The testing of exterior wall assemblies with combustible components such as plastics and foam plastic insulation is an important consideration in fire safety design. International building codes generally require full-scale testing to confirm vertical and lateral flame spread in buildings that will be limited to the acceptance criteria in the applicable test methods. Standards referenced by the building codes have historically required wall assemblies to be tested based on their intended installation. Ideally, components of the tested assembly must match the design identically as constructed - with no differences in materials, components, or configuration of materials. As exterior wall assemblies become increasingly complex due to the demands of energy efficiency as well as resilience in buildings, there are challenges posed to fullscale testing of assemblies when a variation at construction occurs (Greenwald & Banks, 2021). Such variations may be due to unique field conditions arising during construction, unforeseen design errors,...

The understanding of façades within the Fire and Life Safety (FLS) industry is evolving and, in fact, we can see clear progress in the overall “design” of exterior wall systems in relation to fire risks. In our region, particularly in the GCC, the start of the fire / façade evolution took place immediately after The Address Fire in Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2016. The unfortunate incident made the news worldwide since it was captured on the live broadcasting of Dubai Mall New Year Fireworks. This added significant pressure on the industry to come up with urgent solutions to prevent such incidents from happening again. This pressure by the various Authorities Having Jurisdiction over the industry experts, committees and consultant firms led to the issuance of the updated UAE Fire and Life Safety Code in The Address Fire, Dubai 2018, which has a comprehensive section dedicated to the safe design...

A façade is the most striking elevational feature of a building. A good play of volume, scale, light, and shadow constitutes an impressionable façade design. The façade is an architectural element that enhances the visual aesthetics and indoor environment of the structure. With the advancements in science and technology, modern-day architects have been experimental with façade designing. New materials and computational software have made it easier to explore new façade design concepts. [caption id="attachment_48254" align="alignleft" width="400"] Jali building façade[/caption] Glass-cladding façades have been a long-standing choice for elevating building elevations. However, the suitability of glass in the tropical weather of India has been questioned because of its heat-absorbing and light-reflective properties. The excessive use of glass in façade designs created the urban heat island effect. A glass façade traps and reflects heat thereby impacting the micro-climate and increasing local temperatures. Hence, glass façade buildings consume more energy to support ventilation...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAVIVjXf9aI&feature=youtu.be

Tell us about four major trends in exterior wall cladding. Structural Glazing – Glass envelopes for the built blocks allow for a sleek modern façade, add to the aesthetics of the building, let the light in and also protect the interior of the place from weather conditions. [caption id="attachment_48137" align="alignleft" width="217"] Victor MTB3- Bangalore; Fritted orange glass panels[/caption] Natural cladding for aesthetic - Stone cladding, ceramic cladding, tile cladding, and terracotta cladding. Natural stone cladding was one of the traditional choices and has started to gain popularity once again. This material has an earthy look and unrivalled beauty. Its extreme durability and long lifespan and fire resistance. Metal sheet cladding - The Aluminium, Copper and Zinc cladding sheets do more than just provide the skin of the building with a smooth and durable finish. It is corrosion resistant and is available in a wide variety of choices. Wood and marble...

The buildings are no longer considered as just a static barrier which separates the interior built environment from the external one. Now creative and innovative designers are designing beautiful structure of architecture that contributes towards the environment through façades, as the research says, buildings are exposed to a lot of sunlight which can harvest a lot of solar energy. Energy harvesting is a process in which energy derived from renewable resources is gathered, captured at a place and then can be re-used either to generate electricity or for other purposes. The best-planned way taken out by the architects and the designers is by placing solar panels in glass elements in the perpendicular direction of the sun, which can harvest the highest amount of energy derived from the sunlight and can produce a large amount of electricity from the solar energy. The main motto of designing the energy harvesting building is...

Building costs are spiralling, and global climate change is looming large. In an attempt to curb long-term operational costs and create efficient building systems, architects and building owners are now on the lookout for optimising every part of a building – including the envelope, the mechanical systems to interior finishes. [caption id="attachment_48034" align="alignleft" width="217"] Max Super-Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, New Delhi[/caption] A building’s envelope constitutes a large part of the system. In energy-intensive buildings such as hotels, offices, and hospitals, building envelopes contribute to as much as 55-60% of the total energy usage (Commision n.d.). This data provides valuable insight into how a building’s energy footprint can be checked whilst creating a high-performing assembly. As a result, stakeholders are required to lay an unprecedented degree of emphasis on building façade, its optimisation and integration with occupants’ needs. By definition, a high performing façade or façade element is one that encapsulates sustainable...

Cladding of buildings is one of the most expressive, inspiring and complex aspects of building design. The basic function of an envelope or enclosure of a building or structure is to protect the covered or otherwise conditioned interior spaces from the surrounding environment. Four Major Trends in Exterior Wall Cladding Demand for fire-resistant, thermal resistant, and water-resistant, soundproof cladding systems is growing in the market. Innovative, eco-friendly cladding materials are preferred in the market as a consumer is becoming more environmentally concerned. Fibre cement boards, HPL (High-Pressure Laminate), kinetic façade, and perforated parametric designs are major trends in exterior wall cladding. Most Preferred Cladding Methods [caption id="attachment_48010" align="alignnone" width="774"] `Wave Hotel Indana Palace[/caption] Kinetic façades are the most preferred cladding material as they can be used to manage light, air, energy, and even information and can act to reduce the solar gain as well as allow the passage of fresh...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08AaxJiblvE  

The XLRI School of Management in Jamshedpur, a top ranking business school, decided to expand with the construction of a new campus in Jhajjar in the Delhi region, in the north of India. Spread out over 36 hectares, the buildings of this new school were designed by the SPP Architects firm in Gurugram “with respect for nature and a wish to foster climate awareness”. [caption id="attachment_47860" align="alignnone" width="774"] The project is designed by SPP Architects, Gurugram “with respect for nature and a wish to foster climate awareness”.[/caption] The campus obtained the Indian Green Building Council’s “Platinum” certification for ecological construction. For the facades of the main buildings, the architect wanted a material that would be coherent with the image of modernity associated with the XLRI. Zinc has aesthetic qualities and flexibility led him to choose various surface aspects of zinc: 2,500 Sq m of Interlocking panels in QUARTZ ZINC®, ANTHRA-ZINC®...

[caption id="attachment_47735" align="alignright" width="300"] Fabrication & powder coating unit[/caption] With over 23 years of rich heritage, Innovators Façade Systems Ltd is one of the most renowned and trusted names in the façade and fenestration industry. The brand carries a long-standing legacy of innovation, responsibility and passion to provide world-class façades, windows, doors and cleanroom solutions. Over the past years, Innovators has become a nationally recognized brand that delivers building enveloping solutions of international standards in a manner that creates value beyond business targets. Their strong technical know-how helps them deliver projects from the concept to the installation stage. Since its inception in 1999, the company has to its credit 13 airport infrastructure and 285+ residential, commercial, IT parks projects. Today, Innovators are relied upon by renowned architects, façade consultants, builders, developers and PMC for their enveloping solutions. [caption id="attachment_47736" align="alignleft" width="300"] Inhouse lifting mechanism & transportation facility[/caption] INFRASTRUCTURE: Innova-tors embodies...

Net-Zero and Sustainability Climate change is one of the most significant problems facing our world today. It impacts everyone on our planet and people are the main cause of that disruption. The man-made built environment is contributing negatively towards the increase of greenhouse gas emissions and the whole climate change issues. Countries across the globe are taking decisive measures to reduce GHG emissions and committing to achieving net-zero energy and carbon neutrality. Net-zero is all about conserving water, reducing energy use and carbon emissions, eliminating waste, and thus more financial benefits arise, helping economies thrive, supporting communities socially, and ensuring a resilient and sustainable environment. To achieve net-zero energy, a balance is needed between the demand and supply in the built environment which can be done if we worked towards that goal for decades. Countries are setting 2050 and 2060 to achieve net-zero and launching initiatives, signing agreements, and making...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4oPBUmttk&list=PLQ4DzR9UykV57_qqn8PLcstQI3KVc9b6q&index=4  

Like all building elements, façades will age and be subject to soiling and structural deterioration, accelerated by exposure to man-made pollutants and other environmental factors. Damage or deterioration to façade elements can result in water penetration, falling debris and, in extreme cases, façade failure - all of which have the potential to cause harm. It is therefore vital that any risks are mitigated as early as possible to keep buildings safe for occupants and people within their vicinity. [caption id="attachment_47254" align="alignnone" width="774"] Façade inspection is an integral part of building survey[/caption] Authorities across the world are now beginning to regulate the scope and intervals for façade inspection. Insurance will also require building owners to show that the relevant maintenance needs have been met. Failure to maintain the building façade properly may result in increased insurance premiums, difficulty in obtaining insurance renewals, or the termination of insurance coverage. It is therefore...