Chapter 5.4 - Doors and Windows Part 1
Chapter 5.4 - Doors and Windows Part 1
Chapter 5.4 - Doors and Windows Part 1
The following points should be kept in view while locating doors and windows.
1. The number of doors in a room should be kept minimum, since larger number of
doors cause obstruction, and consume more area in circulation.
2. The location of door should meet functional requirements of a room.
o It should not be located in the center of the length of a wall.
o A door should preferably be located near the corner of a room – nearly
20cm away from the corner.
3. If there are two doors in a room, the doors should preferably be located in
opposite walls facing each other, so as to provide good ventilation.
4. The size and number of windows should be decided on the basis of distribution of
light, control of ventilation, and privacy of the occupants.
5. The location of window should also meet the functional requirements of the room,
such as interior decoration, arrangement of furniture, etc.
6. A window should be located in opposite wall, facing a door or another window
for cross ventilation.
7. From the point of view of fresh air, a window should be located in the prevalent
direction of wind.
8. The sill of window should be located about 70-80 cm about the floor level of the
room.
The following are the technical terms applied to doors and windows
Hold fasts: mild steel flats generally bent into Z shape, to fix or hold the frame to
the opening.
Size of Doors
The size of the door should be such that it would allow the movement of
largest object or tallest person likely to use the door. As a rule the height of a door should
not be less than 1.8m – 2.0m. The width of the door should be such that two
persons can pass through it walking shoulder to shoulder.
The following are the generally adopted size of doors for various type of buildings
Doors of residential building
1. External door: 0.9-1.2m width and 2-2.1m height
2. Internal door: 0.8-0.9m width and 2-2.1m height
3. Bath room & WC: 0.7-0.8m width and 2-2.1m height
4. Garages for cars: 2.25-2.4m width and 2-2.25m height
Door Frame
the same.
Types of Doors
Doors commonly used in building are classified into the following types:
Classification Classification Classification based Classification based on
based on types based on working on method or manner arrangement of
of material used operation of construction components
Wooden doors Revolving doors Framed doors Battened and ledged doors
Glazed doors Sliding doors Glazed or sash doors Battened, ledged and
Plywood doors Swing doors Flush doors braced doors
Plastic doors Folding doors Louvered doors Battened, ledged and
Metal doors Collapsible doors Wire-gauged doors frame doors
Battened, ledged, braced
and framed doors.
Wooden doors
It may be either hollow core or solid core. They can as well be built up of small
individual pieces.
1. Solid core doors are used as exterior doors, in location where extremely
heavy service is anticipated.
2. Hollow-core doors are used for only interior applications.
Wooden doors can take a good polish and can be given different types of
moulding to produce an attractive appearance.
Unless properly seasoned, wooden doors are easily attacked by vermin especially
when in contact with walls built of mud masonry.
Glazed doors
Glass is used in panels of doors to admit light.
Colored glass, frosted glass and beaded glass can be used for ornamental
appearance.
Steel framed door with a single, two or three glass panels are mainly used in
external doors for residential buildings and could also be used as internal
doors in offices.
Plywood doors
The various types and quality products of plywood brought the use of plywood
skins over wooden frame works to the widespread use of the flush doors.
Such doors are mainly used for internals.
Plastic doors
Flush doors covered in high pressure melamine laminates are manufactured to fit
in specific openings.
The plastic laminate is applied to both faces of the door and comes in wide
variety of colors and in many wood-grain patterns.
Plastic laminate clad doors offer good resistance to impact and abrasion and
usually do not need refinishing for the life of the building.
The surface resists stains and can be cleaned with soap and water or other
detergents.
Metal doors
Steel and aluminum doors are most popularly used as metal doors.
Aluminum has a shiny color, has light weight and provides attractive
appearance and costs more than steel doors.
Steel doors are used practically for any type of door opening.
Steel frame are produced in various depth and width to fit most
wall conditions.
Metal doors are of the following types:
1. Mild steel sheet doors
2. Corrugated steel sheet doors
3. Hollow metal doors
Revolving doors
Revolving doors are provided in public buildings such as museums, libraries,
hotels, banks, etc. where there are constant visitors.
Such a door provides entrance to one and exit to the other person simultaneously
and closes automatically when not in use.
The door consists of a centrally placed mullion to which four radiating shutters are
attached.
Sliding doors
The shutter can slide upward, downward or sideways.
The shutter slides to the sides with the help of runners and guide rails.
The door may have one two or even three shutters, depending upon the size of
the opening and space available on sides for sliding.
Swing doors
The most common type of door movement is the swinging door either right or left,
depending on which side is the hinge. Swinging doors may be hinged at the side to open
and shut in one direction (single swings) or they may be double acting doors, which
swing in both ways (double swinging).
Such doors are used in workshops, sheds, public buildings, etc. or providing increased
safety and protection to property. The door neither requires hinges, for opening and
closing, nor any frame for hanging them. It acts like a steel curtain which can be opened or
closed by horizontal push. It is even used in residential buildings where opening is large but
there is no enough space to accommodate leafed shutters.
These doors are commonly used for garages, shop fronts, show windows etc., since they are
quite strong and offer proper safety to the property. The door consists of a frame, a drum
and a shutter of thin steel plates (known as laths or slates) interlocked together.
These types of doors are widely used in almost all types of building since they are strong
and give better appearance. This door consists of a frame work of vertical members
(called styles) and horizontal members, called rails which are grooved along the inner edges
of the frame, to receive the panels.
Flush Doors
These doors consist of solid or semi-solid skeleton or core covered on both sides with
plywood, face veneers, etc. Presenting flush and joint- less surface. Flush doors are
becoming increasingly popular these days because of their:
o Pleasing appearance
o Simplicity of construction
o Less cost
o Better strength and durability
They are used both for residential as well as public and commercial buildings. Flush
doors are of two types:
Such a door consists of the wooden frame consisting of styles, and top and bottom rails is
used for holding the core.
A hollow core flush door consists of frame made up of styles, top rail, bottom rail
and minimum two intermediate rails. The inner space of the frame is provided with
equally spaced battens each of minimum 25 mm width. The area of the void is limited to
500 cm2.
A cellular core flush door consists of a frame of styles, top rail and bottom rail, with
the void space filled with equidistant battens of wood or ply wood. The battens are so
arranged that the total area of voids does not exceed 40% of the area of the
shutter.
Louvered doors permit free ventilation through them, and at the same time
maintain the privacy of the room.
These doors are generally used for latrines and bath rooms of residential
and public buildings.
The door may either be louvered to its full height, or it may be partly
louvered and partly paneled.
The louvers are arranged at such an inclination that the vision is
obstructed while they permit the passage of air.
Louvers may be either fixed or movable.
Louvers may be made of either timber or glass or ply wood.
These types of doors are provided to check the entry of flies, mosquitoes, insects,
etc.
Wire mesh is provided in the panels, and therefore, they permit free passage of air.
Such doors are commonly used for refreshment rooms, hotels, cup boards
containing food and eatables, and sweet shops.
This is the simplest type of door, especially suitable for narrow openings. It is formed of
vertical bonds, known as battens which are fixed together by horizontal supports known as
ledges.
These doors are an improved form of the previous one in which additional inclined (or
diagonal) members called braces are provided.
This door is also an improved form of simple battened and ledged door, in which frame
work for the shutter is provided in the form of two verticals, known as styles.
This is a modification of the above, with the provision of additional braces, provided
diagonally b/n the ledges to increase its strength, durability and appearance.