Sliding windows offers light, ventilation, and provide access to the outside world. Therefore, choosing the correct size for a sliding window is required for the window to meet the building codes and to offer proper ventilation to the enclosed building. If the size of the sliding window are wrong, then it will cause problems for the desired function of the window as an emergency exit in a bedroom and for the provision of insulation for the house.
The size of a sliding window will determine the amount of air that moves through the room, the size of the opening required for safety rules, and how the window frame react to changes in temperature. The chart provided will help you compare the different sliding window configurations. The chart displays why a narrow and tall sliding window can fail the egress requirements for bedrooms even if the glass area of the window is large.
How to Choose and Measure Sliding Windows
Adding width to the sliding window will make it compliant with the building code as the building inspector will measure the open space of the window rather than the total area of the sliding window frame. Sliding windows come in two-litre, three-litre, and double-slider layouts. A two-litre sliding window will have one fixed panel and one sliding panel; therefore, only half of the total width of the unit will provide ventilation.
A three-litre sliding window has two fixed panels and one sliding panel; hence, it will offer a wide view of the outside world but offer a limited area for vent. Lastly, a double-slider has two sliding panels that will allow for maximum ventilation by opening the entire opening of the sliding window. However, the disadvantage of this type of sliding window is that it will cost more and weigh more than other types of sliding windows.
In measuring the rough opening for the sliding window, you have to add half an inch to the width and height of the sliding window. This gap will provide space for shimming the frame of the sliding window to ensure that it is level and square. Otherwise, you will be forcing the sliding window into the opening of the room.
Adding this space will save time when installing the sliding window. However, be sure to read the instructions for the sliding window as some manufacturers will require a three-quarter inch gap between the rough opening and the sliding window. Lastly, egress requirements is essential in the design of sliding windows.
The egress requirement is a legal code for the bedroom windows for emergency exits. The code requires that the net clear opening of the opening be 5.7 square feet minimum, and no dimension of the opening may be narrower than twenty inches or shorter than twenty-four inches. Additionally, the sill of the sliding window cannot be higher than forty-four inches off the floor.
A sliding window may look large but the opening that it creates may not be large enough for emergency egress. Screens do not count towards the measurements of the opening of the sliding window, so you should remember them when measuring for egress requirements of the window. The material of the frame of the sliding window can impact the way in which the window perform over time.
For instance, vinyl is a common material for the frames of sliding windows because vinyl resists moisture and requires little maintenance; however, vinyl can soften if the temperature of the environment is extremely hot. Another common material for the frames of sliding windows is aluminum; aluminum has thin sight lines but conducts cold away from the body if the aluminum does not have a thermal break. Wood is another material that can be used for the frames of the windows; wood naturaly insulates the window but requires maintenance over time.
Finally, fiberglass is another material for the frames of the windows; fiberglass expands and contracts less than other materials and thus retains the seals of the windows during the different seasons of the year. The type of glass that is used within the sliding window can also impact the function of the window. For instance, low-E coatings and argon gas in the insulated glass units can help the window to become more energy efficient.
Additionally, the manufacturer often requires tempered glass for sliding windows that are placed near a door or within eighteen inches of the floor; the tempered glass breaks into small granules rather than sharp edges if the window breaks. Finally, obscure glass can be used in the frames of the window if privacy is required; it allows light to pass through but obscures the view of those outside of the bathroom of the person within the window. The tracks of the sliding window must be maintained to ensure that the window can still open and close correctly.
Over time, dust and grit can build up within the sill groove of the sliding window, which can prevent the window from opening or closing smoothly. To prevent this build-up, you should wipe the track of the sliding window with a damp cloth once every month, and the tracks should be vacuumed and sprayed with a silicone spray twice every year to ensure that the window continues to move smoothly. Finally, the weep holes located along the bottom of the sliding window track must remain open to allow water to escape from within the sliding window track; if the weep holes is sealed, water will collect within the sliding window that can eventualy lead to the rotting of the rough opening of the window.
