12 WALL SPACES-WINDOWS, VENTILATORS, DOORS BUILT-IN CUPBOARDS, STAIRCASES, BALCONIES

Sarasvathy. V

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Introduction:

 

Walls are structures that describe an area, carry a load, or offer shelter or security. It is used to split or enfold area in building construction, and forms the border of a space or a structure. In conventional masonry building, walls bear the weight of floors and roofs, but contemporary steel and reinforced concrete frames, as well as heavy timber and other skeletal structures, necessitate exterior walls only for protection and sometimes assign with them on the ground floor to permit easier access. The number of openings that can be used depends on the strength of the masonry and the stresses in the wall. Walls are distinguished into two categories: load bearing and non-load bearing. Load-bearing walls not only divide spaces, but also offer structural support for what is over them. Non load bearing walls purpose is to exclusively serve as partitions between spaces.

 

Wall Spaces-Windows, Ventilators, Doors Built-In Cupboards, Staircases, Balconies

External features such as bay windows, ventilators, balconies, staircases, air conditioning ledges and planter boxes are increasingly being used in building projects. Windows and doors connect the interior of a house to the outdoors, provide ventilation and daylight, and are important aesthetic elements. Windows and doors are often the architectural focal point of residential designs, yet they provide the lowest insulating value in the building envelope. Although the efficiency of windows has improved markedly, they still represent one of the major energy liabilities in new construction

 

Doors

 

A door is a framework of wood, steel, aluminum, glass or a combination of these materials provided in an opening left in a wall for the purpose of providing access to the users of the building. It has two parts- A frame and a shutter (leaf). The frame is made up of wood because wood is easily available everywhere and it can be worked into different shapes without difficulty. Steel and R.C.C. frames are also used in construction on sites having termites problem. Rather aluminum doors are considered to be the best as they are rust proof and present an elegant appearance.

 

For small opening a door is provided with one leaf or shutter and which is known as single leaf door. For wider opening the door should have two leaves and such a door is

 

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termed as double leaf door. Shutter on the side to the frame may have wire gauge mesh (in case of kitchen door) and on the other side the shutter may be fully paneled. Such a door is known as double shuttered door.

 

Door Frame

 

A door frame is made up of two vertical members known as jambs or posts and a flat member connecting the jambs at top called head.

 

Location of Doors

 

While deciding the location of door in a building following points should be viewed:

  1. The door should be provided in opposite walls facing each other for better air circulation.
  2. From consideration of proper space utilization the door should be located near the corner of a room for privacy as well as proper space utilization.
  3. The location of the door should be such that satisfies the functional requirement of the people residing.
  4. The number of doors in a room should be kept minimum to achieve optimum utilization of space.

Size of Doors

 

The size of door to be adopted for a room depends upon the use to be made of the room. For Water Closet or bathroom where only one person in expected to go at a time a door width a 70 cm is considered adequate whereas the size of a garage door should be such that it may permit a car to pass through generally the size of the door should be largest objects likely to pass through the door opening.

 

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 the open able 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 frame.
  • Horn. These are the horizontal projections of the head and sill of a frame to facilitate the fixing of the frame on the wall opening. The length of horns is kept about 10 to 15 cm.
  • Style. Style is the vertical outside member of the shutter of a door or window.
  • Top Rail. This is the top most horizontal member of a door shutter, to which locking arrangement is fixed.
  • Lock Rail. This is the middle horizontal member of a door shutter, to which locking arrangement is fixed.
  • Bottom Rail. This is the lowermost horizontal member of a shutter.
  • Intermediate or Cross-rails. These are additional horizontal rails, fixed between the top and bottom rails of a shutter. A rail fixed between the top rail and lock rail is called frieze rail.
  • Panel. This is the area of shutter enclosed between the adjacent rails.
  • Mullion. This is a vertical member of a frame, which is employed to sub-divide a window or a door vertically.
  • Transom. This is a horizontal member of a frame, which is employed to sub-divide a window opening horizontally.
  • Hold Fasts. These are mild steel flats (section 30 mm x 6 mm), generally bent into Z-shape, to fix or hold the frame to the opening. The horizontal length of hold fast is kept about 20 cm, and is embedded in the masonry.
  • Jamb. This is the vertical wall face of an opening which supports the frame.
  • Reveal. It is the external jamb of a door or window opening at right angles to the wall face.
  • Rebate. It is depression or recess made inside the door frame, to receive the door shutter.

1.   Based on the movement of shutters: The doors are classified as swinging doors, sliding doors, rolling steel shutter doors, collapsible steel doors, and revolving doors according to the movement of shutters.

 

(a) Swinging Doors: A swinging door has its lead attached to the door frame by use of special double action spring hinge for the purpose of movement of shutter in and out. Such type of door generally has one lead. At the time of using the door as light push is made and then the action of spring brings the shutter in closed position.

 

(b) Sliding Doors: The shutter sliding doors slide on the sides with the help of runners and guide rails. The number of shutter is decided depending        upon the size of the opening and the space available on sides for sliding. Sliding doors are mostly used in ware houses and godowns.

 

(c) Rolling Steel Shutter: The doors consist of a frame, a run and utter of thin steel plates joined together. The frame has steel side on the sides in which the shutter moves and then coils the drum. The closing and opening of the door is actuated by the spring in the drum. These types of door prove to be very strong and are safe. They are mostly used in garages, showrooms, godowns etc.

 

(d) Collapsible Steel Doors:. The doors are fabricated from vertical double channels and joined together with the hollows on the inside. The shutters operate between two iron rails of T, shape, one fixed to the floor and the other to the lintel. Rollers are provided at the top as well as the bottom ends of vertical pieces. The doors are mostly used in the compound walls, verandahs, garages, godowns, public places etc. as they provide increased safely and protection. It is like a steel curtain which can be opened and closed by horizontal push. The doors also has handle, locking arrangement etc. for safety.

 

(e) RevolvingDoors:The revolving door has the vertical members supported on ball bearings at the bottom, and has bush bearing at the top, so that its rotation is without any jerk and noise. The shutters are mainly glazed and the part which remains in touch with the radial

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wall has rubber lining to prevent air movement..These doors provide, entrance and exit simultaneously and close automatically when not in use.

 

(ii) According to the method and materials used for construction the following types of doors are there:

 

(a) Panelled Doors. These doors consist of a frame work of vertical members (styles) and horizontal members (rails) which are grooved along the inner edges of the frame, to receive the panels. The panels can be made from wood plywood block board etc. The doors can have one or more panels.Panelled doors can have single leaf or two leaves depending upon the opening space available. Such doors are most commonly used in all types of building at they are strong, and give a good appearance.

(b) Glazed Doors. These are used when additional light is required in the room through the door and also for visibility purpose. The doors can be either fully glazed or partly glazed and partly paneled. The glass is fixed into rebates provided in the wooden sash bars and secured by rails pulley or by wooden beads fixed to the frame.

(c) Louvered doors are used for providing ventilation and maintaining privacy of the room. The doors can be either fully louvered or partly louvered and partly panelled. The louvers may be either fixed to the style or keep movable. In moveable louvers a vertical piece of timber is provided to which the louvers are attached through hinge and the movement of louver is done by the vertical piece of wood.

(d) Wire-gauge Doors (Fly Proof Doors). These types of doors are used to prevent the entry of flies mosquitoes and insects into the room. Wire gauge doors allow passage of air and good amount of light in the room. Wire mesh is provided in the panels. The door is made up of wooden frame work having vertical styles and horizontal rails. The opening is fixed with a fine mesh galvanized wire gauge. The door opening generally has two shutters one fully paneled and the other has wire gauge panels. Mostly these types of doors are used in kitchen, hotels dinner area to keep the flies away.

(e) Simple Battened and Ledged Doors. This type of door is suitable for narrow openings and can be easily constructed. The door is formed of vertical bonds known as battens, which are tongued and grooved and are fixed together by horizontal support knows as ledges. These wooden battens are joined to three ledges top, middle and bottom. The door is hung to the frame by means of T. hinges of iron.

 

A window is a vented barriers secured in a wall opening to admit light and air to the building and to give a view to the outside. A window consists of two parts i.e., window frame secured to the wall opening with the help of hold fasts, and window shutters held in position by the window frame.

 

Location of Windows

  • The location of a window should meet the functional requirements of the room, such as interior decoration,’ arrangement of furniture etc.
  • For cross ventilation the window should be located in opposite wall, facing another window or doors.
  • For effective distribution of light, control of ventilation and privacy of the occupants the size and number of window should be decided taking into consideration these factors.
  • For the purpose of getting fresh air in the building a window should always be located on the northern side of a room.
  • The sill height of the window should be about 70 to 80 cm above the floor level of the room.

Types of Window

  1. Fixed Window. These windows are provided for admitting light and for providing vision in the room. It consists of window frame to which shutters are fixed. They are no rebates on the frame and the shutters are glazed.
  2. Double Hung Window. This type of window has two sliding shutters which can slide vertically within the grooves provided in the window frame. The sliding makes cleaning process very easy and ventilation can be effectively controlled as the windows can be opened at the top and bottom to any desired extent. The metal weights are provided to each sash connected by cord or chain over pulleys to control the movement of the shutter.
  3. Corner Window. These types of window are provided in the corner of the room. It allows ventilation and light from two directions. Such windows enhance the look of the building and add to its elevation. Corner window needs a special lintel cast over the window opening
  4.  Casement Windowor (Side-Hinged): The most common type of window which has a frame and shutter similar to that of a door is the casement window. The panels may be glazed, unglazed, partly glazed or partly unglazed.
  5.  Sliding Window.These are similar to sliding doors which move either horizontally or vertically on small roller bearings. Mostly these types of windows are found in trains buses and shops. Grooves are left in the frame or walls to accommodate the shutters when they are slided to open the window.
  6.  Pivoted Window. In these types of windows the shutter can move freely around the pivots. The pivots can be provided to permit either horizontal or vertical movement of the  shutter.
  7.  Dormer Window. This is a vertical window provided on the sloping of a building to admit light and air in the room under the sloping roof. It also improves the appearance of the
    building.
  8. Metal Window. These are usually made of iron, aluminum or mild steel. Aluminum window are rust proof, durable and require no maintenance and painting therefore they are most popular for domestic buildings. These windows are available in different forms and dimensions and they can also be fabricated. They are fixed in masonry using hold fasts. In these types of windows Z sections or glazed shutters are normally used. They can be either fixed or pivoted.
  9.  Clere-storey Window. This type of window is provided in a room which has greater ceiling height than the surrounding rooms, or above the lean to roof to provide ventilation to the room where the pent is blocked by the verandah with a lean to roof. The window shutter is made to swing on two horizontal shutters provided on side. The window is pivoted and because it is at higher level is operated by a cord passing over the pulley. Such window adds  to the elevation of the building.
  10.  Sky Light. This is provided on a slopping roof to illuminate the room by natural sunlight. They run parallel to the slopping surface. The opening made is properly treated by lead flashing to make the roof water proof.
  11. Ventilator. This is a small window fixed, normally provided on the top of a door or window with a common horizontal member of the frame. The ventilator has a frame and a   shutter generally glazed horizontally pivoted. The shutter can be opened or closed by meansof two cords one attached to the top rail and other to the bottom rail of the shutter. The topedge of the shutter opens inside and bottom edge opens outside so that rain water does not enter the room.
  12. Tilt & Turn Windows: These windows first appeared in Europe but are now used in North America. Special hardware allows tilt & turn windows to tilt inwards for ventilation, or to pivot from the side like a casement window.
  13. Hopper Windows:This is the reverse of an awning window in that it pivots at the bottom and opens inward.
  14. Bay and Bow Windows:These are a blend of windows that project externally from a building wall. A fixed centre window parallel to the wall edged by two operating windows (casement or double hung windows) attached at a45 0 angle is a bay window. Whereas windowsthat have more than three sections set at gentle angles of 100 that providethe window a curved appearance is a bow window.
  15. CustomWindows: There are many shapes of windows now in use, including circles, half rounds, octagons, fans, and many other geometric shapes. These geometric shapes can be used alone or in combination with other windows. Custom windows can give a curved appearance to a building or can simply add charm and character to a room. Other types include awning, picture, horizontal sliders, Storm, single hung windows and double hung windows. Different Materials are used for windows. They are made from wood, aluminum, PVC, fiberglass, or from a combination of these materials. A balcony, derived from the Italian “balcone” meaning scaffold, the High German “balcho” or beam and the Persian term “balkaneh”. It is a magical thing – an oasis, a window to the world, a limited space between inside and out that is cosy and personal but with a viewof the outside world. It can be viewed from two perspectives

   Outlook – the view from the balcony – is hard to control for, as it falls outside the building footprint, by definition. However, nearly any view can hold interest,

 

Refuge is within the control of the building designer. It comes from a sense of privacy – height above the street, protection from side to side views – and protection from the elements and from the view of  neighbouring eye

 

It is a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade, usually above the ground floor. Earliest balconies are thought to date back more than two thousand years to Ancient Greece when they most likely addressed purely functional needs, such as to increase air circulation in hot climates or enhance natural light to a building’s interior. A balcony is an integral part of a building’s façade so its design is crucial to the property’s architecture. Over the years, balcony styles have evolved to reflect changes in structural design, construction and building materials. The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a wall. Alternatively, Juliet balconies (named after Shakespeare’s Juliet who famously courted Romeo from her balcony) do not protrude out of the building. They are usually part of an upper floor, narrow in depth and with a balustrade only at the front.
Advantages of balcony

 

1. Energy savings, as solar energy is used to preheat the ventilation air and reduce heat loss.
2. An extra room that can be used in the spring, summer, and autumn.
3. Control of solar heat gain in the summer by using ventilation devices and solar shading.
4. Ventilation devices can be used to prevent drafts and save energy.Orientation is also an important consideration. To save the most energy, glazed balconies should have an orientation between southeast and southwest. A north-oriented balcony is also an energy saver—though not as much as a south-oriented balcony—because the glazed balcony creates  a buffer zone between the unit and the exterior.

 

Types of methods of fixing Balcony structures

 

1. Cantilevered balconies:The balcony overhang from the facade of the structure without any evident support other than the fitting to the facade of the building.The weight and  obligatory loads are sustained by cantilevering the structure off the wall. This type of  balcony, while possessing the most aesthetic end result, will require to be designed in advance and will impose larger point loads on the building.

2. Hung balconies: Another form of supporting the balcony structure is using stainless steel cables that fix to the walls and “hang” the balcony or balconies. The balcony sits perpendicular to the building, a steel cable fixes to the edge of the balcony and a large plate  is connected to the building at 45 degrees. This is a very aesthetic solution but is less common.

3. Stacked balconies or balconies on pillars: This is the most popular type of balcony structure, mainly because of the simplicity of implementation and the minimal load implications on the building. In fact it is a separate structure to the building and on occasions is not even connected structurally. The balcony structure is supported using vertical pillars or posts. The size of these pillars is a derivative of the size, weight and number of balconies  stacked on top. Balconies are generally categorized into 3 main types:

 

1.True Balconies – True balconies have a deck floor and railings. These balconies have a wider floor than false balconies. A true balcony can be walked on and supports a reasonable amount of people, furniture, decorations, plants, etc.
2. False Balconies – These balconies have a narrow deck and rail, which are designed to support the weight of plants and planters. They are also functional in the use of creating a support system for those wanting to stand in their doorways and lean upon the railing to view the outdoors.
3. Faux Balconies – Faux balconies have a rail with no deck floor. The faux balcony covers either windows or doors. They are designed for decorative as well as safety purposes, but just like all three types of balconies, they open the outdoors to the interior of the dwelling. Stairs are essential building blocks and is a series of steps placed in such a manner as to join different floors of a building. Stairs are intended to provide as easy and quick access to different floors. There are three main mechanisms in a staircase: stringers, treads and risers. Stringers are cut from 2 x 12s, are the sloped boards that sustain the other components and bear the weight of people walking on the stairs. They’re usually spaced 16 in. on center. When determining the staircase width, wider is always better. Treads form the top surface of each step, and risers are installed directly under the front lip of each tread.Generally stairs are of following types

 

1. Straight stairs: no change in direction on any flight between two successive floors. This can be of following types.Straight run with a single flight between floors, series of flight without change in direction, Parallel stairs, Angle stairs and Scissors stairs

2. Quarter turn stairs: direction of flight is to be changed by 900 with landing space or has provision for winders at the junctions.
3. Half turn stairs: change their direction through 1800. It can be either dog-legged ( flights are in opposite directions with no space) or open newel type(opening between the flights to accommodate a lift).
4. Three quarter turn stairs: change its directions thrice through 2700 such that its upper flight crosses the bottom one
5. Circular stairs:, appear to follow circle with a single centre of curvature and large radius when viewed from above.
6. Spiral stairs: radius of curvature is small and supported by a center post.
7. Curved stairs: appears to trail a curve with two or more centre of curvature, such as ellipse.
8. Geometric stairs: have no newel post and are of any geometrical shape. The change in direction in these stairs is achieved through winders.
9. Bifurcated stairs:wide flight at the start which is subdivided into narrow flights at the  mid-landing.
10. Combination above types: Based on the interest and owner’s taste above mentioned design are combined to form a new stair.

 

Conclusion:

 

Wall spaces play a critical role in the three most important aspects of home design.Appearance gains its importance next to the shape of a house; aspects like balconies, ventilators doors and windows are the most significant factor influencing how the place looks to the outside world. The second element is site embrace. These spaces of the walls capture views and make the connection between the indoors and the natural world beyond. Lastly, these spaces brings about comfort and serve as means to connect one part of the building to the other and also let in light and air and protect against extremes of weather

 

you can view video on WALL SPACES-WINDOWS, VENTILATORS, DOORS BUILT-IN CUPBOARDS, STAIRCASES, BALCONIES

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_window
https://www.andersenwindows.com/windows-and-doors/windows/casement-windows/
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