Fly screen
A fly screen is an insect mesh in a frame over a window or door. Fibreglass, aluminium, or stainless mesh. Does NOT count as a fall-from-height window restrictor.
Ask Chalkline about this →A fly screen is an insect mesh in a frame fitted over an opening window or door to keep insects out while air flows. Standard mesh options are fibreglass (cheapest, fine for inland), aluminium (stiffer, longer-lasting), and stainless 316 steel (coastal exposure or where security-mesh crossover is wanted).
What a fly screen is NOT
- Not fall-from-height protection. NCC Vol 2 requires a separate window opening restrictor (125 mm limit) on bedroom windows ≥ 2 m above ground. Fly screen fits OVER the opening; restrictor LIMITS it. Both can co-exist.
- Not a security screen. Security screen is a separate product (AS 5039/5040/5041) with woven stainless in a structural frame.
- Not bushfire-rated by default. AS 3959 BAL openings need corrosion-resistant steel mesh with specific aperture; standard fibreglass does not meet it.
Mesh material choice
| Mesh | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| Fibreglass | Inland residential, general flyscreen, cheapest |
| Aluminium | Stiffer, less prone to denting, slight cost premium |
| Stainless steel (304) | Coastal-adjacent, more durable |
| Stainless steel (316) | Coastal direct-spray, pool-area windows |
| Bushfire-rated steel | AS 3959 BAL-rated openings (specific aperture and corrosion class) |
For a builder
- Pair the mesh to the location. Fibreglass in a coastal location degrades fast; 316 stainless in a suburban infill is wasted spend. Match the mesh to the exposure.
- Don’t substitute fly screen for fall protection. If the window opens above the threshold for fall protection, a restrictor is required separately; do not let a buyer or builder talk you out of it.
- Check the warranty on door flyscreens. Sliding-door retractable fly screens are the most-broken hardware item on a residential job; pick the warranty-backed brand if the door gets daily use.
Category: Windows and doors / insect protection.
Related
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-29. Verified: 2026-05-29. Quarterly review for currency.