A consistent approach to finishes

9.1.4Doors and windows

Doors and windows shall be installed to appropriate tolerances, including openings in walls, and external openings viewed from the inside.

Openings in walls (including external openings viewed from the inside) should:

  • be flat along the length of sills and window boards, with a maximum deviation of ±3mm in every 1m
  • be level within 3mm across the sill measured from the frame (tiled sills may slope away from the window)
  • have level heads and sills, a maximum of 5mm from level for openings up to 1.5m, and 8mm where larger
  • have plumb reveals, a maximum of 5mm for openings up to 1.5m, and 8mm where larger
  • be square within a ±5mm maximum deviation for reveals up to 250mm deep

Window frames should not be distorted in the opening, and a maximum from plumb of:

  • 5mm when up to 1.5m in height
  • 8mm where larger.

Doors and frames should always be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, not be distorted in the opening, and:

  • frames should be within 8mm of plumb over the height of the frame and not out of plumb in two directions
  • the gap between the door and head or jamb limited to a maximum of 4mm (for double doors, the gap at the meeting stiles should be within 4mm)
  • distortion across doors limited to a maximum 9mm in the height, and 5mm in the width
  • the gap between the underside of the door and unfinished floor limited to between 10-22mm (the covering should be selected accordingly, or the door height adjusted; in England and Wales, where a builder provides a floor finish, there should be a gap of 10mm between the bottom of 760mm wide doors and the floor finish).

The tolerances in this clause are without prejudice to satisfactory performance for weathertightness, exclusion of draught and fire resistance.