7Windows

A window is an opening formed in a wall or roof primarily to admit daylight through some transparent or translucent material. Windows also serve an important function in providing controlled natural ventilation to buildings and make a major contribution to the visual appearance of buildings. As the window is part of the wall or roof envelope, it should serve to exclude wind and rain, and act as a barrier to excessive transfer of heat, sound and spread of fire in much the same way that the surrounding wall or roof does.

7.1 Functional requirements

The primary function of a window is to:

  • Admit daylight and provide a view

Additional performance requirements include:

  • Safety – comply with relevant health and safety legislation, including the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations
  • Strength, stability and airtightness
  • Fire safety
  • Provision of ventilation
  • Resistance to the passage of heat
  • Resistance to the passage of sound
  • Safety
  • Security
  • Aesthetics
  • Durability and freedom from maintenance

The key elements of a window within a typical wall detail are shown in Figure 7.1.

Diagram of a typical double‐glazing window with arrows depicting cavity wall construction (partial fill cavity), edge sealing/cavity closer (reduce thermal bridge at head), window head, window frame, etc.

Figure 7.1 Typical double‐glazing window detail.

Source: Adapted from Gorse and Thomas, 2013.

Daylight

The prime function of a window is to admit adequate daylight for the efficient performance of daytime activities. The quantity of light admitted depends in general terms on the size of ...

Get Barry's Introduction to Construction of Buildings, 4th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial