From November 1, 2022, the new fundamental GOST 23166-2021 for windows and balcony doors comes into force. The OKNA MEDIA portal analyzes one of its most important sections - “Requirements for safe operation and maintenance.” Why is this section of GOST important for all window manufacturers and what to expect from the new fundamental document.
This is the 1st version of the article. The full (extended) version of the article, which presents all the questions that have arisen regarding the section “Requirements for safe operation and maintenance,” can be read here !
New GOST 23166 for windows from 2022
On May 19, 2022, the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart) issued an Order.pdf “On the introduction of a new interstate standard” - GOST 23166-2021 “Window and balcony translucent enclosing structures.” The new regulatory document comes into force on November 1, 2021 and is being introduced to replace: GOST 23166-99, GOST 4.215-81, GOST 4.226-83.
Photo: from November 2021, the new GOST 23166-2021 for windows will be introduced, ©depositphotos.com This event can be called significant - 21 years after it came into force, the fundamental window GOST was significantly revised and received a new name. An important point of the new GOST is the appearance of a new section dedicated to safety: “Requirements for safe operation and maintenance.”
This review of the new GOST will be of interest to representatives of the window industry (manufacturers of fittings, windows, window sellers and others) working:
- with state and municipal orders requiring mandatory implementation of GOST;
- with private customers, stipulating the implementation of GOST in contracts;
- according to its own regulations.
Company safety regulations must be no worse than GOST. In the event of accidents affecting human life and health, GOST becomes the fundamental document on which forensic examination is based. If an accident occurs and the structure was manufactured in accordance with GOST, then the GOST developers are to blame for this. There are such judicial precedents. And if the company worked according to internal regulations, then it will have to prove that its safety requirements were no worse than the state ones.
The presented material is the opinion of the portal’s editors regarding the fundamental document for the window market. The material describes the disadvantages and undisclosed aspects of GOST, and informs window market participants about what they should prepare for.
Analysis of the new GOST 23166-2021, section 6 “Requirements for safe operation and maintenance”
This section describes the requirements for window designs for various safety-related areas and some safety requirements for the operation and maintenance of windows:
- Safety when washing windows.
- Child safety – preventing children from falling out of windows.
- Safety in case of destruction of glazing (glass or double glazing) or prevention of destruction.
- Security from unauthorized entry.
- Safety requirements for low window sill installation heights are less than 800 mm.
- Protection of sliding balcony glazing sashes from falling out.
- Safety requirements for transom windows.
The requirements relate to fittings, glazing, mosquito nets, etc.
Safety when washing windows
In the current GOST 23166 (clause 5.1.6), from the first edition in 1999 to the present, there are restrictions on the maximum size of non-opening sashes: 400x800 mm.
| 5.1.6 The use of non-opening sashes in window units of premises of residential buildings above the first floor is not allowed, except for sashes with dimensions not exceeding 400x800 mm, as well as in products facing balconies (loggias) if such structures have devices for ventilation of the premises. The possibility of using non-opening sash elements of window units in other types of premises is established in the design documentation for construction. |
This requirement in fact presupposes the presence of a “blind” opening under the window; adjacent sashes along the entire height of the window had to be opening.
If we remember Soviet windows, then for safety reasons all the sashes could be washed without “crawling” beyond the plane of the facade. They were either opening or could be opened after unscrewing the mounting screws. With the advent of modern windows, non-opening sashes began to be used in order to save money. Washing such windows is unsafe for the health and life of citizens. There were cases of people falling out. Until 1999, there was no GOST for modern windows, so it was impossible to hold people accountable for the production of such windows.
With the advent of GOST 23166 in 1999, the regulatory fight against dangerous wood grouse began. GOST requirements were widely violated both during private orders of windows and during the construction of new housing. Administrative and criminal cases began to appear in judicial practice; those guilty of violating GOST requirements bore different types of liability.
In the new GOST 23166-2021, the requirements for the dimensions of blind sashes are set out as follows.
| 6.1.4.1 The use of window units with a portion of fixed glazing or non-opening sashes (FNK), located in residential premises above the first floor, is permissible in the options shown in Figure 12, a-d: - window blocks with a part of fixed glazing (non-opening sash) with a width of no more than 400 mm (see Figure 12, a, b); - window blocks with fixed glazing (non-opening sash) in the central part with a width of no more than 800 mm (Figure 12, c); — the height of non-opening upper transoms should not exceed 400 mm; the installation of non-opening upper transoms above a part of fixed glazing is not allowed (Figure 12, d). |
Photo: Figure 12, © GOST 23166-2021 Thus, restrictions on the height of blind sashes have been lifted. In this case, clause 6.1.2 states:
| 6.1.2 Window and balcony units must be manufactured taking into account possible risks and accidents during maintenance, for example: ... a person falling out when washing windows... |
6.1.5 defines a safe method for cleaning windows:
| 6.1.5 ... To safely wash window glass, the person doing the washing must be inside the room and have unobstructed access to the glass without the risk of falling out. |
Let's analyze whether it is possible to safely wash a window with a blind sash that reaches the entire height of the window. Let's consider a window with a height of, for example, 1.8 m. The bottom of the window is located at a height of 0.5-0.9 m. The blind part is located along the entire height of the window. Thus, the upper part of the fixed glazing is at a height of 2.3-2.7 m from the floor level. How tall does a person need to be to wash the outer glass of the blind part safely while standing on the floor? Even the blind part along the entire height of the window with the most common height of the window block being about 1.4 m cannot be washed from the floor.
It is clear that limiting the height of wood grouse to 800 mm in modern realities is unlikely in practice. If such a restriction is lifted , it is necessary to pay special attention to the issue of practical washing of such windows in apartment buildings. It is impossible to clean such windows from the floor even with a telescopic brush without leaning out.
Removing the restriction on the height of blind sashes while maintaining the restriction on width (no more than 400 mm) in a practical sense changes little. It is difficult to imagine that someone would order windows with the width of the blind part at the edges no more than 400 mm. The changes will affect only 3 casement windows with a blind part of 800 mm in the middle (between two adjacent opening sashes). Nowadays in new buildings windows are popular not only with a larger area, but also with a large height. A window 1.5 m wide with 2 opening sashes, under which there is a blind sash along the entire width with a height of 400-500 mm. Such a capercaillie can be easily and safely washed, but such a window “does not fit” into the requirements of the new GOST.
Child safety - preventing children from falling out of windows
An important point in the field of safety in windows is child safety, or the prevention of children falling out of windows. According to statistics, about 1,000 children fall out of windows in Russia every year. More than a hundred die.
In the current edition of GOST 23166-99 with “Change No. 1...” of 2016, the issue of child safety is reflected in 5.1.8 of Section 5 “technical requirements”:
| 5.1.8 Products must be safe to use and maintain. To ensure safety, in order to prevent injuries and the possibility of children falling out of windows in children's, preschool and school institutions, as well as in residential buildings, window units must be equipped with safety locks installed in the lower bar of the sash on the handle side and ensuring blocking of the rotary (hinged) opening the sash, but allowing the operation of the tilting position or the use of parallel-retractable opening of the sash." |
There are several “weak” points in this subclause. Security features include only locks, and these locks should only be installed in the bottom bar of the sash. In addition, it is indicated that all windows not only of children's institutions, but also of residential buildings must be equipped with child safety equipment, and not just rooms where children can be.
What has changed in the new GOST 23166-2021?
Section 6 of the new GOST clause 6.3 “Ensuring the safety of children during the operation of window units in residential and public buildings ,” unlike all the others, is highlighted in bold. This suggests that special attention is being paid to this topic.
6.3.1-6.3.4 presents options for possible technical solutions for child safety equipment installed on windows. Unlike the existing edition, various technical solutions are allowed for use, which expands the possibilities for ensuring child safety. Let's look at these solutions.
| 6.3.1 To ensure the safety of children in premises without adult supervision, the following requirements must be observed: - use a tilt-and-turn opening method, which involves first tilting the sash when turning the handle and then moving the sash to the swing position using the handle by returning the sash to the initial (closed) position, which is difficult for a child of primary school age; - use child safety locks that block the swing opening of the sash, but allow it to function in the folding position; Child safety locks should be selected taking into account the recommendations of lock manufacturers, depending on the design of the window unit and the lock itself, with the obligatory function of blocking the swing opening; - a child safety lock must be lockable both with a key (i.e. have a locking mechanism) and with a special key (handle) without the use of a locking mechanism... |
Let's first discuss the first, very important, proposition 6.3.1. It indicates where child safety equipment should be located - “...in premises without adult supervision...”. A reasonable question arises: “What kind of premises are these?” Adults can leave a child unattended in any room. How can this requirement be applied when designing a multi-storey residential building? At what stage will the decision be made and on what basis? It is also unclear who is responsible if these funds are not available where the child was unattended and fell out of the window? Who decides the issue of having child safety locks in multi-storey buildings?
At the same time, regarding a simpler issue - child safety in individual homes, this is spelled out:
| 6.1.1 “In individual construction, the issue of having a child safety lock is decided by the owner of the building.” |
In 6.3.1, a very important point appeared - the tilt-and-turn version of the window is defined as safer than the tilt-and-turn (standard) version. This is the right and long overdue decision! If you use a tilt-and-turn window, opening the window for a child, as correctly reflected in the GOST text, will be much more difficult, and the likelihood of a child falling out, even in the absence of additional child safety equipment, will be minimal. To open such a window to the open position, the child will need to press the sash with one hand and turn the handle with the other. This requires good mental and physical abilities.
Switching to a tilt-and-turn window standard will improve the safety of the vast majority of windows installed in any room. While tilt-and-turn windows are non-standard, their use, including for child safety, is limited by their higher price. And this price is high, primarily because of the non-standard approach. The cost of such a window is no different from the cost of a tilt-and-turn window. They are distinguished by the design of scissors and a tilt-and-turn bar, which are no more expensive in production than standard ones.
If in the 2016 edition of GOST, locks must be used in child safety systems, moreover, corresponding to classes 1-2 of GOST 5089, as for doors, then the new GOST allows the use of other effective locking devices, for example, “handles with a key” ", which is more suitable from the point of view of accessibility and integration into the window. At the same time, the function of blocking the swing mode with the help of such a handle works. The use of such handles is also reflected in subclause 6.3.4.
In the requirements for child safety, the new GOST pays attention to the operation of mosquito nets. In many cases, children falling out when the door is open occurs when the child leans on the mosquito net, not realizing that it will not be able to hold him. In many cases, adults do not understand this either.
6.3.5 states:
| 6.3.5 When using mosquito nets in window units, it is necessary to fulfill the main condition - to exclude the possibility of children having access to mosquito nets, using the protection options for window units according to 6.3.1 - 6.3.4, in addition, to ensure: – ensure reliable fastening of mosquito nets to the window frame to prevent the possibility of the nets falling out of the opening when supported on them. |
Below this point there is a note:
| Note: – When installing mosquito nets, the consumer must be warned that the net is not a protective structure. |
For the first time, there was a requirement that the task of protecting children from falling out was to prevent the child from coming into contact with the mosquito net. The point is that the mosquito net is not a protective structure. And that's true. But for some reason, there was a requirement that the mosquito net fastening must be able to withstand a child leaning on it. What about mosquito net fabric? The mesh fabric is secured in the frame using a polymer cord that clamps the mesh in a special groove in the frame. Such a mount will not withstand the pressure on the mesh even from a child. And then there is a note that it is necessary to warn the consumer that the mosquito net is not a protective structure. This results in conflicting information. On the one hand, the mosquito net is not protective, but on the other hand, it must withstand the weight of the child
There are new requirements for the protective marking of mosquito nets:
| – marking of mosquito nets with a danger sign, made on the front side of the product and painted in the color of the danger (Fig. D 2 Appendix D) |
Photo: Figure D2, Appendix D, © GOST 23166-2021 Hazard warning labels play an important role. However, its execution and installation location play an equally important role. Where could such a marking be located? There cannot be a mosquito net on the frame, because when the net is installed, the frame “goes” beyond the frame. The self-adhesive label on the mosquito net will bounce off over time from wind and rain. Birds may eat it. It is necessary that the dimensions and locations of such markings be clearly defined. This cannot be farmed out to window companies.
Thus, in the issue of child safety, despite many useful requirements, there are shortcomings.
Safety in case of destruction of glazing (glass or double glazing) or prevention of destruction
The new GOST states in subclause 6.1.2:
| 6.1.2 Window and balcony units must be manufactured taking into account possible risks and accidents... for example: injury from glass fragments when the glazing is destroyed... |
For this purpose, it is recommended to use safety glass and glass with ground edges. Thus, the use of such glasses is recommended.
Security against unauthorized entry
Security from unauthorized entry or burglary resistance of a window is an important and very popular function.
An important point has appeared in the new GOST.
| 6.1.7. Products installed on the first, second and last floors, as well as above canopies, parapets, etc. must be made in a protective (burglar-resistant) version and comply with the requirements of GOST 31462. |
Thus, windows located in the above locations must be burglar-resistant (burglary-resistant). This is a positive aspect of the new GOST. Window buyers do not think about burglary protection, and then they greatly regret it.
| 6.1.9 To ensure safety, balcony doors for exits to balconies and loggias of the first, second and last floors must have a multi-stage locking system with locks of at least class 2 according to GOST 5089... |
Therefore, balcony doors for the above floors cannot now be manufactured with standard balcony door fittings. They must be equipped with locks for entrance doors. In Russia, balcony doors are made from window profiles. It is impossible to install entrance door locks on such doors without compromising the integrity of the door structure! Now, to produce balcony doors for the above-mentioned floors, it is necessary to produce such doors, at a minimum, from a profile for interior doors.
Safety requirements for low window sill installation heights – less than 800 mm
The current trend in the field of windows is to increase the height of translucent structures. In Russia, so-called “French balconies” have become increasingly used. Such structures are located at a small height from the floor, or reach the floor. The absence of a protective parapet can lead to a person falling out. In order to prevent such cases, the new GOST includes an important requirement.
| 6.1.15 Window units with a sill height of less than 800 mm (except for window and balcony units facing a balcony or loggia), as well as “French balcony” type structures should be equipped with protective barriers (barriers or screens) to a height of at least 1200 mm from level of the finished floor of the floor, preventing a person from accidentally falling out when the doors are open... |
If the glazing of a “French balcony” is divided horizontally, has a lower blind part up to a height of 1200 mm from the floor level, and an upper part that can be opened, and is equipped with safety devices in accordance with 6.3 (child safety), the use of a protective fence is not required. It is not very clear why safety devices are required in such a situation?
Protection of sliding balcony glazing sashes from falling out
There is a problem with sliding aluminum glazing sashes for balconies and loggias falling out. This is also facilitated by the designs of such glazing themselves. In previous editions of GOST this issue was not given any attention.
The new GOST has introduced a very important requirement for the fittings of such windows:
| 6.1.6 To ensure safe operation, window fittings must include: c) protection of the sash of sliding window units and balcony glazing from falling out; |
To fulfill this point, it is necessary to make changes to the design of sliding windows for loggias and balconies. Or use another type of opening.
Requirements for transom windows
Paragraph 6.1.13 of the new GOST states:
| 6.1.13 The design of a window unit with a transom must ensure opening and closing of the transom sash using closing devices, both automatic via a control panel and mechanical using special levers that allow you to control the transom while standing on the floor. |
Transoms that are at a height that does not allow the transom sash to be operated while on the floor must now have controls similar to those specified in paragraph 6.1.13, rather than the usual window handle at the top of the transom. This requirement is logical and necessary to eliminate possible injuries from the transom sash falling on a person.
Preparing for installation
The installation of plastic windows according to GOST is not much different in general terms from the usual installation of a PVC window. The main differences lie in the nuances and compliance with a number of requirements. The technology for installing plastic windows is as follows:
Measurements
Before starting work, a number of measurements should be taken. The dimensions of the window are set as follows: the width of the window is the width of the window opening, from which the double width of the installation gap (which will be on both sides) is subtracted, the height is the same. According to GOST, the minimum width of such a gap is 2 cm, and in calculations the figure most often used is 2.5-3 cm .
When installing a quarter window, measurements are taken from the outside
If we are talking about installing a window in an opening with an external quarter, then all measurements should be made from the outside. The width will be the distance between the quarters, increased by the size of the frame plant per quarter, which ranges from 2.5 to 4 cm. The height is determined in the same way.
Preparatory work
After the windows have been manufactured and delivered to the customer, work should not begin immediately. It is recommended to first prepare the room: clear the space near the window for convenient work, remove unnecessary things and furniture, cover the walls and remaining objects with film or thick fabric. The doors are removed from the frame, and the cavity of the stand profile is filled with heat-insulating foam. It is recommended to do the latter one day before installation.
Particular attention should be paid to the opening itself - it must be cleaned of dirt and dust in advance. If there are noticeable irregularities, they are leveled with putty.
Fastening
GOST stipulates two main types of window fastening. The first is done in the mounting plane - self-tapping screws are attached directly through the frame. This option is used most often, but requires that the door leaves and double-glazed windows be removed from the frame in advance. The advantage of this method is the ease of installation in the opening.
Most often, self-tapping screws are used for fastening
The second option is based on the use of reinforcement mounted in the frame during production. The entire structure can be mounted. It should be noted that its weight will be quite large, so the process will require certain efforts and skills.
Eventually
In section 6 “Requirements for safe operation and maintenance” of the new GOST 23166-2021, much attention is paid to the issue of window safety. Requirements have been introduced for various areas of security. Many of them will help make translucent structures safer.
At the same time, there are requirements to which questions remain, for example, who should implement child safety equipment and at what stage? Should designers or perhaps home buyers, after purchasing a new apartment, contact a window company to install child safety features on certain windows? But parents may not know the intricacies of this topic. GOST is written for participants in the window market, and not for the consumer. When a person buys a car, does he not study all the regulations associated with this product? Manufacturers must comply with all requirements, and the person receives instructions on how to safely use the car, and not modify it after purchase.
PS Offer for tilt-and-turn windows
The fact that the New GOST contains a mention of tilt-and-turn fittings as a safer standard for opening windows is good.
Moreover, if you look at it more broadly, you can highlight the clear advantages of such a window over a tilt-and-turn window:
- high level of child safety (described above);
- greater comfort. The folding mode, for example, is used hundreds and even thousands of times in a year. Swing - you can “count it on your fingers”. This means that the most frequently used operating mode should be more convenient. In the tilt-and-turn version, this requires turning the handle 90 degrees, and in the tilt-and-turn version, 180 degrees. In addition, you have to press the sash tightly against the frame, which not everyone can do;
- less chance of the sash falling out due to erroneous opening in 2 modes. Most often, sashes fall out when they are transferred from a swing to a tilt-and-turn version of a window. The tilt mode lock helps solve this problem only by blocking the movement of the handle. The consumer, trying to turn the handle while locking, often breaks the locker, and the problem of the sash falling out remains. In the tilt-and-turn mode, the window is basically moved from the closed position to the tilting position and back, bypassing the swing mode. This greatly reduces the possibility of the sash falling out due to an erroneous double mode;
- less wear on fittings and window handles. The shortened movements of the fittings in a tilt-and-turn window fully contribute to this.
Unfortunately, in the new GOST, this option is listed as one of the possible ones. Perhaps it’s time for leading hardware manufacturers to think about child safety and offer a tilt-and-turn opening method as the main (standard) one instead of tilt-and-turn fittings, to calculate the possible reduction in the cost of this type of product. A tilt-and-turn window, even without the use of additional child safety equipment, makes it significantly more difficult for a child to open the window in the hinged mode. This can be a great competitive advantage and do a good deed - saving the lives of many children!
What consequences are possible if you deviate from GOST requirements?
Anyone is inclined to use the service at reduced prices. It is worth noting that the contractor, in this case the window manufacturer performing the installation, is ready to offer this discount, but at your expense.
A company can violate GOST standards and install a window according to a simplified scheme, in which the window block is simply glued to the mounting foam using clamping wedges. This procedure will significantly reduce the company’s costs for the purchase of building materials, and will bring you, as a consumer, nothing but headaches.
Approximately five years later, the window will become ventilated and drafts will begin to circulate in the room. This will entail the formation of ice on the glass parts of the block and possibly the appearance of mold at the joints of the profiles with the opening material.
We recommend that you never use the so-called simplified installation of plastic windows.
