Residential Windows & Doors
How to install Windows and Doors in conventional residential construction
Weatherproofing windows and doors at the corners of the outer frames where the fins don’t meet should have fin patches fixed in these corners . AMIA will provide these upon fabrication of custom windows but for shed windows where frames are not assembled, they must be installed by the builder upon frame assembly. Failure to do this cold result in reveals being wet in the corners if water runs down the fin of the window.
Flashings not being provided or installed correctly attribute to most reports of window leaks. If flashings are not the cause then incorrect location of jamb gaskets maybe the next cause of leakage. This is an error of the window fabrication in the factory. The 2 photographs below show correct and incorrect jamb gaskets positions. trimming jamb gaskets to make them look tidy is not recommended and can cause leakage. Failing these scenarios, any leaks could result from the water pressures on the window of door has exceeded the designed water penetration capacity of the individual product.
Video 01 //
Aluminium Residential Window into a Brick Veneer Construction
Video 06 //
Aluminium Sliding Window into a Lightweight Clad Construction
Video 09 //
Aluminium Commercial Grade Sliding Window into a Prepared Masonry Opening
Video 03 //
Aluminium Sliding Door into a Brick Veneer Construction
Video 07 //
Aluminium Sliding Door into a Lightweight Clad Construction
Video 04 //
Aluminium French Door into a Brick Veneer Construction
Video 08 //
Aluminium Residential Window into a Double Brick Construction
NCC 2019 changes brought in further head flashing requirements for windows and doors as for window and door installation to the 3 conventional facades represented in the videos above. It did not include a requirement where steel cladding profiles were being used as façade cladding. The ABCB has recognized this oversight and are now looking to set a new minimum set of guidelines of window and door installation in to steel cladding when the NCC 2025 is released.
The changes to the head flashing requirements in NCC 2019 are covered in this link https://awa.associationonline.com.au/documents/item/1987.
Extracted from NCC 2019
Download PDF – Quote Request – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Delivery Instructions – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Product Offering Overview – Click Here >>
G. James (General)
Download PDF – Cleaning Instructions Aluminium – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Cleaning Instructions Glass – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Hardware Maintenance – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Product Warranty Glass – Click Here >>
G. James (Windows)
Download PDF – Residential Product Selector – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Sliding Window – 132 Series – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Double Hung Window – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Louvre Window – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Awning Window – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Estrut Awning Window – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Window & Door options Video – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Removing Awning Window Flyscreen – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Gas Strut Demonstration – Click Here >>
G. James (Doors)
Download PDF – Sliding Door – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Flush Drain Sill System – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Bi-Fold Door – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Bi-Fold Operating Instructions – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Hingers Doors – Click Here >>
Care of Your Windows and Doors
Download PDF – Instructions for Care of your Windows and Doors – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Cleaning Instructions for Energy Efficient and Coated Glass – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – AGWA Guide Series – Guide to Windows and Doors Selection – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – AGWA Guide Series – A Guide to Energy Efficiency Compliance – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – AGWA Guide Series – A Guide to Windows and Doors in Bushfire Prone Areas – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Fact Sheet: Acoustics and Windows – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Windows and Doors Terminology – Click Here >>>
Viridian
Download PDF – Glass Performance Selector – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Viridian Glass Guide – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Compliance and Window Data – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Performance Data – Click Here >>>
Download PDF – Data Cleaning Instructions – Click Here >>>
Window Classification Tables and Data around Wind Pressures, Wind Speed and Terrain Categories to help you select your Window and Door products
Download PDF – Wind Classifications: Wind Standards and NCC 2022 Updated – Click Here >>
Download PDF – Wind Codes for Steel Sheds and Garages– Click Here >>
Download PDF – AGWA TFS Summary of Key Changes AS 4055-2021– Click Here >>
Download PDF –A Guide to Windows & Doors in Bushfire Prone Areas– Click Here >>
FAQ’s
There are a number of considerations for wind rating. In order to ensure you get the correctly rated product, you should advise us of the wind rating for your site. The wind rating is a calculation combining the geographic location to determine the region (refer Fig 3.1 AS1170.2-2011), the terrain category for the site, the topographic classification for the site and the shielding factor. If the rating is cyclonic, then there is a further requirement if the distance of the product is within 1200mm of the corner of the building, this needs to be advised to us also if applicable, as there is a considerable pressure difference be considered in design.
The water penetration requirements vary for class 1 and class 10 building. Class 1 (occupied dwelling) requires that the pascal rating increase with higher wind pressures. This is not a requirement for class 10 buildings (unoccupied, [shed etc]).
In recent times there has been a move to standardise the bush fire ratings used Australia wide. This is covered in AS 3959-2009 Construction of buildings in bush fire prone areas. There are a number of ratings depending on a site assessment. In most cases, the use of metal mesh in fly screens rather than fibreglass mesh is sufficient, in other cases, toughened glass needs to be used instead of float glass. In more severe cases it may be required to have fire shutters.
Basix is a requirement in NSW for new construction in excess of $50,000. It uses an internet based program to identify energy efficiencies with recommendations for windows and doors being only one component. For further information go to https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/index.jsp
Installing windows and doors is often left to builders or carpenters to do, however, we live in a DIY world and there is no reason that you cannot install your own. Go to the download site and there are links to installing our window designed specifically for metal clad buildings. There is also a link for installing into brick, timber, fibrous cement and other wall finishes.
20TH OCTOBER 2015
Are you aware of the changes to Australian Standards AS2047 – Windows and External Glazed Doors in Buildings?
The previous publication of this Standard was 1999. A revised Standard has been published in September 2014, so mandatory implementation of the new Standard will be enforced from September 2015.
What does this mean for you?
There are 7 major amendments to consider now. The most significant changes include;
- Wind pressures have now been updated to align with AS 4055 including higher wind pressures applicable to windows located near the corner of buildings
- Deflection / span ratios have changed to align with lower serviceability limit state wind pressures.
- Increased water penetration requirements for class 1-9 buildings.
To prepare for this new amendment to the Standard, it’s important to let you know of some of the changes you can expect to see in the coming months.
- Change in rating of windows – many of the former rated windows in product list files will not rate to this new standard.
- Responsibility – correct design and window selection lies with the building designer. Being aware of this knowledge, will help protect against the possibility of costly errors for our customers.
What changes can you expect?
AMIA Pricing lists for the National Shed Market – will be updated to reflect changes in structural design amendments.
With these new changes, price lists would grow considerably to cover all the ranges. So, to make it much simpler for you to work with, the number of variables in products offered will be reduced whilst at the same time, more adaptable to suit both Class 1 and Class 10 buildings .
To make it easier for you, AMIA will be offering in all shed windows:
- Glazing – minimum of 4mm glazing– previously it was 3mm. Some windows can require up to 5 mm in C3, and 6mm in some C4 wind pressure zones Cyclone screens may be required in some circumstances
- Sill – 300Pa rated sill as the new standard. 150Pa rated sill will be phased out before the end of this year. This change offers your clients a better water performance of their window in those heavy storms we now seem to experience more often , particularly in regions less than N3 categories. Many windows will now have larger mullions for compliance, and we are considering a new design for our shed window product range
AMIA New Product Selector Tool
To help make window selection a little easier for you, a new product selector tool is being produced by AMIA.
This tool will enable the use of the Table from AS4055 (N and C ratings) to be incorporated with the window location and exposure level, to ensure the correctly rated product is ordered.
It is our commitment, this tool’s design be as “simple and graphic” as we can make it for you.
As soon as all the relevant information is sourced and collated, the new Product Selector Tool will be ready to access either through your Head Office notification or direct to you.
How do you know if your windows and sliding glass doors are compliant?
- Sticker or label adhered to your products
or
- Certification Certificate which can be supplied on request
What you need to do “BEFORE” placing your order – So you receive a product Compliant for your client’s Project:
It’s important your order is processed and on its way to you as quickly as possible.
- Check your order first before placing it with us – Compliance counts
- You will receive what you order!
To process your Order, you will need to provide your building’s:
- Wind rating
- Window location
- Exposed or non-exposed
- Building Class – 1 or 10
- OR
- Serviceability Limit state
- Ultimate Limit state
- Water Penetration Resistance requirements
Who can provide you with these specifications for a compliant product, “PRIOR” to placing your order?
The Specifier for your client’s design, who may be the
- Builder
- Engineer
- Designer
- Head Office of your Group, if you belong to an affiliation
If you have any question, please contact us.
It allows better thermal insulation to be achieved without the need to change the window framing system of an existing house as this would normally have to be undertaken if double glazed units were specified because they are often too thick to fit in normal framing.
It’s the Low E coating on the inside of the building that will reduce heat loss in winter and re-radiation to the inside in summer. This allows a very cost effective balance of performance to be achieved in a relatively thin glass.
When it’s a laminate, it achieves a Grade A safety rating and can be used in low level glazing and in other areas where safety glass is required.
There are a range of options available dependent on whether a single glazed (monolithic) or double glazed solution is required. That in turn may depend on the framing system desired, the performance criteria required and/or the budget that is in place.
Essentially the performance criteria revolve around blending the solar control and thermal insulation properties of the glass to reduce the amount of heat coming through the glass in Summer and reducing the amount of heat lost to the outside in Winter.
Single glazed options available from Viridian include ComfortPlus™ SmartGlass™ EVantage™ EnergyTech™ & SolTech™
Each product offers different options which can match the customer requirements in terms of solar control, light transmission, reflectivity, thermal efficiency, safety and colour.
Double glazed options permit a wider range of products to be considered across the range and generates the potential for higher performance levels to be achieved; i.e. lower U values in conjunction with greater levels of solar control and higher levels of light transmission.
Low E means ‘low emissivity.’ The main difference between a Low E glass and an ordinary glass is that Low E glass has a very thin coating applied to one side of the glass. This enables the transport of heat through the glass to be reduced. EnergyTech™ and ComfortPlus™ are all examples of a Low E glass. The main benefits of using such a glass are that more warmth is kept within the room, more space can be used within the room as cold downdraughts are minimised, more window area can be used, heating costs are reduced and the contribution the products make in reducing greenhouse emissions.
The Low E coating is actually harder than the glass and consequently is quite difficult to scratch. This does not mean it cannot be scratched, as anything can be scratched if you try hard enough. However, the marks you notice might be abrasion marks. The consequence of the coating being very hard is that it can abrade other materials? So, materials rubbed across the coating can abrade and leave deposits on the surface. For example, if you rub a coin across the coating, a mark will result. The mark is caused by metal from the coin being deposited on the coating. These abrasion marks can be cleaned off and advice on how to do this can be found in the cleaning advice for Low E glass which can be found on our website.
U value is the measure of the insulating capacity of the glass. This represents how quickly heat from hot air (not direct sunlight) will pass through the glass. The lower the U value the better the insulation. Glass with low U values are generally used to keep the warmth in the room, in cold climates or at night.
For example, 4mm clear float glass has a U value of 5.9, whilst ComfortPlus™ has a U value of 3.6. So ComfortPlus™ is a better insulating product than 3mm clear float glass.
Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient (SHGC) is the amount of heat from direct sunlight that passes through the glass. This includes sunlight which passes directly through the glass to the room and the amount of sunlight which is absorbed by the glass and later reradiated to the room. The lower the SHGC, the better it will achieve this. Glass with a low SHGC is best used in areas of direct sunlight, for example to reduce the amount of heat coming through the windows in summer.
For example, our 4mm clear float glass has an SHGC of 0.85, whilst ComfortPlus™ has an SHGC between 0.57 and 0.60 depending on the colour.
It reduces some of the direct heat from the sun passing to the inside of the building. The amount will depend on both the colour of the glass and its thickness. Toned glass is available in a range of colours to enable different aesthetics and performance of the building to be achieved.
Toned glass can be easily incorporated into a double glazed unit if required and can assist in reducing glare, it can be laminated or toughened if required.
Toned glass provides a degree of privacy (depending on colour). However unless incorporated with a Low E coating or used in a double glazed unit it remains poor in its insulation benefits. Clear glass and SuperGrey™ glass have the same insulative benefits, which are the worst in terms of insulation performance
R value is a measure of how well a material resists heat transfer whereas U value is a measure of how well a material transmits heat. As such, solid materials such as bricks, insulation and walls are measured in R-values whilst glass is measured in U values. Unlike glass where lower U values mean better insulation, for materials that are measured in R values it is the higher the R value the better the insulation. Conversion between the two can be achieved using the following relationship U value =1/R.
It is a difference between both the type of material used for the coating and the way the coating is applied to the glass.
However, there are several further differences:
Soft coated Low E glasses must be incorporated into a double glazed unit as the coating is ‘less durable’ than a hard coated (pyrolytic) coating when exposed to the atmosphere. Soft coated Low E glasses cannot be glazed in single glazed applications but hard coated products such as ComfortPlus™ and EnergyTech™ can.
Pyrolytic coatings have a long shelf life, whereas soft coated Low E glasses do have a shelf life and will begin to break down if stored for too long without being incorporated into double glazed units.
Soft coat Low E glasses such as Viridian LightBridge™ or PerformaTech™ have significantly lower U values than hard coated pyrolytic glass types.
Hard-coated Low E glasses are manufactured online during the float manufacturing process where soft coats are applied by a special offline process at some time after the glass has been manufactured.
If condensation forms on the coated surface of a single glazed Low E glass, e.g. ComfortPlus™, the glass loses its low emissivity performance characteristics and behaves like normal float glass. In other words, it provides no additional benefits in terms of reducing heat loss from the building whilst the condensation is present. If there is a chance of condensation forming on the inside of the window on the coated glass surface (i.e. in very cold climates), then the best solution is to use a double glazed unit incorporating a low emissivity glass. This further reduces the U value of the glass, keeps the inner face of the double glazed unit warmer and therefore minimises the chances of condensation forming.
The fact that there is a Low E coating on one surface of the glass, glazed to the inside, means that the glass will have a lower U value and hence provide better levels of insulation than normal clear glass. This is because the coating reflects the heat back into the room whereas glass without a Low E coating would allow the heat from the room to pass through it. A good example of this is 6.38mm ComfortPlus™ which has a U value of 3.6 compared to a 6mm clear float glass which has a U value of 5.8, an improvement of over 39%.