About Windows

Although much thought has gone into ensuring the performance and durability of the building envelope, the leakage of water through modern windows is one of the most common sources of dispute in the building industry.

In choosing windows for any but the most traditional building, designers must evaluate the window's suitability for the particular application against a series of objective test criteria. Since its inception, the ACCI has regularly been confronted with window problems and assisted with their development as products.

How the ACCI can Help

The Australian Standards AS 2047 and AS 4420 provide performance requirements and test methods for windows. The characteristics that are required to be tested are: ease of operation, structural performance under wind load, watertightness and air infiltration.

The ACCI is able to independently test window and cladding systems to meet the standards' requirements. The Centre can also test Structural and weathertightness of facades to AS 4284.

Types of Testing and Services we offer

At its Randwick Laboratory, the ACCI has the pressure boxes, spray systems and instrumentation required to test windows and facades as described in the standards. All testing is reported in detail with images, tabulated results, comments and recommendations where appropriate.

It has been the centre's experience that windows, façade and curtain wall systems often leak at the first test. The modifications that are made at the prototype stage diminish the likelihood of later embarrassing and costly shortcomings.

In many cases, clients install their prototypes in the test rigs using their own labour and procedures - this is done both to provide a representative specimen and to reduce cost.

The Centre's main façade/window rig has an opening 5.0m wide x 3.3m tall (which can be expanded). The air system can deliver a maximum pressure or suction of 10kPa and can be set up to cycle between pressure and suction.