The past few years has seen a significant increase in the occurrence of non-compliant windows being specified in Australian building projects.

The Australian Windows Association has identified a number of reasons for this increase, including:

  • The increase in imported products
  • Pressure from consumers to reduce costs
  • Increased complexity and lack of understanding of regulatory requirements
  • The absence of satisfactory building controls
  • The government commitment to “free trade agreements”

The consequences of specifying non-compliant products are wide-ranging, from minor water damage, poor acoustics and poor thermal performance through to more serious structural damage or inadequate fire protection.

In addition to this, the potential for liability as a result of non-compliant windows and doors is enormous; from a financial perspective and more importantly from a safety standpoint.

As Australian standards and regulations continue to evolve, guaranteeing compliancy becomes more complex for the specifier and builder.

Windows and doors must now satisfy the minimum requirements for:

  • Bushfire danger (Bushfire Attack Level)
  • Acoustic performance (match or exceeds required Rw rating)
  • Thermal/energy performance (match or exceed the required U value and Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient and are WERS rated)
  • Structural performance (includes deflection test, operating force test, air infiltration test, water penetration test and strength test)

The requirements for each will change dependent on a range of variables including location, construction type, as well as a range of other site requirements. Ensuring products are thoroughly tested to meet and exceed these unique requirements is key to guaranteeing compliance and performance of windows and doors.

This infographic shows the key considerations when specifying window and door systems for harsh Australian conditions, how the Wintec Aluminium range of architectural windows and doors compare with traditional designs, and how Wintec Aluminium can help simplify the specifying process to guarantee compliance and quality.