The Consumer Council has voiced concern over the safety in the construction and installation of aluminium windows on private residential buildings.
The problem is a serious one as reflected in the latest worrisome statistics of fatalities, emergency reports of Buildings Department and consumer complaints.
Just before the Lunar New Year, two accidents occurred involving falling aluminium windows and resulting in the death of two pedestrians passing by the buildings.
During last year, the Buildings Department received a total of 45 emergency reports on damaged windows.
In the same period, the Consumer Council received also 30 complaints related to window work. Over 80% of these complaints concerned the quality, such as shoddy workmanship leading to problems of water leakage, and windows that cannot be opened or closed smoothly.
Consumers are strongly urged to check and maintain their aluminium windows including its concrete surround, as the lack of regular checks and proper maintenance is one of the many possible causes of accidents involving falling windows.
Second, take extreme caution to avoid imposing extra pressure to the window while cleaning that may cause the bar hinges to be over-stressed.
Third, do not hang objects on the window that may cause additional load on the bar hinges.
Lastly, owners should appoint qualified contractors to carry out installation and maintenance of aluminium windows.
Consumers are warned that according to the Summary Offences Ordinance Section 4B "Objects dropped from buildings": If anything (e.g. aluminium window) is dropped or allowed to fall from any building to the danger or injury of any person in near a public place, the person who drops that thing or allows it to fall commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.
The Consumer Council is concerned over the fact that most installation of windows are regarded as exempted building works under the Buildings Ordinance.
It is understood that the Government is planning to strengthen the control of windows installation works through a minor works control system. Such works are required to be carried out and certified by a registered minor works contractor with the relevant competence. Already, the Housing Department has devised a set of standard specifications for aluminium windows on its public buildings.
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