Chapter 5

Doors and Windows

Door :- A door may be defined as an openable barrier secure in a wall opening. A
door is provided to give access to the inside of the room building. It serves as a
connecting link between the various portions of a building. Basically a door
consists of two parts; door frame and door shutter. The door shutter held in a
position by the door frame which is in turn fixed in the opening of the wall by
means of hold fast etc.
Window :- A window is also a ventilated barrier secured in a wall opening. The
function of window is to admit light and air to the building and to give view to the
outside. Windows must also provide insulation against heat loss and in some cases
against sound. A window also consists of two parts; window frame secured to the
wall opening with the help of hold fasts and window shutters held in position by
window frame.
Location of Doors and Windows :-
The following points should be kept in view while locating doors and windows
• The numbers of doors in a room should be kept minimum since larger numbers of
doors cause obstruction and consume more area in circulation.
•The location of a door should meet functional requirements of a room. It should
not be located at the centre of the length of a wall. Can be located near the corner of
a room, nearly 20 cm away from the corner.
• 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 and free air
circulation in the room.
• The size and numbers of windows should be decided on the basis of important
factors such as distribution of light, control of ventilation and privacy of occupants.
• The location of window should also meet the functional requirement of the room,
such as interior decoration, arrangement of furniture according to the nature of
room.
• A window should located in opposite walls, facing a door or another window, so
as to achieve cross ventilation.
• From the point of view of fresh air, a window should be located on the northern
side of a room, or in the eastern or in the prevalent direction of wind.
Definition of Technical Terms

Fig. Door
Frame: It is an assembly of horizontal and vertical members, forming an
enclosure, to which shutter are fixed.
Shutters : These are the openable parts of a door window. It is an assembly of
styles , panels and rails.

Head: This is the top or uppermost horizontal part of the frame.

Sill: This is the lowermost or bottom horizontal part of window frame. Sills are
generally not provided on door.
Horn: These are the horizontal projection of the head and sill of a frame to
facilitate the fixing of frame on the wall opening. The length of horn is about
10 – 15 cm.
Style: Style is the vertical outside member of the shutter of door or window.
Top Rail: This is the top most horizontal member of shutter.
Bottom Rail: This is the lower most horizontal member of shutter Intermediate.
Panel: This is the area of shutter enclosed between the adjacent rails.
Transom: This is a horizontal member of a frame, which is employed to sub-
divide a window opening horizontally.
Hold fast: These are mild steel (iron base with the addition of small amounts of
carbon) flats, generally bent into Z – shape, to fix or hold the frame to the
opening. This member is embedded in masonry.
Size of Doors and Windows
The height of door should not be less than 1.8 m – 2.0 m. The width of the door
should be such that two persons can walk through it walking shoulder to shoulder.
Size of Doors for Residential Buildings.
• External Door :- (1.0 * 2.0) m to (1.1 * 2.0) m
• Internal Door :- (0.9 * 2.0) m to (1.0 * 2.0) m
• Door for Bathroom :- (0.7 * 2.0) m to (0.8 * 2.0) m
•Garages for cars :- (2.25 * 2.25) m to (1.25 * 2.40) m
Size of doors for Public building such as schools, hospitals, libraries etc.
(1.2 * 2.0) m (1.2 * 2.1) m (1.2 * 2.25) m
For Windows
•The total area of window opening should normally vary from 10 – 20% of the
floor area of the room, depending upon the climatic condition
• For sufficient natural light, the area of glazed panels should be at least 8 – 10%
of the floor area
• In public building, the minimum area of windows should be 20% of the floor
area
Door Frames :- A door frame is an assembly of horizontal and vertical
members forming an enclosure, to which door shutters are fixed. The vertical
members are known as jambs or posts, while the horizontal top member
connecting the posts is called the head which has horns to both the sides.
Types of Door :-
Doors commonly used in building are classified as follows:-
1.Battened and ledged doors.
2.Battened, ledged and braced doors.
3.Battened, ledged and framed doors.
4.Framed and panel doors.
5.Glazed or sash doors.
6.Flush doors.
7.Louvered doors.
8.Sliding door.
9.Revolving doors.
10.Swing doors.
11.Collapsible doors.
12.Rolling shutter doors.
1. Battened and Ledged Doors :-
This is the simplest type of doors used in narrow openings. The door is formed of
vertical bonds, known as battens which are fixed together by horizontal supports
known as ledges. Battens are 100 – 150 mm wide and 20 – 30 mm thick whereas
ledges are 100 – 200 mm wide and 25 – 30 mm thick. Three ledges are generally
provided; top, middle and bottom. The door is hung to the frame by means of
T – hinges of iron.
2. Battened, Ledged and Braced Doors :-
These doors are improved versions of battened and ledged doors in which additional
inclined (or diagonal) members, called braces are provided to give more rigidity. Hence
these doors can be used for wider openings. These braces are 100 – 150 mm wide and of
same thickness as that of ledges.
3. Battened, ledged and framed doors :- 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. Styles are generally 100 mm wide and
40 mm thick. Three ledges are provided as usual. The total thickness of style is
adjusted equal to the thickness of ledges plus the thickness of battens.
4. Frame and Paneled Doors :- This type of door is very commonly in use. It
consists of a frame work of stiles and rails, in which panel are fitted. This type of
door has less tendency of shrinkage and presents good look. The thickness of
shutter depends upon a number of factor such as thickness of work, situation of
door, and number of panels etc. But the thickness of panel is generally kept
about 2 cm but number and size depends upon desire.
5. Glazed Doors :- This type of door is similar to the construction of panel doors
except the panels are made of glass. In order to admit natural light inside room,
fully glazed or partly glazed paneled doors are used. The glass panels are fixed to
the frame. Normally the frame is made of timber (now a days of aluminum also).
These panels may be different shape and size. These doors are used as internal
doors. The frame shutter consists of rails and style. The panels are fixed between
the members.
6. Flush Door :- This door consists of a frame work of rails and styles which remains
covered by plywood or hard board. These doors are becoming increasingly popular
these days because of their pleasing appearance, simplicity in construction, less cost,
better strength and durability.
7. Louvered doors :- These 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 building. The door may be
louvered it its full height, or it may be louvered and partly paneled.
8. Sliding Doors :- This type of door consists of one or more panels fixed with
wheels on their top and bottom. The wheel run over the iron or hard wood guides
or runners and the panel is opened by sliding action. The runner pass over the
opening for a distance equal to the width of panel, so that when the door is
required to opened, the door shutter occupies a new position parallel to the wall
face and clean off opening. This type of door is commonly used in entrance of go
downs, shop, show room or when width of room is limited.
9. Revolving Doors :- In this type of door, there exists a central pivot and it may
be fixed on the top and the bottom. There are generally two or four leaves
attached that revolve in the pivot. It has an entrance on one side and exit on
other side thus keeping the door automatically closed when not in use.
Normally, the shutters are made of glass but may also be paneled or partly
paneled. This type of door is used in case of heavy traffic. Such doors are
provided only In public buildings, such as libraries, museums banks etc.
10. Swinging Door :- This type of doors are used in passage of public buildings
like
offices, banks etc and also in kitchens, pantries, dining room etc. Those doors are
opened and closed by swinging action in one or both directions. They may have one
leaf or shutter hinged on one edge or may have two leaves (or shutters) hinged on
opposite edge and meeting at center. As these doors are opened in both sides, by
pulling or pushing, glass panel is used to enable the users to see the objects on either
side to avoid collision.
11. Collapsible Doors :- The doors are fabricated from mild steel sections. It
consists of channel and braces. It is fixed in such a way that it can be folded for
opening and stretched for closing. It is secured on the wall with anchor bolt or
welded. It consists of vertical double channel each 16 – 20 mm width and spaced 10
– 12 cm apart. The channels are braced with 16 – 20 mm wide flat iron diagonals
that allow door to fold. Two rails in the form of T – section are fixed to the floor and
lintel by means of anchor bolt. The shutter slides over the roller mounted at its
bottom. These doors are used for the main entrance of residential building, sheds,
and go-downs and are chiefly recommended for situations where light & ventilation
are desired even when the door is closed.
12. Rolling Shutter Doors :- This is the door made with the interlocking steel sheets
coiled upon a drum at the top of the opening. The door during its opening and closing
travels on the steel guide mounted at the side. These doors are commonly used for
garages , shops etc., since they are quite strong and offer proper safety to the property.
Types of windows :-
1.Fixed windows
2.Pivoted windows
3.Double hung windows
4.Sliding windows
5.Casement windows
6.Sash windows
7.Louvered windows
8.Clere-storey windows
9.Corner windows
10.Dormer windows
11.Gable windows

Fig. Fixed windows

1. Fixed Windows :- These windows are provided for the sole purpose of admitting
light and/or providing vision in the room. The window consists of a window frame
to which shutters are fixed. The shutters are fully glazed.
2. Pivoted Windows :- In these windows the shutters are allowed to swing around
pivots fixed to the window frame. The window frame has no rebate. The shutters can
rotate horizontally and vertically depending upon the position. These windows are
easier to clean and no iron bars and grill pattern are used with these types of
windows.
3. Double hung Windows :- This type of window consists of a pair of shutters
arranged one above other which can slide vertically within the grooves provided in
the frame. A pair of metal rod connected by chord or chain passing over pulley is
provided for each shutter. By this arrangement the window can be opened at top
or bottom to desired extension by the pulling the metal weights suitably. Thus in
this type of window it is possible to have controlled ventilation. In addition the
shutter can also be cleaned easily.
4. Sliding Windows :- These windows are similar to sliding doors. The shutters
move horizontally on small roller bearings. Suitable openings or grooves are left in
the frame or walls to accommodate shutters when they are slide to open the
window. Such windows are provided in trains, busses, shops, bank counters and
now days in residential building too.
5. Casement Windows :- These are common types of windows usually provided in
buildings. The shutters of the window open like shutters of the door. The window
has a frame which is rebated to receive the shutters. The shutter consists of top
rail, intermediate rail, bottom rail, style thus dividing it into panels. The panels may
either glaze or unglazed or partly glazed. In case of windows with double shutters,
the outer shutters may also have wire gauzed panels for fly proofing.
6. Sash or Glazed Windows :-
A sash is a type of glazed window in which the panels are fully glazed. The frame
of each shutter consists of two vertical stiles, top rail and a bottom rail. The
space between top rail and bottom rail is divided into small panels by means of
small timber members placed horizontally and vertically. These timber
members, known as sash bar or glazing bars are rebated to receive glass panels
and the glass panels are fixed to the sash bar.
7. Louvered windows :- These are similar to the louvered doors. Such windows are
provided for the aim of ventilation , and they do not permit any outside vision. The
shutter consists of top and bottom rails, and two styles which are grooved to
receive the louvers. The louvers are generally fixed. The economical angle of
inclination of the louvers is 45˚. The louvers slope downward to the outside to run-
off the rain water.
8. Clere-Story Windows :- This type of window is used to achieve better ventilation
and cooling effect in the living room or main rooms of a building which has less
ceiling height greater than surrounding rooms. These windows are provided near
the top of the main rooms and they open out above a lean to roof or the roof slab
of the adjoining verandah. Besides improving the elevation of the building, such
window also provide adequate natural light in the room. The window shutter is
horizontally pivoted and can be opened or closed by the use of two chords, one
attached to the top rail and other to the bottom rail of shutter.
9. Corner Windows :- This is a special type of window which is provided in the
corner of the room. This window has two faces in two perpendicular directions.
Due to this, light and air is admitted from two directions. This type of window
improves the elevation of a building. However a special lintel has to cast over the
window opening.
10. Dormer Windows :- A dormer window is a vertical window provided on the
sloping roof. Such a window provides ventilation and lighting to the enclosed space
below the roof, and at the same time very much improves the appearance of
building.

11. Gable Windows :-

It is a vertical window provided in the gable end of pitched roof. They are used to
admit light, and ventilation inside room.
Ventilators:- Ventilators are small windows, fixed at a greater height than the
window, generally about 30 to 50 cm below roof level. The ventilators has a frame
and shutter, generally glazed, which is horizontally pivoted. The shutter can be
opened or closed by means of two cords. One attached to the top rail and other to
the bottom rail of the shutter. The top edge of the shutter opens inside and
bottom edge opens outside, so that rain water is excluded.

Fig. Ventilator Fig. Ventilator combined with window.