Doors and windows
Generally for any building like house, room (or) temple, door is required. Door is the most important component. It will safeguard the persons living inside the house.
Location of doors and windows
The following points should be remembered while locating doors and windows.
>Tenumber of doors in a room should be kept minimum.
>A door should be located near the corner of a room – nearly 20 cm away from the corner.
>The location of a window should be suitable for interior decoration and arrangement of furniture etc.
>A window should be located such that the fresh air enters in to the buildings.
>The sill of window should be located about 70 to 80 cm floor level of the room.
Area requirements of the doors and windows
The minimum width of interiors doors, external doors, and doors in public buildings such as hospitals, library etc. are 0.8 m, 1 m and 1.20 m respectively. Regarding height of a door, the general rule followed in India is as follows.
Height = width + 0.9 to 1.1 meter.
The size of the window depends on the dimensions of the rooms, use of the room, location of the room, direction and speed of the wind, climate conditions of the region etc.
Following general rules may be observed while deciding the size of windows.
>For 30 to 40 m^3 inside contents of the room, there should be at least one m^2 of window openings.
>The local area of the window openings should normally vary from 10 to 20 % of the floor area of te room.
>In public buildings, the minimum areas of windows should be 20 % of the floor area.
>The total area of the glass panels in the window openings should be at leat 8 to 10 % of the floo area of the room.
Definitions
(a)Frame: - This consists of an assembly of horizontal and vertical member which is support for a door or window.
(b) Style: - This is outside vertical member of the shutter.
(c) Top Rail:-This is the most horizontal member of he shutter.
(e) Panel:-The area between the top and bottom rails.
(f) Horn; - This is a horizontal projection of head or sill beyond the face of the frame. It is usually 15 cm or so.
(g) Shutters: - These are the operable parts of the door or window. It is an assembly of styles, panels and rails.
(h) Mullions: - This is a vertical member of frame which is employed to subdivide a window or a door opening vertically.
(i) Transom: - This is a horizontal member of a frame, which is employed to sub-divide a window opening horizontally.
(j) Door: - A door may be defined as an openable barrier secured in a wall opening.
(k) Window: - A window is also a vented barrier secured in a wall opening.
Types of doors
The common types of doors used in building construction are as following
(a) Battened and ledged doors.
(b) Battened, ledge and braced doors.
(c) Battened, ledge, braced and framed doors.
(d) Framed and paneled doors
(e) Glazed or sash doors
(f) Flush doors
(g) Louvered doors
(h) Revolving doors
(i) Collapsible steel doors
(j) Rolling steel shutter doors.
(a) Battened and ledged doors
A battened ledge door is made of vertical boards, known as battens which are provided by horizontal supports, known as ledges. Three ledges are provided top, bottom and middle. The battens are joined by means of suitable joints and the shutter is supported on T-hinges that are fixed on ledges.
(b) Battened, ledge and braced doors.
This is similar to that of previous one but braces are provided between the ledges. The braces give rigidity to the door. This type are useful for wide openings.
(c) Battened ledges, braces and framed doors.
The styles are provided to the doors so that the doors are stronger and better in appearances. This is similar to that of ledges and braced doors. This type of door is more durable and stronger and hence it can be used for external use.
(d) Framed and Paneled doors
These are widely used in almost all types of buildings. These are strong and give better appearances than batten doors. This door consists of a styles and rails which are grooved along the inner edges of the frame to receive the panels. The thickness of panels is about 20 mm. paneled doors may contain single leaf for small openings or may contain two leaves for wide openings.
(e) Glazed or sash doors
These doors are provided where extra light is required to the room through door. In this type of door, glass is fixed in between the wooden styles. These doors are commonly used in residential as well as public buildings like hospitals, schools; colleges etc. hey may be either fully glazed or partly glazed and partly glazed.
(f) Flush doors
This type of door is popular now days. It provides a smooth and clear surface. A frame work of timber styles and rails is prepared. Both the faces of the frame work are covered by 0.6 cm plywood. This type of door is very strong and it is sound proof to a great extent.
(g) Louvered doors
In this type of doors shutters are provided with louvers, either fully or partly. The louvers are arranges with an inclination to obstruct the free passage of air. This is achieved by fixing the upper back edge of a louver higher than the lower front edge of the louver just above it. Louvers may be either fixed or movable. In case of movable louvers, a vertical piece of timber is provided to which the louver are attracted through hinges.
(h) Revolving doors
In this type of door, there is a central supporting shaft and four radiating shutters are attached to this central shaft. Rubbers pads are fixed to the central shaft. Rubbers pads are fixed to the bottom of shutters. The door provides entrance to one person and exit to another person at the same time. These are used in big hotels, banks, theatres, hospitals etc.
(i) Collapsible steel doors
These consist of vertically placed double channels each 16 mm to 20 mm wide, at a spacing of 10 to 12 cm. These channels are connected mild steel so that he door can open or fold. The whole arrangement is fixed to the rails in the form of T-sections on the floor and lintel respectively. The door can move that side and his side with the help of rollers provided at the bottom. Two handles are provided to open the door (or) close the door. These are commonly used n shops, go downs, workshops, public buildings etc.
(j) Rolling steel shutter doors
This door consists of a frame, drum and a shutter of thin plates about 1 to 1.25 mm thick and inter connected. The frame has steel guides on the sides so that the shutter moves around the coil in the drum. To lift or close the door shutter, a great gear with endless chain and crank is used so that the operation becomes easy. These doors are commonly used for garages, go downs, shops, show rooms etc.
Types of windows
The common varieties of windows used in building construction are as follows.
(a) Casement windows
These windows are opened like doors. It consists of a square or rectangular window frame of metal or wood, with a casement fixed at one side to the frame to open out. The side-hinged opening at part of the window is known as the casement and it consists of styles, rails, vertical and horizontal sash bars.
(b) Double-hung windows
These windows consist of pair of openers arranged one above the others, which can slide vertically within the grooves provided in the frame. Two metallic weights are concerned to each opener, with cords over pulleys. The pulleys are fixed to the window frame. Weights, when pulled it will open to the required level. Thus ventilation can be provided and cleaning is carried out easily.
(c) Pivoted windows
In this type of windows, shutters are allowed to swing round the pivots. The window may be vertically pivoted or horizontal pivoted.
(d) Sliding windows
The name itself indicates that the window will slide on the roller bearings. It will slide either horizontally or vertically. Suitable openings are provided in the walls according to our will and wish.
(e) Louvered window
In this type of windows, louvers are provided as in the case of louvered doors. It is employed when ventilation is required.
(f) Sash or glazed windows
These are fully glazed casement windows. The glass is fixed in position either by putty or by timber beedings.
(g) Metal windows
In modern age, this type of window is becoming more popular. They are obtained from light rolled steel sections which forms windows frame. The glass panels are fixed in to the frame. He frame is attached to the masonry wall in grooves with cement grout.
(h) Bay windows
These windows project beyond the walls of the room. If gives good architectural appearances of the buildings. In this addition space is available to allow light and air in to the room.
(i) Gable windows
These are the ordinary casement windows placed in the gable ends of an inclined roof building.
(j) Dormer windows
These windows are provided on the inclined roof of the buildings. The main purposes of providing dormer windows are to admit light and air in to rooms.