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Kusen
BUILDING MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTIONbeginner
Definition
Door or window frame — the structural surround into which daun-pintu (door leaf) or window sash is hung. Kusen is made from timber, aluminium, or steel and is a critical interface between the building envelope and the openings. Poor kusen detailing (especially seal to the surrounding wall) is a common source of water infiltration and heat loss in Indonesian buildings.
Example
An Indonesian house uses timber kusen for interior doors (pine or meranti) and aluminium kusen for the exterior windows and patio doors — the aluminium requiring careful caulking at all edges to prevent tropical rain infiltration.