Design Rules🪟 Windows & Ventilation

Habitable Room Window — Min Area (Natural Light)

Minimum window area as a fraction of floor area
See also📖 NBC 2016🔗 IS 2440🔗 IS 7942🧮 RCC Design📒 Handbook
1/10
of floor area
≈ 10%
1/1010% OF FLOOR AREA — WINDOW
Primary value1/10 of floor area (≈ 10%)
Applies toBedrooms · Living rooms · Kitchens (separate) · Study rooms
Measured asTotal glazed window area as a ratio of the room carpet area. Rooms with two external walls may have windows on either side to meet the ratio.
SourceNBC 2016Part 8, Section 1
📚 Cross-referenced
Why this matters

10% glazing is the minimum that delivers usable daylight to the depth of an Indian room. Below this, occupants must use electric lighting throughout the day, defeating the climate-responsive design that NBC encourages.

Typical practice

Most modern apartments provide 12–15% glazing in habitable rooms. Premium and passive-solar designs go to 20%+.

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