In Malaysia’s hot and humid climate with frequent typhoons, the airtightness of doors and windows is often overlooked by home buyers and decoration owners. However, in reality, the airtightness of doors and windows is a key factor affecting living comfort, energy efficiency, and building safety. Doors and windows with poor airtightness not only lead to a surge in air conditioning energy consumption, but may also cause a series of problems such as rainwater leakage, wall mold, and noise disturbance. This article will comprehensively analyze the core value of air tightness in Malaysian doors and windows, as well as practical techniques for improving air tightness, to help you choose and use doors and windows with excellent air tightness.
1、 Malaysia’s door and window airtightness: not only energy-saving, but also a guarantee of comfort and safety
The airtightness of doors and windows refers to the ability of doors and windows to block air infiltration, usually measured by the airtightness level (such as levels 1-8 in GB/T 7106-2019 standard). In Malaysia, the hazards of poorly sealed doors and windows far exceed imagination, while high-quality airtight doors and windows can bring multiple core values:
1. Significantly reduce air conditioning energy consumption and save electricity expenses
Malaysia experiences high temperatures throughout the year, and air conditioning is the main source of energy consumption for both residential and commercial buildings. Doors and windows with poor air tightness can lead to a significant loss of indoor air conditioning, causing continuous infiltration of humid and hot outdoor air, forcing air conditioning to operate at high loads for long periods of time. Data shows that high air tightness doors and windows that comply with SIRIM certification can reduce air infiltration by 30% -50%, indirectly reducing air conditioning electricity costs by 20% -30% – for a 100 square meter residential building, it can save nearly 1000 Malaysian Ringgit in electricity costs annually, with significant long-term cost-effectiveness.
2. Resist damp heat invasion, avoid wall mold and furniture damage
The rainy season in Malaysia is long and the air humidity is high. Doors and windows with poor air tightness can easily allow humid and hot air to enter indoors, causing condensation on walls and ceilings, which can lead to mold and hollowing problems; Meanwhile, humid air can accelerate the aging and damage of wooden furniture and electrical appliances. High air tightness doors and windows can form an effective “air barrier”, blocking the infiltration of humid and hot outdoor air, maintaining indoor dryness and comfort, and reducing maintenance costs caused by humidity.
3. Improve sound insulation effect and isolate external noise interference
Urban centers, street facing residences, and buildings near transportation hubs in Malaysia are often plagued by vehicle noise and bustling commercial districts. Airtightness and sound insulation are closely related – gaps through which air permeates are also channels for noise transmission. High air tightness doors and windows block air infiltration through a sealing structure, while significantly reducing noise transmission, reducing indoor noise by 15-25 decibels and creating a quiet living and working environment.
4. Enhance typhoon resistance and reduce the risk of rainwater leakage
In Malaysia, from June to October every year, typhoons occur frequently. Strong winds and rainstorm can easily penetrate into the room through the gaps between doors and windows. High air tightness doors and windows are usually equipped with multiple sealing structures and precise installation processes, which not only block air infiltration, but also improve water tightness, effectively resist rainwater leakage during typhoon weather, and protect indoor property safety.
2、 Malaysia Door and Window Airtightness Testing Standards: Identify SIRIM Certification and MS 268:2018 Specification
When choosing high air tightness doors and windows, it is important to focus on products that meet local standards in Malaysia to avoid being misled by false advertising
1. Core standard: MS 268:2018 “Performance Requirements for Doors, Windows, and Glass Curtain Walls”
The Malaysian National Standard MS 268:2018 specifies the requirements for air tightness levels of doors and windows, which are divided into multiple levels based on air permeability (the higher the level, the better the air tightness). Among them, it is recommended to choose air tightness products with a rating of ≥ 6 for residential doors and windows, and products with a rating of ≥ 7 for commercial buildings due to higher energy consumption and comfort requirements. This standard also requires doors and windows to pass wind pressure resistance and water tightness tests to ensure compatibility with the local climate.
2. Authoritative certification: SIRIM certification is a quality assurance
SIRIM certification is the “quality passport” for Malaysian door and window products. Doors and windows that have passed this certification have undergone third-party authoritative testing for their air tightness, wind pressure resistance, water tightness, and other performance, and comply with the MS 268:2018 standard. When making a purchase, it is necessary to request the merchant to provide a SIRIM certification certificate, with a focus on checking the relevant parameters of the “airtightness level” in the certificate, to avoid purchasing unverified inferior products – such products not only have poor airtightness, but may also fail to pass building inspections.
3. Testing method: Understand the professional testing process to avoid being deceived
The airtightness testing of doors and windows in Malaysia adopts the “pressure difference method”: in a laboratory environment, a specific pressure difference (usually 10Pa) is applied to both sides of the doors and windows, and the air permeability per unit area and unit time is measured. The formal testing report should include key information such as the qualification of the testing institution (such as SIRIM accredited institution), door and window models, testing pressure, and air tightness level. If a merchant claims to have “high airtightness” but cannot provide a testing report, they should choose carefully.
3、 Practical tips for improving the air tightness of doors and windows in Malaysia: controlling the entire process from selection to installation
The airtightness of doors and windows is not solely determined by the product itself. Factors such as selection, accessories, and installation can all affect the final effect. The following tips can help you comprehensively improve airtightness:
1. Selection: Priority should be given to selecting door and window types with high air tightness structures
-Material selection: Aluminum alloy doors and windows (6000 series profiles) and UPVC doors and windows are the mainstream choices for high air tightness. It is recommended to choose the “broken bridge aluminum” structure for aluminum alloy doors and windows, combined with multi cavity profiles, to enhance the air barrier effect; UPVC doors and windows have better air tightness than traditional materials, and high-quality profiles with a wall thickness of ≥ 2.8mm should be selected to avoid deformation affecting sealing.
-Opening method: Side hung windows have better air tightness than sliding doors/windows. The casement window is closed by hinges, with a complete sealing surface, and is equipped with multiple sealing strips to effectively block air infiltration; Sliding doors/windows have relatively weak air tightness due to gaps in the track. If choosing a sliding type, it is recommended to prioritize products with a “sealed track” design (such as the Optima 68 sliding door series).
-Glass configuration: Choose insulated glass (such as Low-E insulated glass), and use a double seal of butyl rubber and silicone rubber between the glass and the profile to avoid gaps after aging of a single seal. The insulating glass produced by local large factories such as Qibin Group and Xinyi Group has mature sealing technology and better air tightness.
2. Accessories: Details determine air tightness, don’t ignore sealing strips and hardware
-Sealant strip: EPDM sealant strip is selected, which is resistant to high temperature and aging, suitable for the humid and hot climate in Malaysia, and has a service life of more than 10 years; Avoid using PVC rubber strips as they are prone to aging and cracking. High quality doors and windows usually adopt a “three seal” design (frame fan seal, fan glass seal, frame body seal), which improves air tightness by more than 50% compared to single/two seals.
-Hardware accessories: Choose a multi-point lock hardware system, and the casement window can achieve multi-point tight closure between the frame and fan, reducing gaps; Sliding doors should choose rail hardware with “automatic locking” function to avoid air infiltration caused by loose closure. It is recommended to choose hardware brands with strong local adaptability (such as Optima dedicated hardware), which are more suitable for local door and window profiles than imported hardware.
3. Installation: Professional construction is the “last guarantee” of airtightness
No matter how good the doors and windows are, improper installation can also lead to air tightness failure. The following points should be noted when installing in Malaysia:
-Clean the door and window openings before installation to ensure they are flat and dry, and to avoid debris affecting the fit of the frame;
-The gap between the frame and the wall is filled with foam adhesive (polyurethane foam adhesive is selected for good sealing and insulation effect), and silicone sealant is applied on the outside to form a double seal;
-Avoid installing in high temperature exposure or rainy weather. The sealant should be applied at a suitable temperature (5-35 ℃) to ensure the bonding effect;
-Choose a team with SIRIM certified installation qualifications, and conduct an air tightness test after installation (simple test: close doors and windows, turn on the fan to blow air towards the doors and windows, use a smoke pen to approach the gap, and if there is no smoke floating, the air tightness is good).
4. Daily maintenance: tips to extend the service life of airtightness
-Regularly clean the dust and debris in the gaps of the sealing tape to avoid deformation of the tape; Wipe the rubber strip with silicon-based lubricant every year to maintain elasticity;
-Check if the hardware accessories are loose and tighten them in a timely manner; If there is any jamming or loose closure, replace the parts in a timely manner;
-Before the rainy season, check whether the sealant cracks or falls off. If there is any damage, repair it in a timely manner to avoid rainwater erosion and reduce air tightness.
