
The Replacement installation domain tests your ability to install a new window or door into an existing wall opening while preserving the building's water, air, and thermal control layers. The exam emphasizes existing-condition assessment, choosing insert versus full-frame replacement, and detailing that keeps water draining out rather than into the wall. Survey before you sell. Check the existing frame for rot, cracks, out-of-square, sill slope, and evidence of leaks.
509 words, about 3 min02New construction installation
The New construction installation domain tests installation in a new rough opening before interior and exterior finishes are complete. The exam focuses on rough-opening verification, sill-pan and flashing integration with the water-resistive barrier (WRB), flange fastening, shimming, insulation, and cladding/door detailing. Verify the rough opening. Check width, height, square (diagonals), plumb, level, and clearances before setting the unit.
452 words, about 2 min