Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Apr 02, 2009 4:24 pm Hi all, I'm curious.... is there a legal requirement stating that each room in a house *must* have a window? I've been considering land & house packages, and have found a plan I really like - the only problem is the lounge room, which has one big window - right where I'd put my TV! I'd want to turn the room into a dedicated home theatre room. So, I'd have to put in a thick black curtain to completely black out any light, and maybe a shutter on the other side, to stop heat radiating through the window to the back of the TV and all my HTPC gear. Really though, the best solution would be to completely remove the window (or at the very least, replace the big window with two small "slit" windows which don't open, one on each side of the wall, so my TV goes between them). I thought I'd ask here, before I embarrass myself by asking the question to the builder... Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 2Apr 02, 2009 4:26 pm No. Its not a legal requirement to have a window in each room. The only thing it may change is your energy rating. Building with PD - Regent 23 Cascades on Clyde Estate HomeOne Building Thread - PCI Completed - 28th August. Handover - 11th September. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 3Apr 02, 2009 4:30 pm I think that most Councils require any habitable room have windows. And they would even specify the actual minimum size of those windows - as well as being able to be opened. For example our theatre room is 5.5 x 4.5 and our local council whinged about our two narrow windows. We had to increase their size by 10cm each - our choice was to go longer - we didn't want to go wider - which they approved. They also had to be fully functional windows - not just to see through but for ventilation purposes. In hindsight the only way around it would be to specify the room as being a non-habitable one ie like a store room. But the experts here would be able to clarify that. Some things are worth waiting for. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 4Apr 02, 2009 4:33 pm kyton I think that most Councils require any habitable room have windows. Well you learn something new everyday.. Building with PD - Regent 23 Cascades on Clyde Estate HomeOne Building Thread - PCI Completed - 28th August. Handover - 11th September. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 5Apr 02, 2009 4:34 pm We are building the Francis 29 with Porter Davis. Our formal lounge room does not have a window at all. We wanted to put in double doors to block off the formal dining room which is opposite and PD advised we could not do this as it would block the natural light coming through to the lounge and as a living area this would be a problem getting the plans through council. We compromised and put in glass doors instead which still let in the light but I guess it may well be an issue for you depending on the rest of the floor plan. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 6Apr 02, 2009 4:38 pm erinleigh kyton I think that most Councils require any habitable room have windows. Well you learn something new everyday.. Could be different in each state however ErinLeigh. Just like you guys don't have to have floor wastes in your wet areas, we have to as part of our approval system. Different rules could apply here. I know we had a hell of an argument with our Council over the home theatre. They actually wanted us to install a whole extra window - right where the screen was going to go. The longer windows were the compromise. Some things are worth waiting for. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 7Apr 02, 2009 6:28 pm Thank you so much for the guidance... so I *may* have luck. I'm hopefully going to be building the "Milan 2200", from S*monds, if they can find me some land I like anyway. The lounge room has no doors, it opens to the hallway... so there would be some natural light (I was planning to install a skylight in the hallway if needed). Otherwise, I'll try the two tall thin windows trick! I just need to sign the contract before June 30th (for obvious reasons haha), so I didn't want to waste too much time trying to get approval. I love the Milan 2200 plan, this is the only thing I wanted to change. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 8Apr 02, 2009 6:47 pm kyton I think that most Councils require any habitable room have windows. And they would even specify the actual minimum size of those windows - as well as being able to be opened. For example our theatre room is 5.5 x 4.5 and our local council whinged about our two narrow windows. We had to increase their size by 10cm each - our choice was to go longer - we didn't want to go wider - which they approved. They also had to be fully functional windows - not just to see through but for ventilation purposes. In hindsight the only way around it would be to specify the room as being a non-habitable one ie like a store room. But the experts here would be able to clarify that. That's right, all houses/rooms must comply with regulations for light & ventilation. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 9Apr 25, 2009 5:01 pm Hi there, The BCA requires all habitable rooms to have min 10%? of floor area as windows for light and 5% must open for ventilation. If you have a theatre room for example these are classed as habitable but you may ask your builder to submit plans as a rumpus room which are not therefore you can reduce or perhaps delete (check on this one) all the windows. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 10Apr 25, 2009 10:10 pm Don't think there were any windows in the home theater in this *** Homes Display: http://www.collierhomes.com.au/images/pdfs/geographe-plan.pdf I thought it was a great place to put the home theatre. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 11Apr 26, 2009 9:35 pm yes i see what you mean. may have to confirm what i was told when building. I had the same prob with my H/T room had to have 4x 850/1800 windows due to regs 2 of which are now being removed. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 12May 03, 2009 11:51 am I ended up having to put two 60cmx180cm "slit" windows (I tried to get 30cmx180cm, but couldn't). Shouldn't be too bad, I just need to work out the best way to block them off! That side of the house faces east, so light shouldn't be too much of an issue (since I only use the room in the evening). I could probably get away with some dark wooden venetians or something. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 13May 03, 2009 5:09 pm Habitable rooms can be served by mechanical light and ventilation. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Do I legally need a window in each room? 15May 10, 2009 11:23 pm Bananas Exactly what Kassan said is the rule. I cant see how that floor plan by *** is legal....there isnt even any borrowd light from other rooms. A few of their plans have the centralised home theatre room idea - there may have been some vents, but I don't remember seeing any windows. 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