Glass curtains / smart window systems are increasingly becoming popular in new condominiums and apartments, especially when used as an enclosure to shield the balcony from the weather elements. Many clients have asked us: Are homeowners allowed to install these systems at the balcony areas? We did a quick check. URAs position can be summarised as follows: (1) Balconies are approved as semi-outdoor spaces. (2) Balcony screens which can be retracted fully and allows for natural ventilation (even if drawn close) can be installed on balconies. (3) Glass curtains / smart window systems do not qualify as balcony screens because they do not allow natural ventilation at all times. If installed, the balcony space will be completely enclosed (like any indoor space) and lose its semi-outdoor nature. In other words, URA does not allow the installation of glass curtains / smart window systems for the purpose of enclosing the balcony area. Indeed, certain MCSTs have also been known to prohibit the installation of such systems in the units. However, if you are thinking of using such systems to partition certain areas within your indoor living spaces, e.g. study area or reading corner, you could still do that. This is because such areas are indoor spaces and can be completely enclosed at any time. For this purpose, we have visited 6-7 suppliers to compare their systems and shortlisted 3 suppliers with glass curtain / smart window systems that we personally like. The comparison chart can be found in the photo below, for sharing.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 06:05:01 +0000
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