ᐅ Window size in the plans – How should it be correctly interpreted?

Hello everyone,

I have a question about something I don’t fully understand and would appreciate your help!

How should the window size specified in the construction drawing be correctly interpreted?

The dado height (brüstungshöhe) refers to the height up to the edge of the wall. So, a dado height of 1.00 m (3 feet 3 inches) corresponds to four rows of bricks, correct?

The size of the wall opening for the window is shown on the construction drawing, for example, as a width of 1.635 m (5 feet 4.5 inches) and a height of 1.46 m (4 feet 9.5 inches).

So the bricklayer will leave me a hole in the wall of 1.635 x 1.46 m (5 feet 4.5 inches x 4 feet 9.5 inches) after completing their work, right?

However, if I plan to install an external roller shutter box with a height of 30 cm (12 inches) above the window, then I actually need a wall opening of 1.635 x 1.76 m (5 feet 4.5 inches x 5 feet 9.5 inches).
Does this also need to be specified in the drawing?
Is it enough to add a note like “Attention: roller shutter box” and then all the experts will understand the requirement?
Or is it supposed to be understood differently?

In the end, I want to have the correct wall opening so that I don’t end up without roller shutters.

Thanks in advance to everyone!

Please show the drawing.

In your calculation with the 176 at a 100cm (39 inches) parapet height, the room height would need to be close to 290cm (114 inches).

It is also important to clarify whether the parapet height is measured from the top of the structural floor (mason’s work) or from the top of the finished floor. If measured from the structural floor, a 100cm (39 inches) parapet height quickly becomes only about 82 to 85cm (32 to 33 inches) with the finished floor. This is often relevant, for example, in kitchen planning.

Bratpirat123 schrieb:
How should the window size indication in the construction drawing be correctly understood?

The "correct" (i.e., usual) approach is to relate the measurement to the window itself—and to check the section view to see how the roller shutter boxes are supposed to be constructed.

Bratpirat123 schrieb:
Is a note like "Attention with roller shutter box" missing, so that all experts then know what to do?

Unfortunately, you are right that such ambiguities can lead to misunderstandings. On site, many things are done “as always”—so this kind of note can never be emphasized enough, especially if the foreman previously worked with a company that had different practices.

When in doubt, it’s better to point out “one time too many” that something is clearly specified. This is especially true for the tricky ...

kbt09 schrieb:
It is also always important to clarify whether the parapet height is measured from the top of the raw floor (mason) or from the top of the finished floor.

... this reference, whether the measurement is "before Christ or with metworst tax," is just as important as having the correct number itself.

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Our plans showed the exact same thing as yours. The window dimensions were given without the roller shutter, which was then installed on top. However, the plan specified that roller shutters were to be installed; every window was marked with “RK” in the execution plan. Our finished parapet height ended up being 87cm (34 inches), starting from the 1m (39 inches) parapet height minus the screed and window sill.

Best regards
Sabine

Finished parapet height can be defined as follows:

It is a construction measurement that indicates the distance between the finished floor level and the parapet. The parapet is the boundary between a solid building structure and an opening. Examples include balcony or window parapets. The parapet height is measured from the floor up to the underside of the window sill, or more generally, to the start of the opening.

Measuring up to the start of the opening corresponds to the rough construction measurement as well. In finished construction, this measurement is always taken without the window sill, which is also useful for kitchen planning.

Curly schrieb:
However, the plan indicated that roller shutters would be installed; each window had "RK" marked in the execution plan.

Unfortunately, that alone doesn’t clarify whether it’s a traditional roller shutter box installed by the shell builder, or a roller shutter box attached to the window unit itself (which the window installer then fits as a complete module).

For this question, what really matters is whether the window is going to have a roller shutter box at all: if not, there will be a lintel; if yes, the floor slab usually follows immediately after the roller shutter box.

The practical difference between these roller shutter box types is that the box is either installed individually before the floor slab, or attached to the window and installed only after the floor slab is completed.

Construction workers don’t like reading instructions much — the easiest way to communicate this to them is simply whether roller shutter boxes are physically present on site.

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