Installation of Frameless Door and Window Shutters - Code of Practice
2003 Edition

IS 15345 recommends two main fixture types for frameless doors and windows: the pivot and the fork types. Pivot fixtures comprise a pivot component made from angle iron or welded mild steel flats shaped into an 'L' bracket with a welded mild steel bar, and a socket formed by welding G.I. pipe to a mild steel square plate. These fixtures are securely fastened to the shutter. Installation locations differ: door shutters require corner fixtures, single-leaf windows may have fixtures at corners or center, while double-leaf windows use corner fixtures exclusively. These details guarantee reliable and long-lasting mounting solutions.

Pivot type fixtures are constructed from angle iron or welded mild steel flats creating an 'L' shaped bracket, with a mild steel bar welded onto the shorter leg. The longer leg includes screw holes for shutter attachment. The socket component consists of a mild steel square plate welded with a G.I. pipe segment. Dimensions vary according to shutter weight and type, for example, bottom pivot parts range from 80 mm for light and heavy doors to 50 mm for windows, with specific thicknesses and diameters detailed in Table 1 of IS 15345. Fixings are positioned at corners for door shutters and adjusted accordingly for different window configurations.

Per IS 15345, fork type fixtures are fabricated by bending mild steel flat into a U-shaped clamp reinforced internally with a welded mild steel bar. Alternatively, a flat bracing with one edge formed into a loop containing a welded mild steel pin is used. Holdfasts consist of 16 mm diameter mild steel pins bent as specified and embedded into masonry. Installation involves cutting a groove along the shutter edge to accommodate the bent bracing, ensuring no gaps. Holdfasts are embedded during construction, and bracing is initially loosely fixed, then aligned over the holdfast pin. Two bracing-cum-hinges are installed per shutter at top and bottom, with final tightening following smooth operation confirmation.

The standard ensures compatibility by specifying fork type fixtures designed for secure attachment to ledged, braced, and battened timber shutters as defined in IS 6198. It provides exact dimensions for double and single clamp types and mandates jamb rebating in masonry or plaster to close gaps between shutter edges and jambs. Additionally, embedded top brackets in RCC lintels and timber battens/planks facilitate stable pivot fixing. These combined measures enable frameless installations that are structurally sound and cost-effective, preserving the functionality of traditional timber shutter designs.

Holdfasts must be embedded within masonry or concrete at designated locations during construction to ensure firm anchorage. The shutter edges require a groove to house the bent portion of the bracing-cum-hinge, preventing gaps. Holdfasts are typically 16 mm diameter mild steel pins bent following specified figures. After loosely fixing the bracing to the shutter, the shutter is aligned so that the bracing pins fit into the holdfast holes, allowing smooth operation before final fixation. Additionally, jambs are rebated in masonry or plaster to minimize gaps around frameless shutters. This procedure guarantees a durable, gap-free installation.