How to Specify Steel Fire-Rated Windows in Christchurch, Queenstown & Dunedin

Specifying fire-rated windows is a process that begins long before installation. In the South Island, where seismic strengthening, densification and heritage upgrades are shaping the built environment, accuracy in specification is essential. Southern Windows works alongside architects, fire engineers and construction teams to ensure fire-rated steel systems are correctly selected, documented and installed to meet C/AS2 and AS1530.4 requirements.

Understanding What Needs to Be Protected

Every project requires a clear understanding of where fire cells end, where boundary conditions apply, and how people move through the space. In urban centres such as Christchurch and Queenstown, mixed-use and multi-storey buildings often demand a higher level of protection. Identifying these requirements early helps avoid redesign later in the process.

Choosing a Tested and Certified System

The next step is selecting a window system with a confirmed Fire Resistance Rating. Southern Windows supplies steel systems tested to -/60/-, -/90/- and -/120/120 configurations. Because fire-rating is dependent on the performance of the entire unit—not the frame or glass alone—our systems are supplied and documented as complete packages.

Installation Matters Just as Much as Specification

Even a fully compliant system can lose its certification if installed incorrectly. Incorrect fixings, beads, glass thickness or sealants can void testing. To protect compliance, Southern Windows provides installation guidance, technical documentation and inspection support required for consent and final sign-off.

Long-Term Performance

Fire-rated systems are designed to protect a building for decades, and like any specialist component, they must be maintained. Seals, frame integrity and hardware should be periodically inspected—particularly in the South Island’s alpine and coastal climates, where temperature shifts and moisture exposure can affect building elements over time.

In Summary

When specified correctly, installed accurately and supported with proper documentation, fire-rated steel windows deliver performance that protects occupants, assets and long-term architectural integrity. Southern Windows provides full technical backing from the design stage through to final inspection, minimising delays and ensuring compliance certainty.