Cross ventilation by windows and/or fans shall be carried out, at least in the living room of the building, either through windows in opposite walls or, if this is not possible or desirable, at least in adjacent walls. ii. skylights, the construction of which must provide light and ventilation in accordance with point (i). No, the required window does not have to be in exactly the same room. For example, let`s say we want a glass sliding door or window in the family room to provide the light and ventilation needed for both the family room and the kitchen. If a window or door in one room brings light and ventilation to another room, the area of the two rooms should be calculated together as one room, and the window or door should be qualified for the entire area. But there is only a small catch. There must be a large opening between the two rooms. And it can`t just be a door. The opening between the two rooms must be at least 50% of the surface of the wall separating the rooms. In other words, if the partition is 8 feet high and 11 feet long (88 square feet), the opening in the wall must be at least 44 square feet. Now you see why architects get so much money. Enough confusing stuff! If you have a question, simply take the details to your local building department and ask what you can do – before you spend the money to get it wrong.

Light also has something to do with the feel of a room. Huge windows bring the outside inside. They give a room a big feel – as big as the outdoor space. The interior colors are heated by the outside light and make the room more welcoming. Did you ever lock yourself in a closet when you were a child? How would you like all the rooms in your house to be like this? If you are a sadist, do not answer this question. The texture of the fabrics and wood in the house is enhanced by natural light – especially the texture of the walls. Natural light enhances the whole house – color and texture are definitely affected. No part of a room shall be considered illuminated if it is more than 7,5 m from the door or window considered for the purpose of calculating as ventilation of that room. (a) Room: Any habitable space that, for the entry of air and light, should have one or more openings, such as windows and skylights, that open directly to the outside air or to an open porch, and of a total area, including frames, not to be as large? Simple natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting and can thus save energy. In winter, warming sunlight can reduce heating costs.

When it comes to ventilation, remember that Mother Nature`s breath reduces mold and mold. And unless you live in downtown Los Angeles, the outside air is usually quite medical (lots of oxygen) and refreshing. Although bathrooms are not considered living spaces under the code, there are still some lighting and ventilation requirements for bathrooms. The bad side: When it comes to windows and glass doors that provide light and ventilation, there are minimal requirements. This is confused by the fact that there are maximum values in terms of energy efficiency and glass. It is a completely different column. Suffice it to say that in terms of light and ventilation there are the minimum values that we have achieved, but when it comes to windows, there are just as many rules on the maximum permissible levels. When planning a build, always check with your construction department. (d) basements and floors: cellars and rooms therein, with the exception of rooms, must be lit and ventilated by windows in exterior walls with a ventilation area equal to or greater than 2,5 % of the floor area. (f) Stairways: each staircase shall be illuminated and ventilated by an open-air space at least 3 m deep, measured horizontally in the case of one storey and one upper storey structure, 4.5 m in the case of one storey and two structures above and higher than these, the open space not less than 6 m.

provided that the lighting area is not less than 1 m² per floor height. Each staircase must be properly ventilated. c) Storage, back room: These have at least half of the ventilation required for the living room. (1) A particular room must have a glass window or door equal to at least ten percent of the floor area of the room. So if a room is 10 feet wide x 12 feet long, the area of the room would be 120 square meters and the minimum window size of that room should be 12 square meters. A three-by-four-foot window would provide the room with 12 square feet of natural light – again, the minimum required. It`s actually quite simple. For every 10 feet of floor space, you need one foot of natural light surface. 2) Ventilation is much easier. Natural ventilation should account for 5% of the floor area, which is exactly half of the natural light. In our example with natural light above the window, minimal natural ventilation would also be permissible if half of it was functional. Although they are treated as separate topics, you can see that natural light and natural ventilation actually have a very specific relationship to each other in terms of calculation rules.

The amount of light required is literally twice as high as that of natural ventilation. In other words, the amount of natural ventilation required is exactly half the amount of natural light required. Do it your way. (b) Bathrooms and toilet sets: Rooms must be equipped with natural light and permanent ventilation by one of the following possibilities: i. windows with an area of at least 10 % of the floor area located in an exterior wall overlooking a driveway, courtyard or ventilation shaft whose dimensions perpendicular to the window are at least one third of the height of the building on which the window is located, within the minimum limit of 1 m and not more than 6 m. Send us your DIY tip, infusion or interesting story. If we use it in our column, we will send you a signed copy of our book “Home Maintenance For Dummies”. And that`s it. For more DIY tips and information, visit our website or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-737-2474.

One tenth of the floor space without doors for a hot and dry climate. e) The kitchen should be ventilated as much as possible in accordance with the prescribed standards for living spaces close to the ceiling. These rooms are occupied most of the time. Although toilets, closets, hallways and similar areas can also be occupied, these rooms are generally considered accessories for primary use and are used when living rooms are occupied. iii. Ventilation ducts: provided that these ducts have an area of 130 square centimetres for each square metre of surface, with a minimum total area of 300 square centimetres and a minimum dimension of 9 cm.