Hope University College

Faculty of Science
And Technology

Lecture- 5 1
Building Opening

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 1. INTRODUCTION
❖ Openings are the hollow space building elements in
super structure. The openings in the building are
provides access of person in and out, light,
ventilation and visibility etc.

❖ Openings in the building are classified in two types

based on their position in the building super
structure such as;

1. Doors;
2. Windows;

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1. Door - is an open able 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 as an entrance for the building.

▪ It serves as a connecting link b/n the various internal
portions of a building.

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

▪ The function of a window is to:
• Admit light and air to the building,
• Give a view to the outside,
• Provide insulation against heat loss, and
• Give a measure of resistance to fire. 4
 2. LOCATION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS
❑ The following points should be kept in view while locating
doors and windows.
i. The number of doors in a room should be kept minimum,
since larger number of doors cause obstruction, and
consume more area in circulation.
ii. 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.
iii. If there are two doors in a room, the doors should
preferably be located in opposite walls facing each other,
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so as to provide good ventilation.
2. LOCATION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS

iv. The size and number of windows should be decided on the

basis of distribution of light, control of ventilation, and
privacy of the occupants.
v. The location of window should also meet the functional
requirements of the room, such as interior decoration,
arrangement of furniture, etc
iv. A window should be located in opposite wall, facing a door or
another window for cross ventilation.
v. From the point of view of fresh air, a window should be
located in the prevalent direction of wind.
vi. The sill of window should be located about 70-80 cm about the
floor level of the room. 6
 3. DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS
❑ The following are the technical terms applied to doors and windows
▪ Frame: : It is made of two vertical member called as posts/jambs and
the horizontal member connecting the jambs at top called as head
and at the bottom is called as sill.
▪ 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.
▪ Style: the vertical outside member of the shutter of the door or
window.
▪ Top rail: this is the top most horizontal member of a shutter.

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3. DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS
▪ 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 sub-
divide a window or a door vertically.
▪ Sill: this is the lowermost or bottom horizontal part of a window
frame.
▪ Transom: Horizontal member of a frame, which is employed to
subdivide a widow opening horizontally.
▪ Hold fasts: mild steel flats generally bent into Z shape, to fix or hold
the frame to the opening.
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3. DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS

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4. 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 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

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5. 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

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5. DOOR FRAMES
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.

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5. DOOR FRAMES
Timber door frames

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5. DOOR FRAMES
Steel door frames
❑ Steel door frames are made of any of the following sections
i. Single angle iron
ii. Double angle iron
iii. T-sections
iv. Channel sections formed from pressing steel plates

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 6. TYPES OF DOORS
❑ Doors commonly used in building are classified into the following types:

Classification Classification
Classification Classification
based on method based on
based on types of based on working
or manner of arrangement of
material used operation
construction components
Framed and Battened and
Wooden doors Revolving doors
panelled doors ledged doors
Glazed or sash
Glazed doors Sliding doors
doors Battened, legged
and braced doors
Plywood doors Swing doors Flush doors
Battened, legged
and frame doors
Plastic doors Folding doors Louvered doors
Battened, legged,
Wire-gauged braced and
Metal doors Collapsible doors
doors framed doors.
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 6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.1 Classification based on types of material used
2.1.1 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.
2.1.2 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.
2.1.3 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. 43
❑Such doors are mainly used for internals.
6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.1.4 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
colours 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.
2.1.5 Metal doors
❑ Flush doors covered in high pressure melamine laminates are manufactured to fit in
specific openings.

❑Steel and aluminium doors are most popularly used as metal doors.
❑ Aluminium has a shiny colour, has light weight and provides attractive appearance and
costs more than steel doors and 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. 44
 6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working operation
2.2.1 Revolving doors
❑ 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.
❑ The door consists of a centrally placed mullion to
which four radiating shutters are attached.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working
operation
2.2.2 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working operation
2.2.2 Sliding doors

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working
operation
2.2.3 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).

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working operation
2.2.3 Swing doors

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working
operation
2.2.4 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.
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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.2 Classification based on working
operation
2.2.5 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method
or manner of construction
2.3.1 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method or manner of construction
2.3.1 Framed and panelled doors

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2. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method or manner of construction
2.3.2 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.

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2. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method or manner of construction
2.3.2 Glazed doors or sash doors

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2. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method or manner of construction
2.3.3 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.
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 2. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3.3 Flash doors
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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3.3 Flash doors
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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3.3 Flash doors
B. Hollow core and cellular core flush door

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 6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method or manner of
construction
2.3.4 Louvered doors (Venetian 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.
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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.3 Classification based on method
or manner of construction
2.3.5 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.
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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.4 Classification based on
arrangement of components
2.4.1 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.4 Classification based on
arrangement of components
2.4.2 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.4 Classification based on
arrangement of components
2.4.3 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.

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6. TYPES OF DOORS
2.4 Classification based on
arrangement of components
2.4.4 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.

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