LOCATION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS

The designer or planner should observe the following rules while deciding the location of doors and windows:

1. The number of doors should be kept minimum for each room because larger numbers cause obstruction and decrease the utility of the accommodation. The location and size of the doors should be based on their functional requirement.
2. From the viewpoint of utility and privacy of the occupants, doors should preferably be located near the corner of a room.
3. For good ventilation and free air circulation inside the room, the doors should be located in opposite walls facing each other.
4. The location, number and size of the windows are decided considering various factors, like desired daylight, vision, privacy, ventilation and heat loss.
5. The sill of a window should be located at a height of 0.75–1 m above the floor level. However, windows when exposed to public places like shopping centres and cinema theatres are located at a higher level say about 2 m. This is essential for achieving privacy in buildings on the ground floor.
6. Doors and windows should be located by keeping in view the interior decoration of the room and views of the building owner.