What is Chajja in Building?

Chajja:

• A chajja is the projecting or overhanging eaves or cover of roofs supported on large carved bracket projected as a cantilever slab. T
• here are two types of chajjas- External chajja & Internal chajja. There is not any structural purpose of chajja but it is provided for following purposes:

1. Internal chajja: this is provided only for storage purpose
2. External chajja:
   1. Protection from sunlight
   2. Protection from rainwater
   3. Protection from weather
   4. Aesthetic purpose
   5. Can be used to keep utilities like A.C compressor etc.( For chhajjas designed to carry external loads)

• Generally brickwork is not provided at the free end of chajjas because chajjas are the cantilever slabs and by providing brickwork it will unnecessarily increase the load over slab and will require more strengthening and reinforcement but chhajjas are not designed to carry loads. Still u can provide brickwork at the free end by proper gripping and strengthening.