Re-issued under new categorization in August 2009 as Practice Note for Authorized

Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers APP-116

Practice Note for Authorized Persons

Buildings Department 248
and Registered Structural Engineers

Aluminium Windows

Introduction

Aluminium windows have become popular in new developments and as

replacement of steel windows in existing buildings. Recent incidents of failure of
aluminium windows, however, have aroused safety concern as falling of a dislodged
casement from a height can be catastrophic in densely populated areas.

2. Building (Construction) Regulation 3 stipulates that materials used in

any building works or street works shall be of a suitable nature and quality for the
purposes for which they are used; adequately mixed or prepared; and applied, used or
fixed so as to perform adequately the functions for which they are designed.
Obviously such requirement is applicable to aluminium windows to be installed in any
buildings. This practice note specifies requirements on the design and installation of
aluminium windows and on the prevention of water seepage. Compliance with the
design and installation requirements of aluminium windows described in para. 3 to 7
of this PNAP will be accepted by the Building Authority (BA) as meeting the
provisions of Building (Construction) Regulation 3. Any deviations from these
requirements have to be separately substantiated for acceptance.

Design and Installation Requirements

3. For large windows falling within the criteria stipulated in Practice Note
for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers (PNAP) 239, their
structural design should be submitted to the BA for approval in accordance with the
requirements laid down therein. For other windows, Authorized Persons (AP) and
Registered Structural Engineers (RSE) should ensure that they are properly designed
and installed to meet the performance requirements and the safety standards in the
Building (Construction) Regulations whilst Registered Contractors should have
experienced and skilled supervisors and workers as well as suitable quality assurance
procedures in place to ensure the proper installation of the windows. Some relevant
standards, specifications and codes of practice on materials, design and installation of
aluminium windows are given in Appendix A for reference and information. AP and
RSE could also make reference to other national or international standards.

4. Window members, transoms and mullions together with the glass panes
should be of adequate size and strength taking into consideration the location, height
and orientation of the windows. Window frames should be securely and rigidly fixed
in place to window openings in walls. Where fixing lugs are adopted, they shall be of
stainless steel or hot dip galvanized steel having a minimum material thickness of
1.5mm and be placed at 300mm centres maximum. Where a spacing greater than
300mm is proposed, the AP/RSE should satisfy that the performance of the windows
including structural stability and waterproofing would not be compromised. Adequate
site supervision should be provided to check that all the fixing lugs are properly fixed.
/5. …..
 -2-

5. All structural members of a window section shall have a minimum

aluminium thickness of 2mm and the depth of the mullion section shall not be less
than 38mm. Particular attention shall be paid to the fixing details of the hinges. All
hinges and fastening mechanisms adopted in the installation shall be able to withstand
the positive and negative pressures due to the designed wind conditions when the
window is closed and shall be of adequate size and strength commensurate with the
size of the window.

6. To ensure the strength and rigidity of side hung casement windows as

well as the safety of the occupants operating the casements, the maximum width of the
sash should be 700mm.

7. Where 4-bar hinges are adopted, reference should be made to the

Guidelines on Fixing of 4-bar Hinges at Appendix B.

Cleaning

8. Corrosive agent should not be used for the cleaning of external walls
and windows of buildings upon the completion of building works unless it is
thoroughly washed with clean water immediately after application.

Window Stay

9. Suitably designed window stay can minimize the effect of strong wind
on the durability of hinges and casements.

Water Seepage

10. Besides safety consideration, water leakage from windows poses undue
nuisance to the occupants. AP and RSE are reminded to bear this in mind when
detailing window design and contractors are reminded that poor workmanship is a
major cause of the problem. Reference may be made to the Guidelines on Prevention
of Water Seepage in New Buildings issued by the Buildings Department in March
2005.

11. In order to ensure the durability of windows, it is recommended that

the top member of a window frame should have a built-in projecting fin with a drip
nose to prevent water ingress into the window frame/casement so as to minimize the
possibility of corrosion due to accumulation of water. A typical section of the
projecting fin is at Appendix C.

Water Tightness Test

12. It is advisable to perform field water test on the installed aluminium

window to ensure water tightness and quality of the completed window unit. Some
national standard testing methods are given in Appendix D for reference.

/General …..
 -3-

General

13. A similar practice note has been issued to Registered Contractors.

( CHEUNG Hau-wai )
Building Authority

Ref. : BD GP/BORD/105 (II)

BD GP/BREG/P/38 (II)

First issue July 2001

Last revision March 2005
This revision March 2006 (AD/NB1) – paras 2, 3, 5, 12 and Appendix B amended,
paras 6, 8, 9, 11 and Appendix C & D
added

Index under : Aluminium Windows

Windows
Water Seepage
 Appendix A
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)
Standards and Codes of Practice
On Aluminium Window in Building Works

The various standards and codes of practice on aluminium window in

building works as listed below are intended to provide reference information for the
purpose of specifying materials and design for aluminium windows and the lists are
not exhaustive.

BS EN ISO 1461 : Hot dip galvanizing

BS 952: Part 1 : Glass for glazing
BS 1161 : Aluminium alloy sections for structural purposes
BS 1449: Part 2 : Stainless and heat resisting steel plate, sheet and strip
BS 1470 : Aluminium plate, sheet and strip
BS 1471 : Aluminium drawn tube
BS 1474 : Aluminium bars and extrusions
BS 1615 : Anodic oxidation coatings on aluminium and its alloys
BS 3111 : Stainless steel fasteners
BS 3987 : Anodic oxidation coatings on wrought aluminium
BS 4479 : Recommendations for the design of metal articles that are to
be coated
BS 4873 : Aluminium alloy windows
BS 5889 : Sealants
BS 6105 : Corrosion-resistant stainless steel fasteners
BS 6262 : Code of Practice for glazing for buildings
BS 6375: Part 1 and : Performance of windows
Part 2
BS 8118 : Structural use of aluminium
CP 3012 : Cleaning and preparation of metal surfaces
PD 6484 : Commentary on corrosion at bimetallic contacts and its
alleviation

2. AP and RSE may also make reference to other national or international

standards and specifications.

(3/2005)
 Appendix B
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)

Guidelines on Fixing of 4-bar Hinges

4-bar hinges shall be manufactured from stainless steel with adjustable

friction shoe, and all stainless steel bars of the hinge shall have a minimum thickness of
2.5mm. For better corrosion resistance, stainless steel rivets/screws shall be used for
the fixing of hinges and aluminium rivets shall not be used as they tend to corrode. At
least 3 Nos. of 4.8mm diameter stainless steel rivets or 5mm diameter stainless steel
screws shall be used to fix each bottom and top bars of the hinge to the window frame
and the openable sash.

2. As stainless steel hinges and rivets/screws are used in aluminium

window installation, due consideration and measures should be taken to prevent contact
between dissimilar metals.

3. To provide sufficient anchorage for the stainless steel rivet or screw to

fasten the hinge to the window frame and the openable sash, a positive mechanical
fixing, for example by inserting a stainless steel or hot dip galvanized steel plate or
bar/angle of not less than 3mm thick inside the section to provide sufficient threads for
the screw(s) shall be adopted. A typical example of this arrangement is at Annex I.
As an alternative, the window sections for fixing the hinge may be thickened locally to
not less than 5mm. A typical example is at Annex II. When insertion of an extra
piece of stainless steel or hot dip galvanized steel bar/angle inside the section or local
thickening to 5mm is not adopted, the thickness of aluminium sections for fixing the
4-bar hinge shall be substantiated by calculations that it could provide sufficient
anchorage for the stainless steel rivet or screw.

4. The length of the 4-bar hinge should be at least 60% of the width of the
side hung casement window.

(Rev. 3/2006)
 Annex I to Appendix B
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)

WIDTH OF WINDOW SASH

Љ700mm

S.S. PLATE/BAR
(AT LOCATIONS A, B, C)

ELEVATION SECTION X-X

SIDE HUNG WINDOW WITH S.S. PLATE/BAR AND
ALUMINIUM ANGLE INSERTED FOR FIXING SCREWS

LENGTH Њ 60% OF WIDTH OF WINDOW SASH

A, B, C, E, F – LOCATION FOR SCREW TO WINDOW FRAME/SASH

(LOCAL THICKENING BY S.S. PLATE/BAR)

D – LOCATION FOR SCREW TO WINDOW SASH

(LOCAL THICKENING BY ANGLE)

(Rev. 3/2006)
 Annex II to Appendix B
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)
5 mm

5 mm

(3/2005)
 Appendix C
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)

ELEVATION

S.S. 4-BAR HINGE

PROJECTING FIN WITH DRIP NOSE

WINDOW FRAME

WINDOW SASH

SECTION Y-Y
TOP MEMBER OF WINDOW FRAME
WITH BUILT-IN PROJECTING FIN

(3/2006)
 Appendix D
(PNAP 248)
(APP-116)

Standard Description

ASTM E330 Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior

Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors by Uniform Static Air
Pressure Difference

ASTM E331 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior

Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors by Uniform Static Air
Pressure Difference

ASTM E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows,

Curtain Walls and Doors by Cyclic Static Air Pressure
Differential

AAMA 501.1 Standard Test Method for Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls
and Doors for Water Penetration using Dynamic Pressure

AAMA 501.2 Specification for Field Check of Metal Shop Fronts, Curtain
Walls and Sloped Glazing Systems for Water Leakage

AAMA 501.3 Specifications for Field Check of Water and Air Leakage
Through Installed Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls and
Doors by Uniform Air Pressure Difference.

(3/2006)