Buying a shower screen from China: checks
Before buying, get written installer approval of the safety-glazing evidence, panel identities, finished opening measurements, wall support and fixing design. Review the screen with the tray, waterproofing and bathroom layout. Factory documents can be gathered by Cambridge China Bridge.
Match safety-glazing evidence to each panel
Ask for the specified glass type, thickness, treatment and full test reports covering impact and breakage behaviour. Have a product compliance specialist confirm the applicable glazing and enclosure standards, report editions, declarations and markings for the destination market. Give the installer the resulting evidence pack alongside the installation instructions. Our shower-screen sourcing guide covers the broader purchase.
Give each panel a reference linked to its drawing, dimensions, glass specification and production batch. Request photographs of any permanent glass identification and carton labels, with their meaning explained. Match report sample descriptions to the ordered construction, including coatings and fittings. An unrelated glass report leaves the proposed screen unchecked; use our test-report coverage guide to examine that match.
Measure the finished opening and approve the drawing
Have the installer measure between finished surfaces at the bottom, middle and top of the opening. Record height, wall plumb, corner angles, tray or floor level, and the available fixing surfaces. If tiling is unfinished, record the proposed build-up and leave final dimensions pending. Distinguish the opening size, enclosure adjustment range and actual glass size. Our factory measurement guide explains how to request measurement evidence.
Approve a dimensioned drawing showing panel orientation, door handing, seal allowances, profile adjustment, clearances and hole or cut-out positions from named reference edges. Settle machining before manufacture; do not plan site trimming or drilling of toughened panels. Confirm the factory has allowed for seals and profiles without duplicating the installer's deductions. Use our translated drawing approval guide when releasing the drawing to China.
Confirm what carries the screen's weight
Ask the installer to identify the wall construction behind the tiles or bathroom panels. Record masonry condition, stud positions, backing and any reinforcement needed. Request the screen weight and the manufacturer's support arrangement, including hinges, wall profiles and bracing. Where support is uncertain, obtain a competent assessment before ordering. A photograph of the finished wall cannot establish the strength of concealed backing.
An official bath-screen recall identified a risk of glass-to-wall bonding failure. Treat that connection as a separate approval point. Ask how the proposed system transfers weight and movement into the supporting structure, and whether it relies on mechanical fixings, a specified bonded connection or both. Have the installer record any required reinforcement and who will complete it.
Approve the fixing and glass-contact details
Request a fixing schedule naming anchors, screws, bracket locations, drilling depth and required engagement into the supporting material. Have the installer check it against the actual wall, hidden pipes or cables, and waterproofing system. Agree who supplies the approved fixings. Treat the factory's supplied plugs as proposed components awaiting site review.
Check that hinges, clamps and support bars suit the specified panel weight and thickness. Request details of gaskets, setting blocks, glass edge clearances and tightening instructions. Have the installer review how the design avoids unintended hard contact with glass and seals wall penetrations. Identify the sealant and its approved application locations; leave intended drainage paths clear. Record replacement hardware references before accepting the package.
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Approve the complete bathroom arrangement
Review the screen together with the tray or wet-room floor, waterproofing, falls, drainage and shower position. Check door swing, entry space, handles, taps, furniture and cleaning access. Agree how spray containment and leakage will be checked after installation. Confirm the panel can reach the bathroom safely and that the installer can lift and position it using suitable equipment.
Before purchase, obtain a dated approval naming the product, drawing revision, evidence reviewed, site measurements, fixing schedule and installation conditions. Resolve open points or hold the affected purchase. Require renewed review if the glass, hardware or layout changes. This approval records pre-purchase suitability; final acceptance still depends on receiving the correct panels and checking the completed installation.
Frequently asked questions
What measurements does my installer need?
Finished opening widths at different heights, height, wall plumb, corner angles, tray or floor level and fixing positions. Record unfinished surface build-up separately and distinguish opening size from glass size.
Is a glass certificate enough to approve a shower screen?
Ask for evidence matching the actual panels and complete screen construction. The installer also needs drawings, site measurements, support details and fixing instructions before assessing suitability.
Can I use the wall plugs supplied by the factory?
Have your installer approve them for the actual supporting wall and screen loads. Confirm their specification and engagement into the structure. Agree replacements before ordering if the supplied fixings are unsuitable.
Can I order before the bathroom is tiled?
You can review evidence and support details early. Keep dimensions provisional until the installer confirms the finished opening or approves a controlled allowance for the remaining surface build-up.