Comparing Strata Window Tenders After the Ruling on Chinese Aluminium Imports
When an owners corporation replaces windows across a building, the tender is usually one of the largest contracts it signs. A preliminary ruling announced on 14 October 2026 gives committees a new reason to look closely at how window tenders are priced.
What changed
The Australian Trade Remedies Commission found that aluminium windows and doors from China, including thermally broken products and window wall systems, were sold into Australia below their normal value. Every Chinese exporter examined except one was found to be dumping.
From 15 October 2026, importers of these products must provide a financial security of 5.3% to 73.3% of the goods' value at customs, depending on the exporter. The Commission's final report is due by 16 December 2026, and the Minister then decides whether to impose permanent duties. If they do, the securities can be converted into duty.
The Commission looked at around 3,350 tenders during its investigation. Half of the tenders Australian manufacturers lost had been undercut by 30% or more.
The Commission did not rule on the quality of Chinese windows. Its finding is about price. But for a strata project, price risk is project risk.
Why it matters for strata
Strata window projects run on long timelines: committee approval, a general meeting vote, levies, then manufacture and installation stage by stage across occupied units. A tender priced today may not be delivered until well into 2027, after the Minister's decision.
If a successful tenderer is relying on imported aluminium and their costs rise by up to 73.3%, the building may face variations, delays, or a contractor who can no longer finish the job at the agreed price.
Seven questions to ask every tenderer
- Where are the frames made, and by whom? Ask for the system brand and the country of fabrication.
- Is the price fixed? Does the contract let the contractor pass on duties, securities or exchange-rate movements?
- When will the windows land? If delivery falls after the final decision, who carries the cost of any duty?
- What happens if a window is the wrong size? On a 60-unit building some remakes are almost certain. How long does a remake take if the frame is made overseas?
- What is the whole-window WERS rating? Compare U-value and SHGC for the complete window, frame included, not just "double glazed". Our guide to WERS ratings explains how to read them.
- Who installs, and who signs off? High-performance windows only perform if installed correctly, and in strata that includes waterproofing and compliance with balustrade and window-safety rules.
- Who stands behind the warranty in Australia for the life of the building?
Two good options, both locally fabricated
We supply and install two window types for strata buildings:
- Thermally broken aluminium in Alspec, Reynaers and Schüco systems.
- uPVC, which is outside the scope of the ruling altogether.
Both are measured and fabricated locally, so remakes, staging and site changes are handled here rather than across a shipping route. Since 2011 we've completed more than 50 strata projects around Sydney.
Get a second opinion on your tenders
If your committee has tenders on the table and isn't sure how to compare them, send them through. We'll go through them with you on a like-for-like basis, including the questions above, at no cost.
Request a strata quote Call 0431 471 434
Sources
- Trade Remedies Notice 2026/147 (PDF), Australian Trade Remedies Commission, 14 October 2026
- Statement of Essential Facts 691 (PDF), Australian Trade Remedies Commission, 14 October 2026
- Case 691: aluminium windows and doors from China, industry.gov.au
This article summarises a preliminary finding and isn't legal advice. Committees should get their own advice on contract terms.