Mandatory Window Inspection, Aluminium Windows & Glass Works in Hong Kong

MWIS and the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme were fully implemented on 30 June 2012. Owners of private buildings aged 10 years or above (except domestic buildings not exceeding three storeys) must, upon being served a statutory notice, appoint a Qualified Person to carry out prescribed inspection of all windows and supervise any prescribed repair found necessary.

From the date of the notice: appoint a Qualified Person within 3 months and complete the prescribed inspection and repair within 6 months; 9 months for windows in common parts. Buildings without an owners' corporation are generally allowed an additional 3 months. Extensions must be applied for in writing with justification.

No. A pre-notification letter is normally issued about one to two months before the statutory notice. The legal obligation arises only once the statutory notice is served, but the pre-notification period is the ideal time to compare quotations and arrange owners' meetings.

Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers, Registered Inspectors, Registered General Building Contractors, and Registered Minor Works Contractors for the relevant class, type and items in relation to windows, whose names appear on a register kept by the Building Authority. The QP must personally carry out the inspection. SK Fung's registration number is MWC(W) 42/2014.

Glass panes (broken or cracked); window frames and sashes (deformed, unstable, difficult to operate); hinges (deformed, missing, severely corroded); rivets and screws (loose, missing, greyish-white powdery substance, corrosion). Locks, stays, gaskets and sealant are also reviewed.

Per the Buildings Department MWIS forms page (September 2025 version): WI1 where the same QP inspects and supervises repair; WI2 where different QPs handle inspection and supervision; WI3 for the QP supervising the repair. FPN1 is used to dispute liability for an offence under section 40(1BD) of the Buildings Ordinance.

Six common irregularities: address not matching the notice number; missing name or signature of owner, representative or QP; incorrect certificate or declaration date (should be on or after the completion date); incomplete or incorrect QP registration number; signature not matching departmental records; WI2 submitted without the inspection report. Forms with irregularities are returned without further processing.

Yes, the Buildings Department provides an electronic form platform for submitting the specified forms, with desktop and mobile versions available. Submission requirements should follow the Department's forms page.

A warning letter is normally issued first, followed by a fixed penalty notice of HK$1,500. Repeat offenders may be prosecuted, with a fine of HK$25,000 and 3 months imprisonment on conviction, plus HK$2,000 for each day the offence continues. The Department may also arrange the works itself and recover the costs plus a surcharge of up to 20%. Since July 2024, fixed penalty notices must be issued within 6 months of the compliance deadline.

Yes. A QP who fails to inspect personally is liable to a fine of HK$250,000; inspecting without the required qualification is liable to a fine of HK$100,000 and 6 months imprisonment. Always verify the registration status and number of the person appointed.

No. Windows obstructed by renovation work or furniture are not exempted from inspection. Clear obstructions before the inspection date, otherwise a second visit will be required.

MWIS covers all windows of private buildings aged 10 years or above and requires personal inspection by a QP; the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme covers structure, external walls and common facilities at a higher age threshold and must be handled by a Registered Inspector. Non-compliance with a building inspection notice attracts a fine of HK$50,000 and 1 year imprisonment on conviction.

In late 2024 the Government proposed raising the maximum fine for non-compliance with a window inspection notice from HK$25,000 to HK$100,000 (imprisonment remaining 3 months) and the fixed penalty from HK$1,500 to HK$3,000. These remain legislative proposals.

No prior approval of plans or consent to commence works is required, because such works are designated minor works (Class I item 1.60; Class II items 2.8 and 2.9; Class III items 3.6 and 3.7). However prescribed persons must be appointed and submissions made within the specified time limits.

Class I and II: commencement notice (MW01 or MW03) at least 7 days before works start; completion certificate (MW02 or MW04) within 14 days of completion. Class III: works may start directly, with a completion certificate (MW05) plus plans or description of works and photographs within 14 days.

Not necessarily. A sub-frame (overlay) replacement can be installed over a sound existing frame, with a shorter programme and less dust, though the clear opening is slightly reduced. Full removal is recommended where the frame is badly deformed or corroded, or where leakage originates at the frame-to-wall junction.

Typically: cracked or debonded sealant at the frame-to-wall junction; hardened or displaced gaskets; blocked drainage holes; poor sash closure or hardware that cannot lock fully; and cracks in external render or the sill. The source must be identified before deciding on re-sealing, gasket replacement, hardware adjustment or frame reconstruction.

No. Condensation appears as droplets spread evenly across the inside face of the glass, typically when temperature differences are large; the remedy is ventilation and insulated glazing. Leakage follows a defined path and coincides with rainfall.

Yes — hinges, top and bottom stays, seven-shape stays, handles, locks, rollers and gaskets. Most non-compliant items in window inspections are corroded hinges, failed screws and aged gaskets, which can usually be resolved by parts replacement. Stainless steel hinges are recommended.

Tempered, laminated, insulated double glazing, acoustic, Low-E and frosted glass. Selection depends on noise exposure, solar orientation, privacy needs and whether the glass also acts as a protective barrier.

Tempered glass may break spontaneously due to nickel sulphide inclusions. The Code of Practice for Structural Use of Glass 2018 states that tempered glass should be heat soaked during production to avoid this. Departmental requirements also specify ISO 9001 production, heat soaking to BS EN 14179-1:2016 or an equivalent standard, and calibration of thermocouples every 6 months.

For a glass balustrade, or a window, window wall or glass wall performing the function of a protective barrier under section 8 of the Building (Construction) Regulations, a test report is required showing impact resistance of not less than Class 1 of BS EN 12600:2002 with no breakage in the test.

Per Practice Note APP-110, not less than 1.1 m in all circumstances, with the lowest 150 mm built solid (except staircases enclosed with walls and without open stairwells), and any gap constructed so that an object with a minimum dimension greater than 100 mm cannot pass through.

Prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department are required for a glass house, or a mobile cabin or large storage cabinet exceeding 3 cubic metres or 2 metres in height, on the main roof, podium or yard. An Authorized Person must submit plans and coordinate, and a Registered General Building Contractor must carry out the works; such works may not be carried out by a Registered Minor Works Contractor.

Since 1 April 2011 all unauthorised building works on rooftops, podiums, yards and lanes fall within the priority enforcement category, regardless of risk level or whether newly erected. Advisory letters are issued first; if not rectified, a statutory removal order may be issued and registered at the Land Registry.

All fire rated doors should be self-closing, comply with Part E of the Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 and be kept closed. Under Cap. 572, fire doors must not be removed or seriously damaged, must have adequate FRR for integrity and insulation, must be supported by a valid accepted fire certificate and test report, are generally fitted with intumescent strips and stainless steel hinges, must open from the inside without a key, and generally open in the direction of escape.

Yes — free on-site inspection, measurement and design quotation. Works proceed only after the scheme and price are confirmed.

By the number and size of windows, aluminium profile series and glass specification, hardware to be replaced, replacement method, floor level and working method (internal access, scaffolding or gondola), making good required, and whether submission to the Buildings Department is included. Conditions differ from unit to unit, so an on-site measurement is needed for a firm price.

Yes. For common parts we can provide building-wide inspection, unit-by-unit inspection records, repair quotations and submission support. Note that works in common parts require the consent of all co-owners or the owners' corporation and the management company, and compliance with the Deed of Mutual Covenant.

Call 3709 2164, 6686 7879 or 6443 1983; WhatsApp 6686 7879 or 6443 1983; email skfung.hk@hotmail.com; fax 3956 4569. Office: Flat F11, 10/F, How Ming Factory Building, 99 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. For statutory documents, please attach a copy so we can advise precisely.