Australian Standards for Windows and Doors: A Buyer's Checklist
Windows and doors are among the most regulated parts of a building. Knowing which standards apply to your project — and asking for the right paperwork early — avoids the expensive kind of surprise at inspection time.
The National Construction Code (NCC) sets the performance a building has to achieve, and it points to Australian Standards for windows, doors and glass. You do not need to read them cover to cover. You do need to know which ones your project triggers, so you can ask a supplier the right questions before anything is ordered.
AS 2047:2014 — windows and external glazed doors
AS 2047 covers windows and external glazed doors in buildings. A product assessed to it has been tested for how it behaves under wind pressure, how much air and water it lets through, and how much force it takes to operate.
The practical point is that the rating has to suit the site. A window that is adequate on a sheltered suburban block may not be adequate on an exposed ridge or a coastal site.
- Ask for the product's AS 2047 rating and compare it with the wind design requirements on your plans.
- Check the water penetration resistance as well as the wind rating, particularly for exposed elevations.
- Keep the performance label or certificate — your building surveyor may ask for it.
AS 1288:2021 — glass in buildings
AS 1288 governs how glass is selected and installed. It determines the type and thickness of glass for a given panel size and wind load, and it sets out where safety glass is required.
Safety glass — toughened or laminated — is generally called for in the places people are most likely to make contact with it:
- Doors and the side panels next to them
- Glazing close to floor level
- Bathrooms, ensuites and other wet areas
- Glazing near stairs and in balustrades
AS 2208:2023 — safety glazing materials
Where AS 1288 says safety glass is needed, AS 2208 sets out the safety glazing materials that can be used — toughened (tempered) glass, laminated glass and other approved types — and how they are tested and marked. It is the standard that makes a pane "safety glass" rather than just thick glass.
- Ask which panes in the window and door schedule need safety glazing, and confirm the glass supplied is to AS 2208.
- Check that the safety glass is permanently marked — surveyors look for it.
AS 4666:2012 — insulating glass units
AS 4666 covers insulating glass units (double glazing): how the sealed units are made, tested and quality-controlled. If your project uses double glazing, ask for confirmation that the units are made to AS 4666.
The cheapest time to find out a window does not suit the site is before it has been ordered.
What to send your supplier
The more of this you can provide with an enquiry, the more accurate the quotation will be:
- Plans and elevations, or a window and door schedule
- Any wind design requirements for the site
- Any notes from your building surveyor about safety glazing
- Whether double glazing is required
Windora works from these documents when quoting, and raises it before the order is confirmed if a nominated requirement cannot be met by a particular product or configuration. You can send your project details here.
General information only. This article is a summary to help you ask informed questions. It is not building, engineering or legal advice, and standards are revised over time. The requirements for your project are determined by your designer and building surveyor.
