Importing Aluminium Windows from China to Australia: AS 2047 Labels, Wind Ratings and Test Reports

Aluminium windows from Foshan can cost materially less than the same window made in Australia. The aluminium is rarely the problem. The paperwork is: an AS 2047 label, a wind rating that matches the site, and a test report a certifier will accept for the exact window being supplied.

What AS 2047 actually requires

AS 2047 sets out the performance requirements for windows and external glazed doors in buildings. For a residential project, the practical checks usually come down to four things:

• A visible label on each window or door, identifying the manufacturer or supplier, the series, the structural (SLS and ULS) wind pressures and the water penetration resistance.
• Test evidence that supports the values on the label — for the same series and construction being supplied, not a different product.
• Glazing that complies with AS 1288, including safety glazing where required and the correct glass make-up for the wind and energy requirements.
• Installation and flashings detailed so the assembly performs as tested. A good window installed badly still leaks.

Ask the factory how they handle labels before you place the order. A factory that has supplied Australia before will have a label format, a report number and a process for matching labels to production batches.

Wind ratings: N and C explained

Australian housing wind ratings run from N1 to N6 for non-cyclonic regions and C1 to C4 for cyclonic regions. Each rating defines serviceability (SLS) and ultimate (ULS) wind pressures, plus water penetration resistance.

Two windows can look identical and carry different ratings because of frame profile, wall thickness, mullion spacing, glass thickness, opening type and hardware. That is why the order should start with the site's required pressures, not with a catalogue page.

Put the required SLS/ULS values and water rating in the purchase order. If the factory proposes a different series to meet the rating, ask for the test report and labelled sample before approving.

Test reports a certifier will accept

Ask for the test report number, the laboratory that issued it, the date, and the exact tested configuration. A certifier will normally want:

• a report from a NATA-accredited laboratory, or one recognised through ILAC;
• the same window series and opening type you are buying;
• the same frame, glass, hardware and size range — or a clear statement of what is covered by the test;
• a report that is current and not superseded.

A report for “a similar window” is usually not enough. If the factory cannot provide a report that covers your configuration, changing the supplier is often cheaper than trying to certify an untested product later.

Glass, energy and bushfire

Glazing is part of the compliance conversation, not a separate purchase. AS 1288 covers glass selection and safety; the National Construction Code adds energy and bushfire requirements depending on the project.

For energy, the figures that matter are the U-value (heat transfer) and SHGC (solar heat gain), which vary with glass type, coating, cavity and frame. For bushfire-prone sites, BAL requirements under AS 3959 may change the glass, screens, frame and hardware specification.

Give the factory the climate zone, BAL rating (if any) and the glass specification from your designer. “Double glazing” on its own is not a specification.

The 2026 anti-dumping securities

This is the item most likely to change a landed-cost calculation. Australia’s anti-dumping authorities opened an investigation into aluminium windows and doors from China in late 2025. Preliminary securities apply to goods entered for home consumption on or after 15 October 2026.

Figures are preliminary and based on the Commission’s published securities guidance. Verify the current notice with your customs broker before you commit to a price.

The final recommendation was due to the Minister by 16 December 2026, with a decision expected within 30 days. Final duties could be higher, lower or the same as the securities. Ask your broker to model the security as a cash-flow cost even if it is later refunded.

What to put in your specification

• Required wind rating: N or C rating, SLS and ULS pressures, water resistance.
• Window schedule: sizes, opening type, handing, mullion layout and tolerances.
• Frame series and finish: alloy, wall thickness, thermal break, colour and coating warranty.
• Glass: type, thickness, coating, U-value/SHGC, safety glazing and screens.
• Hardware: brand, locking, handles, hinges, restrictors and finish.
• Labels: AS 2047 label content and placement, report number, batch traceability.
• Packing: protection, crating, shipping marks and loading sequence.
• Compliance: BMSB treatment evidence, fumigation or heat treatment as applicable.

Ordering, inspection and shipping

1. Lock the specification. Get the wind rating and glass specification from the project team before approaching factories.
2. Shortlist and verify. Compare factories on the exact series, report coverage, export experience and packing method.
3. Approve a sample or first article. Check profile, colour, hardware, labels and glass before bulk production.
4. Inspect before packing. Measure frames and openings, check hardware and labels, confirm glass make-up and photograph the packing.
5. Consolidate and ship. Confirm FCL or LCL, protection, documents and biosecurity treatment before booking.

Aluminium and glass are both BMSB target high-risk goods. Shipments in the 1 September to 30 April window generally need treatment, so build that into the timeline rather than discovering it at the port.

Mistakes to avoid

• Ordering to a “standard” factory rating instead of the site's required N or C rating.
• Accepting a test report for a different window series or a smaller sample.
• Treating glass as a commodity and leaving the specification to the factory.
• Comparing FOB prices without accounting for anti-dumping securities, freight and treatment.
• Booking shipping before the AS 2047 labels and inspection are signed off.

Frequently asked questions