Aluminium Windows in Singapore: Types, Safety and Rules

Aluminium is the default window frame material in Singapore homes, from HDB flats to condominiums and landed houses. It is light, strong, resists corrosion reasonably well and can be extruded into slim, precise profiles. Yet aluminium windows Singapore homeowners install are also the subject of some of the country’s most specific safety rules, because a falling window from a high-rise block can kill.

This article explains the common window types and their trade-offs, what to look for in frames and glazing, the BCA framework for window installation and safety, the extra rules for HDB flats, and how to maintain windows so they stay safe. It is written from an engineer’s perspective, focusing on what makes a window safe as well as what makes it look good.

Aluminium windows Singapore homes use: the main types

Casement windows

Casement windows are hinged at the side and swing outwards, usually on friction stays that control the opening. They seal well and allow full ventilation, but the sash projects outside the façade when open and depends on its stays and fixings to stay attached. Casement windows are the type most associated with falling-window incidents in Singapore, which is why the rules on their components are particularly strict.

Sliding windows

Sliding windows run on tracks within the frame, so they do not project outwards. They are simple to operate and common in HDB flats. Their weak points are worn rollers, damaged tracks and missing safety stoppers; a sliding panel without effective stoppers or anti-lift features can be dislodged from its track.

Top-hung and other types

Top-hung and awning windows open outwards from the bottom and shed rain well, which suits tropical showers. Fixed lights, tilt-and-turn and louvred windows fill particular needs. For large openings to balconies and gardens, aluminium sliding and folding doors use similar frame technology at a bigger scale; our guide to sliding doors in Singapore covers those.

Frames, glazing and performance

Not all aluminium frames are equal. Profile depth and wall thickness govern stiffness under wind load, and in a high-rise unit the frame and glass must resist both positive pressure and suction, which are greatest near building corners. In Singapore, aluminium alloy windows are expected to meet SS212, the Singapore Standard specification for aluminium alloy windows, which BCA references for the performance of window works.

Finish matters for durability. Powder coating and anodising protect the aluminium, and good corner joints and drainage slots keep water out of the frame. Hardware such as stays, hinges, rollers and locks should be stainless steel or of a grade suitable for exposure. Glazing choices include clear float, tinted, laminated and double-glazed units; laminated glass holds together when broken, while low-emissivity or tinted glass reduces solar heat gain. In a west-facing room, glazing performance can matter as much as the frame.

BCA rules: approved window contractors and trained installers

BCA regulates window installation because of the risk of falling windows. When windows are replaced or retrofitted, BCA requires the work to be carried out by an approved window contractor with a trained window installer, or by a builder registered under the general builder workheads GB1 or GB2 with a trained window installer. An approved window contractor is a firm registered with BCA’s Contractors Registry under workhead RW01; you can check a firm’s registration through BCA’s contractor registry.

A trained window installer is a person certified by BCA to carry out window works; BCA states that this requires passing the Safety of Windows course and at least 12 months of practical window installation experience. Contractors must carry out window works to the performance requirements of the Building Control Regulations, which point to SS212, and must submit the relevant certificate of completion, Form D or Form SB, to BCA no later than 14 days after completing the works. They should also give the owner the corresponding report for the work done.

Stainless steel rivets for casement windows

One requirement is particularly important. BCA requires that when casement windows are retrofitted, aluminium rivets at the friction stays be replaced with stainless steel rivets of type 304 grade, and contractors are asked to report casement windows still using aluminium rivets. Corroded aluminium rivets have been a recurrent cause of casement sashes detaching. If you live in an older flat with casement windows, ask a contractor to check the rivets.

Windows that form a safety barrier

Where a window also acts as a safety barrier at a vertical drop of 1,000 mm or more, replacing it is a more serious matter. BCA normally requires structural plans by a Professional Engineer for such work, unless the replacement follows BCA’s Standardised Designs, in which case it is treated as insignificant building work. Either way, an approved window contractor or registered builder with a trained installer must carry it out.

Additional rules for HDB flats

HDB requires that all window installation or replacement in HDB flats be carried out by a BCA approved window contractor listed in HDB’s directory. HDB also states that replacement of full-height windows, including three-quarter-height and bay windows, is strictly not allowed, although permission may be granted where a damaged frame requires complete replacement. HDB owners and occupants are responsible for maintaining the windows in their flat.

For HDB flats, read our guides to HDB window replacement and window grilles for HDB flats before choosing a contractor, as grilles and windows are often installed together. Condominium owners should also check MCST by-laws, which usually control window frame colour and type because they affect the façade.

Maintaining aluminium windows safely

BCA’s window safety advice to homeowners is summarised as check, clean and change. In practice that means:

Checking that casement stays, rivets and hinges are intact, not loose or corroded, and that sliding windows have working safety stoppers and are seated in their tracks.
Cleaning and lightly lubricating tracks, hinges and stays so they operate smoothly without force.
Changing worn or corroded components through an approved window contractor rather than improvising repairs.

Close windows during storms, never lean or hang items on an open sash, and be cautious about modifications such as adding heavier glass to an existing frame. If you are unsure of a window’s condition, BCA suggests engaging an approved window contractor to check it.

Frequently asked questions

Who can install aluminium windows in Singapore?

BCA requires window replacement or retrofitting to be carried out by an approved window contractor registered under workhead RW01 with a trained window installer, or by a builder registered under GB1 or GB2 with a trained window installer. For HDB flats, the contractor must be a BCA approved window contractor listed in HDB’s directory.

Why do casement windows need stainless steel rivets?

Aluminium rivets at casement window friction stays can corrode and fail, allowing the sash to detach and fall. BCA requires these to be replaced with type 304 stainless steel rivets when casement windows are retrofitted.

Can I replace the full-height windows in my HDB flat?

HDB states that replacement of full-height windows, including three-quarter-height and bay windows, is strictly not allowed, although permission may be granted where a damaged frame requires complete replacement. Check with HDB before engaging a contractor.

Which aluminium window type is safest for a high-rise flat?

No type is safe without proper installation and maintenance. Sliding windows do not project outwards but need working safety stoppers. Casement windows need sound stays and stainless steel rivets. The installer’s competence and regular checks matter more than the type.

What standard applies to aluminium windows in Singapore?

BCA refers to SS212, the Singapore Standard specification for aluminium alloy windows, as the performance basis for window works under the Building Control Regulations.

Replacing windows that also serve as a safety barrier, or unsure about a façade fixing? Talk to our consultancy or get in touch.