BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

CEng 3083

CHAPTER SEVEN
DOORS AND WINDOWS

INSTRUCTOR- Tibebu G.
 CONTENTS

7.1. Introduction
7.2.Doors
7.2.1. Location of doors and windows
7.2.2. Definition of technical terms
7.2.3. Size of doors
7.2.4. Door frames
7.2.5. Types of doors
7.3.Windows
7.2.2.Types of windows
7.2.3.Fittings for doors and windows
7.2.4.Glass and glazing
7.1. Introduction

Door - is an openable barrier secured in a wall opening and is provided to

give access, protection, safety and privacy to the inside of a room of a
building.

 It serves a connecting link b/n the various internal portions of a

building.

 Basically a door consists of two parts

i. Door frame

ii. Door shutter

Cont.…..

Window - is a vented barrier secured in a wall opening.

The function of a window is to:

 Admit light and air into the building,

 Give a view to the outside,

 Provide insulation against heat loss(installation of double or

triple glazing and the gap between the glass filled with air ), and

 Give a measure of fighting to fire.

 Cont.…..

A window also consists of two parts

 Window frame secured to the wall opening with the help of hold fasts
 Window shutter held in position by the window frame.
 7.2.1. Location of doors and windows

The following points should be kept in view while locating doors and
windows.
 The number of doors in a room should be kept minimum, since larger
number of doors cause obstruction, and consume more area in
circulation.
 The location of door should meet functional requirements of a room.
 It should not be located in the center of the length of a wall.
 A door should preferably be located near the corner of a room –
nearly 20cm 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.
 Cont.….

 The size and number of windows should be decided on the basis of

distribution of light, control of ventilation, and privacy of the
occupants.
 The location of window should also meet the functional requirements
of the room, such as interior decoration, arrangement of furniture, etc.
 A window should be located in opposite wall, facing a door or another
window for cross ventilation.
 From the point of view of fresh air, a window should be located in the
prevalent direction of wind.
 The sill of window should be located about 70-80 cm about the floor
level of the room.
 7.2.2. Definition of technical terms

The following are the technical terms applied to doors and windows
 Frame: It is an assembly of horizontal and vertical members, forming
an enclosure, to which the shutters are fixed.
 Shutters: these are openable parts of a door or window . It is an
assembly of styles, panels and rails.
 Head: this is the top or uppermost horizontal part of a frame.
 Sill: this is the lowermost or bottom horizontal part of a window
frame.
 Horn: these are the horizontal projections of the head and sill of a
frame to facilitate the fixing of the frame on wall opening.
 Stile: the vertical outside member of the shutter of the door or
window.
 Top rail: this is the top most horizontal member of a shutter.
 Cont.….

• Lock rail: The middle horizontal member of a door shutter, to which

locking arrangement is fixed.
• Bottom rail: the lower most horizontal member of a shutter.
• Intermediate or cross rails: additional horizontal rails, fixed b/n the
top and bottom rails of a shutter.
• Panel: this is the area of shutter enclosed b/n the adjacent rails.
• Mullion: vertical member of a frame, which is employed to subdivide a
window or a door vertically.
• Transom: Horizontal member of a frame, which is employed to
subdivide a window opening horizontally.
• Hold fasts: mild steel flats generally bent into Z shape, to fix or hold
the frame to the opening.
Cont.….
 7.2.3. 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 1.8-2.0 m.
• The width of the door should be such that two persons can pass through
it walking shoulder to shoulder.
• The common width height relations are:
Width = 0.4 to 0.6 m
 Height = (width + 1.2) meters.
• The following are the generally adopted size of doors for various type of
buildings. Doors of residential building
I.External door: 0.9-1.2m width and 2-2.1m height
II.Internal door: 0.8-0.9m width and 2-2.1m height
III.Bath room &WC; 0.7-0.8m width and 2-2.1m height
IV.Garages for cars; 2.25-2.4m width and 2-2.25m height
 7.2.4. 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, one at each side, are known as posts while the
horizontal top member connecting the posts is called head.
 The size of the frame is determined by allowing a clearance of 5mm to
both the sides and the top of the opening.
 The cross-sectional area of the posts and the head is generally kept the
same.
 Door frames are made of the following materials:
 Timber
 Steel section
 Aluminum sections
 Concrete, and
 Stone
Cont.….

Timber door frames

• Timber frames are more commonly used because they look much
better than the other materials, and they can be polished, if desired.
 Cont.….

Steel door frames

Steel door frames are made of any of the following sections
i. Single angle iron (single rebate)
ii. Double angle iron (double rebate)
iii. T-sections
iv. Channel sections formed from pressing steel plates
7.2.5. Types of doors

• Doors commonly used in building are classified into the following types:
 Cont.….

A. Classification based on types of material used

1. Wooden doors
• It may be either hollow core or solid core. They can as well be built up of
small individual pieces.
• Solid core doors are used as exterior doors, in location where extremely
heavy service is anticipated.
• 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.
Cont.…

Solid core wooden door

 Cont.…

2.Glazed doors
• Glass is used in panels of doors to admit light.
• Coloured 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.
3. Plywood doors
• The various types and quality products of plywood brought the use of ply
wood skins over wooden frame works to the widespread use of the flush
doors.
• Such doors are mainly used for internals.
Cont.….

4. 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.
Cont.….

5. Metal doors
• Steel and aluminum doors are most popularly used as metal doors.
• Aluminum has a shiny colour, 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 frames are produced in various depth and width to fit most wall
conditions.
• Metal doors are of the following types:
 Mild steel sheet doors
 Corrugated steel sheet doors
 Hollow metal doors
 Metal covered plywood doors.
B. Classification based on working operation

1.Revolving doors
• Typically consists of three or four doors that hang on a central shaft
and rotates around a vertical axis with in a cylindrical enclosure.

• The door consists of a centrally placed mullion to which four

radiating shutters are attached.

• 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.
Cont.….
Cont.…

2. 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.
Cont.…

3. 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).
Cont.…

4.Collapsible steel doors

• Such doors are used in workshops, sheds, public buildings, etc. For
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 in residential buildings where opening is large but there is
no enough space to accommodate leafed shitters.
Cont.….
 Cont.….

5.Rolling steel shutter doors

• 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.
• Rolling shutters are of two types:
 Pull-push type shutters
 Mechanical gear type shutters.
Cont.…..
C. Classification based on method or manner of construction

1. Framed and panelled doors

• 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.
Cont.…

2 .Glazed doors or sash doors

• They are provided where additional light is required to be admitted to
the room through the door, or Where the visibility of the interior of the
room is required from adjacent room.
• They are used in residential as well as public buildings like hospitals,
schools, colleges, etc.
• The doors may be either fully glazed, or they be partly glazed and partly
panelled.
Cont.…
 Cont.….

3.Flash 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:
 Pleasing appearance
 Simplicity of construction
 Less cost
 Better strength and durability
• They are used both for residential as well as public and commercial
buildings.
• Flush doors are of two types:
A. Solid core flush door or laminated core flush door.
B. Hollow and cellular core flush door.
Cont.…

A. Solid core flush door or laminated core flush door.

• Such a door consists of the wooden frame consisting of styles, and top
and bottom rails is used for holding the core.
B. Hollow core and cellular core flush door
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 25mm 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.
Cont.….
Cont.….
Cont.….

4. Louvered doors
• 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 panelled.
• 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.
Cont.….

Louvered door
 Cont.….

5.Wire gauged doors

• 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.
Cont.…..
D. Classification based on arrangement of components

1.Battened and ledged doors

• This is the simplest type of door, specially suitable for narrow openings.
• It is formed of vertical bonds, Known as battens which are fixed
together by horizontal supports known as ledges.
2.Battened, ledged and braced doors
• These doors are an improved form of the previous one in which
additional inclined (or diagonal) members called braces are provided.
Cont.….

3. Battened, ledged and frame 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.
4. Battened, ledged, braced and frame doors
• 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.
Cont.….

1 2 3
Cont.…

Battened, ledged, braced and frame doors

7.3.Windows

The selection of size, shape, location and number of windows in a room

depends up on the following factors:
I. Size of the room
II. Location of the room
III.Utility of the room
IV.Direction of the wall
V. Direction of the wind
VI.Climatic condition such as humidity, temperature, etc.
VII.Requirements of exterior view
VIII.Architectural treatment to the exterior of the building.
• Windows should be selected or designed to resist wind loadings, be easy
to clean and provide for safety and security.
• They should be located to provide visual contact with the outside.
Cont.….

Based on the above factors, the following thumb rules are in use:
• Breadth of window = 1/8 (width of room + height of room)
• The total area of window-openings should normally vary from 10-20%
of the floor area of the room, depending upon climatic conditions.
• The area of window opening should be at least one square meter for
every 30-40 cubic meter of inside content of the room.
• In public buildings, the minimum area of windows should be 20% of
floor area.
• For sufficient natural light, the area of glazed panels should at least be 8-
10% of the floor area.
Cont.…..
7.2.2.Types of windows

Windows are classified as follow:

 Based on operational movement of shutter

 Based on material used for construction

 Based on manner of fixing

 Based on their location

Cont.…..

1.Fixed windows
• These windows are provided for the sole purpose of admitting light
and/or providing vision to the room.
• The window consists of a window frame to which shutters are
fixed(with out any opening or closing operation).
• Shutters are fully glazed.
Cont.…..

2. Pivoted windows
• The shutters are allowed to swing round pivots fixed to the window
frame. pivot is a shaft which helps to oscillate the shutter.
• The frame of the window shutter is similar to that of an encasement
window.
• The shutter can swing or rotate either horizontally, or vertically.
Cont.….

3. Double hung windows

• These type of window consists of a frame and a pair of shutters
arranged one above the other, which can slide vertically within the
grooves provided in the window frame.
• By the provision of such sliding, the windows can be cleaned
effectively and at the same time ventilation can be controlled effectively.
Cont.….

4. Sliding windows
• These windows are similar to siding doors. The shutters move either
horizontally or vertically on small roller bearings.
• Suitable openings or grooves are left in the frame or walls to
accommodate the shutters when they are slides to open the window.
• They are provided in train, buses, shops and bank counters.
 Cont.…

5.Casement windows
• These are the main common type of windows usually provided in
buildings.
• The shutters of the window open like the shutters of the doors.
• The shutters consist of styles ,top rails ,bottom rails, and intermediate
rails thus dividing it in to panels.
• The panels may either be glazed ,or unglazed, or partly glazed and partly
unglazed.
Cont.….

6.Sash or glazed windows

• A sash window is a type of casement window in which the panels are
fully glazed.
• The frame of each shutter consists of two vertical styles, top rail and a
bottom rail.
• The space b/n the top and bottom rails is divided in to small panels by
means of small timber members placed horizontally and vertically.
Cont.….
 Cont.……..

7.Louvered Windows
• These are similar to louvered doors. Such windows are provided for the
ventilation, and they do not permit any out side vision.
• The shutter consist of top and bottom rails, and two styles which are
grooved to receive louvers.
• Recommended angle of inclination of the louvers is 450.
• The louvers slope down ward to the out side to run-off the rain water.
• Generally they are provided for bathroom, toilet and privacy places etc.
Cont.….

Louvered window
Cont.….

8.Metal Windows
• Metal windows, made of mild steel now a days widely used in private as
well as public buildings, because of their strength and cheap cost.
• Windows made of other metals, such as aluminum, bronze, stainless
steel, etc. are used where high degree of elegance finishing is required
and they are costly compared to mild steel.
• Aluminum windows are rust proof, durable and require no maintenance
and painting.
• The commonly used sections in mild steel windows are angle section, Z-
sections, T-sections and channel sections.
• Steel windows can be fixed either directly to the masonry opening, or it
may be fixed in to wooden frame already fixed in the opening.
Cont.….
 Cont.…..

Steel windows have the following advantages over timber windows.

• Steel windows are generally manufactured in factories, with greater
precision and better quality control.
• They exhibit elegant appearance and stream lined finishing.
• They are stronger and more durable than wooden windows.
• There is no contraction or expansion due to weather effects in the steel
windows.
• They are rot (decay) proof and termite proof.
• They are highly fire resistant
• Since steel windows are fabricated from thin sections, they provide more
effective area for light and ventilation.
• They grant better facilities for providing different types of openable parts.
• They are easy to maintain, and the cost of maintenance is almost negligible.
Cont.….

9. Bay Windows
• Bay windows project outside the external wall of the room. This
projection may be triangular, circular, rectangular or polygonal in plan.
 They are provided to get an increased area of opening for admitting
grater light and air.
 They also provide extra space in the room, and improve the overall
appearance of the building.
Cont.…..

10. Clere-storey Windows

• These windows are provided in a room which has greater ceiling height
than the surrounding rooms. these also enhance the beauty of the
building.
• It is generally provided near the top of the main roof, and they open
above the roof slab of adjoining rooms.
Cont.….

11. Corner Windows

• This is a special type of window which is provided in the corner of a
room.
• This window has two faces in two perpendicular directions. Due to this,
light and air is admitted from two directions.
• This windows will give aesthetic appearance to the building.
Cont.….

12. Dormer Windows

• A dormer window is a vertical window provided on the slopping roof.
These are projected from the sloping surface
• Such a window provides ventilation and lighting to the enclosed space
below the roof, and at the same time, very much improve the appearance
of the building.
Cont.….

13. Gable Windows

• It is a vertical window provided in the gable end of a pitched (sloped)
roof so they are called as gable windows.
• They also improve the appearance of building.
 Cont.….

14. Lantern Windows

• Such windows are provided over the flat roofs, to provide more light and
air circulation to the inner apartments/rooms of a building.
• They are projected from the roof surface so, we can close the roof surface
when we required.
• They may be of several shapes in plan.
• The roof slab has an appropriate opening below the window.
Cont.….

15. Sky lights

• A sky light is provided on the top of a slopped roofs, to admit light. The
window projects above the top slopping surface and they run parallel to
the sloping surface.
• They can be opened when we required.
Cont.….

16. Ventilators.
• Ventilators are provided for the purpose of ventilation in the room.
• Ventilators are small windows, fixed at a greater height than the window,
generally about 30-50cm below roof level.
• The ventilator has a frame and a shutter, generally glazed, which is
horizontally pivoted.
 Cont.….

17. Ventilator Combined with Window or Door: Fan light

• Ventilators may also be provided in continuation of a window or a door,
at its top. Such a ventilator is usually hinged at top and can open out.
• Alternatively, the ventilator shutter can be hinged at the bottom.
7.2.4.Glass and glazing

• Glass is used in windows to admit light and still provide protection to

the interior of the room from cold, heat, dust, etc.
• The glass comes in different thickness and type ranging from clear glass
to tinted, figured and glass with a reflective finish.
• The thickness of the gazing for windows depends on the size of the
opening that is free of intermediate frames (transom and mullion)
• The type of glass depends on the functional requirement of the room
and test of the users.
• The most commonly used gazing is the 4 mm clear glass. Large sized
windows may use 6-8 mm thick glass