Advantages
Roof windows may be useful for half a dozen reasons:
to let light into a room more +/-» to provide a view more +/-» for ventilation. Most proprietary roof windows such as Velux have built in ventilators. as a means of escape[for the purposes of part B of the Approved Documents] - Structural means whereby [in the event of fire] a safe route or routes is or are provided for persons to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety.[for the purposes of part B of the Approved Documents] – Structural means [...]
multiple glazing Types of sealed unit
As a minimum try to use sealed units with a spacing of 16 or 18mm. rather than 6mm. This is the optimum gap for heat insulation. However the frames need to have sufficient rebate for this. See window design. Use a filler of argon gas rather than air. [...]
The Building RegulationsThese are the legal regulations which govern how a house is constructed. (not to be confused with Planning Permission which is about whether you are allowed to build the house at all or what it might look like) see Building Regulations), part LThe Building Regulations, part L is the section which covers energy conservation for new buildings (with part L1A covering new buildings and part L1B covering existing ones), is the section which covers energy conservation for new buildings (with part L1A covering new buildings and part L1B covering existing ones)
At present there is a period of transition which is well explained in an NHBCThe National House-Building Council describes itself as being “the leading warranty and insurance provider [...]
There are many purposes a window can serve and several of these have important ecological considerations:
Letting light in Collecting solar heat Providing a view Acting as a door The visual character of a house
Windows may have associated drawbacks to consider:
They may let in too much light at certain times Too [...]
February 2013
See the government web site on Building RegulationsThese are the legal regulations which govern how a house is constructed. (not to be confused with Planning Permission which is about whether you are allowed to build the house at all or what it might look like) see Building Regulations)
Building Regulations deal with whether the building is built properly and is safe and energy efficient etc. more+/-»
They are not to be confused with Planning Consentthe legal basis for being allowed to do some form of development such as building a house. (not to [...]