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Aluminium-and-glass doors and windows, and steel-reinforced uPVC units, decide how watertight and quiet the facades of office blocks, control buildings and canteens are. World Steel installs them in a fixed sequence: survey of the openings, setting and levelling the frame, fixing, foam filling, glazing and hardware, then silicone, with two acceptance points for the supervising consultant, at the frame and at completion.
General rules
- Installed before the opening is finished (unplastered): leave a 4–7 mm gap (usually 5 mm) between wall and frame for expanding foam, then plaster up to the frame.
- Installed in a plastered opening: 4–7 mm gap (usually 5 mm); after foaming, trim the excess at an angle and finish.
- Installers are trained in safety, product properties and standards, the installation procedure, reading drawings, using hand tools, and storing and handling loose parts (frames, glass, beads).
- Tools: concrete drill and bits, screw gun, plastic mallet, sealant gun, hex keys, spirit level, laser, tape measure.
Handling the units
- Never push a carrying pole through the frame or leaf; carry units upright, never flat.
- Stack them on purpose-made racks and strap them so they cannot move.
- Never rest or rub aluminium faces against hard objects or sharp edges, never knock frame corners on the floor; put soft packing between units and between units and walls or floors.
Installation sequence
| Step | Work | Control |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Survey | Check the area and the openings for height, width, diagonals and wall lean; align window axes between floors and between windows on the same floor; check whether bringing the units in will affect other work. | Record of opening dimensions. |
| 2. Setting the frame | Set the frame in the opening on packers so it is level, at the correct distance from the wall face. | Laser, spirit level, tape measure. |
| 3. Drilling and screws | Drill 10 mm holes in the concrete, keeping the bit square to the wall; near wall edges, watch the drilling direction so the edge does not break. Put screws in the first holes without fully tightening them. | Screws 10–15 cm from frame corners or mullion joints; no screw exactly between a mullion joint and a frame corner. |
| 4. Levelling and fixing | Level inside to outside, then left to right, with packers while gradually tightening the screws; drill and fix the remaining screws; tighten all. | Equal diagonals, frame not racked and not squeezed by the wall. |
| 5. Foam filling | Fill the full length of the gap with expanding foam; gaps wider than 5 mm are packed with sand-cement mortar. Trim the foam when it is dry. | Frame accepted by the supervising consultant. |
| 6. Glass, leaves, hardware | Hang and adjust the leaves; cap the screws and seal the screw holes on the bottom rail; glaze the fixed lights (short beads first, long beads bent in last); fit handles and locks. | Smooth operation, even gaps round the leaves. |
| 7. Silicone, handover | Apply the finishing silicone; peel the protective tape outside first, then inside; clean and hand over. | Even, continuous silicone bead. |
Care
- Frames: wipe with a clean damp cloth; use a mild cleaner (neutral soap) for stains; no coloured cloths that may stain the frame.
- Glass: soft paper or a clean cloth with glass cleaner.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Uneven silicone bead, sealant on finished walls | Mask both sides of the joint; seal after final painting or protect carefully |
| Paint on silicone because sealing came before painting | Schedule sealing after painting |
| Large gaps at the beads | Check bead sizes and fit them in sequence |
| Leaf distorted, large gap when closed | Adjust hinges and leaf gaps before acceptance |
| Fixing screws not fully tightened | Check the number of screws at frame acceptance |
| Frame made to the wrong size | Measure the actual openings before fabrication |
Reference standards
The edition in force when the contract is signed applies.
- TCVN 9366-2:2012 Doors and windows – Part 2: Metal doors and windows
- TCVN 7505:2005 Code of practice for application of glass in buildings – Selection and installation
