BUILDING •Windows and doors

CONSTRUCTI
ON LEVEL 1 • Lecturer: B. GAULE
Windows

A window is defined as an opening formed in a

wall or roof to admit daylight
through some transparent or translucent
material fixed in the opening.

The most common transparent or translucent

material used is glass, although
other materials such as Perspex are used for
rooflights.

The glass is fixed in a frame, which in turn is fixed

into the opening.
Functional requirements

The primary function of windows are to:

 Admit daylight - daylight is required to enable the occupants to work, move about in safety, and enable tasks
to be performed.
 Provide a view out - a link with the outside world.
 Provide ventilation - for the health and comfort of the building occupants, and to control condensation.

In addition, windows should also:

 Provide adequate strength and stability.
 Provide adequate thermal and sound insulation.
 Provide adequate airtightness.
 Provide resistance to the weather.
 Admit or control solar radiation and daylight.
 Provide adequate security.
 Provide adequate fire safety.
 Be durable, maintenance free and easy to clean.
 Comply with the relevant Approved Documents of the Building Regulations.
 Comply with relevant Health & Safety and CDM Regulations.
Functional requirements
The primary function of windows are to:
 Admit daylight - daylight is required to enable the occupants to work, move about in safety, and enable tasks
to be performed.
 Provide a view out - a link with the outside world.
 Provide ventilation - for the health and comfort of the building occupants, and to control condensation.

In addition, windows should also:

 Provide adequate strength and stability.
 Provide adequate thermal and sound insulation.
 Provide adequate airtightness.
 Provide resistance to the weather.
 Admit or control solar radiation and daylight.
 Provide adequate security.
 Provide adequate fire safety.
 Be durable, maintenance free and easy to clean.
 Comply with the relevant Approved Documents of the Building Regulations.
 Comply with relevant Health & Safety and CDM Regulations.
Terminology

The study of windows requires the use of a number of

terms:
 Window frame - the members that form the
perimeter of a window.
 Casement - this is the opening part of a window.
 Mullion - the vertical member that subdivides a
frame.
 Transom - the horizontal member that subdivides a
frame.
 Head - the horizontal top member of the window
frame.
 sill - the horizontal bottom member of the window
frame.
 Jamb - the vertical side members of the window
frame.
Classification of windows
Windows may be classified in two main ways:

1. The materials from which they are made:

 Timber.
 Steel.
 Aluminium.
 PVC-U.
 Composite.
 Fibreglass.

2. The method of opening:

 Fixed light - the glass is fixed so that no part of the glazing can be opened.
 Opening light - part of the glazing can be opened.
Materials used for windows
Window types
The glazed sections of a window
can be either fixed (fixed lights),
or alternatively they can open
(opening lights).
The main types of opening lights
are:
• Casement windows - side hung,
top hung, bottom hung.
• Pivoted windows - horizontally
pivoted, vertically pivoted.
• Sash windows - horizontally
sliding, vertically sliding.
• Composite action – side hung
projected, top hung projected,
bottom hung projected, sliding The main types of opening light
[Source: Emmitt & Gorse, 2005]
folding.
Issues associated with the
construction of windows

Several issues must be considered when selecting, installing and

detailing windows. These include:
 Position of the window.
 Method of installation.
 Thermal bridging.
 Airtightness.
 Window performance.

Failure to adequately consider any of the above issues may result in

future
problems
Position of the window

Windows can be installed in

the following positions:
 Within the outer leaf of the
external wall.
 Set back behind the outer
leaf of the external wall.
 In a rebated ‘check’ reveal.
Method of installation

There are two principal ways of fixing

windows into external walls:
 Built-in - where the window is fixed in,
and the wall is built around it.
 Fixed-in prepared openings - where
the window is fixed into position after the
wall has been constructed.

Traditionally, the window frame was built-

in to horizontal brick or block courses
during the construction of the external
walls.

Once built-in, the windows were then

glazed on-site.
Method of
installation
Nowadays, the most common
method of installing windows is to
fix them into
prepared openings. This is done to:
 Avoid damaging the windows
before and during
construction.
 Avoid delays in completion.
 Improve cash flow.

Prepared openings can be formed

using either:
 Timber frames.
 Proprietary cavity closers

The window frames are then fixed

into the opening by screw fixing
through the window frame
(timber window frames) or by
using head, sill and jamb ties
Airtightness

Air leakage through trickle vents. Air leakage through a poorly fitting
[Source: CEBE, 2006] casement [Source: CEBE, 2004].

Air leakage at the junction between Air leakage at the junction between
the frame and the wall [Source: CEBE, 2005]. wall and window sill [Source: CEBE, 2005].
Energy implications of a window
Doors
A door is defined as a solid barrier to an opening or doorway which can be opened
for access or closed to deny access.

Glass can be incorporated into the door to admit daylight.

The primary function of doors are:

 To provide a means of access.
 Privacy.

In addition, doors should also:

 Provide adequate strength and stability.
 Provide adequate thermal and sound insulation.
 Provide adequate airtightness.
 Provide resistance to the weather.
 Admit or control solar radiation and daylight.
 Provide adequate security.
 Provide adequate fire safety.
 Be durable, maintenance free and easy to clean.
 Comply with the relevant the Building Regulations.
Terminology
The study of doors requires the use
of several terms, namely:
 Stile - the vertical side members
of the door frame.
 Rail - the horizontal member that
subdivides a door frame.
 Top rail - the horizontal top
member of the door frame.
 Bottom rail - the horizontal
bottom member of the door frame.

Door terminology [Source: Emmitt & Gorse, 2005]

Classification of doors
As with windows, doors may be classified in two main ways:

1. The materials from which they are made:

 Timber.
 Aluminium.
 PVC-U.
 Composite.

2. The type of door:

 Internal.
 External.
Airtightness
Infiltration is the air leakage which occurs through cracks and gaps in the building
fabric and is a measure of the leakiness or airtightness of a building.

Infiltration may significantly increase heat losses, and it can affect thermal comfort
by allowing unwanted draughts and cold spots.

A common infiltration path is found around openings such as windows and rooflights,
which account for around 16% of component air leakage [Stephen, 2000].

Common leakage points associated with windows and rooflights include:

 Through poorly fitting trickle vents.
 Through poorly closing casements.
 At the junction between the frame and the wall.
 At the junction between the wall and the underneath of the window sill.
 Between joints in the frame (particularly bay windows).
 Around corner seals on rooflights.
 Around the edge of liners for rooflights.
Materials used for doors

There is little difference between the materials and the technology used to
produce doors and windows, particularly with respect to glazed doors.

Doors can be constructed from the following materials:

 Timber – Traditionally used.
 Aluminium – Mainly used for patio doors or garage doors.
 PVC-U – As with PVC-U windows, PVC-U doors are very popular in the
refurbishment / replacement market.
 Composite – Now used in the new house building sector due to their
thermal efficiency and their stability, even in extremes of weather. Consist
of steel or GRP facings supported on an aluminium or timber frame, with
an insulated core of rigid polyurethane foam.
Door types

The most common door type available

comprises one leaf which is hinged at
one side and opens in one direction.
This type of door is termed a side
hung, single leaf, single swing door.

Doors can be further categorised into:

 Panelled doors.
 Glazed doors.
 Flush doors.
 Fire doors.
 Match boarded doors.
Different types of doors [Source: Emmitt & Gorse, 2005]
Panelled, glazed and flush
doors
• Panelled doors consist of a
frame which is either
grooved or rebated to
receive panels.
• Glazed doors are
constructed in the same way
as panelled doors except
that glass replaces one or
more of the panels. They
tend to be used where more
light or a view is required.
• Flush doors are
constructed with a flush
outer face.
Fire doors
• To enable the occupants of a particular
building to escape in case there is a
• fire, various parts of the building's
construction will have to be
constructed using fire
• resistant construction.

• In the event of a fire, doors must:

• Act as a barrier to the combustion
products from the fire.
• Maintain the effectiveness of the
construction in which they are
located.

• Therefore, the main function of fire

doors can be stated as (BRE, 1998):
• Providing adequate resistance to
the passage of smoke and other
combustion products during the
early stages of a fire.
• Providing a barrier to a well-
developed fire without permitting
the passage of flames or excessive
quantities of smoke and hot
Fire doors
The performance of fire doors depends upon its function.
Performance requirements for fire doors can be found in the
Building buy laws.

Fire doors are generally:

 Made with infillings of specially processed flame-retardant
material.
 Should be fitted within the recommended fire-resisting
door frame.
 Frames should incorporate an intumescent strip with an
integral smoke seal.
 Should be easily openable and fitted with self-closing
devices.

Glass panels can be incorporated into fire doors. However, the

glass and the glazing system must be suitable for the application,
i.e. fire resisting glass should be used. All glazing should be
bedded in an intumescent material.
Issues associated with the
construction of doors
As with windows, there are several Position of the door
issues associated with doors
which must be considered at the
design stage. These include: As withwindows, external doors may
 Position of the door. be installed at three alternative
positions within
 Method of installation.
the external wall of a building. These
 Thermal bridging. positions are:
 Airtightness.  Within the outer leaf.
 Door performance.  Set back behind the outer leaf.
 In a rebated ‘check’ reveal.
Method of installation
There are two principle ways of fixing doors into walls. These are:
 Built-in.
 Fixed-in prepared openings.

Built-in

Traditionally, doors were built-in during the construction of the external walls. Once the
frame was built-in, the doors were then hung on-site.

Fixed-in prepared openings

Nowadays, most external doors and all internal doors are fixed into prepared
openings in walls in order to prevent damage, avoid delays in completion and
improve cash flow.

Door frames are fixed into prepared openings using the same methods previously
described for windows.
Method of installation
The doors are then hung to:
 Door frame.
 Door lining.

Door frames - mainly used for hanging external doors, but can
be used to hang doors
in solid partitions. The frame has sufficient strength to support
the weight of
the door

Door linings - mainly used for hanging internal doors.

The lining is not strong
enough to support the weight of the door without support
from the surrounding wall or
partition.

Door lining [Source: Emmitt & Gorse, 2005]

Matchboard doors

• Match boarded doors are

used mainly for gates,
sheds and stores. They
are constructed in timber
and are made with a
facing of tongued,
grooved and V- jointed
boards fixed vertically to
either ledges or braces or
a frame.
• The doors are inexpensive
References
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BRE (1998) Fire Doors. BRE Digest 320. Building Research Establishment, Watford, UK.

BRECSU (1995) Energy Efficiency in New Housing: Detailing for Designers and Building Professionals. Good Practice Guide 96:
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