Distance from floor to window: standard height according to GOST, in private houses according to SNiP

A housing parameter that is important for the homeowner to know is the height of the window from the floor according to the GOST standard. This directly affects lighting and safety. The distance from the floor to the window in apartments is standard, but in private houses it can vary significantly. But even in your cottage you should focus on generally accepted standards.

Distance from floor to tabletop according to SNiP and GOST standards

Why is the window height parameter important?

The comfort of all people living in the room depends on how high the window opening is located. Moreover, an illiterate solution is not only a window that is too low, but also a window that is too high. Balance required.

Window sill in a private house

This setting affects:

• for illumination;
• safety;
• microclimate.

An ill-chosen height makes the room under- or over-lit. If the window opening is too low, there is a higher risk of falling, for example, when washing it.

The window area is always more vulnerable to climate changes outside, which also affects the microclimate. And if this area is too high or low, it will disrupt the optimal air circulation in the room and the temperature regime.

Table top in the apartment

Convenience

From time to time you have to open a window or at least a window. It is important to wash the glass on both sides occasionally. And of course, all this is inconvenient to do if the height relative to the floor is chosen incorrectly. In addition, in such a room the lighting regime will generally be disrupted.

There will either be too much sunlight, or vice versa.

Aesthetic role

The window opening in the room ideally corresponds to the proper proportions. According to the canon, its area is 5.5–8 times less than the floor area. And of course, the distance from the floor to the ceiling should be approximately the same visually. At least in a typical interior. Otherwise the room will look ridiculous.

Loggia

At what time and to what temperature is it set?

After the developer has decided to replace the window, chosen the model and placed an order for production, he will certainly be faced with the question of when is the best time to install it.

It is clear that the warm period with temperatures from 10 to 30 C (April-September) is the most preferable and comfortable for installation. However, even during this period, users note certain disadvantages :

1. 
   High speed of drying of polyurethane foam.

2. There is a high demand for windows; you have to wait a long time for the order to be made and for the installation team to become available.
3. Increase in prices for manufacturing and installation caused by high demand.
4. More mistakes made during installation.

Today, many customers plan to replace windows in the winter, which is acceptable at temperatures down to -15 C. This installation has many advantages :

1. Low cost of installation and production of window units.
2. Fast order execution time.
3. The ability to qualitatively check the operation of the window system for thermal protection and absence of condensation.

The biggest argument against installing units in the winter is the likelihood of the room quickly cooling. Today, this problem is solved by installing special heat shields, which allows you to retain internal heat in the room during installation.

Note! Metal-plastic and aluminum frames tolerate extreme temperatures from -5 and above +30 C the worst, which is due to the high thermal expansion of metal frame components. This limitation must be taken into account during installation work.

Standard window height from the floor

Of course there are many options. It is not always worth following the standard. However, GOST is applied in apartments. At least in most houses. Below are the standards for different types of buildings in height.

In Stalinka, the height is universal. After all, in a children’s room the standard height is 0.7 meters, but here this figure is in all rooms. Yes, for some it will be a little low, but the residents of such a house will not encounter problems with illumination and functionality of the window. Large and low windows are a consequence of the Art Deco style in architecture.

In Khrushchev-era buildings, the window height is set to the same height as in studios. This is perhaps the most familiar option for most middle-aged people. After all, they either grew up, or lived for a long time and still live in Khrushchev-era buildings. The height of 80 cm corresponds to the priorities that were set during the construction of these buildings - practicality and efficiency.

Drawing with explanations

In new buildings, the height is usually either 85 cm or 90 cm. Many prefer 0.9 meters. However, now houses with a height of 85 cm are often built. These are tall multi-apartment structures, at least ten floors, and usually more.

What to do

The question is not rhetorical: some of the problems I listed with French windows are completely solvable.

Heating

A low (200 - 350 mm) sectional radiator, a warm baseboard (the so-called wall convector with a height of 13 - 18 cm decorative screen) or an in-floor convector installed in a screed or between floor joists can create a thermal curtain in front of a panoramic window.

Panoramic window with in-floor convector.

My thermal curtain is created by an internal split unit blowing parallel to the plane of the window - a system that is the only source of heat in the attic.

The thermal curtain is created by an internal split system unit installed next to the window.

Cold, overheating and excessive light

These problems can be successfully solved by installing a combined double-glazed window with one energy-saving and one solar control glass.

What kind of glass is this?

Thanks to a thin metal coating, solar control glass reflects part of the light in the visible part of the spectrum (from 30 to 70%), reducing the illumination of the room and its heating in the summer heat.

Solar control glass unit.

By the way, it will also save you from prying glances from the outside thanks to the mirror effect. The interior of the room will be visible from the street only at dusk and when the lights are turned on inside.

Cottage with light-protective glass.

Energy-saving glass is equipped with the same metal coating, which, due to its special chemical composition, has limited transparency only in the infrared part of the spectrum. Glass reduces heat loss in winter, when the temperature in the house is higher than outside, and limits the heating of rooms in sunny weather.

Glass is easily recognized by the color of the reflected fire.

A single-chamber double-glazed window with one energy-saving glass transmits a quarter less heat than a double-chamber double-glazed window with conventional glass.

Double-chamber double-glazed window with energy-saving and light-protective glass.

If the windows are already installed, you can turn the double-glazed windows into solar-protective and/or energy-saving ones by sticking appropriate films on the glass.

The film can change the characteristics of your double glazed window.

How to do it yourself? The instructions are extremely simple:

1. Wash the glass;
2. Cut the film to the size of the glass unit;
3. Wet the glass generously with water and a small amount of baby shampoo;
4. Remove the film from the backing, press it against the glass and smooth it with a rag or rubber spatula from the center to the periphery, driving out the water.

The film is glued to heavily moistened glass.

Noise

The noise problem can be partially solved by installing a noise-proof double-glazed window. Sound insulation is achieved by combining glass of different thicknesses (usually 4 and 6 mm) with variable thickness of spacer frames. As a result, the glazing absorbs sounds across the widest possible acoustic spectrum.

Regular and noise-proof double-glazed windows.

Other window height options

In a private house it is already possible to “turn around”. But here it is also better to take into account accepted norms. According to SNiP, when placing a window from the floor in a private house, different types of premises require different heights. Below are the standards for the main types of premises found in the home of the average family.

For other rooms, a distance from the floor to a standard window of 90 cm is suitable. This is a balanced distance that will create good illumination and the microclimate of the house.

In addition, it will be convenient and pleasant. After all, windows that are too high or too low will not please the eye with the landscape and are unlikely to decorate the room. These parameters are also relevant for wooden houses made of timber. This is not a minimum or maximum level, but an optimal one.

However, if you want something special, other options are possible. For the first and even second floor, an interesting choice would be to glaze almost the entire space from floor to ceiling. In this case, the bottom of the window will almost visually merge with the floor.

Installation in accordance with acceptable GOST and SNiP standards

It is possible to combine two floors by removing the stairs and the attic. Such planning will provide unprecedented space and a creative environment. This is an excellent solution for broad-minded people who want to create optimal working conditions around themselves.

This solution will also help to visually increase the space, if required.

Another thing is that such a step sometimes comes at the expense of comfort. Even if it is possible to cover the windows with electric blinds. This still cannot be compared with windows with a rounded top shape and a wooden frame. Classics are classics, and hi-tech or other modern trends will never replace them. Just add some color.

Radiator location from the window and floor according to SNiP standards

Installation depth in openings

Mounting depth is the maximum distance for placing a window block in a wall technological opening, established by regulatory documents. It is determined between the frame cut and the most distant point located on the outer street part of the wall.

This indicator depends on the design of the window, the material from which the frame and sashes are made, the structure of the house and the wall material. Window systems in modern residential buildings are installed with an installation depth of 58-100 mm .

This parameter is calculated by the project and depends on the climatic characteristics of the construction area. It is determined in such a way that at maximum sub-zero temperatures for a given area, condensation does not form on windows and walls, thereby not damaging important structures of the house.

Important! Practical and design experience has established that when a double-glazed window is located at 1/3 of the thickness of the outer wall, the penetration of frosty air to the window glass and frame is significantly limited, which prevents the formation of condensation.

How to correctly install a window according to the depth of the wall:

By type of window design

This characteristic affects the depth of the frames, which is associated with the system of opening and closing the sashes. To prevent uncontrolled heat loss around windows, it is necessary to install them correctly.

When determining the minimum installation interval to the outer cut of the wall, it is necessary to take into account not only the type of opening of the sash, but also the general design of the window unit: fixed, single, double, or triple-leaf windows, as well as the type of fittings.

Minimum distances for installing a window in an opening depending on its type, for example, with a wall thickness of 400 mm:

• rotating inside the apartment - from 80 to 120 mm;
• rotating outward - from 60 to 80 mm;
• folding - from 60 to 120 mm;
• tilt and turn - from 60 to 120 mm;
• sliding - from 50 to 80 mm;
• single-leaf - from 50 to 80 mm;
• two- and three-leaf - from 80 to 120 mm;
• deaf - from 50 to 80 mm.

According to frame material

The window material affects the installation depth of the block in the window opening and this is related to the thickness of the frame; for each type of material, it differs from each other.

Dimensions of the installation depth from the outer cut of the wall for different types of window frame material , for example, for a single-layer wall 400 mm:

1. PVC frames, three-chamber double-glazed windows, profile sizes 58-82 mm from 120 to 60 mm.
2. Aluminum frames, three-chamber double-glazed windows, installation width of the package 53 mm, installation depth from 50 mm to 80 mm.
3. Wooden frames, three-chamber double-glazed windows from 78 to 98 mm, installation depth from 120 to 80 mm.

By building type

The type of building affects the thickness of the walls and the type of wall building material.

Note. In old houses, the walls are usually single-layer without thermal insulation; in this case, windows are installed in the middle of its thickness. In modern houses with a layer of thermal insulation, they are located as close as possible to the protective layer.

The most ideal location for the frame is in the thermal insulation layer, and there are several location options :

1. Single-layer walls - in the middle of the wall.
2. Two-layer - as close as possible to thermal insulation.
3. Three-layer - in a layer of insulation.
4. Prefabricated walls - in the middle of the wall.
5. Khrushchev: wall thickness - 0.35 m, two-layer, concrete covered with tiles or bricks, recess thickness from 80 to 100 mm.
6. Brezhnevki: silicate or red brick, wall thickness 0.510 /0.600 m, from 120 mm.
7. High-rise buildings of the 2010s, monolith, panel reinforced concrete, 0.510 mm from 120 mm.
8. Private housing construction, wall thickness from 400 mm, multi-layer structures, placement depth from 150 mm.

According to wall material

The installation depth of window frames is determined by the wall material. In houses made of brick, stone and blocks, the installation location is determined by 1/3 of the depth from the outer cut of the load-bearing wall; when insulating the frame, the block is installed before the insulation; when finishing with brick - in the insulation zone.

Basic indicators of the location of the window frame in the wall opening:

1. Aerated concrete, blocks and porous bricks, in the middle of the opening, minimum depth from 8 to 12 cm from the edge of the wall.
2. Log walls, without insulation - 1/3 of the opening, minimum depth from 10 to 12 cm from the edge of the wall.
3. Log walls, without insulation - in the middle of the opening. minimum depth from 12 to 15 cm from the edge of the wall.
4. In a frame house, 70 mm from the edge of the wall.

If you want something else

Sometimes even the most intricate design catalogs fail to satisfy the searcher. After all, the flight of your imagination is incomparable with someone else’s. But, unlike painting, architecture is much more demanding of the creator. She doesn't forgive mistakes. So no matter how broad the imagination, it is always worth thinking about the possibility or impossibility of practical application.

In the apartment

Many people want to see the distance between the floor and the window small. This is understandable, because it is in this case that the room will look extremely spacious. However, it is important to choose windows that will be strong enough if an adult accidentally falls on them.

How far should the window sill protrude from the wall?

The width of the model has a functional and aesthetic meaning, which participates in heat exchange, increases the usable area and is the finishing touch of the renovation.

In the kitchen, this element is used as an additional countertop. In other rooms this is a place for plants, so choosing the optimal width is very important.

When replacing window structures, owners want to make maximum use of the usable area and do not know how far the window sill should protrude from the wall.

A model that is too wide will interfere with normal air circulation, the room will not warm up properly, and the glass will fog up.

If non-radiator type heating is used, then you can install a model without a protrusion or a wide 0.5-0.7 m element.

The best arrangement for a PVC and wood slab is to extend it by 6 cm. For wider models, manufacturers provide technological holes for the circulation of warm air with a diameter of 1.0-1.5 cm.

Installation with a protrusion of more than 6 cm is possible by covering the radiator with special ventilation grilles or by choosing a battery with a horizontal flow of heat output. Installing a model made of stone, which does not transmit heat well, requires a protrusion of no more than 5 cm.

Peculiarities

Anyone who independently equips a private house or cottage will at some point be faced with the height of the window opening. Construction specialists in this case take into account the future location of furniture and heating systems, lighting sources or SNiP recommendations.

Modern standards do not provide specific regulations on what the distance from the floor surface to the window opening should be. The Soviet SNiP provided for a minimum value, which today people involved in construction take as a basis when constructing a multi-story building. This indicator takes into account the dimensions of the heating system. It is located strictly under the window opening for better regulation of heat transfer. This prevents condensation from forming on the windows, while ensuring uniform heating throughout the entire room.

Most heating systems intended for residential premises are distinguished by a height not exceeding fifty centimeters. The permissible distance when installing heating elements from the floor surface is ten centimeters, from the window sill - no less than eight centimeters.

Taking into account all the above indicators, we can conclude that the minimum distance from the floor surface to the window opening is sixty-eight centimeters. However, this value is relevant for a multi-storey residential building with standard typical characteristics.

When building in a two-story house, it is necessary to make the distance from the floor to the window according to GOST, this way it is more convenient to place furniture in the future.

Note: when designing, take into account which room is located in which direction of the world. The fact is that the time of day and time of year affect the intensity of the light flux that penetrates the house through window openings.

Considering these factors, you can either add additional lighting to the living space or deprive it of light altogether. In this regard, it is recommended to place window openings in the most sunlit areas of the wall surface. For energy-efficient private houses, it is recommended to place window openings on the south or west side of the house, where the sun will evenly illuminate the room space. In the northern part of the house, installing windows is not recommended at all.

Canons of proportions

Window systems in living rooms traditionally occupy an area 5.5–8 times less than the floor. In a room with an area of ​​20 m2, the window area cannot exceed 3.5 m2. For attic structures, the proportion of window and wall areas of 1:10 is acceptable. When placing other buildings or tall trees near the house, the glass filling should be increased for greater illumination. With too small window openings, the room seems dark and cramped. You can make an opening the size of the entire wall, provided it is sufficiently insulated and airtight.

Standard dimensions of window systems from manufacturers in Russia

Consider the location of window openings on the cardinal points. It is better to place living rooms on the south, southwest, southeast side. For utility rooms such as a kitchen or bathroom, it is optimal to have the northern side, where there is no bright natural light.

Generally accepted standards

As already mentioned, at the state level the distance from the window sill to the floor is not regulated, but is only advisory. However, generally accepted building standards require compliance with room sizes and placement. However, the result does not always coincide with the project, so it is recommended to use the following recommendations:

Regarding modern panoramic glazing, different rules apply. Here the window sill is located almost at the same level as the floor. This feature affects the need to comply with special safety measures, which include the installation of protective fences and reinforced double-glazed windows.

Important! When designing the location of a window opening, keep in mind that there are no strictly prescribed criteria for their arrangement. The average value is around 80-90 cm, but it can be both lower and higher.

conclusions

If you want to take a risk and bring your wildest fantasies to life, you should first consult with an architect. Regarding the shape and dimensions of the window, its height from the floor. Perhaps dreams do not coincide with reality. Then installing such windows is impossible.

If, on the contrary, you want to make everything simpler, it is better to be guided by standards in all aspects. Perhaps someday views on what the distance to the floor from the window should be will change, but it is unlikely that these changes will be significant. Because a certain limit of architectural thought has already been reached.

Here's what to consider when choosing this height in a private home:

1. Window dimensions.
2. Purpose of the room.
3. Climatic conditions of geographic latitude.

Sometimes it is more practical to make the windows small. For example, where there is little sun and a cold, damp climate, somewhere in the northern regions close to the ocean. In sunny latitudes, on the contrary, it is better to make large windows, like in Stalin buildings, in order to more effectively use the abundance of daylight and moonlight.

And it is better to choose the distance to the floor as 70 cm. And everywhere except the bathroom. In a private home, it is also worth considering the height of the flooring. If it is tall, then the height to the window will be less.

If we are talking about an apartment, you should think ten times before remodeling. In any case, the owner will be responsible. Moreover, most likely, no one will give permission for this. And for good reason.

At a minimum, the appearance of an apartment building, where everyone changes the height of their windows, will be strange and unaesthetic.

Since the 1930s, in homes and public buildings such as schools, windows have been located at an acceptable height relative to the floor. And in brick, and in panel, and in buildings made of aerated concrete. So there is no practical sense in remodeling window openings. If you want something of your own, it is better to immediately buy or build a private house.

The distance from the window to the floor is an important aspect for any room. It determines how much light the room will have. In addition, this plays an important role in the microclimate of the room. The parameter also affects safety. This is why it is worth considering the standards, even if we are talking about a private home.

SNiP requirements

First of all, you need to know that the window sill height standard is not regulated by the requirements of Russian SNIP. However, in this matter, it is customary to focus on the requirements of Soviet SNIP , in which this value is defined in a very specific way; in any case, there is a minimum value.

The calculation is based on the size of the heating radiators, the height of which is
50 cm.
The height of the radiator above the floor must be at least 10 cm, and the distance between the top point of the radiator and the window sill must be at least 8 cm.

Thus, the minimum installation height of the window sill will be 68 cm, but in practice the window sill is located slightly higher, about 75-80 cm.

Find out how to clean a PVC window sill from dirt in our article.