Connect the window reed contact

Hello everyone,

I ordered reed contacts from the window manufacturer and they were delivered properly, as can be seen in the attached photos.

The problem now is with connecting them. The electrician says the window installer should have routed the cable from the hole in the frame before fitting the seal, while the window installer says it is not his job to do anything with the cable.

Was it really to be expected that the cable would be routed under the window seal? What options do I have now to connect the window contact without damaging the window seal?

Best regards and thanks

Of course, the window installer should have routed the cables out of the window frame. Whether behind the sealing or in front of it is relatively unimportant, as it will probably be lined and/or plastered again anyway.

Are there any drill holes in the frame for the routing? If not, is there enough space to drill a hole in such a way that it comes out next to the sealing? I can't really tell from your pictures.

How does the window installer envision the cable routing? Over the frame, or how?

Are there any drillings in the frame for the installation?

Yes, there is a drilling in the frame.
But I just can't imagine how the cable can go through this drilling without damaging the seal (at least partially).

How does the window fitter imagine the cable routing? Over the frame, or how?

No, he just says it's none of his business.
That seems nonsense to me, so I wanted to know if there is another possibility or if I have to pressure him to do it (and redo the seal).

One should check the window maker's pulse. Of course, the cable should be routed out of the window frame, and that before it is installed. How is the electrician supposed to solve the problem now and with what effort?

What effort should the electrician put in to solve the problem now?

It’s not about the effort, but about the fact that the electrician does not want to tamper with the sealing of the windows to avoid being responsible for any possible damage. He has no idea how to do it without touching the seal.

Assume that the reed switches are within the scope of work of the window installers. Then it is also their responsibility to ensure that the following trades can continue working based on their work, which is definitely not the case here. If they do not know what a reed switch is (quite common among some window installers), they could have asked where to route the cable or alternatively demanded that the electrician be present on the installation day.

Now it is of course hardly possible to solve this nicely. Having the window removed will certainly lead to a more extensive dispute – possibly with a legally correct outcome for you (but perhaps only compensation, and not repair), but quite certainly associated with construction delays, costs, etc.

It seems they worked with sealing tapes and not with compressible sealing tape – in principle, I think it would now be feasible to perforate the inner sealing tape, route the cable out, and then restore the seal with an appropriate sleeve. It depends a bit on how much space there is between the frame and the reveal.

Alternatively, drill the window frame at a 90-degree angle at the height of the other drill hole and try to route the cable as close as possible in front of the seal. But this only works if the reveal/frame will still be covered from the inside so that the problem area can be hidden. But it depends on the window profile whether this is even conceivable. The window (profile) manufacturer will certainly not be amused.

I would insist that the window installer participates and supervises this so that no warranty trap arises. In the end, this should also seem like the lesser evil for them than removing the windows.