HIA Members - Industry Information
Window & Door Performance Accreditation
Under the Building Code of Australia, window manufacturers are required to produce windows and doors that meet mandatory minimum specifications under Australian Standard (AS) 2047 - including AS1288.
This brochure contains all important information for home owners, builders, councils, designers and window manufacturers on your rights and responsibilities under AS2047.
Window & Door Performance Accreditation
Energy & WERS
To provide consumers with a simple benchmark, a comprehensive range of representative windows has been rated for their energy performance which is illustrated in terms of stars. No stars shows that the window is a very poor performer, 10 stars means the best possible performance and a whole new world of energy efficiency and interior comfort.
Manufacturers participating in WERS may offer custom rated high performance products which exceed the results shown below. Check the Certified Products Table# to see just how much benefit can be gained from a correctly selected window. It is important to remember that window placement and site orientation also have an impact on the type of windows required within a home or building. Your WERS accredited manufacturer can advise you on the right windows to suit your home or building. Look for the sign that ensures your window manufacturer is WERS accredited.
Window & Door Installation
The Australian Window Association is pleased to produce this Industry Guide for the Installation of Windows and Doors as part of its commitment to raising the standard of the built performance of windows and doors in Australia. This Industry Guide to the Installation of Windows and Doors sets out to provide the basic handling and installation instructions for windows and doors in residential buildings.
By providing this resource as an instruction guide it is hoped that windows and doors supplied to residential buildings remain valuable and easy to install and maintain during the construction process.
An Industry Guide to the Correct Installation of Windows and Doors
Window & Door Fixing
The Australian Window Association is pleased to produce this Industry Guide for the Fixing of Windows and Doors as part of its commitment to raising the standard of the built performance of windows and doors. This guide is a recommendation as to the fixings to be used and is based on Australian Standard AS1720.1-1997 Timber structures.
An Industry Guide to the Correct Fixing of Windows & Doors
Bushfire Prone Areas & AS 3959
In response to recent devastating bushfires, Australian Standard 3959 has been updated
and republished AS3959:2009
At the time of publication Victoria and ACT have adopted the new standard for construction.
All other states will adopt the new standard in 2010; the Building Code of Australia will
reference the new Standard on the 1st May 2010.
The old standard had 4 levels of bushfire attack, the new Standard has 6 levels of severity
expressed as Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL):
- BAL - Low
- BAL - 12.5
- BAL - 19
- BAL - 29
- BAL - 40
- BAL - FZ
This booklet is a guide for the different construction requirements for windows and doors in
each level.
A Guide to Windows & Doors in Bushfire Prone Areas
Key Messages
Substitute Glazing Materials
The Australian Window Association has been made aware that there are specifications for windows being written that require polycarbonate products inserted instead of glass.
It is important that members and industry understand that these products, unless tested or compliant with AS 1288 do not comply with BCA requirements.
KEY MESSAGE - Substitute Glazing Materials
Nickel Suphide Inclusions
A new provision has been included in the BCA 2010 Volume 1 Class 2 to 9 buildings to reduce the risk of glass reakages due to nickel sulphide inclusions.
The following key message is a guide to explain the new provisions that are based on a proposed amendmentto AS 1288.
KEY MESSAGE - Nickel Suphide Inclusions
Guide to Building Classification
It is important to understand what class of building your products are going to be installed into. One of the main auses of failures of windows is the wrong window being used in the wrong place. This key message is a guide to and explanation of the different building classes and an explanation of the references to Housing, Residential nd Commercial windows in AS 2047.
KEY MESSAGE - Guide to Building Classifications
Changes to BCA in 2010
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced in April this year that from
May 2010, mandatory 6 star housing will be introduced on new buildings and major renovations plus a glazing allowance reduction of 20% in commercial buildings. This will be introduced hrough the BCA (Building Code of Australia) and will be mandatory for take up by 2011 in all states and territories.
KEY MESSAGE - Changes to the Building Code of Australia in 2010 Will Impact Your Business
Fall prevention
BCA Volume Two requires a balustrade or other barrier to be provided where it is possible for a person to fall through an openable window from a floor or the like that is more than 4 m above the surface beneath.
For BCA 2009, 3.9.2.3 Balustrades or other barrier construction was amended by adding (a) (ii) (c) to specify a height for the balustrade or other barrier at an openable window of 865 mm for consistency with the similar provision in Volume One. Prior to this change, the height of the balustrade or other barrier at these locations was 1 m.
Escalating Thermal Breakage of High Performance Glass
There are a number of instances where thermal breakage of glass products are becoming a major issue to home owners, builders, window manufacturers and glass suppliers.
With the increase in demand of high performance glass types for energy efficiency, window manufacturers are notifying the AWA of these associated increases.
The disputes are escalating primarily due to a lack of knowledge of why thermal breakage occurs and who is responsible. Suseptible glass types include tints, coated glass and low-E.
Glass suppliers are aware of thermal breakage potential. It is extremley important to work with your glass supplier to ensure the risk of thermal breakage is minimised and that reasonable terms are agreed in the event of thermal breakage on site.
Understand what their warranty will cover in the instance of thermal breakage. In many instances the products are not currently covered by warranty.
It is now crucial for all window manufacturers to understand the steps that can be taken to reduce the occurance of thermal breakage.
KEY MESSAGE - Thermal Breakage in Glass
Windows & Pools
Based on AS1926:2007 , the AWA has provided a Key Message for members to understand the installation of Windows around pools and the various factors that impact installation.