The most popular types of windows in RESIDENTIAL buildings in Nigeria for ventilation include:

  1. Casement window.
  2. Sliding window.
  3. Projected window.
  4. Jalousie window a.k.a Louvred window.
In the tropical climate, we are in, where we experience heat and we are monitoring our prepaid meters because we cannot afford that high jump with AC usage, Louvred windows are the best window in terms of efficiency.

Consider this story below.

Mr. Okeke observed his neighbour Barrister Godwin installing a Casement window in his new house and since he was following the trend, he requested the same from his site engineer.

While Barrister Godwin was only building his own private, single-family duplex, Mr. Okeke was completing his block of flats.

He used the Casement window on the apartment he intended to stay in. It was quite expensive for him, so he used Sliding windows for the other flats. They both completed their houses within the same period.

The first thing Mr. Okeke noticed was that the Barrister always kept his windows closed and was running AC. He could not afford to do that and had to leave his windows wide open.

Then came the neighbours. He couldn’t have privacy as they passed by glaring at his interiors.

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He had to keep the windows slightly closed which reduced the efficiency of the windows.

When rain falls, they all had to close their windows with no other means of maintaining the internal air quality.
When they had to travel and close their windows, Mr. Okeke was safe from crawling insects finding their way through his Casement windows, but his flatmates were not. The small opening between the window leaves allowed all types of crawling insects to go in.
While all these were happening, Mr. Andrews discussed with his Architect who gave him options and a good solution. He went for quality louvered windows, with an openable window protector and an external aluminium framed mosquito net.
When it rains, he tilts the windows to keep the rain off while allowing air to still come in.
He fitted the lower part of the windows with translucent (opaque) glass blades or aluminium blades and tilts them a little for privacy.
With that option, he effectively managed and utilized his large window opening. He didn’t need AC. He actually had to keep the lower part of the windows shut cause of the cold.

It’s unfortunate that quality louvres are hardly found in the Nigerian market these days. Low cost, effective, and efficient for the climate, yet we are all running after expensive substitutes that put us in prison.

Go to old houses and you will understand the kind of ventilation I’m talking about.

If you cannot afford constant AC during the heat period like Barrister Godwin, then be like Mr. Andrews. Be mindful of the kind of Windows in Residential buildings.

Window burglary proof.

Window burglary proof is a common building component that poses a threat when the call for safety is made. Note that the window component is not, in itself, a problem, but the component fabrication.

This component is meant to keep outsiders from gaining access to the interiors but when the danger starts from within, it keeps the occupants trapped within the building.

Some time ago, I do not recall the precise year, a young couple was in their apartment when a fire began. They had a baby, a few months old. 

This couple was not aware of the fire outbreak until it was too late. Their only escape route was from the balcony and this balcony had a burglary proof installed.

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They were already panicking and hysterical and so couldn’t push down this burglary-proof. The fire was licking up anything in its path, they were on the second floor of the building.Window Burglary proof 2_©superlock.com

Neighbours were downstairs shouting, fire service has been called but by the time they would get there, it was too late for the couple.

As the neighbours watched, the couple pushed their baby through the partitions in the burglary proof and the crowd below caught the baby while they watched the couple burn to death.

Today, I see a lot of these burglary proof and I wonder about the danger it poses to the occupants of the building. I live in one and it sometimes makes me nervous.

We may not go about changing all the window burglary proofs in our houses and buildings but consider burglary-proof designs that are openable from within in the event of danger.

Keep it in your mind for your next building, if the manufacturer brings it to your site and it has no safety measures, request for a change.

This applies to all windows, including toilet windows. Don’t assume that you can only make the window burglary-proof in the living room openable. If anything happens in the bedroom, you can use the living room window. The danger may start from the living room, and you get trapped in the bedroom.

Don’t just say, “God forbid”.

The reason Architects still provide emergency escape routes in buildings is still for emergencies and according to building standards and codes. No one prays for emergencies, but we still provide it.