Why is there a window between the kitchen and the bathroom in old apartments? We answer the question

Most likely, you have seen a strange window separating the bathroom and the kitchen in the apartments of old five-story buildings. This structural element immediately catches the eye and involuntarily raises the question: "Why?" There are several versions of the origin of this window, but there are only two correct ones. What - read on.

Comedy versions

The window serves to rescue drowning people. Some believe and even write that the window opening to the bathroom is intended to rescue those drowning in the bathroom itself. According to these people, if a drowning man calls for help or just drowns quietly, then you need to break the window and get through it into the room. Isn't it easier and faster to pull out the small hook or carabiner that locks the door from the inside?

For babysitting. Another strange version is being put forward, stating that mothers can watch children bathing from the kitchen. Only it is not clear how, constantly standing on a stepladder or through a mirror installed under the ceiling? What's stopping you from just keeping the door open?

Psychological factor. Proponents of this theory argue that the window to the bathroom helped to determine that someone was there. This supposedly saves time and nerves, since once again you do not need to walk along the corridor, pull the handle or talk through the door. This version says: a person sees that, for example, the toilet is busy. And if it happens during the day? Very, very doubtful ...

The version is incorrect, but plausible

A window to the bathroom helps with a gas explosion. Glazing in a gas boiler room really saves the structure of the house from destruction: the blast wave comes out and does not break the walls of the house. In an apartment, a window from the kitchen to the bathroom is useless for these purposes, since it will direct the wave from the explosion, on the contrary, into the building, which will aggravate the situation.

By the way, the window to the bathroom began to be installed long before gasification. An example of such a window can be seen in the movie Heart of a Dog.

Correct versions

Lighting. The windows are designed as a source of natural light, including for the bathroom. But this measure was envisaged by the designers not in the fifties, but much earlier, when there was no trace of electricity in the apartments. This measure facilitated living conditions. For example, a person in a dark room lights a candle or a kerosene lamp. But when bathing, water could enter the light source and extinguish it. In this case, a person could be injured getting out of the bathroom and looking for matches. Imagine yourself in total darkness surrounded by soaps, basins and slippery floors. In this regard, a window to the bathroom is a justified measure.

Disinfection of the premises. In the post-war years, there was an outbreak of tuberculosis. And as you know, the causative agent of this disease reproduces best in a damp environment, which is the bathroom. According to insolation standards, sunlight must penetrate into each apartment for at least two hours a day. Ultraviolet light kills bacteria and the window in this case helps to fight the spread of disease.

By the way, in places with high humidity, not only tuberculosis, but also syphilis, feels great. Before the invention of antibiotics, epidemics of this disease also raged. So sunlight disinfection has been justified at all times.

Now many will be indignant: they say that ultraviolet light does not pass through the glass and there is no sense in such disinfection! We hasten to disappoint readers who hold this opinion. UV radiation waves in the 400-315 nm range penetrate the glass. It is impossible to sunbathe under such rays, but such radiation is quite suitable for disinfection.

And also the ventilation systems of those years were ineffective, and the window to the bathroom provided additional air exchange.

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