Frank Goudman is a Belgian engineer in civil building graduating in 1988. Ever since he has been active in the aluminium industry. In the first years of his career, he was R&D manager for Reynaers Aluminium and as Export Director for Reynaers Aluminum, he has been developing new export markets in CE Europe, Middle East, Asia & Oceania since 1994. His first partners in the Middle East date back to 2003. Since 2012 Frank Goudman has been Export Sales Director at Renson, a Belgian family-owned company with 110 years’ experience in natural ventilation, sun protection, and outdoor living. For Renson, Frank Goudman is again developing the export markets. In a conversation with Window & Façade Magazine, Frank Goudman talked about his journey in the industry, the offerings and achievements of their company, etc. Here are the excerpts…

A curtain wall is a nonstructural exterior covering of a building that is connected to the frame and used to withstand the effects of environmental elements including wind, rain, etc. For better performance of the façade of the buildings, it is very important to carefully study the curtain wall during the design stage to take into consideration all of the performance criteria such as air and water tightness. The selection of the right material and the design elements for the curtain wall are critical to giving longer life to the building. We interviewed a few top names from the Middle East’s façade industry to learn more about effective curtain walling. Here are experts' views and some trips that should be followed. The Key Elements of Curtain Walling Systems [caption id="attachment_43267" align="alignright" width="150"] Douglas Sum Partner and Co-Owner, Heroes Architects and Engineers[/caption] Douglas Sum, Partner, and Co-Owner, of Heroes Architects and...

Efficient buildings are designed to provide occupants with a comfortable, safe, and healthy living and work environment. This requires superior architecture and engineering designs, quality construction practices, and intelligent operation of the structures. According to a study in the USA, the major areas of energy consumption in buildings are heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—35% of total building energy and lighting consumes —11%. Façade and fenestration is often considered the biggest hurdle in achieving higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings. Building owners opt for the most efficient façade and fenestration system which contributes to energy conservation, thereby operational costs. This edition cover story on “Effective Fenestration Through Improved Designs & Systems” discusses key factors such as characteristics and main features of sustainable and efficient façades and fenestration, ideal wall-window ratio, and improved acoustics and thermal comfort through proper design and installation of fenestration. It also throws light on the ways...

The MUSE is a multi-tenanted office space in Chennai that houses an architectural studio, a tech start-up and an art gallery. Designed based on the philosophy of Indo-centric sustainability, the collaborative workspace encompasses three green shafts within the space - these provide light, cooling and oxygen to the office spaces throughout. The eco-friendly office space includes benefits such as lower operating costs and a reduced carbon footprint. [caption id="attachment_42860" align="aligncenter" width="774"] The art gallery[/caption] [caption id="attachment_42862" align="alignleft" width="217"] The entrance[/caption] The entire office is naturally lit and provided with task LEDs for the evenings; solar-powered air conditioning is required only after the chiller slab and green roof have reduced the indoor temperature. These techniques help in 30% energy and water savings, reduced construction and maintenance costs and a superior indoor environment resulting in higher productivity. “Innovation and sustainability are at the core of Shilpa Architects’ culture and what our clients...

Fires cause over 300,000 deaths annually and are the fourth-largest cause of accidental injury globally after road accidents, falls, and drowning. Burn injury risk is strongly associated with urban areas with crowded regions, which are growing rapidly in an urbanising world. Fires in high-rise buildings and residential complexes are one of the major urban disasters due to the high population density, and high economic value of buildings and land. The high concentration of people and property makes firefighting and evacuation operations very difficult in case of a fire event. Team WFM discussed the factors affecting fire occurrence in highrise buildings with many experts including architects, engineers and consultants, and found that the main factors influencing the fire risks and spread of fire in buildings are fire safety evacuation ability, building fire prevention capability, and building fire safety management status. Fire Safety In High-Rises In Dense Urban Areas [caption id="attachment_42363" align="alignleft"...

The façade of a building is an architectural feature with functionality. Along with the function of keeping the weather and environment out, it also fulfils an important need of a building, that is to differentiate itself from others. It is rare to find a façade designer/contractor wanting to create a building envelope exactly like another one. And if it is being re-created; you can never find the exact same combination of materials and workmanship! This need to differentiate combined with the driver of ‘the economies of scale’ challenges the architects, engineers and businesses in almost every tall building which is susceptible to a façade fire. The challenge is to minimise the cost and time to build it and ensure it complies with all the expectations of performance. Let us dig deeper to view the understanding that has developed so far to ensure fire safe façades and why so many people...

Cladding in construction is a material applied on the exterior walls to provide a skin or layer. It provides a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance and also improves the appearance of buildings. Cladding can be made of any of a wide range of materials available in the market, including wood, metal, stone, brick, vinyl, and composite materials that can comprise aluminium, wood, stones, blends of cement and recycled polystyrene, etc. The wall cladding market in India is still evolving and the future for the same definitely holds much promise with the high demands in the construction industry. In this edition’s cover story, we discuss the trends in cladding materials and technologies, intelligent and responsive cladding solutions, future cladding materials and designs, testing for the wall clads for strength and durability, standards and norms while procuring and installing cladding materials, and much more. [caption id="attachment_41788" align="alignnone" width="774"] One of...

In conversation with Architect Karl Wadia from Architect Hafeez Contractor, he explains how the pandemic COVI-19 is going to impact the practice of architecture, the need for ‘Informed Designs’, his thoughts on Biophilia and occupant wellness, and the true concepts of Net Zero & Carbon Neutral buildings. Is COVID going to change the way we design buildings, and how is it going to impact the practice of architecture? Pedestrian portal, Lodha Sterling, Thane It was a matter of time we began changing the way we design buildings and therefore I believe your question is more an inevitability than an “if”. Change has been in the offing for quite some time now and this pandemic is a catalyst for the entire fraternity that supports and participates in the design and construction of the built environment to embrace a new way of thinking and approaching design. In a sense it is a...

The façade is one of the most important contributors to any building's energy use and comfort parameters. In order to provide occupants with a comfortable environment, a façade must fulfil many functions, such as providing views to the outside, resisting wind loads, supporting its own dead load weight, allowing daylight to interior spaces, blocking unwanted solar heat gain, protecting occupants from outside noise and temperature extremes, and resisting air and water penetration. The highly glazed façade has become an important component today. The common use of glass in building envelopes has greatly fascinated the 'green building' and construction designers and owners. However, most of those buildings have an intense reflection or use overly reflected glass and face severe internal comfort challenges. Only robust HVAC systems can solve this, resulting in substantial capacity, costs and environmental penalties. The future façades will be much more interactive, environmentally friendly and design innovative. Integrating...

Façade and fenestration industry is a technology-driven industry and innovations keep on happening in this industry. In today’s time, making sustainable buildings is the topmost trend in the construction segment, which is increasing the demand for sustainable and environmentally-friendly façade & fenestration solutions and technologies. Automation is another trend that has revolutionised the façade & fenestration industry. Being one of the largest industries in the Middle East, façade & fenestration industry offers huge opportunities as well as more challenges. The COVID-19 breakdown has brought a tough time for the construction industry, which had a direct effect on the façade & fenestration segment. But, it has also opened a door for innovations to make the buildings hygienic. Automation can play a vital role in achieving the hygienic aspect. In this cover story, we interviewed eminent personalities from the industry and presented their thoughts to know about the important trends, current challenges,...

The SIEGENIA GROUP develops solutions that bring spaces to life, with an innovative and wide-ranging product portfolio for modern window systems, door systems and comfort systems. KFV Karl Fliether GmbH & Co. KG covers the entire field of modern locking systems for doors. Our complete range is rounded off by SIEGENIA GmbH Sicherheits-Service GmbH: with products and services concerning burglary protection and window repair. [caption id="attachment_41029" align="alignright" width="300"] Concelled Hinge[/caption] The prospect of new room comfort is the theme of the future. We need the past to be able to design both sensibly and responsibly. Because tradition is the ideal basis for sustainable innovation. Even if we didn't call it "room comfort" before, we have been working on this for over 100 years. SIEGENIA INDIA PVT. LTD. was established in 2014 with a team of two Marketing persons and one technical person. With an ambitious plan to capture the Indian...

Please mention a few important hardware that goes on the doors and windows? Mortice or cylinder locks, lever handles or pull handles or knobs, surface mounted or concealed door closer, card readers, eye viewers, electromagnetic door holders, flush bolts, panic bars, floor stops, hinges, and glass hardware patch fittings are some of the hardware commonly used in doors and windows. Please comment on the need for choosing the right kind of hardware for windows, doors and façades? Primarily, openings in a building are the easiest locations to break in. Also, controlled openings like windows and doors are dynamic in comparison with other building components. So, it is important that we use the right hardware for our own security and safety. Secondly, the entrance door and its handle will be the first component that gets sighted or used by anyone entering your house, so it should be aesthetically appealing. [caption id="attachment_40756"...

Important Hardware for Doors and Windows Apart from the standard model of single-point locking with Cockspur Handles, uPVC doors and windows are characterised by the ability to be locked at multiple points for added safety and better sealing. This is done by Espagnolettes with multiple locking points, and strikers and operated by an appropriate handle, both in casement as well as sliding doors and windows. [caption id="attachment_40737" align="alignright" width="300"] Friction hinges Thunder Magnum, Power and Rock for PVC-U and aluminium[/caption] Friction hinges for windows and 3D, 2D and Butt hinges for doors provide the necessary hinge action in casement doors and windows, while rollers, both single and double nylon or steel-wheeled, swing or adjustable, provide the movement to sliding doors and windows. However, of late, a plethora of specialised hardware for tilt & turn, slide & fold, lift & slide, tilt & slide, slide & pivot and vertical windows and...

Q-Lon Polyurethane Foam Seals from Schlegel for Timber, uPVC and Aluminium Applications Specifically designed for windows and doors, Q-Lon foam seals from Schlegel combine the best thermal performance along with excellent long term recovery. The unique Q-Lon seal has been developed in consultation with the customers to offer the widest range of polyurethane (PU) foam seals possible for timber, PVC and aluminium windows and doors, window covering products and interior design. Q-Lon foam seals from Schlegel combine the best thermal performance along with excellent long term recovery The unique design has made Q-Lon the seal of choice for many applications. Authentic Q-Lon seals are impervious to paint and stain, while still providing some of the best energy saving performance characteristics currently available. [caption id="attachment_40704" align="alignright" width="217"] Q-Lon range provides a cost effective way of offering continuous high standards of sealing[/caption] Schlegel’s superlative hardware is manufactured in Europe, USA and the...

Sayed Anwar Ali is the Country Manager, of Giesse S.p.A. and has been with the company since 2007. A management graduate, Anwar has a vast experience in the fenestration industry incremented by a relentless drive to strive for excellence through sheer grit and an endeavour to succeed by attention to detail. His customer-centric approach and leading by example, have led SchlegelGiesse to be one of the apex hardware companies in India and the region. SchlegelGiesse provides innovative and high-quality engineered components for the fenestration industry. The products are sold into residential and commercial applications all over the world under the SCHLEGEL brand for sealing solutions to aluminium, uPVC and timber applications, the GIESSE brand for hardware systems in aluminium doors and windows and the REGUITTI brand for doors and window handles.

Buildings are the largest energy consumer in the prevalent construction industry practices in our context. That makes it offer a unique boundless opportunity to protect the environment and conserve energy in a sustainable way. The combined crises of energy source depletion and significant climate change are generating a sense of urgency and fundamental changes in many industries including the construction industry. The heating and air-conditioning load and lighting load can be reduced through many means; notable among them is the proper design and selection of building envelope components. Façades are one of the most important contributors to the energy expenses and the vital comfort parameters of any building. It also is one of the essential considerations in the design, engineering, and operation of the buildings. The parameters affecting building envelope energy performances may be designed variables (e.g., configuration of the exterior wall) or design given inputs imposed by the context...