Let's assume we have a room with an area of 20m² (215 sq ft). Now, planning a window with 2m² (22 sq ft) of glass surface for this room.
How bright would that be?
What about if the room had 10m² (108 sq ft) of glass surface?
At what glass surface area in m² would the room no longer get significantly brighter?
And so on.
Is there a rule of thumb to figure this out, or maybe even a calculator or a simple formula to determine it?
Perhaps one that also takes external factors into account, such as a nearby tree, a carport, a neighboring house, an overhead balcony, or the window’s orientation to the north/east/south/west?
How bright would that be?
What about if the room had 10m² (108 sq ft) of glass surface?
At what glass surface area in m² would the room no longer get significantly brighter?
And so on.
Is there a rule of thumb to figure this out, or maybe even a calculator or a simple formula to determine it?
Perhaps one that also takes external factors into account, such as a nearby tree, a carport, a neighboring house, an overhead balcony, or the window’s orientation to the north/east/south/west?
Most people don’t really know what a lux value means, just as a side note. Especially since a lux level in a room can never be evenly reached by natural sunlight alone. It also varies between cloudy and sunny weather and between winter and summer.
Not only the total window area determines the lighting in a room but also the height of the lintel. There are several practical rules, for example, that the room depth should not exceed twice the lintel height.
Different rooms have different lighting requirements. Our utility room has 2 sqm (21.5 sq ft) of window area for a room size of 8 sqm (86 sq ft), providing enough illumination. Our living room has 14 sqm (150 sq ft) of windows for 25 sqm (269 sq ft), which is pleasantly bright. The children’s rooms have 3 sqm (32 sq ft) of windows for 16 sqm (172 sq ft), also nicely bright. The hallway has about 2 sqm (21.5 sq ft) of covered window area, which can feel a bit dark on cloudy days.
Not only the total window area determines the lighting in a room but also the height of the lintel. There are several practical rules, for example, that the room depth should not exceed twice the lintel height.
Different rooms have different lighting requirements. Our utility room has 2 sqm (21.5 sq ft) of window area for a room size of 8 sqm (86 sq ft), providing enough illumination. Our living room has 14 sqm (150 sq ft) of windows for 25 sqm (269 sq ft), which is pleasantly bright. The children’s rooms have 3 sqm (32 sq ft) of windows for 16 sqm (172 sq ft), also nicely bright. The hallway has about 2 sqm (21.5 sq ft) of covered window area, which can feel a bit dark on cloudy days.
I would use as much glass on the house as possible. Glass (in plastic frames) is not expensive and reduces the masonry costs if the panes are floor-to-ceiling. Bright rooms are inviting, and I have never heard of rooms being too bright by the end of construction—at least when shading is added. Fortunately, my wife won the argument when it came to the windows 🙂
The illuminance decreases with every meter you move further into the room. There are calculations for this.
However, it is very difficult to accurately calculate artificial light for an imaginary room, so the results are only rough estimates.
If your room is two meters wide (6.5 feet) and 10 meters long (33 feet), it will be dark at the far end if you position your window on the narrow side.
An architect should be familiar with this 🙂
However, it is very difficult to accurately calculate artificial light for an imaginary room, so the results are only rough estimates.
If your room is two meters wide (6.5 feet) and 10 meters long (33 feet), it will be dark at the far end if you position your window on the narrow side.
An architect should be familiar with this 🙂
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Bauexperte5 Jun 2016 16:06tomtom79 schrieb:
The state building regulation says that in Baden-Württemberg, the window area must be about 1/10 of the floor area. No – it is 1/8 according to DIN 5034.
Regards, Bauexperte
Bauexperte schrieb:
No – 1/8 according to DIN 5034
Regards, Bauexperte No, in Baden-Württemberg according to the regional building authority it is 1/10 (0.1), just checked again. Other federal states have 1/8 (0.125).
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Bauexperte5 Jun 2016 17:50tomtom79 schrieb:
Other federal states have 1/8 And where is the OP building ...?
Best regards, Bauexperte
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